After 24 years in Neurodiversity and 12 years as the Director of Jumpstart, the parent coaching program at the Autism Center of Northern California, Lina Fancy MSc. has launched LF Autism CA focusing on holistic family support. She also collaborates with numerous developmental psychologists and pediatricians in Marin to help families navigate the difficult path soon after receiving a diagnosis for their child. It has been through all these experiences that she was compelled to complete her MFT at the Dominican University of California after 20 years of working with developmental disabilities. She is looking to eventually incorporate psychotherapeutic support for couples, siblings, and families who are navigating this journey, in tandem with behavior consultation and Clinical Quarterbacking.
In addition to working in Neurodiversity, Lina has stepped up as Program Director of FITT-Fostering Interconnection Through Therapy based out of the Marin Foster Care Association. She is also gaining experience in trauma work and bringing together decades of Neurodevelopmental Behavior Modification with Neurophysiological Psychotherapy, in addition to CBT and Psychodynamic work she does through a trauma informed lens. She is being supervised by the esteemed Dr. Sara Edrington. As of December 2023, Lina is an EMDR TRAINED clinician.
My Story
Lina Fancy began her career in autism as an extension of her interest in art therapy, combining her early career as a fine artist and experiences with the Learning Disability Foundation in Canada where she worked directly children with Cerebral Palsy, ADD, ADHD and Cognitive Delays. Lina first began working with children on the autism spectrum in 2000 which through subsequent training in ABA, PRT and most recently ESDM, has developed into a solid behavioral grounding that strongly focuses on natural opportunity learning as well as play modalities. Her expertise extends to best practice intervention in 1:1 direct training, parent training, navigating educational placement and services, and in a variety of community settings, focusing on teaching content that in conjunction with behavior, also spans aspects of academic readiness, communicative interaction, emotional regulation and independence (life skills). She firmly believes that family education and training using a developmental approach focusing on generalization will yield higher levels of progress as well support cohesion in the child’s family. Lina has consulted for home programs, school districts and lectures locally, nationally and internationally.
Lina's passions absolutely encompass the artistry of behavior, and she is a keen student. When not in 'study mode', she revels in the moments with her two elementary school aged boys at home with her husband Mark in Marin County. She is an avid artist, cook, world traveler and loves the outdoors whether on a mountain or on the water.
