Welcome!

Hello, my name is Tarah Groettum. I have a LONG story as many do, but mine brings some light to my professional career and why I connect so well with clients, families, and those I serve. They say to best connect with those you serve is to have experience walking in their shoes. Well, I have not walked in your shoes, but I may have some life experiences more like yours than you think... As a young teen I struggled to find an adult I could trust enough to tell my story. I struggled to find the guidance, support, and insight from those around me, which led me to believe that I could only do things on my own, trust and depend on myself. This now supports me in meeting children and adolescents where they are; in addition to making the connection needed to properly support and understand them. 

Life then threw me a curve ball when I gave birth to my daughter in 2000, 3 days before I graduated high school, which is when I found the love and purpose for my life that I had been longing for. At this time, I experienced single parenting, working three part time jobs, attending college full time: all while trying to understand my daughter's reasons for big reactions and meltdowns. During this time there were also years of ongoing medical appointments, numerous sets of ear tubes, hearing aids (off and on), and etc. trying to find the answers or reasons for my daughter’s discomfort being displayed in several ways. It was not until my daughter turned 9 years old when she was diagnosed with PDD-NOS at that time, which was a “forever" changing experience for everyone involved. Reason being, for so LONG she has been misunderstood, mistreated, and WRONGED by everyone around her, "myself included" unfortunately!

Now take a step back to 2007 for a moment. I graduated with my bachelor’s in psychology, 2 weeks later married my high school sweetheart, followed by the birth of our son in 2008. Our son was non-verbal for the first four and a half years of his life. Our son, also diagnosed with autism when he was 4 years old. However, this experience (like my daughter’s) required MANY hours of medical exams, assessments, phone calls and emails on my part to advocate for him across settings. Professionals at that time referred to his situation as “learned behaviors” or learned helplessness” due to having an older sibling with autism. After MANY hours and sessions of therapy (speech, occupational, behavioral); enrollment in the birth to three program, ECSE program and finally implementation of my own “personalized” homemade programing at the time (based on my own research and knowledge of ABA); our son was able to communicate verbally by the age of 4 and a half. 

After years of experience and therapies with autism at this point in addition to a bachelor's in psychology, I decided that it only made sense to obtain my master's in counseling. During this time (2012-2015), I founded and lead the Veteran and Nontraditional Student Center (VNSC), Got Kids (parent support group) and Beta Nu Phi (counseling honor's society) for the University of Wisconsin Superior (UWS).

There was a great deal of things that took place from 2015-2021. However, I want to share two notable events that occurred during this time with you. In 2019, our son (great nephew) came to live with us at 4 days old. This was an AMAZING time as my husband, and I were in our late 30's and "starting over" again so to speak. It was "different" putting a crib together and starting over when our current children at that time were ages 19 and 12 (that day). However, I would NOT change it for the world! At times it has been challenging, the foster care rules, regulations, court hearings, county involvement and MANY layers involved with the kinship process and transfer of permanent legal and physical custody (TPLPC). However, our son is a blessing and perfect addition to our family!

In 2021, I decided to have myself tested for autism due to all of the research regarding genetic links, having a known positive family history of autism, what my mother disclosed about my own developmental delays and childhood behaviors (once she became more informed); in addition to the many aspects of my life, behaviors, relationships, interactions and etc. that simply did not make sense to me. After extensive testing, assessments and questionnaires for myself, my mother, and my husband (who again has known me "well" since we were teens) provided me with results of an autism diagnosis. Therefore, I decided to receive a specialization in autism. After all, I have personal autism experience as a parent, professional autism experience as a counselor and now identified and "validated" lived experience as an autistic individual.

I have previously worked for a variety of companies, corporations, and/or nonprofits over the years, as you seen in my previous mentioned experience. Each provided me with a new knowledge base, experience, and training specific to their expectations and/or organization. Therefore, I have a plethora of techniques, methods and skill sets to utilize as needed. The reason I am now in private practice is due to my passion in "autism", supporting, advocating, and ensuring others do not go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, as my daughter and I did for so many years. To support self-acceptance, self-compassion, resources, and referrals to "avoid" feeling alone in the world, like it is you against the world or like it is you against the diagnosis. I will do everything I can to support you in meeting your personal goals and expectations for yourself because you ARE worth it, and you ARE AMAZING too!