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I'm Allison, and I'm Here to Help
I know how exhausting it is to watch your child struggle with skills that seem so basic to everyone else. I know the frustration of repeating yourself endlessly. I know the worry that comes with wondering whether they'll ever be able to manage on their own.
And I'm here to tell you: they can. They just need the right support.
As a Therapeutic Coach at InnerWorks, I work one-on-one with kids and teens (ages 8+) to build the hygiene and cooking skills they need to feel confident and capable.
Here's what makes my approach different:
I'm not just a coach—I'm a professional makeup artist and a baker. That means I bring real-world expertise in the exact skills your child needs to learn.
As a makeup artist, I understand hygiene, self-care, skincare, and the confidence that comes from feeling good in your own skin. I've spent years teaching people how to care for themselves and feel their best.
As a baker, I know my way around a kitchen. I understand recipes, measurements, kitchen safety, and the satisfaction of making something delicious from scratch. I've taught countless people how to cook and bake—and I can teach your child too.
But most importantly, I understand how to teach these skills in a way that doesn't feel overwhelming or shameful.
I meet kids where they are—no judgment, no pressure, no lectures. We work together in real-life situations (at home, in the kitchen, wherever they need support) to build skills step-by-step, at their pace.
Your child doesn't need another lecture. They need patient, hands-on support from someone who genuinely cares about their success.
That's what I do. And I'd be honored to work with your family.
Here's How We'll Work Together
1. We Start Where Your Child Is—Not Where They "Should" Be
In our first session, I'll get to know your child and understand what's hard for them right now. What hygiene tasks do they avoid? What cooking skills are they missing? What feels overwhelming?
There's no judgment here. No pressure to be anywhere other than where they are. We'll start with one small, manageable goal—something your child can succeed at right away.
Maybe that's learning to wash their face. Maybe it's brushing their teeth without being reminded. Maybe it's making toast or scrambling an egg.
Whatever it is, we start there. And we build from there.
2. We Build Skills Step-by-Step in Real Situations
I don't teach hygiene and cooking by talking about them in theory. I teach by doing—in real life, in real situations.
For hygiene skills, we might work together in the bathroom, practicing a morning routine until it feels natural. We'll break down each step (washing face, brushing teeth, deodorant, hair care) and practice until your child can do it independently.
For cooking skills, we work in the kitchen. I'll teach your child how to safely use kitchen tools, follow simple recipes, measure ingredients, and make meals they actually want to eat.
Skills stick when they're practiced in real situations—not just talked about in theory. That's why we work hands-on, in the places where your child will actually use these skills every day.
3. You'll See Progress That Actually Lasts
This isn't about short-term compliance. It's about building habits and confidence that last.
You'll start to notice your child taking more initiative. They'll manage their hygiene without constant reminders. They'll make themselves breakfast or a snack without asking for help. They'll feel proud of what they can do.
And you'll finally get to breathe.
You won't be managing their hygiene anymore. You won't be stressed about whether they're eating or taking care of themselves. Your child will be doing it—and they'll feel good about it.
That's the kind of transformation we're working toward together.
Imagine This
Your child wakes up in the morning and goes through their hygiene routine—shower, brushing teeth, getting dressed, hair done—without you saying a single word.
After school, they come home and make themselves a snack. A real snack—not just grabbing chips from the pantry, but actually making something. Maybe it's a smoothie. Maybe it's a sandwich. Maybe it's scrambled eggs. Whatever it is, they did it themselves.
On Saturday, they surprise you by offering to help make dinner. Or better yet—they make dinner for the family. A real meal they cooked from start to finish, following a recipe, using kitchen tools safely, and feeling proud of what they created.
You're not reminding them anymore. You're not managing every detail of their self-care. They're doing it—and they're confident about it.
When friends come over, you're not worried about hygiene issues. When they go to a sleepover, you're not stressed about whether they'll be able to manage. When you think about their future, you feel hopeful instead of anxious.
Your child has the skills they need to take care of themselves. And they feel good about it.
That's where we're headed together.
You Might Be Dealing With...
