About Kara Orlando

Hi, I’m Kara, a school psychologist, executive function coach, and advocate for neurodivergent learners. I live in Elmwood Park, Illinois with my husband, Abe, our dog Archie, and our cats Polly and Freddie. For more than 15 years, I’ve helped students and families navigate learning challenges, build confidence, and develop the skills they need to thrive inside and outside the classroom. 

My Background

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in School Psychology – The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
• Certified in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) – Cornell University

Professional Experience:

• 15+ years of experience supporting students across diverse Chicagoland communities, from early childhood through adolescence
• Extensive experience working with autistic students, ADHDers, anxious learners, twice-exceptional students, and those with learning, cognitive, emotional, and developmental differences

Why I Became an Executive Function Coach

Throughout my work as a school psychologist, I met countless bright, capable students who were struggling, not because they lacked motivation, but because they hadn’t been taught the skills their brains needed for organization, planning, emotional regulation, and follow-through.

I created Kind Mind Executive Function Coaching to offer personalized, strengths-based support that often isn’t available within traditional school systems. My goal is to help every student feel capable, understood, and empowered.

How I Support Students

In coaching, I help students:

• Strengthen executive function skills
• Build emotional regulation and resilience
• Navigate schoolwork with less overwhelm and more structure
• Understand how their brain works and what supports it best
• Develop personalized systems and tools that make daily life easier
• Grow internal confidence in their abilities over time

My approach integrates everything I’ve learned from collaborating with teachers, social workers, occupational and physical therapists, speech/language pathologists, and behavior specialists. Students receive holistic, coordinated support that considers their whole experience—not just grades or behavior.