Online Courses

Talking Together: A Parent-Supported Conversational Skills Coaching Program for Autistic Adolescents

It’s a conversation skills program for autistic teens and the parents who will coach them. Sign up today to help your adolescent find their voice and connect with others on their terms.

Launching Summer 2026 - Get on the waitlist!
Join the Waitlist Today!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • It is a self-paced video course designed for parents and caregivers of autistic adolescents (ages 10–18). This course gives families the tools to support real-world conversational growth at home.

    This program was designed by speech-language pathologist Shivani Patel, PhD, CCC-SLP for motivated adolescents seeking to enhance their conversational skills with the support of caregivers who are willing to learn alongside them.

  • The Conversational Coaching Program is $397 — a one-time payment for full access to everything.

    Families who join the waitlist get founding member pricing of $297, along with one-week early access, and a Founding Families Q&A where I answer your submitted questions directly in a recorded video.

  • Your access doesn't expire — one payment, and the program is yours to work through and return to at whatever pace fits your family. You may choose to revisit modules months later as new situations come up: a new school year, a first job interview, a friendship that's deepening. The course is built to be a resource you come back to.

  • No, this is not speech therapy. This is a coaching program. I teach you — the parent/caregiver and adolescent — the conversational skills and framework that I use in my practice. However, this program isn't a replacement for speech-language therapy, mental-health care, or other services your adolescent currently receives. This coaching program can work beautifully alongside those services.

  • Built by a clinician and researcher. This coaching course is grounded in evidence-based, speech-language pathology practice.

    Neurodiversity-affirming from the ground up.  We teach conversation skills as tools — not scripts. Your child keeps their authentic voice. The goal is connection, not conformity.

    Designed for families, not just adolescents.  The research is clear: when parents are active participants in communication support, outcomes are significantly better. This course sets you up for success through collaboration.

    Practical and specific.  Each module teaches a concrete, usable skill. By the end, parents/caregivers and adolescents will know exactly what to do — not just what to think about.

  • Adolescents who:

    • are between the ages of 10-18 years old

    • are diagnosed with autism or related social communication differences

    • have grossly age-appropriate or mildly delayed receptive and expressive language differences

    • want to enhance their conversational skills and confidently connect with others

    Parents or Caregivers who:

    • want to actively support their child at home

    • believe their teen's authentic voice deserves to be heard — not masked or scripted away

    *This course is not appropriate for non-speaking adolescents or those with significant cognitive differences.

  • The course includes 8 modules. Plan on about an hour per module. Each module includes a few instructional videos under 10 minutes long, as well as role-play demonstrations and practice exercises. One module per week is the pacing I recommend, which makes it about a two-month journey. The course is fully self-paced though, so if you need more time, take it!

  • Yes! You'll watch most videos together, and each module ends with a practice task built for the two of you. You, the caregiver/parent, are the coach: you create everyday practice moments, cue gently, and celebrate effort. Your adolescent is the learner doing the brave work. Some sections speak directly to caregivers and some directly to teens, and the course tells you which is which.

  • This course is an educational program rather than a billed therapy service, so it is not billable to insurance.

  • Try the first two modules. If within 14 days of purchase, you've given it an honest start and it isn't the right fit for your family, email us and we'll refund you in full. I'd rather you find the right support than keep the wrong purchase.