Connection Starts With Small, Intentional Moments, Not Enormous Therapy Hours.
I help parents of young autistic children strengthen communication, build meaningful connection, and navigate everyday routines through compassionate, developmentally appropriate, naturalistic ABA.
Guidance. Real
Connection.
♥
A BCBA who does things a little differently.
At Hartline Connections, we know children learn best when they feel joyful, engaged, and understood. I offer two ways to get there: hands-on 1:1 therapy, where I work directly with your child, and parent coaching, where you get expert guidance and real strategies from the comfort of home, on a schedule that fits your family. Either way, the goal is the same — real progress, real connection, and a family that feels confident and supported.
I'm a Board Certified (BCBA) and Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) with a master's degree in Special Education. I've spent the majority of my career as an Early Childhood Special Education teacher, with early intervention always being my passion — and before that, I provided ABA services in clinical and in-home settings.
I started Hartline Connections to bring evidence-based practice together with a warm, family-centered, neurodivergent-affirming approach — so support feels like a natural part of daily life, not something separate from it. Whether you're looking for hands-on 1:1 therapy or expert coaching that fits around your life, my goal is the same: helping your whole family feel confident, connected, and understood.
— Lisa
A more compassionate kind of care.
I believe the best support starts with understanding your child—not trying to fit them into someone else's program.
Every recommendation is individualized, grounded in developmental science and the science of behavior, and designed to fit naturally into your family's everyday life. Together, we'll focus on the skills that matter most to your family—from communication and social connection to play, mealtimes, toileting, independence, and the everyday routines that help your child thrive.
Your child isn't expected to fit my program. Together, we'll build a plan that fits your child.
Compassionate
Guided by what your child is communicating—not by compliance for compliance's sake.
Collaborative
Your family's priorities shape every goal, every recommendation, and every step.
Naturalistic
Learning happens naturally through play and everyday experiences—not rigid programs or endless drills.
Neurodiversity-Affirming
The goal isn't to make your child appear less autistic—it's to help them communicate, connect, and thrive as themselves.
If any of this sounds familiar, you're in the right place.
You just got the diagnosis and/or an ABA referral, but no one handed you a map — just a list of other clinics to call.
You're not sure if full-time clinic-based therapy is the right fit, even though you know therapy is recommended.
You've heard ABA can be rigid, and you're hoping for something that actually respects who your child is.
You'd rather learn how to help your child yourself than hand that job over to someone else.
Whether your child was just diagnosed or you're still figuring out where to start — this is for families who want goals built around what actually matters to them, not just what a clinic decides.
In Their Own Words
She helped me understand what my daughter was communicating through her behavior and gave me practical strategies I could actually use in everyday life.
Lisa had such an incredible impact on both my daughter and me. She really understands how to support kids in a way that is natural, developmentally appropriate, and neurodiversity-affirming — my daughter made so much progress in communication, coping, emotional regulation, and behavior.
♥ Parent of a former student, later a coaching clientLisa's patient, kind, and consistently positive with our daughter. She communicates clearly and made us feel supported.
We really enjoyed working with Miss Lisa. We're grateful for everything she did during the year!
♥ Parent of a former studentHow I Can Help
Two paths, one goal: helping your child thrive and your family feel confident.
Parent Coaching
Collaborative sessions that give you practical tools for communication, social skills, routines, and play — from the comfort of your own home, for families of any age. I model it, guide you step-by-step, and help you feel confident.
Take Me to Coaching
What you can expect
Feel less overwhelmed
Clear, small steps replace the pressure to do everything at once.
Communicate with your child
Everyday interactions become real opportunities for back-and-forth connection.
Get through tough routines
Approaches for the daily moments — mealtime, transitions, bedtime — that feel hardest.
Guidance made for your child
Never a generic script — strategies shaped around what your family actually wants.
Enjoy your day-to-day life
The goal isn't just progress — it's actually liking your time together again.
20 years of expertise, plain language
A BCBA/LBA background, translated so it's never clinical jargon.
A few things families ask
What ages do you serve?
For 1:1 therapy, my focus is early childhood (1–5 years), since NDBI and similar approaches center on early intervention. For parent coaching, I can support families with children of any age!
Do you only work with children on the autism spectrum?
No. While many of the children I serve are autistic, I also support children with other developmental delays, and typically developing children working through specific challenges.
What's the difference between coaching and 1:1 therapy?
Coaching means I guide and support you, and you're the one working directly with your child day to day. 1:1 therapy means I work hands-on with your child myself, in sessions built around them.
What are my payment options for coaching?
Coaching is private pay, since it isn't billed through insurance.
What are my payment options for 1:1 therapy?
I'm in-network with many insurance companies for in-person therapy, and also accept private pay. I serve the Austin area and surrounding communities.