Autism support that builds a thinking child, not a compliant one.
Mindful Guide Consulting is the practice of Lisa Palasti — RDI® Certified Consultant since 2005, and the training director for Relationship Development Intervention in Canada. We work with parents, and we train the professionals who work with parents.
I'm a parent looking for a different way forward.
You've been told to manage behaviour. RDI asks a better question: how does my child learn to think, adapt and connect — with me as the guide?
- One-to-one consulting and parent coaching
- On-demand courses to see whether RDI fits
- Delivered by video — families worldwide
I'm a professional ready to certify in RDI®.
The Canadian certification pathway. Twelve weeks of live training, two supervised families, and a practice you can actually build a career on.
- Fall 2026 Part 1 — enrolment open
- Certification typically under 18 months
- Any discipline welcome, not psychology only
Booking a conference, workshop or staff training instead? See speaking & workshops →
Not a therapy.
A guiding relationship.
RDI® teaches parents to guide their child toward genuinely reciprocal relationships — addressing motivation, emotional regulation, episodic memory, flexible thinking and creative problem solving at the root.
Readiness
Restoring the conditions in which guided learning can happen at all — pace, predictability, and a parent who feels able to lead again.
Engagement
Rebuilding the emotional feedback loop between parent and child, so that shared attention becomes something the child seeks rather than tolerates.
Growth Seeking
The child begins to choose challenge over certainty — the single most important shift in the whole programme.
DI Foundations
Laying the groundwork of dynamic intelligence: adapting, collaborating and problem solving where the rules aren't clear and the outcome isn't predictable.
Internalizing
Skills stop being prompted and start being owned. Reflection turns lived experience into intuition the child can carry forward.
Self Guiding
The guide steps back. The child navigates real-world complexity on their own terms — the definition of success we're actually aiming at.
Progress through the phases is individual. Most families work in months and years, not weeks.
What families say
“Lisa is a gem. I spoke with three different consultants when we were investigating RDI, and while the other two are great as well, I can honestly say that I believe Lisa is the BEST in Canada.”
RDI and Lisa Palasti … was instrumental in transforming Katie into the loving, quirky, independent, brilliant, funny, sweet young adult she is today.
Anna — Katie’s mother Read Katie’s story →She stopped eating her breakfast, looked up at me – I mean truly looked at me – and said ‘I love you too!’ This was a first.
G. W. — Kitchener, Ontario Read all stories →Upcoming training
RDI® Professional Training — Part 1 (Fall cohort)
Twelve weeks live, Wednesdays 5:00–7:30 pm EST. Lectures, small-group discussion, video review and case studies. Class size is limited.
Summer Fast Track — Part 1
Eight-week accelerated cohort, 9:00–11:30 am EST.
Beyond Behaviour Conference
Okanagan College, with a virtual track. Recording and attendee guide available on request.