ROCKLIN, CA, October 14, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Melissa J. Schulz, MS, BCBA, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Mrs. Schulz has established herself as a leading expert in supporting parents of strong-willed, highly sensitive and neurodivergent children, including those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism and other unique brain processes. Her career is marked by a commitment to empowering families and fostering resilience in both children and their caregivers.

In 2020, Mrs. Schulz founded Confidently Mommin', where she serves as a Parenting Coach for strong-willed, sensitive and neurodivergent kids. Over the past five years, she has developed two distinct coaching programs designed to meet the diverse needs of families. Initially focusing on one-on-one coaching, Mrs. Schulz has worked individually with parents, providing weekly sessions via Zoom to accommodate clients across the United States and other English-speaking regions.

Later, recognizing the importance of community support, Mrs. Schulz introduced a group coaching program that brings parents together in a supportive environment. This program features an online member portal with comprehensive video resources outlining her coaching process, opportunities for group coaching sessions and access to a dedicated Facebook group for ongoing support. The group format has proven especially beneficial for mothers seeking connection and affirmation from others facing similar challenges.

Mrs. Schulz's approach emphasizes helping families develop effective strategies for responding to challenging behaviors while maintaining strong connections with their children. She personalizes her methods to suit each child's needs and provides essential support for parents who often feel overwhelmed, guiding them in resetting their nervous systems to better manage their children's needs.

Prior to launching her coaching practice, Mrs. Schulz was the Founder and Executive Director of Discover Hope Behavioral Solutions Inc. from 2011 to 2023. She founded this in-home behavioral health company specializing in applied behavior analysis and led it for 12 years, growing the organization from a solo operation to a team of 75 employees. The company focused on supporting children with autism in their homes and communities by developing life skills such as communication and behavior management while also providing guidance to families navigating their children's needs. Through this work, Ms. Schulz discovered her passion for supporting parents of children with autism, a desire that ultimately inspired her transition into parent coaching.

In 2012, Ms. Schulz served as Program Director at the Center for Learning and Autism Support Services Inc., where she oversaw behavioral programming for children with autism spectrum disorders. From 2011 to 2012, she was the Clinical Director at Ed Support Services LLC, managing clinical operations and ensuring high-quality behavioral interventions for clients.

Earlier in 2011, Ms. Schulz held the position of Director of Behavioral Services at Pacific Autism Center for Education, where she supervised educational support within residential facilities for children facing severe behavioral challenges. From 2005 to 2011, she was Director of Behavioral Services at McKinley Children's Center, overseeing behavioral programs in schools, group homes and other settings serving children with significant behavioral needs. She began her career working in group homes and residential facilities, including a shelter for teenage girls.

Mrs. Schulz's academic background has been instrumental in shaping her expertise and leadership within the field. In 2009, she earned a Master's degree in counseling with an emphasis on school psychology and applied behavior analysis from California State University, Los Angeles. She also completed her undergraduate studies at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology in 2005. In addition to her academic credentials, she became a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst in 2009, a certification that has enabled her to develop and lead large-scale programming initiatives throughout her career.

Mrs. Schulz's journey into psychology began after initially majoring in business and computer science before discovering her true calling through coursework in psychology. Her professional path has been deeply influenced by both personal experience — two of her own children are neurodiverse — and her desire to help parents feel supported rather than judged as they navigate complex parenting challenges.

Throughout her career, Mrs. Schulz has demonstrated perseverance in the face of setbacks and credits much of her success to lessons learned from failure as well as the unwavering support of her family and faith. She is also an active member of several industry organizations, including the 200k Mastermind by Stacey Boehman and the California Association for Behavior Analysis.

Mrs. Schulz's achievements have garnered significant recognition within her field. She is particularly proud of being named one of the Top Five Coaches in the World by USA Today Online, a distinction based on peer recommendation that reflects her impact on both clients and fellow coaches within her professional network. Under her leadership, Discover Hope Behavioral Solutions Inc. was recognized among the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in both the San Francisco Bay Area and across the United States.

Committed to service, Ms. Schulz is actively involved in her church, where she has lead women's ministries and foster care ministries through local outreach efforts. She also serves as a Girl Scout leader, further demonstrating her dedication to empowering young people.

A sought-after speaker, Ms. Schulz has presented at numerous events, including Mom Con in 2025 as well as various moms' groups, women's groups, free training sessions and online webinars. She seeks to share insights on parenting neurodiverse children, build supportive communities and support mothers with tools and guidance.

Outside of her professional life, Ms. Schulz enjoys running marathons, reading both intellectually stimulating works and fantasy novels, taking her children on outings — especially to Disneyland — and spending quality time with family and friends.

Looking ahead, Ms. Schulz remains committed to helping clients achieve better outcomes while expanding her reach to positively impact more families. She values feedback as a tool for growth and continually seeks new ways to enhance efficiency within her practice while considering future projects like authoring a book.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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