The ASD Lifeline Program, About Us

Intervention & Support Services for Autism Spectrum & Related Childhood Disorders (such as NLD, ADHD, Tourette Syndrome, Anxiety and Mood Disorders), Traumatized and Undiagnosed Children

About Us
AnaMaria Guevara’s Professional Biography: AnaMaria Guevara, LCSW, serves families and children with special needs, particularly parents and siblings of children with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). AnaMaria offers therapeutic and educational workshops for parents with children recently diagnosed with ASD ("ASD Parent: Autism Intervention"), support groups for siblings of children with developmental disabilities (Neurosibs Support Group), individual therapy for children struggling with anxiety, depression, behavioral and social problems, and individual/couples counseling to parents of children with developmental disabilities. AnaMaria earned her BA in Psychology with an emphasis on Child Development in 1995 from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and her Masters in Clinical Social Work at San Francisco State University in 2000. As an undergraduate, AnaMaria participated in school-based internships under the supervision of clinical child psychologist, Ralph Quinn, PhD, and worked at UCSC & the Allan Gutmacher Institute, Inc. as a postgraduate researcher with Developmental Psychologists, Catherine Cooper, PhD, and Margarita Azmitia, PhD. AnaMaria began her career as a psychotherapist in Santa Cruz County providing counseling to traumatized children in a shelter for battered women. In 1998-2000, she facilitated support groups to incarcerated youth and provided intensive in-home therapeutic support to foster care children while working for San Mateo County Mental Health. She spent her next three years working for Santa Clara County, Dept. of Families and Children Services serving court-dependent children. From 2003-2009, AnaMaria worked for Santa Clara Valley, Health & Hospitals System, Family and Children Services Division, providing outpatient assessments and psychotherapy to children with complex emotional, social and behavioral difficulties. AnaMaria maintains a private practice in Los Gatos. AnaMaria is the parent of an 9 yr. old neurotypical son and a 5 yr. old son with special needs. She understands first hand the joys and sorrows of raising a child with special needs and the balancing act of remaining available to the whole family. AnaMaria has a thorough understanding of the required interdisciplinary care for children with developmental disabilities, and has completed training on multiple intervention models such as IPG, SCERTS, Social Thinking, etc. Download AnaMaria Guevara’s Professional Biography in PDF.	Tracey Gatheral, Family Resource Specialist Professional Biography: Tracey Gatheral began her career over 20 years ago in the High Tech industry in a variety of roles, including Marketing and Operations. Since then, she has dedicated her time and energy to care for her daughter. The first few months after receiving a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be paralyzing. There is so much to do and to learn and no roadmap to guide you. It’s that unique understanding which created the desire to assist other families in similar situations. Tracey has been to many seminar and trainings, such as SCERTS, Linda Mood-Bell, Carol Gray and Michelle Garcia Winner’s social thinking workshops to name a few. She has access to highly regarded service providers, such as Speech Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Behavioral Therapists, information about bio-medical and dietary interventions, schools and facilitated playgroups. She aspires to combine her professional skills with her first hand personal experience and pass that onto other families with the goal of assisting them through their journey of helping their ASD child. Tracey is offering 1:1 services to parents as an Family Resource Specialist, who can assist them in getting organized, getting connected, identifying appropriate service providers, IEP support and general guidance through this process. In addition, Tracey will be co-facilitating a 10-week series of uniquely designed interactive workshops, “ASD Parent: Autism Intervention” with AnaMaria Guevara, ASD Parent/LCSW. The program is designed to aid parents & caregivers in what to do after receiving a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder for their child. Sample topics include: How to Cope with the Demands of caring for a Special Needs Child, Overview of different service treatments, How to initiate and sustain meaningful interactions with your child, etc. She is very passionate in her desire to relieve parents of the mistakes many of us make upon entering this new world we’ve been thrust into. Download Tracey Gatheral’s Professional Biography in PDF.
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