WNC Autism Related Resources Guide
As The Autistic Autism Consultant, I support autistic individuals, families, and professionals in navigating services with clarity, confidence, and respect for neurodiverse needs. This resource list was created to highlight local providers—prescribers, therapists, OTs, speech therapists, hairdressers, supported employment programs, group homes, and more—who come recommended by members of our community as being knowledgeable, compassionate, and effective in working with autistic people. My hope is that this guide makes it easier to find support that truly understands and honors autistic experience.
Crisis Stabilization / Inpatient:
Vaya Behavioral Health Crisis Line at 1-800-849-6127
Sweeten Creek Mental Health & Wellness Center (all ages) https://www.missionhealth.org/locations/sweeten-creek-mental-health-and-wellness-center
RHA 356 Biltmore Campus, https://rhahealthservices.org/locations/c3356-comprehensive-care-center-asheville-behavioral-health-office-behavioral-health-crisis-center-and-neil-dobbins-facility-based-crisis-center/
Caiyalynn Burrell Child Crisis Center: https://www.daymarkrecovery.org/locations/fbc-buncombe (not recommended for kids with ASD)
Primary Care Providers
Insight Integrative Medicine, Dr Susan Brandt, https://www.insightintegrativemedicine.com/
Integrative Medicine, Dr Sudeshan Dasgupta, https://rhythmandrhidoy.com/
Parkway Medical (Advent) Black Mountain, Cassidy Ford, PA, 828-298-0333
Our Family Practice, Dr Anne Irvine, (not taking patients as of 9/12/25) https://www.ourfamilydoctorasheville.com/
Dr James “Jim” Lowery, Pardee, https://www.unchealth.org/care-services/doctors/l/james-jim-lowery-md
Dr Christina McDonald, Pardee, https://www.unchealth.org/care-services/doctors/m/christina-mcdonald-md
Community Family Practice, Dr Laura Livingston (gender affirming care) https://www.communityfamilyonline.com/team/providers
Community Family Practice, Dr Rebecca Cramer, https://www.communityfamilyonline.com/team/providers
The Family Health Center, Smokey Park, Dr Holly Musgrove, https://fhconline.com/providers/holly-musgrove/
UNC Health Centers, Dr Laura Hill, https://www.unchealth.org/care-services/doctors/h/laura-hill-md
Vista Family Health, Whitney Garren, PA, https://www.missionhealth.org/physicians/profile/Whitney-G-Garren-PA-C
Adult Mental Health Prescribers
The Pisgah Institute, Parks Harper, PA, Sandy Sun, NP, https://www.pisgahinstitute.com/
Carolina Mountain Psychiatry, Dr Brittany Vasquez, 828-471-9272
Mindpath, https://www.mindpath.com/
Pediatricians & Child Psychiatrists
Blue Sky Pediatrics, Dr Harold Kowa, https://www.blueskypediatrics.com/
French Broad Pediatrics, Dr John Templeton, Dr Lauren Carlisle https://frenchbroadpeds.com/
Asheville Behavioral Health, Dr Melissa Thingvoll, https://melissathingvollmd.com/thingvoll/
Prospect Behavioral Health, https://www.prospectasheville.com/
Asheville Child Psychiatrist, PRIVATE PAY ONLY, Dr Mona Rice, https://sites.google.com/mvrmdpc.com/asheville-child-psychiatrist
Olsen Huff, Sarah K LaRoe, NP, https://www.missionhealth.org/physicians/profile/Sarah-K-LaRoe-DNP
Duke Telehealth, Dr Sathyan Gurumurthy, https://www.dukehealth.org/find-doctors-physicians/sathyan-gurumurthy-md
Executive Functioning Coaches / Social Skills
Catherine Faherty, https://catherinefaherty.com/asheville-nc/
Dr Shannon South, https://drshannonsouth.com/
Brittany Soltani, OT, MA, https://paperbell.me/brittany-neuroauthentiq#about, 828-546-5050
ASD Vetted Therapists
Amanda Sullivan, TEACCH Autism Program, 828-251-6319
Rebel Counseling, Alondra Polanko, LCMHC https://www.rebelcounselingavl.com/
Karan Kuretsch, LCSW, 828-548-1062
Flourish Asheville, https://flourishasheville.com/for-teens/
Asheville Family Counseling, Collin McWhite, https://ashevillefamilycounseling.com/
Aundrea Collebrusco, MSW, LCSW, virtual only, 828-330-9633
Be Bold Counseling: Jennifer Perry Newman, https://beboldpsychnc.com/
