About
At the Heart of our Practice Lies a Simple Truth
At the Heart of our Practice Lies a Simple Truth
Every person deserves commitment and compassion on their journey forward. We believe this journey should be supported with experience, clear communication, and genuine collaboration.
About
At the Heart of our Practice Lies a Simple Truth
At the Heart of our Practice Lies a Simple Truth
Every person deserves commitment and compassion on their journey forward. We believe this journey should be supported with experience, clear communication, and genuine collaboration.
Empowering Success: Our Story
Empowering Focus, Flow, and Real-World Success
Focus Forward Coaching, Learning & Wellness was created from a simple but powerful realization:
So many capable, intelligent, and motivated people aren’t struggling because they don’t know what to do—
they’re struggling because they don’t have the systems, clarity, or support to actually follow through.
What started as one-on-one work rooted in education and executive function quickly revealed a bigger pattern. Students, professionals, and families were all experiencing the same thing—overwhelm, inconsistency, procrastination, and a constant feeling of being capable of more… but not quite accessing it.
There was a gap.
Traditional approaches were either focused on what to do (strategies, plans, advice)
or how you feel (support, encouragement, mindset)…
but rarely both, and almost never in a way that translated into real, daily execution.
Focus Forward was built to bridge that gap.
At the core of our work is the belief that success comes from understanding how you think, how you work, and what actually matters—then building systems that support that.
This is where our approach, the Focus & Flow Lens™, comes in.
We help clients:
- Build awareness of their patterns, strengths, and challenges
- Identify what truly matters (not just what feels urgent)
- Create practical systems that support focus, efficiency, and follow-through
Our work sits at the intersection of executive function, efficiency, and human potential.
Today, we support:
- Students, including twice-exceptional (2E) learners
- Professionals and executives navigating performance and productivity
- Driven individuals experiencing shifts in focus, energy, or clarity
Whether in-person in the Washington, DC area or virtually, our coaching is personalized, practical, and designed for real life—not perfection.
Because when focus becomes clear and systems actually work—flow follows.
If you’re ready to move from overwhelmed to intentional,
from scattered to focused,
from stuck to moving forward—
we’re here to help.
Love,
Founder of Focus Forward Coaching, Learning & Wellness
Kristelle
– Executive Function & Life Coaching Expert in Washington, DC
Kristelle Kambanis, Founder
Kristelle Kambanis is the Founder of Focus Forward Coaching, Learning & Wellness and a specialist in executive function, ADHD, and efficiency coaching.
She works with students, professionals, and driven individuals who are capable and motivated—but feel scattered, stuck, or inconsistent in their follow-through. Her work focuses on helping clients move from knowing what to do… to actually doing it.
Kristelle is the creator of the Focus & Flow Lens™, a framework designed to help clients build awareness of how they think and work, identify what truly matters, and develop systems that support sustained focus, clarity, and momentum.
With a background in education and years of experience working with both students and adults—including twice-exceptional (2E) learners and high-performing professionals—Kristelle brings a unique blend of strategy and coaching. Her approach is practical, personalized, and rooted in real-life application.
She is especially passionate about supporting individuals navigating executive function challenges, ADHD, and evolving seasons of life that impact focus and performance—including women experiencing shifts in cognitive clarity and energy.
As a mother of four, Kristelle also brings a deeply personal understanding of the complexities of executive function in everyday life—insight that shapes her work and strengthens her ability to connect with clients and families.
Her goal is simple: help people work smarter, build confidence, and create systems that actually work for them.
The Team
The Focus Forward team blends certified coaching, decades of classroom teaching, and clinical mental health training to meet every client — student, professional, or parent — exactly where they are. Together we bring structure, empathy, and a parent’s lived perspective, turning executive function strategies into tools that hold up in real life, not just on paper.
Kristy Swarthout
– Executive Functioning Coach
Kristy Swarthout is an Executive Functioning Coach with over 24 years of experience in the field of education. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Maryland and a Master’s degree in Education from Johns Hopkins University.
Kristy began her career in the classroom, teaching both second and fifth grade, where she developed a strong foundation in supporting diverse learners. She later served as a consulting teacher for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), where she coached and mentored both novice and struggling teachers, helping to strengthen instructional practices and improve student outcomes. In recognition of her impact and dedication, she was honored as Teacher of the Year for MCPS.