Hygiene Struggles
Avoids showers or refuses to bathe regularly
Won't brush teeth without constant reminders
Doesn't know how to care for their skin, hair, or body
Struggles with sensory issues around hygiene tasks
Feels overwhelmed by hygiene routines
Needs support with deodorant, shaving, period care, or other personal care tasks
Cooking & Kitchen Skills
Doesn't know how to make even simple meals or snacks
Feels intimidated by the kitchen
Lacks basic cooking knowledge (measurements, recipes, kitchen safety)
Can't prepare food for themselves when you're not around
Needs to build independence around meal prep
Would benefit from learning baking skills
Social & Confidence Concerns
Peers are noticing hygiene issues
Worried about social acceptance, sleepovers, high school
Lacks confidence in their ability to care for themselves
Wants to feel more independent and capable
If any of this sounds like your child, I'd love to work with you.
How I Work
I meet your child where they are—without judgment, without shame, without pressure.
I don't come in with a one-size-fits-all approach or unrealistic expectations. Instead, I get to know your child, understand what's hard for them, and work WITH them to build skills at their pace.
My approach is:
Hands-On and Practical We don't just talk about hygiene or cooking—we practice it together in real situations. In the bathroom, in the kitchen, wherever your child needs support. Skills are learned by doing, not by listening to lectures.
Patient and Judgment-Free There's no shame here. No pressure. No criticism. I understand that these skills are genuinely hard for some kids—and that's okay. We'll work at your child's pace, celebrating every small win along the way.
Creative and Individualized Every child learns differently. I adapt my teaching style to what works for YOUR child. If they need visual supports, we'll use them. If they need sensory-friendly approaches, we'll adjust. If they need step-by-step instructions broken down into tiny pieces, that's what we'll do.
Grounded in Real-World Expertise As a professional makeup artist and baker, I'm not just teaching theory—I'm teaching from years of hands-on experience. I know how to care for skin, hair, and hygiene because I've done it professionally. I know how to cook and bake because it's my craft. Your child is learning from someone who genuinely knows these skills inside and out.
Empowering and Confidence-Building My goal isn't to make your child dependent on me. It's to help them build the skills and confidence to take care of themselves independently. I want them to feel proud of what they can do—and to know they're capable of more than they realized.
Your Child Can't Keep Waiting
Every week that goes by without these skills is another week your child struggles—and another week you carry the weight of managing their basic daily routines.
Without support:
Social struggles worsen. Other kids notice hygiene issues. Your child misses out on sleepovers, social activities, and the connections that come with feeling confident around peers. The gap between them and their friends widens.
Independence is delayed. Your child stays dependent on you for tasks they should be managing themselves. They don't build the confidence or skills they'll need for high school, college, or living on their own.
The teen years become harder. As your child gets older, hygiene and self-care become even more important—and even more emotionally charged. Without these skills now, the challenges compound later.
Transition to adulthood is compromised. When your child is ready to move toward independence, they're not equipped with the basic life skills they need to succeed. And you're left wondering if you could have done more.
You keep carrying the mental load. Every single day, you're managing, reminding, nagging, and worrying. It's exhausting. And it's not sustainable.
Your child deserves better than this. And so do you.
They deserve to feel confident, capable, and independent. They deserve to have the skills their peers have. They deserve to not feel ashamed or behind.
And you deserve support that actually helps—not more strategies that don't work.
From Dependent to Confident
Where your child is now: Dependent, avoiding hygiene tasks, can't cook basic meals, lacking confidence, feeling behind peers, struggling socially, needing constant reminders
Where we're going: Independent, managing hygiene confidently, cooking meals for themselves, feeling capable and proud, thriving socially, taking initiative without being asked
This isn't about turning your child into someone they're not. It's about helping them become the capable, confident person they already are—underneath the struggle.
Your child has everything they need to succeed. They just need someone who can teach them in a way that works for their brain, their challenges, and their pace.
That's what I do. And I'd be honored to help.
