Neurodivergent Essay & Writing Coach | Therapist-in-Training

Sadie L.

I'm a first-year graduate student in Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy at Lewis and Clark College, where my clinical training centers on communication, reflective listening, and helping people articulate their experience, which I believe are skills that translate directly into writing coaching. I hold a BA from the University of Texas at Austin. Alongside my graduate work, I facilitate a peer support group for autistic young adults at the Autism Society of Oregon, where I work one-on-one and in small group settings with people who often struggle to feel heard or understood in traditional environments.

I specialize in essay writing and college application coaching for high school students. My approach is student-led: I start with questions rather than corrections, working to understand how a student thinks before suggesting how they write. I've helped students work through the Common App personal statement and supplemental essays by drawing out the specific details and perspectives that make their voice distinctive. Sessions are conversational and low-pressure, with structure adjusted to fit each student's needs.

I have a particular affinity for neurodivergent students. I'm autistic myself, and I understand how standard writing instruction can misfire for students whose processing doesn't fit the template. I adapt pacing, structure, and feedback style accordingly. I work best with high schoolers, though I'm comfortable with motivated middle schoolers as well. My background is in one-on-one and small group contexts, and that's where I do my best work.