Irena is a college admissions expert, writer, and mother of three whose family has navigated complex challenges including autism, learning differences, severe anxiety and depression, and substance use disorder. Over the past 12 years, she and her family experienced multiple treatment paths, including wilderness therapy, a journey she chronicles in her memoir, The Golden Ticket. Today, through her writing and her newsletter, The Curmudgeon’s Guide to College Admissions, Irena helps parents expand their understanding of success and possibility for their children.