Introducing SPACE to Grow

Everything you need to confidently support your autistic teen or young adult's transition to adulthood

On-Demand Expert-Led Video Guidance (20 Core Modules)

  • Master Dr. Siena’s step-by-step approach to reducing unhelpful accommodations while providing the right

    alternative supports for anxiety, executive functioning, and daily living skills – all while honoring your child's neurotype and capacity.

Live Expert Coaching & Q&A (12 Weekly Sessions)

  • Join Dr. Siena and your cohort for 12 weekly, live coaching calls. Each session includes a Q&A where you can get your specific implementation questions answered. This structured live support ensures you feel seen, heard, and guided every step of the way

Actionable Tools & Resources (25+ Downloads)

  • Immediately apply what you learn with a comprehensive library of practical worksheets, fill-in-the-blank templates, and step-by-step scaffold guides tailored for real-world use.

Supportive Peer Community (6-Month Access) with Expert Guidance

  • Connect, share experiences, and learn alongside other dedicated parents on a similar path in our private, members-only online space. Dr. Siena personally engages in the forum throughout the 12-week course to answer questions, ensuring you feel supported between live calls..

Meet Dr. Siena - psychologist, SPACE expert, and fellow parent in a neurodiverse family.

Discover the inspiration behind SPACE to Grow and how it can empower your family.

What You'll Learn

  • Understand the intricate ways anxiety, rigidity, and executive function challenges can impact your teen's independence and daily life.

  • Thoughtfully shift your behavior and communication to foster genuine growth and break sticky patterns.

  • Provide effective scaffolds & alternative tools as you strategically change your behavior to allow your child to do more, ensuring your child feels supported, not abandoned.

  • Help your teen build essential executive functioning & life skills for daily routines, planning, and future independence.

  • Navigate difficult conversations & set compassionate boundaries with your teen, strengthening your connection and mutual understanding.

  • Assess your child's fluctuating capacity (their "energy tank") and respond with genuine attunement to their real-time needs.

  • Manage resistance & de-escalate challenging behaviors calmly and effectively, prioritizing safety and connection.

  • Confidently support your child's unique journey to adulthood, celebrating their individual path and progress.

Our Approach: Grounded in Evidence,

Adapted for You

  • The SPACE to Grow course is built upon a foundation of evidence-based principles, thoughtfully adapted to meet the unique needs of parents supporting autistic teens and young adults.

  • A core component of our framework is an adaptation of SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), an innovative and effective treatment program developed by Dr. Eli R. Lebowitz at the Yale Child Study Center. The SPACE model empowers parents to support children experiencing anxiety and related challenges by focusing on changes parents can make in their own responses and accommodations.

  • While SPACE to Grow incorporates the foundational strategies and spirit of the SPACE model, it has been specifically tailored and expanded by Dr. Siena through a neurodiversity-affirming lens. This includes a deeper focus on understanding autistic neurotypes, executive functioning, sensory processing, capacity assessment, and providing practical, alternative scaffolds as parental support evolves.

  • We gratefully acknowledge Dr. Lebowitz's pioneering work, which provides a powerful and effective pathway for supporting families. SPACE to Grow is an independent application and adaptation of these principles for the specific context of autistic teens and young adults transitioning to adulthood.

What makes SPACE to Grow unique?

Neurodiversity-Affirming at its Core

We deeply honor your child's identity and unique brain wiring. Our goal is to support authentic growth, not to "fix" or normalize.

Adapted SPACE for Autistic Teens and Young Adults & Complex Profiles

We don't just teach the standard SPACE model; we show you precisely how to tailor it effectively for the nuanced realities of autism, anxiety, executive functioning challenges, and PDA traits.

Focus on Parent Empowerment & Action

You learn to shift your approach, create new patterns, and become the confident, attuned guide your child needs, leading to lasting positive change in your family dynamic.

Practical & Attuned Strategies

Move beyond theory with concrete tools, step-by-step planning guides, and clear instruction on how to respond to your child's real-time capacity and needs.

Expert-Led with Lived Experience

Developed and led by Dr. Siena, a highly qualified licensed psychologist and certified SPACE provider, who also brings the invaluable perspective of being a parent in a neurodiverse family.

Who is SPACE to Grow for?

