Khalon Family Services has provided my daughter with a shadow at her preschool. Her behavior is improving as she is learning to make good choices and be aware of her emotions and her body. The proprietor, Vanessa, provides a high touch relationship and meets our family for dinner weekly where she gives my daughter additional therapy. We send our daughter to the KFS school during holidays from our regular preschool plus one day a week. She's made instant best friends with the other pupils. The atmosphere is relaxed where kids can learn in a way that is comfortable for them. She learns more in her one day a week at KFS school than all week in preschool. And comes home "brain tired". I highly recommend this service for your family if you have a kid that isn't thriving at regular school and gets in trouble a lot. read more

I have been volunteering with KFS for the past 4 months and have experienced nothing but the utmost kindness and understanding from the instructors and students alike. I started my work with KFS as part of my university curriculum but continued because of the culture that the school has created. Vanessa and her team gives each student their own unique approach to education and approach their students an immense amount of patience and empathy. As a volunteer, the instructors provided me with advice and assistance but also gave me the space to develop my own role in interacting with the students. All in all, I can say from my experience with KFS that each student is given a safe and understanding environment to obtain their education and that every instructor is very good about keeping in contact with parents as well as ensuring each student completes their individual curriculum. read more

I've just completed the Yoga Education for Autism Spectrum (YEAS) training and I have to say it was amazing. Not only did Vanessa provide us with great materials and resources, she also gave us hands on training where we could practice the techniques and methods and immediately get feedback. I would recommend this training to anyone who is looking for an alternative yet powerful and effective way to assist children with special needs. You don't need to be a yoga teacher to benefit from this training either. Simply having basic knowledge of yoga, and knowing how to build rapport with children is really all you need to get started. As a preschool teacher I am really excited to incorporate my YEAS training into my curriculum and with the tools Vanessa has given me I feel confident that I can use yoga to benefit all of the children in my classroom. read more

Vanessa and her team were life savers. At age 3, our child struggled with the preschool environment (sensory overload among other things) and we were faced with the option of having to move him out. We were also contemplating a big family move and the thought of too many changes for our child was overwhelming. Vanessa coached us as parents on how we could improve things. She then placed us with one of her amazing team members, Shalom, who worked in the classroom with our son and the teachers for about 1 year until our move. He loved her! We loved her! I cried so much when I had to say goodbye! When your kid doesn't fit the "mold" for whatever reason: language delays, sensory overload, behavioral problems, timidness, autism spectrum, unable to sit still in circle time, too much energy, too little energy, boredom, sensitivity to foods or sunscreen, they can help. Your child is made to feel loved, special and cared for like the individual they are. Her interventions really work. Her team really gets child development. Best of all, everyone benefits. The teachers get more help for their classrooms, which in preschools can be understaffed, they get more training on child development and behavior, parents get support and the kids love Vanessa and her team! In the dream scenario, all schools would have people like Vanessa and Shalom around! I am forever grateful that this service existed to get us through this very stressful period on our family and through their help our son now really enjoys learning and going to school. read more

We have known and worked with Vanessa for going on four years. She worked with my now 7yo son who is on the autism spectrum, first with yoga specifically to help him regulate his body and overcome his anxiety and later with more traditional behavioral therapy and intervention strategies. I can say without hesitation that her way of intuitively working with my son and her open communication with me made our journey through those difficult years far easier and encouraged speech and regulation far swifter in our son than any traditional ABA had thus far. Vanessa's is singular in the world of early intervention in that she goes to individualized modalities straight off the bat. She is amazing at building a swift rapport and identifying what is best for the child, even when it's outside of the norm of the usual therapy process. Many of us parents with an ASD diagnoses are overwhelmed, terrified, and exhausted, and are prone to just going with the flow of therapy, even when it goes against what we feel might be best for our child. To have someone come into your home and say, "You know your child best...let's get through this together" is revelatory. Vanessa truly cares for her kids, wants them to find their places in this world, and works with the parents instead of cutting them out of the process. She is clear and direct about the how and what of what needs to be done and will walk with you for as long as you need her. I cannot recommend Vanessa enough. read more

