Toronto, Ontario  ·  serving families across Canada & worldwide lisapalasti@gmail.com (519) 575-5323
Mindful Guide Consulting
I am a
Showing family-focused next steps throughout the site.
Home  /  For Families

For families

You do not need another programme that manages your child. You need one that develops them — and that puts you back at the centre of it.

Start here

Three ways in, in order of commitment.

Most families begin with an on-demand course, then move to one-to-one work once they know RDI is the right fit. There is no pressure to start at the top.

01 · Explore

On-demand parent courses

Self-paced online classes for families evaluating whether the RDI programme is a fit — before any consulting commitment. Watch on your own schedule, from anywhere.

Browse the course library →
02 · Work together

One-to-one consulting

Lisa serves as mentor and coach — helping you hold focus, read your own child accurately, and know what the genuine next step is. Assessment, goal setting, video review and reflection, delivered by video conference.

Book a free consult →
Also available

Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)

A listening therapy developed by Dr. Stephen Porges and grounded in Polyvagal Theory. Five hours of specially filtered music on an individualised listening plan — in person or from home — designed to send cues of safety to the nervous system so that connection becomes more available.

Lisa has been a certified SSP provider for three years and offers it alongside RDI® where regulation is the thing standing in the way. It doesn’t replace the RDI® programme — for some families it’s what makes the guiding work possible.

03 · Go deeper

A whole-child programme

For families wanting more than RDI alone, Lisa builds customized programmes drawing on twenty years across neurodevelopmental training, reflex integration, listening systems, vision therapy and attachment work — designed not to overwhelm your finances, energy or time.

See the professional training →
What changes

What families actually report

Real connection, not performed skills

Reciprocal relationships the child seeks out, rather than social scripts they've been trained to produce.

Emotional regulation under stress

Greater capacity to stay regulated when things are uncertain — the situations that used to end the day early.

Confidence in unfamiliar situations

Willingness to enter situations without clear rules, which is where most real life happens.

Quality of life and independence

The long goal: a young adult who can navigate complexity on their own terms.

Common questions

Before you book

Is RDI a therapy my child attends?
No. RDI is not a therapy delivered to a child in a clinic. It is a developmental approach in which parents are the primary facilitators — a consultant assesses, sets goals with you, and guides you as you work with your child in ordinary daily life.
Can we work with you if we're not in Ontario?
Yes. RDI works well for virtual parent coaching over video conference, and consultants successfully serve families worldwide. Lisa is based in Toronto and works with families across Canada and internationally.
Who is RDI for?
Children and adolescents on the autism spectrum, individuals with social communication difficulties, and — critically — families and caregivers who are able to commit to active participation. If a family isn't in a position to be involved, RDI isn't the right approach right now.
What does it cost?
Cost depends on the mix of assessment, parent training, materials, and how frequently we meet. Some families have insurance coverage or provincial funding available. Bring your situation to a consult and you'll get a straight answer about what a realistic programme looks like for you.
How is this different from ABA?
ABA works primarily on observable behaviour. RDI works on the underlying cognitive and relational capacities — motivation, perspective taking, emotional regulation, flexible thinking — that make behaviour adaptive in the first place. Lisa is trained in both, and will tell you honestly if RDI isn't the right fit for your child right now.
Open for Client Work

Start with a conversation, not a commitment.

A consult is where you find out whether this approach fits your family — and whether Lisa is the right person to guide it.

Book a free consult →