You don’t have to do this alone.
Raising an autistic child is a joyful, challenging, and complex journey.
Led by licensed therapist Amber Kanallakan, LMFT, and located in Downtown Beaverton, this welcoming group offers a space to connect, share your experiences, learn about resources, and feel supported by a community that gets it.
This is an open group. Come to any session that fits your schedule—no need to pre-register.
Cost is $30 per session and covers all parents attending from the same family.
Meet Amber
Hi there, and welcome! I’m Amber — a therapist passionate about walking alongside families on their unique journeys.
I specialize in play therapy, where I use the natural language of play to help children express big feelings, navigate challenges, and feel truly seen and safe. It’s a gentle, engaging approach that meets kids right where they are. As a certified AutPlay provider, I bring a playful, supportive, and affirming approach to working with neurodivergent children and their families.
I also work closely with tweens and teens, using a strengths-based lens to highlight what makes each young person resilient and capable. My approach is both trauma-informed and neuroaffirming, which means I honor each individual’s lived experience and the beautiful diversity of how our brains work.
I believe that parents and caregivers are an essential part of the healing and growth process. That’s why I offer thoughtful, compassionate support to help you feel more confident and connected, especially in life’s more stressful moments.
In addition to my clinical work, I teach interpersonal neurobiology at a local graduate program — a field that deeply informs my practice and reflects my belief in the power of connection, integration, and compassionate understanding.
When I’m not in the therapy room, you can usually find me knee-deep in a DIY home project, tending to an ever-growing collection of houseplants, or heading to the coast with my family for a day of boogieboarding and surfing.
I’m so glad you’re here.