I had been having many problems with my 14 month old's eating behaviors so a parent friend of mine recommended that I try Kahlon Family Services. I was immediately struck by Vanessa's friendliness and ability to listen empathically to my struggles. Over a couple months, Vanessa taught me many strategies to get my son to eat finally! Her approach was non-intrusive and she preferred to do her work in a natural setting, which I find to much more useful than just talking about the problem. My son was instantly at ease with Vanessa and I found her to be very trusting and easy to get along with. I highly recommend Kahlon Family Services if you are looking for someone who can help you with any behavioral challenges you may be facing with your child, whether they are typically developing or having special needs. A bonus I enjoyed was hearing tips about how I can use some yoga practices and stretches to help alleviate anxiety and stress between myself and my baby. It seems that Vanessa uses a holistic approach to behavioral change, which is hard to find these days among the more traditional forms of behavioral therapy. Angie T. read more

I am an educational consultant specializing in learning-challenged students, and am happy to recommend Vanessa for her knowledge-based, but still intuitive, approach to treating children with special needs. She has a unique talent for integrating behavioral treatment for the child with the requirements of the entire family. Her natural empathy for the child naturally extends to parents and siblings, who are struggling to manage the day-to-day pressure and stress of their family lives. Being able to combine academic training, clinical experience, and personal warmth and compassion is Vanessa's special gift to the Bay Area. As one who works daily with challenged children, I can recommend her wholeheartedly. S. McCormick, www.satclinic.com read more

I met Vanessa Kahlon when I began volunteering with her to learn more about her practice. She was so warm, welcoming, and eager to share her experiences and knowledge with me. Vanessa's abilitiy to recognize each child's unique needs and learning styles allows them to optimize their developmental and learning potential. Her enthusiasm and caring personality paired with her patience and years of expertise makes her successful in her practice and affecting positive change. She is at the forefront of her field and truly knows what she is doing! read more

As a grandmother it pained me to watch my daughter-in-law and son going through the struggles with their beautiful daughter, Mia, who has been diagnosed with autism. However, when Mia started working with Kahlon Family Services, my granddaughter had this wonderful positive change in behavior. Her concentration improved and her outbursts of anger diminished significantly. I'm not saying that Mia is perfect, but she is so much calmer and I am so grateful to Vanessa and her staff. I can't thank them enough. read more

Kahlon Family Services - Vanessa came to us after 4 other behaviorists that were not even in the ballpark. In one visit, she changed our lives - all of us. She is practical and will not give you an annoying reading list of photocopies or books. She will give you some immediate remedies. Our child is no longer violent in our home or anywhere. He is happy and we are enjoying him. She works with and for the family, so everyone gets a cure. I would trust her with my life. She will tell you immediately if she cannot help you because she is an honest and practical person that wants your life to be so good that you don't have to call her anymore. She is intuitive and truthful. She is fair and kind. She understands real people with real problems. She does not judge you. She helps you. read more

