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 she hit a wall. Her younger daughter was diagnosed with ADHD, ODD, depression, anxiety, and autism, and suddenly, all the problem-solving skills that had propelled her career forward didn't apply to special-needs parenting.
The traditional parenting strategies everyone recommended? They didn't work. The well-meaning advice from professionals who'd never lived it? It fell short.
Standing in the driveway one morning with a seven-year-old who had forgotten her shoes, Gabriela didn't know that moment marked the beginning of a marathon—one that would transform not just how she parented, but her entire life's purpose.
This pivotal journey became the foundation for her book, where she shares the hard-won wisdom that traditional parenting advice never taught her.
Through years of navigating the complexities of raising a neurodivergent child, Gabriela discovered what parents like us truly need: someone who has been there and actually understands, combined with practical tools and professional expertise. This realization led her to become a certified Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor and mental health coach in training.
ANKYRA was born from this journey—created for parents suffering in silence, believing they're the only ones who can't make traditional strategies work. Because Gabriela was one of them. She knows the exhaustion of endless appointments, the heartbreak of meltdowns, and the constant worry that you're not doing enough. She also knows the transformation that's possible when you have the right support.
This is the support she needed fifteen years ago. And it's the anchor she's become for 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.
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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