Today we’d like to introduce you to Priscilla Ruiz.
Hi Priscilla, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey with Topy began long before the business itself ever existed.
As a former classroom teacher and district personnel member, and while pursuing my PhD in Psychology with an emphasis in School Psychology, I had a front-row seat to the realities inside our educational system. I saw bright, capable students falling through the cracks, not because they lacked ability, but because they lacked consistent social-emotional support. I witnessed classrooms stretched thin, parents unsure how to bridge gaps at home, and students with exceptionalities who needed more individualized life-skills coaching than schools were structurally able to provide.
At the same time, I was navigating my own personal journey as a mother of a son with several exceptionalities. Despite advocating tirelessly, I found that his needs were not being fully met within the traditional school environment. Eventually, I made the difficult decision to homeschool him. What struck me most during that time was how hard it was to find accessible, developmentally appropriate social-emotional and life-skills coaching, either in person or virtually. There were only academic supports and very scarce therapy options for kids. But there was a significant gap in structured, strengths-based coaching focused on emotional intelligence, regulation, communication, confidence, and real-world life skills.
That gap sparked something in me.
In 2021, Topy began as an idea and a curriculum framework. I poured my clinical training, educational background, and lived experience into designing research-based, developmentally aligned social-emotional lessons. In January 2024, I began with one client. By March and April, we had grown to three steady clients. That first summer, we launched small group sessions. Growth felt organic, meaningful, and aligned.
Fast forward to 2026, and Topy has now expanded beyond what I originally imagined. We now have two dedicated coaches, with plans to add another. We have supported numerous students and families across VPK-12th grade levels, offering individualized virtual SEL and life-skills coaching, parent coaching services, and this year, we expanded into Topy Insight Screening Services, designed to provide families with structured, accessible insight into areas of growth without replacing formal evaluations.
What began as a response to a deeply personal need has grown into a mission-driven organization supporting children and parents alike. Topy exists to bridge the gap between school, home, and emotional development, ensuring that no family feels alone in navigating their child’s social, emotional, or life-skills journey.
And truly, we are just getting started.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a completely smooth road, but the challenges have been meaningful and growth-producing.
One of the biggest challenges has been building this beautiful coaching practice while simultaneously finishing my PhD and homeschooling my three children. Balancing doctoral research, clinical work, curriculum development, coaching oversight, and motherhood requires constant prioritization, flexibility, and resilience. There were seasons of long nights, early mornings, and learning how to give myself grace while managing multiple roles. Entrepreneurship itself comes with uncertainty, and building something from the ground up while carrying those responsibilities has stretched me in every way, professionally and personally.
Another significant challenge has been visibility. There is clearly a need for what we offer. When families hear about Topy and understand the depth of our social-emotional coaching, life-skills development, parent coaching, and now our Insight Screening Services, they are often amazed and say they wish they had known about us sooner. However, getting the word out has not been easy. Marketing and expanding awareness beyond word-of-mouth referrals has been a hurdle.
Thankfully, we have grown organically through trust, relationships, and referrals, which speaks to the impact of the work. Our next chapter is focused on expanding our reach so more families can discover the support that already exists for them.
As you know, we’re big fans of topy.. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Topy is a virtual social-emotional learning and life-skills coaching organization designed to bridge the gap between school, home, and emotional development. We serve students from VPK through 12th grade, offering individualized, research-based coaching aligned with the CASEL five core competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
In addition to CASEL-based instruction, we support a wide range of real-life developmental needs. Our work often includes coaching around anxiety, emotional regulation, calming strategies, anger management, executive functioning, organization, transitions, confidence-building, communication challenges, and even early childhood concerns such as overcoming potty-training fears. The list is extensive because we listen closely to our families. When a parent shares a concern, we build a personalized coaching plan tailored specifically to that child’s developmental stage, strengths, and goals.
What sets Topy apart is that we are not tutoring and we are not traditional therapy, we are structured, intentional coaching that fills the space in between. Our approach blends educational expertise, clinical insight, and lived parenting experience. We focus on proactive skill-building, equipping children with tools they can apply immediately at school, at home, and in their daily lives.
We also offer parent coaching, where caregivers receive practical strategies, scripts, structure, and emotional support to reinforce growth at home. Just like our student services, parent coaching is personalized and responsive to each family’s needs.
In 2026, we expanded further by launching Topy Insight Screening Services, providing families with structured, accessible screening options to better understand areas of strength and growth. This allows parents to gain clarity while keeping support approachable and collaborative.
Brand-wise, I am most proud that Topy has remained mission-driven and heart-centered as we’ve grown. We have expanded our team, supported many families, and built our reputation organically through trust and word-of-mouth. Families often tell us they wish they had known about us sooner, that affirmation continues to drive our growth.
What I want readers to know is this: emotional intelligence and life skills are just as important as academics. When we intentionally teach children how to regulate emotions, navigate challenges, communicate effectively, and build resilience, we are shaping confident, capable individuals prepared for life, not just school. That is the heart of Topy.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I truly feel that we have been very blessed along this journey, and I give thanks to God for the doors that have opened and the alignment that has unfolded along the way. While I believe hard work, vision, and persistence are essential, I also recognize that timing, relationships, and opportunity have played a meaningful role in Topy’s growth.
The families who found us early on and trusted a brand-new coaching practice felt like a gift. Their belief in the mission helped build momentum. The organic word-of-mouth growth we’ve experienced has also felt like a blessing, especially in a space where marketing can be challenging. Every referral, every testimonial, and every connection has felt purposeful and guided.
At the same time, I don’t view blessing and preparation as separate. The years I spent as a teacher, district personnel member, doctoral student, and mother navigating my own child’s needs prepared me for this calling. When the opportunity to build something different presented itself, I was ready to step forward in faith.
So yes, we have been blessed, and I am deeply grateful to God for the vision, the resilience, and the people who have supported this journey.
I am also incredibly grateful for the amazing coaches who have joined the Topy team. I truly could not do this without them. They bring the same love, passion, tenacity, and drive to push Topy forward. They have exceeded my expectations and genuinely love what they do, and that heart shows in the impact they make with every family they serve.
Pricing:
- individual sessions: $60
- package deal (4 sessions at $55=220)
- package deal (8 sessions at $50=400)
- Screening Services begin at $360
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mytopy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_mytopy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mytopy/
