About us

About Us | The Practical Brain

Our mission

Help busy parents and educators calm the chaos and unlock learning with simple, science-based tools that work in real life, not just on paper.

What we do

We coach parents, teachers, and schools to reduce disruptive behavior, strengthen routines, and enhance focus; both on-site in Northeast Indiana and virtually via Zoom. Our support includes 1:1 parent coaching, classroom observations with side-by-side teacher coaching, and practical professional development that you can implement the same day.

Our approach (science, simplified)

You’ll never get a 40-page binder from us. Instead, we co-create tiny, high-leverage moves that compound:

  • Clear routines & visuals (morning, transitions, homework)

  • First–then plans and structured choices to build motivation

  • Behavior-specific praise and reinforcement menus to shape habits

  • Calm de-escalation scripts with 10–15 seconds of wait time

  • Easy progress tracking you can complete in under five minutes

Why these work: job-embedded coaching reliably changes adult practice and student outcomes (Kraft et al., 2018). Effective classroom management improves engagement and reduces disruptions (Simonsen et al., 2008). Social-emotional learning and executive-function supports lift both behavior and academics (Durlak et al., 2011; Diamond & Ling, 2016). Parent coaching is a first-line, evidence-based support for ADHD and disruptive behavior (Wolraich et al., 2019; Lundahl et al., 2006).

Meet Ana Salazar, Founder

Ana is a behavior specialist and parenting coach who blends ABA-informed strategies, school psychology practices, and Conscious Discipline–aligned language into tools families and teachers can use tonight. She’s coached K–8 educators, collaborated with multidisciplinary teams, and helped hundreds of families translate complex research into simple routines that stick. Ana also offers faith-integrated language upon request for Catholic schools and families, rooted in dignity, relationship, and personal responsibility.

Who we serve

  • Parents navigating meltdowns, refusal, sibling conflict, ADHD/ASD needs, sleep/screens, and homework stress

  • Teachers & schools seeking consistent Tier 1/2 routines, de-escalation capacity, and classroom coaching

What changes with The Practical Brain

  • Before: Power struggles at home and class time lost to disruption; unclear next steps; rising stress for everyone.

  • After: Predictable routines, quicker de-escalations, measurable gains in on-task behavior, and more peace—at home and in school.

How we work (fast and realistic)

  1. Listen & pinpoint two priority stress points.

  2. Co-design one simple routine and one reinforcement plan.

  3. Practice & coach with short scripts and live feedback.

  4. Measure & refine with five-minute data snapshots.

  5. Align home and school so kids hear the same words in both places.

Our values

  • Dignity & relationship: We teach, not punish.

  • Clarity & consistency: Fewer words, better routines, repeatable wins.

  • Evidence & practicality: Only strategies you can do in under five minutes.

  • Partnership: Parents, teachers, and students working on the same team.

Service area & formats

  • On-site: Northeast Indiana (Allen, DeKalb, Noble, Whitley, Huntington, Wells, Adams, LaGrange, Steuben)

  • Virtual: Secure Zoom sessions for families and schools anywhere

Ready to begin?

Tell us your top two challenges; we’ll build a workable plan you can use tonight, then walk with you until calm becomes the new normal.

Request a quote • Schedule a consultation (Zoom or on-site)