Parents of autistic teens (12-18) or young adults (18-26+) who feel one or more of the following:

Uncertainty about support vs. Independence

practical strategies to support growth

Loss of momentum towards your child's independence

patterns of "stickiness" and resistance to responsibilities

anxiety about Change

Who SPACE to Grow ISN'T for (yet):

Parents seeking quick fixes

People not yet open to self-reflection

families in acute crisis

A Glimpse inside:

SPACE to Grow

Your Roadmap to Confident Parenting

Our comprehensive curriculum guides you step-by-step through our intensive 12-week program organized into four key phases:

Phase 1: Foundations & Vision

  • Understanding the Journey to Adulthood

  • Envisioning a Meaningful & Purposeful Life (Their Terms, Your Support)

  • Skills Assessment: Compassionately Understanding Your Starting Point

Phase 2: Core Principles & Deeper Understanding

  • Building Trust, Context, & Capacity-Informed Action

  • Navigating Influences: Burnout, PDA, Anxiety, Sensory Needs

  • The Adapted SPACE Framework: Your Levers for Change

  • Parent Well-being: Sustaining Yourself Through This Work

Phase 3: Planning & Action

  • Mapping Your Current Accommodations

  • Picking Your First Target for Supportive Change

  • Creating Your Detailed SPACE Plan: Shifting Support & Building Skills

  • Communicating Changes with Belief and Confidence

Phase 4: Implementation & Long-Term View

  • Practical Plan Examples in Action

  • Addressing Stalled Momentum & Building Bridges

  • Navigating Community Support, De-escalation, Technology, & Long-Term Planning

What Else Is Included?

  • Comprehensive Resource Library: Over 25 downloadable Appendices packed with practical Worksheets, Templates, and step-by-step Scaffold Guides

  • 12 Weeks of Live Expert Coaching: Join Dr. Siena and your cohort every week for 12 live, group coaching calls. Get your specific questions answered, receive real-time troubleshooting, and stay motivated throughout the entire process.

  • Private Community (6-Month Access) with Expert Support: Join our exclusive members-only forum for a full six months. For the first 12 weeks of the course, Dr. Siena will personally answer your questions between calls. For the following three months, the space remains open for you and your cohort to continue sharing experiences, celebrating wins, and supporting each other on your journey.

Standard Pricing: $1497

Founding Member Price: $1197 (Save $300)

Meet Your Guide

Dr. Siena Whitham

Hi, I’m Dr. Siena. I'm passionate about helping families like yours navigate the path to a confident and capable future for your autistic teen or young adult. Here's a little about why I'm uniquely positioned to support you:

Licensed Psychologist & PhD: I hold a PhD in Human Development and Psychology from UCLA and am a licensed psychologist with deep clinical expertise.

15+ Years Specialization: For over 15 years, I've specialized in autism assessment, anxiety & OCD treatment, and evidence-based parent support.

Certified SPACE Provider: I'm certified in the SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) model, the framework we adapt in this course.

Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach: My work is grounded in respecting neurological differences and honoring your child's unique strengths and identity.

Focus on Practical, Attuned Strategies: I believe in moving beyond theory to provide concrete tools and step-by-step guidance that you can implement effectively.

Parent in a Neurodiverse Family: I don't just bring professional expertise; I bring the lived experience and deep understanding that comes from parenting within a neurodiverse family myself. I get the journey.

Founder of Grow As You Are: This platform is dedicated to providing the resources and support I know parents are searching for.

My goal with SPACE to Grow is to share my knowledge and experience to empower you, reduce your stress, and help you confidently guide your child towards their version of a fulfilling adult life.

TESTIMONIALS

What parents are saying about Dr. Siena

"We couldn't have done this without Siena!"

I think I knew deep down that my husband and I were holding our son back by being too protective, but it was easier for us to manage the world for him than to allow him to work it out for himself. Siena gently explained to us that our approach wasn't helping our son prepare for college and beyond. She set us small monthly tasks to work on to stretch our son's independent living skills and over the course of 2 1/2 years we have gone from having a teenager who couldn't manage a supermarket very well on his own to one that spent 3 months in France during a gap year before college. We couldn't have done this without Siena and if it hadn't been for her and the SPACE to Grow program, I am not sure where we would be now.

-Parent of a 19-year-old

"This is exactly what so many of us parents need."

After high school, things got really hard. The structure disappeared, and it felt like the support just vanished. When my son started at Community College, he would ask for help with homework, and I remember thinking, “I know you can do this—you were placed in this program for a reason.” So I’d say, “I know you can do this,” offer help when needed, and just hold steady. Two years later, he’s doing amazing

That’s what SPACE to Grow helped me understand—that being calm, steady, and supportive, even when you’re frustrated or unsure, is what really helps them thrive. It’s not about fixing everything. It’s about believing in them and not pulling the rug out from under them when they struggle.

Dr. Siena’s perspective has always just made sense to me. She’s honest and action-focused, but never judgmental. I’ve worked with other professionals, and even when they’re well-intentioned, their approach can sometimes feel disempowering. With Siena, I always felt aligned—like she really sees our kids’ potential.

I’m so grateful for this work. It’s grounded, it’s respectful, and it works. I honestly wish every parent had access to it.

- Parent of a 21-year-old

Get started with SPACE to Grow

Join the Waitlist

  • To get your founding member price and be the very first to know when SPACE to Grow enrollment opens this Fall 2025!

Prepare for Launch

  • While you wait, you can start exploring our free resources and

    follow along on social media for valuable insights.

Enroll When Open

  • Once launched, get immediate access to all on-demand videos, downloadable resources, and live support calls and community.

Follow along for support

that honors your family’s journey

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