about us
MyPath is a therapeutic program and support community that respects and celebrates neurodiversity.
our mission
At MyPath, we empower individuals with autism and their families through joyful, relationship-based therapy that celebrates neurodiversity and honors each person’s unique journey.
It is our mission to bring relationship-based therapy to more families and help every child reach their full potential.
our story
Founded by Allison Westrup Pianka and Marcy Freedman Nirschel, a Certified DIRFloortime® Practitioner, MyPath is committed to eradicating the one-size-fits-all approach to supporting and treating individuals with neurodevelopmental delays, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)– changing the support experience for the autism community.
MyPath cofounders, Allison Westrup Pianka and Marcy Freedman Nirschel share a special bond. Both parents to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), they understand the unique challenges, fears, and feelings of parents sitting right where you are. They’ve been there – desperately trying to care for and connect with their children, set them up for success, and also keep their families (and themselves) together.
It was during one of these overwhelming moments three years ago that Allison first met Marcy, a specialist in something called DIRFloortime® therapy. Having witnessed her daughter struggle with behavioral therapy, Allison was eager to work with Marcy to find a therapeutic approach that worked. She quickly witnessed an acute difference in how her daughter was interacting with her, her family, and with other children. She was learning new ways to communicate, developing a sense of self-awareness, and was armed with a new set of tools that allowed her personality to shine. The rest is history.
It is now their collective vision to use MyPath as a way to give children with autism and their families a better path forward by advancing the availability of DIRFloortime® and complementary therapies in Fairfield County and the New York Metro area. Through MyPath, they are giving parents like themselves, who want nothing more than to help their children, a beacon of hope, a network of support, and most importantly, access to the global gold standard in autism therapy.
No parent should have to navigate these waters alone. MyPath is here to make sure you never have to.
our values
At the heart of it all, we’re here for you. We’ve been where you are, sometimes feeling lost or helpless, and alone in the harsh waters of advocating for our children with ASD. Even if it’s just an ear to lend, that’s what we’ll be, because you’re not alone.
how we do it
Offer individualized DIRFloortime® therapy, Alternative Communication approaches including The Spellers Method and Supported Typing, along with complementary therapies to individuals with autism of all ages
Support families with education, coaching, and advocacy
Foster an inclusive community of families, therapists and allies
Raise public awareness of DIRFloortime® as a powerfully effective and humane alternative to behavioral models like ABA
Expand access to high-quality care through our therapist training and placement program
Host workshops, events, and gatherings to build connection and community
Advocate for the autism community on a local, regional and national scale to make developmental therapy accessible to all
Our Team
Marcy Freedman Nirschel
Co-Founder and Clinical Director
Marcy Freedman Nirschel brings over three decades of experience in special education and therapeutic support to her role at MyPath. Her career began in the classroom, teaching special education in Stamford Public Schools and early childhood centers across Fairfield County, before starting her own clinical practice. For the past several years, she has worked as a dedicated DIRFloortime® practitioner, providing therapy rooted in respect, curiosity, and emotional connection in both home and school settings. She is a certified DIRFloortime® Expert, Training Leader, and Coach through the International Council on Development and Learning (ICDL), and is renowned as an authority on developmental therapies for autism in the state of Connecticut and New York metro region.
As a parent to a son with autism, Marcy understands firsthand the unique challenges that families face when seeking appropriate support and the best path forward for their child. Now with MyPath, she is dedicated to elevating DIRFloortime® as the gold standard in promoting holistic development in children with autism and other developmental challenges. She works closely with parents and caregivers to integrate therapeutic strategies into daily routines and is equally passionate about mentoring other clinicians and educators to adopt a collaborative, child-led approach.
In addition to her clinical work, Marcy has shared her expertise as a college guest speaker and on podcasts, where she has discussed autism, DIRFloortime®, and the importance of family-centered care. She was featured on the Maude LeRoux Academy’s Neuroscience YouTube channel, exploring autism and the benefits of the Tomatis Sound Therapy method. Additionally, she and her son were the focus of an article in the Dyspraxia DCD America publication. Through the years, Marcy has led educator workshops for DIRFloortime®, consulted with families and Fairfield County schools, and advocated for families at special education PPT meetings. At MyPath, she leads with empathy and experience, combining her training with lived insight to shape a therapeutic model that honors neurodiversity, fosters trust, and meets each child exactly where they are.
Marcy lives with her family in Fairfield County, CT.
Allison Westrup Pianka
Co-Founder and CEO
Allison Westrup Pianka brings over 14 years of experience in Operations, Finance, and Technology transformation to MyPath. Her career has been largely focused in redesigning complex, end-to-end global business processes & technology solutions – having led large scale transformation efforts & Workday implementation projects to enable Fortune 100 companies, including the world’s largest Hedge Fund, Bridgewater Associates, to effectively scale operations and streamline business processes.
Mother to an amazing daughter with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Allison is now using her business acumen to bring DIRFloortime®, and other alternative therapies, to the masses – increasing access to an underutilized, highly effective therapy, so that other families can experience its incredible benefits and see their child develop, reach important milestones, and confidently come into their own. She is in a unique position to leverage her strategic expertise and business acumen to scale MyPath, increase awareness of and access to DIRFloortime® in the US market, and advocate for children with autism and their families on a regional and national level.
A visionary dedicated to furthering MyPath’s mission, Allison is spearheading MyPath’s strategy for sourcing and retaining high quality talent to become qualified DIRFloortime® therapists in Connecticut, where currently there is an urgent need. She believes strongly in the importance of support networks, and is committed to doing all she can to elevate the therapy, care, and resource options for families throughout the region. Allison is currently working towards her DIRFloortime® Assistant (DFA) certification, and was recently named to Marquis’ list of Who’s Who in America.
Allison lives with her daughter in Fairfield County, CT.
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