What Makes Working with Allison Different
I'm Not Just a Coach—I'm a Makeup Artist and a Baker This means I bring real-world expertise in the exact skills your child needs. I've spent years practicing and teaching hygiene, self-care, and cooking professionally. Your child is learning from someone who genuinely knows these skills inside and out.
I Work in Real Life—Not Just in Theory I teach hygiene and cooking by actually doing them together—in the bathroom, in the kitchen, in real situations. Skills stick when they're practiced in context, not just talked about.
I'm Patient and Judgment-Free There's no shame here. No pressure. No lectures. I meet your child where they are and celebrate every small win. I understand that these skills are genuinely hard for some kids—and that's okay.
I'm Part of the InnerWorks Team You're not just working with me in isolation. As part of the InnerWorks multidisciplinary team, I can connect you with other supports (therapists, coaches, programs) if that would help your child and family.
I Actually Care This isn't just a job for me. Every child I work with matters. I'm invested in their growth and confidence, and I'll show up consistently to support them.
Flexible and Affordable I work with families to find coaching plans that fit your budget and your needs. Many families use funding like Passport or SSAH to cover therapeutic coaching services.
Coaching Sessions & Logistics
Where We Meet:
Your home (especially for hygiene and cooking skills)
Community locations if helpful
Session Structure:
One-on-one coaching tailored to your child's needs
Sessions typically 2-3 hours depending on goals
Can be scheduled weekly, bi-weekly, or as needed
Focus areas: hygiene skills, cooking/baking skills, kitchen safety, daily routines
Funding Options:
Passport funding
Ontario Autism Program
SSAH (Special Services at Home)
Private pay
Cost:
London, ON: $180 for 3-hour session
Additional hours: $60/hour
Monthly supervision fee: $125 (covers clinical oversight and individualized support planning)
How to Get Started:
Reach out to InnerWorks
We'll talk about what your child is struggling with and how coaching can help
We'll schedule an initial session to meet your child and create a plan
We'll start working together right away
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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I'm a Therapeutic Coach, not a therapist. Here's the difference:
Therapeutic Coaching (what I do) focuses on:
Practical skill-building in real-life situations
Teaching hygiene, cooking, and daily living skills hands-on
Building independence and confidence
Action-oriented support (learning by doing)
Therapy (provided by our licensed therapists) focuses on:
Processing emotions, trauma, or mental health challenges
Clinical diagnoses and treatment plans
Talk-based sessions for anxiety, depression, etc.
Services that can be billed to insurance
Both are valuable—they serve different needs. Many families work with both: a therapist for emotional support and a coach for practical skill-building. Our team can help you figure out what's right for your child.
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Resistance is often a sign of overwhelm, shame, or sensory challenges—not a lack of motivation. That's exactly why my approach is hands-on, judgment-free, and individualized.
I don't lecture or pressure. Instead, I meet your child where they are and work WITH them to find approaches that feel manageable. We start with one small, achievable goal and build from there. Most kids who start out resistant end up feeling proud of what they can do once they realize no one is judging them.
If your child struggles with sensory issues (like the feeling of water, textures, smells), we'll find sensory-friendly strategies that work for them.
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I work with kids and teens ages 8 and up. The specific skills we focus on will depend on your child's age and developmental level, but the approach is always individualized to meet them where they are.
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Both! We start where your child is. If they've never used a stove before, we start with simple skills like making toast or scrambling eggs. As they gain confidence and competence, we can move toward more complex cooking and baking.
Some kids just need to learn how to make a sandwich and heat up leftovers. Others want to learn how to follow recipes and cook full meals. We'll tailor the goals to what makes sense for your child and your family.
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es! While hygiene and cooking are my specialty areas, I can also support your child with related skills like:
Daily routines and time management
Organization (keeping their space clean, managing belongings)
Self-care skills
Social skills around hygiene (appropriate grooming for social settings)
If your child needs support in areas outside my expertise, I can connect you with other coaches or therapists on the InnerWorks team.
Not Sure If Coaching Is Right for Your Child?
Call us at 226-400-4330 or email hello@innerworkslondon.com
We'll help you figure out if coaching with Allison is the right fit—and answer any questions you have about getting started.