About Me
I support neurodivergent adults and parents navigating complex life transitions — including pregnancy, loss, and early parenthood.
Many of the people I work with have spent years trying to function within systems that were never designed for their nervous systems. My work helps them better understand their bodies, reduce overwhelm, and build lives that feel more sustainable and authentic.
My Story
In 2005, my first child, Norbert, was stillborn. Fourteen months later my daughter Roxie was born, and I experienced years of undiagnosed postpartum PTSD. At the time there was little awareness of mental health challenges during pregnancy, postpartum, or after pregnancy and infant loss.
It was only once I had the courage to share my story of pregnancy loss publicly—through the film Return to Zero—that I began to connect with other parents who had experienced the unimaginable.
I had always been a very private person, so sharing my story publicly felt uncomfortable and vulnerable. But breaking the silence helped me feel less alone, reduced shame, and validated my experience.
Much later I discovered that I am neurodivergent (Autistic-ADHD). This realization has been life-changing. It gave me language and understanding for how my nervous system works and how I move through the world.
Advocacy & Community Work
In 2018, I founded Return to Zero: Hope a nonprofit dedicated to transforming the culture of pregnancy and infant loss through education, advocacy, and community support. This work grew directly from my own experience of loss and the lack of compassionate, informed care available at the time. Through advocacy, education, and storytelling, I have worked to increase awareness and improve support for families navigating pregnancy and infant loss.
My Professional Background
My work brings together lived experience with professional training and research.
My areas of focus include:
Neurodivergence across the reproductive lifespan
Nervous system regulation and sensory processing
Parenthood and early family transitions
Pregnancy and infant loss
Pregnancy after loss
I take a holistic, strengths-based approach that considers how nervous system functioning, sensory experiences, environment, and life transitions interact to shape wellbeing.
Credentials
Doctorate in Occupational Therapy
Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy
Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C)
Founder — Return to Zero: HOPE
A Little More About Me
Outside of my professional work, I enjoy baking, yoga, singing in a community choir, and working on wooden puzzles. I live in Southern California with my family.
Return to Zero: Hope
In 2018, Kiley founded Return to Zero: Hope (RTZ), a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve mental health through the advancement of pregnancy and infant loss awareness, education, and support. RTZ consists of a community of bereaved families and their health providers who are transforming the culture of pregnancy and infant loss.