Katie Huntley, Daya Mental Health, https://www.dayamentalhealthandwellness.com/team-4
Cornbread and Roses Community Counseling Center, https://www.cbrcounseling.org/therapy
Gordon Smith (2E specific) https://giftedandgrowing.org/
Erin Vandermore, MA, LPCS https://mindcircuit.org/
Kathryn (Ryn) Arrants, MA ET, LPC, RYT, LCAS https://www.mountainhearttherapy.com/
Cathrine Tucker, PhD, LCMHC-S, Theraplay, https://drcatherinetucker.com/
Lauri Burmeister, MA, LPA http://autismpsychologist.com/
OT/Speech
Play Talk & Grow, https://www.playtalkandgrow.com/ (also have a great group for autistic teens)
The Family OT, Kayla Bryant, https://thefamilyot.com/
The Autism Society of WNC, https://www.autismsociety-nc.org/aba-and-clinical-services-autism-society-of-nc/
Agencies
Family Preservation Services: https://fpscorp.com/
Autism Society of WNC: https://www.autismsociety-nc.org/venues/autism-society-nc-asheville-office/
RHA Health Servics: https://rhahealthservices.org/
Vaya Health, https://www.vayahealth.com/
WNC FIRST: https://firstwnc.org/
ARFID / Nutrition Resources
The Emily Program, https://emilyprogram.com/
Unmasked Nutrition, https://unmasked-nutrition.com/
Asheville Pediatric Associates, Dr Kristina Beardsley, https://ashevillepediatrics.com/index.php/beardsley/
Insight Integrative Medicine, Dr Susan Brandt, https://www.insightintegrativemedicine.com/
Assessments and Testing
Matone Counseling and Testing https://matonecounseling.com/central-asheville/
Asheville Testing: https://ashevilletesting.com/about-us/
TEACCH: https://teacch.com/regional-centers/asheville-teacch-center/
Grandis Evaluation Center: https://gectesting.com/
Appalachian Counseling and Psychological Services: https://www.acaps-nc.org/services
Carolina Psychological Assessment Center https://carolinapsyc.com/dr-rob-durr/
Day Programs and Groups
St Gerard’s House https://www.stgerardhouse.org/
Eilda Homes: http://www.eliada.org/
Arms Around ASD https://www.armsaroundasd.org/
Open Hearts Art Center http://openheartsartcenter.org/programs/
Youth OutRIght, https://youthoutright.org/
Autism Specific Group Homes and AFLs
Irene Wortham Center Residential Homes: https://www.ireneworthamcenter.org/residential-homes
Davidson Family Services, https://davidsonfamilyservices.org/
Beacon Transitions, https://beacontransitions.com/
Elida Homes: http://www.eliada.org/
Blue West Opportunities, https://bluewestopportunities.org/
Supported Employment Options
Buncombe County Social Services, Phillip Hardin: 828‑250‑5592
CRP Specialist for Buncombe County, Lenora Mathis, 828-245-1223
Autism Society, https://www.autismsociety-nc.org/employment-supports/
Dentists / Orthodontics
Great Smiles, https://greatsmiles.com/
Dennis R Campbell, DSS, https://www.babytoothdoc.com/
Black Orthodontics https://www.kblacksmiles.com/
Hair Stylists
Sandy, Custom Cuts and Color, 828-298-2887
Veronica Coit, Westside Shears, 828-329-9391
Casey Smith, Westside Shears, 828-329-9391
Private Transportation
Loyal Lifts, https://loyallifts.com/
Camp & Summer Programs
Camp Lakey Gap for Autistic Individuals, week-long residential camp, https://www.camplakeygap.org/program
Talisman Summer Camps, https://talismancamps.com/
Camp Tikvah for Children with Autism, https://www.jcc-asheville.org/youth/camp-ruach/camp-tikvah-for-children-with-autism/
Keystone Camp for Girls, https://keystonecamp.com/
Miscellaneous
WNC Naturopathic Medicine, Dr Janet Opila-Lehman, https://www.wncnaturopathicmedicine.com/
Wilson Dyslexia Therapist, Jess Van Hecke, 336-451-7504, 1jvanhecke@gmail.com
Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center, https://www.ecac-parentcenter.org/discover-ecac/
Gahagan Paradis Lawyer, Durham, NC www.ncgplaw.com
Heather Whitaker Goldstein, lawyer, https://www.vwlawfirm.com/heather-whitaker-goldstein/
Kid’s Gym (all ages), We Rock the Spectrum, https://www.werockthespectrumasheville.com/
Asheville Museum of Science, https://ashevillescience.org/