I cannot say enough kind things about how grateful we are to have found Vanessa, upon the recommendation of our 2nd Preschool Director. We worked with Vanessa and her team of shadows from KFS to support our son during the last year of preschool, while he worked through some behavioral changes and medical issues that made it difficult to concentrate for long periods of time. Vanessa offered an honest assessment of what we were dealing with and was able to formulate a plan for the staff that supported his energy, and his well-being. She pinpointed a crucial element to triggers in his behavior surrounding learning, which involved self-esteem, something previous schools had not spotted or even sought to work through. She is very involved with the children, puts them at ease while demanding respect in a non-threatening way, and truly cares to see them succeed. Most importantly, she and her staff do not shy away from "difficult" scenarios. Our child adores her, and came to love every shadow she sent our way, as they were well-trained and capable. The shadows offered unparalleled support and guidance not only to my child, but to the staff. They provided a sense of calm to our situation, and to his daily activities. Vanessa is amazing, and full of heart towards her "kids". She is a true asset if you find that your current school is lacking in their ability to handle a child they have deemed "difficult" or not a "good fit". She provided our school with many techniques for addressing behaviors, and is uniquely in tune with the students she works with. My son trusted Vanessa and her team, as did we, and she is a truly caring and professional caregiver. I found that her staff reflected this same attitude. Our son thrived under her and her teams care. Our son entered Kindergarten full of confidence, and equipped with tools for coping, and self-regulating, that have allowed him to be successful in his class with no shadow needed. In my opinion, that is a direct result of the lessons he learned from KFS, and we are beyond grateful for the wonderful service they provided. read more

We have a toddler who was rather aggressive in interacting with his peers at 24 months. Although it's not an infrequent problem, being that impulse control and appropriate social interaction are still developing at this age, it was made clear to us that we had to do something as the teachers at daycare were at a complete loss as to how to manage the situation. Vanessa's holistic approach to behavioral modification and coaching was what caught my attention but her warmth and dedication was what made me decide to work with her. Within a month, we saw a difference in our son and he has made incredible progress just a few months! Our son has learnt to verbalize his desires to his peers instead of just adults, is a lot calmer and plays very well now with other kids either in class or in other social situations. Both his teachers and our friends have all commented on the difference. Needless to say, our stress levels have also decreased significantly! Vanessa clearly has a gift for working with children and getting effective outcomes. She is empathic, warm and has a great sense of humor. She also loves working with kids and I think kids sense that and trust her. Whether your child has special needs or simply needs some coaching for behavioral modification, she is an amazing resource. We are thankful that people like her exist!!! read more

My son has participated in Vanessa's yoga class for the last year and has really enjoyed it. He is learning about body awareness and core strength which is helping him to develop as a teenage boy. Socially he has made new friends and built better relationships with others. Great Job! read more

I have been working with Vanessa and her staff since April of 2014. I was referred to their services by a psychologist who said "I don't think your autism spectrum son needs any more play or talk therapy. It's time for some behavioral work in the home." Kahlon Family Services is making a huge difference in my middle school-aged son's life - helping him get more comfortable in the world, learn the life skills that are delayed because of his disabilities, learn and practice better social interactions, and become more cooperative, helpful and trustworthy in the home. This work has had a positive effect on all of us in the family - my daughter, and especially me. Vanessa's services are well-rounded, personal, convenient, flexible and direct. We are seeing real practical gains and massive behavioral improvements week to week, and we look forward to connecting the dots further in the fall by adding her tutoring services. I have often wondered and said to her: "Where have you been all my life?!" read more

As a yoga teacher and behaviorist, Vanessa has been an amazing resource for our young adult daughter who is on the autism spectrum and has anxiety and anger issues. After just a few home sessions our daughter began to do yoga on her own, between sessions with Vanessa, and her yoga practice has become an effective tool for managing her anxiety and building her self-confidence. Vanessa's behavioral skills and easy, natural manner were critical in her success with our daughter. We are so grateful! read more

I recently completed the Yoga Education for Autism Spectrum (YEAS) training and it was amazing! I am teach special ed and children's yoga. I use yoga in my classroom and have been looking for a training for children with special needs for awhile. Most trainings are geared for high functioning children, but that is not the population I work with. Vanessa's approach to working with children with special needs was exactly what I was looking for. She provided an overview of what Autism is for the participants who had little or no experience working with children with special needs and logically progressed to strategies that could be used to bring yoga to children that are non-verbal, physically challenged and struggling to manage their behaviors. She walked us through a typical session and gave us case study scenarios to organize and teach our own session during the training. I was able to take what I learned and immediately adapt my yoga sessions with the children that I currently work with. I noticed monumental changes in just a couple of sessions! read more