Congratulations! You just graduated.
Now what?
LaunchPad is a personalized 6-month gap year program that helps you build self-awareness, try things out, and gain clarity about what comes next
Who this program is for:
You’re about to graduate from high school and have no idea what’s next. Everyone keeps asking about your plans, but you’re still figuring out what you actually want, and where to start.
You’re not ready for college yet and want to take a Gap Year to rest, recharge, and get ready for what’s ahead.
You may have graduated and still not found your groove. Maybe you’ve taken a few steps, but something’s missing. You’re ready to get clear about what you really want and how to get there.
You’ve tried college, and it’s not going the way you hoped. You want to take a break or change direction. You need time to figure out what’s actually right for you.
You know what you want, but you struggle with focus and attention and you need support that understands and honors your neurodivergent learning style.
Schedule a 15-minute Zoom call to explore whether this program is right for you.
“Tina would encourage me every time I would meet with her — not just by telling me I should aim for something, but motivating me to want to take myself to that level. ”
“Figuring out what I wanted to do after graduation was daunting to say the least. What began as math tutoring turned more into mentorship. I always felt that Tina treated me like an adult, and valued what I had to say. She created a space where I could ask questions, and she gave me real answers”
“Tina encouraged me to take my time deciding what path to take, and I ended up taking a gap year before starting college. I’m glad I did because I got to see and feel what it’s like to be adult in the world. I learned so much about myself and got a better perspective on my life choices.”
How It Works
We’ll meet weekly for 75-minute sessions—24 in total over six months—either online or in person at my office in Portland, OR. Each session is recorded, and you’ll also have access to me between sessions for a little extra support when you need it.
Together, we’ll design meaningful activities and experiments that feel relevant to you. One week you might design a fantasy vacation as a hands-on way to practice budgeting and estimating real-world expenses. Another, you’re painting or journaling to discover what creativity reveals about you. You might also cook a healthy meal to share with your neighbors. Or maybe you’re just trying to read and understand the news.
Each of these little experiments helps you build your own inner compass—so when it’s time to step out into the world, you can do it with clarity, confidence, and a better sense of who you are and where you’re headed.
Five themes run throughout the program, weaving together the core skills and perspectives you’ll build over 6 months.
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We’ll start with you—who you are, what matters most to you, and what makes you feel alive. You’ll get to try out some personality assessments, learn simple mindfulness practices, to listen inward and use parts work to meet different sides of yourself—some familiar, some unexpected, maybe even a little weird (in a good way.) We’ll also check out how other people have wrestled with the big question of “what kind of life do I want?” by looking at personal stories, interviews, or biographies.
The goal here is pretty simple: to know yourself better and to start building a real friendship with yourself.
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We’ll focus on what it takes to feel good in your own body and mind. We’ll cover sleep, food, exercise, screens, and substances—and how each one can affect your mood and energy. You’ll learn to use your body and your breath to help you stay focused, grounded, and energized. We’ll also look at how different brains work, especially if you consider yourself neurodivergent, and try out some strategies for staying focused on what matters to you.
This is your chance to practice habits and routines that actually support you, so you can feel more grounded, focused and confident just being yourself.
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We’ll get real about money. We’ll look at what it really costs to support yourself: rent, food, transportation, basics, and the random expenses that always show up. You’ll learn how to create a simple budget, track your spending, pay bills on time, and handle checking and savings accounts with confidence. We’ might even cover things like: reading a lease, understanding bank statements, using credit wisely, and getting clear on student loans so they don’t feel like a mystery.
This part is all about giving you the practical tools you need to feel capable, organized, and in charge of your own financial life.
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We’ll take a close look at your relationships —family, friends, maybe even dating and sexual intimacy. We’ll explore how to identify and communicate your feelings, needs, and values so you can show up more clearly and honestly with others. You’ll learn how to set boundaries that feel good, how to say yes with intention, and NO with confidence. We’ll also practice how to handle conflict without shutting down or blowing up, and how to repair ruptures with care so that trust can grow again.
This part is about experimenting with healthier ways of relating—so you feel more grounded, supported, and at ease in your connections with others.
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We'll also get a chance to zoom out and think about the bigger picture. How do you make sense of everything going on in the world — AI, climate change, politics—without feeling totally overwhelmed? We’ll start small, with your neighborhood or city, and look at ways you can connect with your community and make a difference. Then we’ll branch out into bigger questions: how to find groups that share your values, how to stay safe online, how to hold onto hope when things feel heavy.
This part is about learning how to take your place in the world with perspective, courage, and maybe even a little excitement
Learn more about the Launch Pad for High School Juniors & Seniors
Schedule a 15-minute Zoom call to explore whether this program is right for you.
More info for Parents