Kristy’s approach to executive functioning coaching is thoughtful, practical, and highly individualized. She partners with students to build essential skills in organization, planning, time management, and self-monitoring, while fostering confidence, independence, and accountability. She is deeply committed to helping each learner develop systems that work for them and translate into lasting success.
Outside of her professional work, Kristy is the proud mother of three children and enjoys traveling with her family, as well as playing tennis and mahjong in her free time.
Brittany Schiavone
– Coach
Brittany Schiavone is an Executive Functioning Coach with a background in clinical psychology and integrative health coaching. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Spanish from Salisbury University and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Social Work with a clinical focus at the University of Maryland. Brittany is also a Certified Integrative Health Coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.
Brittany’s professional experience includes working as an Admissions Clinician at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health, where she supported comprehensive psychological evaluations and collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to guide care for adolescents and young adults. She also has experience leading therapeutic after-school groups for elementary-aged students, focused on building confidence, emotional regulation, and social skills.
Her approach to executive functioning coaching is both structured and strengths-based. Brittany works collaboratively with students to build practical skills in organization, planning, task initiation, and follow-through, while also fostering self-awareness, confidence, and independence. She integrates practical skill-building with a focus on overall well-being, helping students better understand how they think, learn, and succeed. Brittany prioritizes creating a warm, approachable environment where clients feel supported and empowered in their growth.
Outside of her work, Brittany enjoys staying active, spending time outdoors, and traveling. As the oldest of five siblings, she brings a natural sense of energy, empathy, and connection to the work she does with students and families.
What is Coaching?
The purpose of coaching is simple yet profound: to help you develop the awareness, strategies, and accountability needed to overcome obstacles and achieve your goals. Whether you’re struggling with ADHD/executive function challenges or seeking clarity in your life direction, coaching provides the structured support system that traditional advice often lacks.
For Students & Families
Students who:
- Struggle with homework completion and deadlines
- Have difficulty starting or finishing projects
- Need help organizing materials and planning long-term assignments
- Want to build independence while managing learning differences
For Working Professionals
Adults who:
- Feel overwhelmed by competing priorities
- Start projects but rarely finish them
- Need better systems to manage increasing responsibilities
- Want to improve work-life integration
For Business Executives
Leaders who:
- Need to optimize decision-making processes
- Want to develop more effective leadership approaches
- Seek a confidential sounding board for strategic planning
- Are navigating significant organizational changes
About Focus Forward: Coaching, Learning & Wellness
At Focus Forward, we believe that unlocking human potential is the key to transformative learning and growth. Our life coaching and executive function coaching services are designed to be nuanced, personalized, and results-driven, recognizing that every individual, team, and organization has unique strengths, challenges, and communication styles.
We don’t just offer strategies—we partner with our clients to turn potential into action. Whether guiding students, professionals, families, or executives, we help refine executive function skills, strengthen leadership abilities, and improve productivity with evidence-based, neuroscience-backed techniques tailored to each person’s needs.
Why Choose Us?
With a background in education and an executive function specialization we bring both professional expertise and real-world insight to our work. We understand the challenges of managing priorities and have fine-tuned strategies that empower individuals to build organization, improve focus, and create sustainable success.
Whether you’re a student seeking academic support, a family looking for guidance, or a professional striving for career growth, we’re here to help you take control of your time, productivity, and future.
Let’s Work Together
Unlocking potential starts with one insight, one strategy, and one breakthrough at a time.
Schedule a complimentary consultation today to begin your journey toward success.
The Coaching Process
We Provide Strategic Guidance and Support
After witnessing countless students and families struggling to find proper support, we expanded our educational consulting practice. Like a ship navigating challenging waters, every life journey needs a skilled captain – someone who can coordinate between various providers, teach essential skills, and provide steady guidance while maintaining forward momentum.
Our consulting services focus on:
- Validating and addressing your concerns about your child’s learning
- Creating actionable plans to support their academic growth
- Identifying effective learning supports and interventions
- Offering research-based insights for challenging situations
- Providing a space where your voice is heard and your expertise as a parent is valued