Autism therapists in Santa Monica, California CA
Find experienced Autism therapists in Santa Monica who provide Autism testing, evaluations, and therapy. Our directory features detailed therapist profiles so you can compare qualifications, specialties, and treatment approaches to find the provider that’s right for you.
Autism
Alan Hanft
Psychiatrist, M.D.
Autism can impair a person in all the major domains of their life, and also greatly effect the family. A careful assessment with a comprehensive biopsychosocial treatment approach can significantly improve the quality of life of patients and families suffering from Autism spectrum difficulties. Please call me at no charge at (310) 750-8348 if you think I may be able to be of assistance to you.
34 Years Experience
In-Person Near Santa Monica, CA
Autism
Dr. Vicki D. Coleman (Dr. Vicki), The Coleman Group PLLC & The Anger Doctor
Licensed Professional Counselor, LCPC, LPCC, LPC, LMFT, LCSW, CCMHC, QMHP, MAC, DAC, SAP, CAMF, BCC, HS-BCP
Examine the challenges related to Autism & Asperger's with an emphasis on communication skills.
36 Years Experience
In-Person Near Santa Monica, CA
Online in Santa Monica, CA California
Autism
Integrative Psychotherapy Group
Marriage and Family Therapist
We work with clients who express issues or concerns with Autism or Asperger's.
10 Years Experience
In-Person Near Santa Monica, CA
Online in Santa Monica, CA California
Autism
Jaclyn Epstein-Calvert
Marriage and Family Therapist, MFT
I work with autistic individuals and families in a neurodiversity-affirming way that recognizes autism as a different way of experiencing and processing the world rather than something that needs to be “fixed.” Many autistic adults and parents seek support around sensory overwhelm, emotional regulation, relationships, burnout, and navigating environments that are not always designed with neurodivergent needs in mind.
My approach focuses on understanding each person’s nervous system, communication style, and strengths while building practical strategies that support regulation, self-advocacy, and meaningful connection. I also support parents of autistic children in better understanding their child’s developmental and sensory needs, helping families reduce stress and create environments where children can feel safe, understood, and supported to thrive.
11 Years Experience
In-Person Near Santa Monica, CA
Online in Santa Monica, CA California
Autism
Dr. Jag Soni
Psychologist, Ph.D., HSPP, PCC, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Navigating a world not designed for your neurodivergent experience requires an expert, neuro-affirming approach to Autism and Asperger’s that honors your unique perspective. Drawing on over 35 years of Ph.D.-level expertise, I provide a specialized space focused on the internal shifts that allow you to thrive without the exhausting pressure to mask. Together, we move toward a life of authenticity and social comfort, tailored to your specific story and sensory needs. In a private Telehealth setting, I am ready to help you thrive on your own terms—contact me to schedule your first appointment.
36 Years Experience
Online in Santa Monica, CA California (Online Only)
Autism
Alyssa Habschmidt
Therapist, AMFT
I specialize in supporting children and teens on the autism spectrum. I understand that they experience and navigate the world in unique ways and are often misunderstood by others. I help them build confidence, strengthen relationships, and better understand their identity. I also work closely with parents to help them connect with and support their children, fostering deeper and more meaningful relationships.
2 Years Experience
In-Person Near Santa Monica, CA
Online in Santa Monica, CA California
Autism
Dr. Mazmanyan and Associates
Psychologist, Ph.D
We have experience working with individuals on the spectrum and can offer support through skill based learning while also exploring relational dynamics.
11 Years Experience
In-Person Near Santa Monica, CA
Online in Santa Monica, CA California
Autism
Sara Fraser
Psychologist, PhD
As we increasingly better understand the range of the autism spectrum, including the various ways that ASD can manifest and be masked, work with ASD clients will work on goals that clients self-determine and at a pace that is affirming and encouraging. Neurodiversity is affirmed in my practice with ASD clients and therapeutic goals will always be collaborative and self-paced.
26 Years Experience
Online in Santa Monica, CA California (Online Only)
Autism
Mia Turner
Therapist, MA, RYT, ASDCS, LMFT, NPT-C, CMNCS, CMIP
Neurodiversity-affirming Autism therapy for teens and adults and Autism evaluations for adults seeking deeper self-understanding, validation, support, and clarity. As an AuDHDer, my work is especially attuned to the experiences of high-masking, late-identified, gifted, AFAB, BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, creative, PDA, quirky, curious, spiritually-oriented, and otherwise frequently overlooked Autistic and AuDHD individuals whose experiences may have been misunderstood, missed, dismissed, or pathologized for years.
