About Gabriela

A life sciences executive turned mental health advocate who understands what it's like to feel lost in neurodivergent parenting—because she has been there.

I'm here to help you navigate your parenting journey without losing yourself in the process

Gabriela Lavezzari was a successful executive in life sciences when life demanded a different kind of leadership—at home. When her younger daughter was diagnosed with ADHD, ODD, depression, anxiety, and autism, all the high‑performing strategies that had driven her career no longer worked. Traditional advice, no matter how well‑intended, couldn’t reach a neurodivergent child or an overwhelmed parent.

Ready to tackle morning rush hour in the driveway one morning, staring at a seven‑year‑old barefoot, Gabriela didn’t know that moment would become the start of her most important marathon—one that redefined parenting, resilience, and purpose.

Through years of navigating neurodivergent parenting, she discovered that sustainable change begins with the parent, not the child.

When parents strengthen their emotional regulation, self‑understanding, and confidence, the entire family transforms.

This realization became the foundation for ANKYRA Coaching, where Gabriela helps parents raising children with ADHD or autism build calm, connection, and capacity—from the inside out.

Gabriela combines empathy and expertise as a certified Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor and mental health coach. Her insights have been featured in Womens Insider, where she shared the hard‑won truth that there’s no one‑size‑fits‑all parenting plan—only strategies that begin with parental wellbeing.

ANKYRA was born from Gabriela’s lived experience. She knows the exhaustion of endless appointments, the chaos of meltdowns, the guilt of “not doing enough”—and the relief that comes when parents finally find sustainable tools and true understanding. This is the support she wishes she had fifteen years ago, and the anchor she now provides to families navigating the same storms today.

The Book That Started It All

The challenges Gabriela faced—and the hard-won strategies she discovered—became the foundation for her book, "Where are your shoes??!".

Written for parents suffering in silence, believing they're the only ones who can't make traditional strategies work, this book is the resource she desperately needed fifteen years ago when she stood in that driveway. It's honest, practical, and born from real experience navigating the daily realities of raising a neurodivergent child.

BUY IT HERE

Why ANKYRA Exists

The Mission Behind ANKYRA

I've been exactly where you are. I watched my daughter struggle with depression, anxiety, ADHD, and autism while I felt completely lost and overwhelmed. That journey transformed me into a certified youth mental health first aid instructor and wellbeing coach.

That's why I created ANKYRA - which literally means 'anchor' in Greek. We provide the grounded support that takes parents from surviving to thriving. Through personalized coaching, IEP advocacy support, and a community of parents who truly understand, we give you the tools and confidence to advocate effectively for your child while taking care of yourself.

My clients stop feeling overwhelmed and inadequate and become confident advocates who know exactly how to support their child's unique needs. They go from surviving daily chaos to thriving as the empowered parent their neurodivergent child deserves.

Your family needs an anchor in the storm - and that anchor is you, with the right support."

Personalized support over one-size-fits-all advice - Every family's journey is unique, and cookie-cutter solutions don't work for neurodivergent parenting

Lived experience meets professional expertise - Combining the wisdom of someone who's been there with evidence-based tools and training

You don't have to choose between your child and yourself - Learn to support your child while taking care of your own wellbeing

That's what ANKYRA provides—an anchor in the storm. Whether through one-on-one coaching, Youth Mental Health First Aid training, or a supportive parent community, ANKYRA is here to help you move from surviving to thriving. Because you deserve support that actually gets it. Support that meets you where you are. Support that helps you become the grounded, confident parent you want to be—without losing yourself in the process.

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