Workshops & Coaching
Live virtual workshops and optional coaching sessions designed to help adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities build communication, connection, confidence, and healthy relationships — at your pace.
Why Workshops + Coaching?
Dating and relationships can bring up big questions, emotions, and learning moments. Matchmaking is at the heart of what we do, and workshops + coaching help members feel more confident, practiced, and prepared every step of the way.
At Find Love Safely, workshops and coaching are designed specifically for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. These sessions are supportive, skill-building, and respectful — not therapy, and never confusing.
What Our Live Virtual Workshops Are
Our workshops are:
- Interactive and practical — not lectures
- Held twice a month, on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays
- Open to members at any point in the year
- Topics repeat so members can reinforce skills over time
- Always welcoming and paced for comfort
Core skills covered include:
-
Confidence & communication basics
-
Conversation, texting, and technology etiquette
-
Boundaries, consent, and red flags
-
Friendship skills and social planning
-
Dating foundations, asking out, and first dates
-
Big feelings like rejection, breakups, and disappointment
Members never have to share personal information unless they choose to. Participation is encouraged — not required.
What Coaching Is
Coaching gives you personalized support with real-life relationship questions and goals.
It's:
- Guided by trained relationship coaches
- Flexible — you can join consistently or only when you want help
- Collaborative — we decide together what your goals are and what we work on each session
- Respectful of your communication preferences
Coaching can help with:
-
Practicing conversations
-
Setting boundaries
-
Preparing for social situations
-
Processing feelings after dates
- Building confidence and self-advocacy
Workshops + Coaching: How They Work Together
Think of workshops as group learning and coaching as individual support. Together, they help members grow confidence while maintaining independence.
Use workshops to:
Use coaching to:
Meet Our Coaches
Find Love Safely coaching sessions are led by trained relationship coaches who work closely with our founder to ensure a consistent, safety-first approach.
Coaching programs and standards are designed and overseen by Find Love Safely’s founder to ensure thoughtful, consistent support across all sessions.
Mary Tousignant, OT
Mary Tousignant, OT is a PEERS®-certified relationship coach, trained in an evidence-based curriculum used internationally to teach friendship, communication, dating, and relationship skills to teens and adults. Mary brings a unique blend of clinical expertise, real-world-social coaching, and lived experience as a parent of a young adult on the autism spectrum.
Her coaching focuses on practical, real-world skills — from starting conversations and making friends to navigating dating, boundaries, and online safety — all taught in a supportive, respectful, and judgment-free way.
Mary's coaching expertise includes:
- Occupational therapy perspective
- Real-world skill building
- PEERS®-informed coaching
- Boundary setting
- Emotional regulation support
- Skill generalization
- Strengths-based approach
- Executive functioning awareness
- Family collaboration
- Lived parent experience
- ...and much more!
Paige LaSota
Paige LaSota is a healthy relationships educator for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and holds a degree in disability studies. She understands the unique complexities individuals and their support systems face when it comes to romance and relationships. That’s why Paige is dedicated to creating more opportunities for safe, meaningful connections.
Paige's coaching expertise includes:
- Types of relationships
- Healthy and unhealthy relationships/actions
- Boundaries
- Consent
- Get away and tell someone
- Private vs public places and actions
- Crushes and romantic relationships
- Conflict resolution
- Online safety
- Self image and self love
- ...and much more!
Choosing a Coach
Members and families may share a coach preference when enrolling in coaching or the Concierge Program. We do our best to honor preferences whenever possible while balancing availability and scheduling.
In some cases, our team may recommend a coach based on goals, support needs, or timing to ensure the best fit.
- Sessions are 60 minutes
- Coaching is collaborative and encouraging
- Members guide the conversation with support from the coach
- Caregiver involvement, when appropriate, is discussed in advance
Our goal is to help members feel more confident, prepared, and supported — not overwhelmed.
Coaching Scheduling & Attendance
We understand that life happens, and flexibility matters — especially when schedules, support needs, or technology can change.
At the same time, our coaches reserve dedicated time for each session. To support consistency and sustainability, we ask that families review the following:
- Coaching sessions canceled 24 hours or more in advance may be rescheduled without penalty.
- Sessions canceled with less than 24 hours’ notice, or missed without notice, are considered completed sessions.
- For Concierge members, missed sessions count toward the monthly session.
- For add-on coaching, missed sessions are not refunded.
If challenges arise around scheduling, technology, or support needs, we encourage reaching out. Our team is always happy to problem-solve and adjust when appropriate.
New City Thank-You
Extra support when communities are growing.
Members who join Find Love Safely in newly launched cities receive complimentary access to our live virtual coaching workshops for their first three months as a thank-you for joining early.
Ready to Begin Your Journey?
We are excited to meet you and help you on your journey toward friendship and love.