Support often focuses on identity, sensory experiences, monotropism, passionate interests, communication and relational styles, autistic burnout, nervous system regulation, interoception, executive functioning, self-advocacy, belonging, and the lifelong impact of adapting within environments that may not have recognized, understood, or supported autistic needs. Exploration may include the influence of culture, race, gender, disability, chronic illness, family systems, spirituality, community, trauma, and societal expectations, as well as the internalized ableism and narratives that can develop when your natural ways of being are repeatedly questioned, corrected, accommodated too little, or misunderstood.
Particular attention is given to the ways masking, overcompensation, chronic self-monitoring, perfectionism, people-pleasing, hyper-independence, and other adaptive survival strategies can emerge in response to misunderstanding, marginalization, trauma, and the pressure to appear more neurotypical. Autism is understood not simply through behaviors or traits, but through the lived experience of moving through the world in an Autistic bodymind. This includes the relationship between sensory processing, energy capacity, nervous system states, movement, rest, transitions, interests, environmental fit, authenticity, and safety.
Rather than focusing on how to appear more neurotypical, therapy centers self-understanding, self-trust, self-accommodation, and creating a life that honors your natural rhythms, sensory needs, interests, values, strengths, and ways of relating. My approach integrates EMDR, somatic therapy, mindfulness, parts work, expressive arts, executive functioning support, geek therapy, and neuropsychotherapy through a neurodiversity-affirming, nervous-system-centered, and liberation-oriented lens.
I also provide comprehensive virtual Autism evaluations utilizing a culturally conscious, sensory-informed, neurodivergent-affirming approach designed to identify presentations that are frequently overlooked in traditional assessment settings. Evaluations move beyond checklists and stereotypes to include an in-depth exploration of developmental history, lived experience, sensory patterns, masking, strengths, challenges, identity, relationships, nervous system patterns, and neurotype, resulting in a thorough affirming report with personalized recommendations, resources, and a deeper understanding of yourself through a lens that recognizes difference rather than deficit.
10 Years Experience
Online in Santa Monica, CA California (Online Only)
Autism
Kayzim Suárez-Reyes
Psychologist, PhD
My practice holds a significant, neurodiversity-affirming specialization in supporting individuals on the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). I understand that autism is a difference in how the brain processes information, not a deficit. I help clients navigate the unique challenges of sensory processing, social communication, and intense special interests, moving beyond masking and toward authentic self-expression. Whether you are seeking a late-in-life diagnosis, or need support managing overwhelm and building meaningful connections, I offer a compassionate, evidence-based approach that respects your unique strengths and needs. I also have close loved ones with high functioning autism!
19 Years Experience
Online in Santa Monica, CA California (Online Only)
Santa Monica combines proximity to the entertainment industry with a strong wellness culture, creating demand for therapists who specialize in performance anxiety, the pressures of creative and entertainment careers, identity, and the particular stresses of living adjacent to fame and public scrutiny. The area's affluent demographic and beach lifestyle coexist with significant rates of anxiety, eating concerns, and relationship distress, and the Westside has a notably high density of experienced therapists relative to its size. Providence Saint John's Health Center and UCLA Health provide institutional mental health anchors for the Westside community. Many Santa Monica therapists also serve clients from Malibu, Pacific Palisades, and the broader Westside corridor.
Autism therapists in Santa Monica, California Statistics
Autism therapists in Santa Monica, California average 14 years of experience and charge around $223 per session. 98% offer online sessions. The top treatment approaches are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (62%), Family Systems Therapy (42%), and Psychodynamic Therapy (40%).
Average years in practice
14 Years Experience
Average cost per session
$223
Accept insurance
46%
Offer sliding scale
44%
Gender ID
| 57% |
Female |
|
| 27% |
Male |
|
| 9% |
Non-Binary |
|
| 7% |
Gender Fluid |
|
Session Type
| 64% |
In Person and Online |
|
| 34% |
Online Only |
|
| 2% |
In Person Only |
|
Top Treatment Approaches
| 62% | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) |
| 42% | Family Systems Therapy |
| 40% | Psychodynamic Therapy |
| 40% | Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) |
| 36% | Behavioral Therapy |
| 36% | Relational Psychotherapy |
| 34% | Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) |
Ages Served
| 100% | Adult |
| 76% | Young Adult |
| 62% | Teen |
| 58% | Senior |
| 46% | Children |
Client Focus
| 56% | LGBTQ+ |
| 56% | Women |
| 40% | Persons with Disabilities |
| 38% | Black / African American |
| 36% | Men |