Lara Schaeffer
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I'm Lara Schaeffer, and I am autistic—but this fact was not revealed until well into my forties. I strive to be a supportive voice for autistic individuals, especially those who lived a good portion of their teen or adult years unaware of their autistic identities.

I well understand how it hurts, at times, to be autistic. It poses personal and social challenges, and it affects your mental, emotional, and physical health. And those can be even greater if a person's autism has gone unidentified for a good portion of their lives.

But finding the answers completely on your own can be confusing and intimidating, and official evaluations are costly and imperfect. Through the "Uncovering Autism" course, Uncovered: The Digital Magazine for and by Autistic People and Their Allies, or through mentoring sessions, autistic people and those who suspect they are autistic can begin to map the terrain of their challenges and can work to find solutions that can improve their lives.

 

 

When autistic people are empowered and validated, they can begin to recraft their lives and be happier and healthier. And when autism is identified in people who were previously unaware, they can begin to understand that their mind operates in different and unique ways, and they can begin to recover from negative past experiences and social interactions. Feeling more in control goes a long way in a person's daily life, and I can help you get there.

Here’s how I guide others to establish their relationship to autism:

  • I use the best of well-established evaluative processes

  • I educate individuals about autism beyond the stereotypes and assumptions, and about how widely its traits can vary in different people  

  • I help individuals recognize qualities, traits, and patterns in themselves that may align with autism

  • Then, if autism is identified, I support people in navigating their next steps in life

I am also proud to use the foundation and guiding principles of the PEERS program (out of U.C.L.A. in the United States) to support autistic adolescents and young adults.​

Why my methods of using PEERS social skills reinforcement work:​​

  • I customize the program for each client to achieve personalized results.

  • I use the founding principles of PEERS to help young adults improve their social skills at their own pace and interest level.

  • My 28 years of high school English teaching helps me know the right strategies and approaches to best engage young people, especially when they are newly discovering themselves and their neurotype.

In these mentoring relationships, my overall purpose is to lend a listening ear and, together with the individual, create actionable steps to move toward desired change.

We work together to find solutions to the elements of your daily experience that you would like to be different. I can provide you the direction and support you need to figure out your goals, make progress in them, and improve your life.​

I am here to help you in any way that I can. 

Autistic identification has transformed my life (along with that of my daughter when she was fifteen).

Since then, I have been trained and certified many times, specializing my skill set and the mentoring experience I acquired through my career in education so that I can help other autistic individuals improve their lives. I also guide people in what may have been a lengthy journey to self-identify autism to allow them the confidence which can be lacking when investigating on their own. 

So, don’t wait any longer for answers, direction, and a kind, guiding presence. I am here for you.

 

 

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Lara Schaeffer enjoyed a long career as a high school English teacher, counselor, and administrator at a few top independent American high schools before her autism was diagnosed in her forties.


She went on to reinvent herself professionally to be a resource to others like her, people who have lived many years challenged by autism but not even aware of it. 


Lara is also a compassionate and empathetic resource for teens and adults who have been aware of their autism for some time yet are seeking guidance and support in living happier lives with less stress and more empowerment.

 
Lara helps with social concerns, as well as practical concerns like executive function, to help her clients enhance their pride, self-acceptance, and authenticity while navigating a challenging societal landscape.

 

BOOK A CONSULTATION OR APPOINTMENT TODAY

 

 

CONTACT

Email: lara.stanton.schaeffer@gmail.com

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