WNC Autism Related Resources Guide
Crisis Stabilization / Inpatient:
Vaya Behavioral Health Crisis Line at 1-800-849-6127
Buncombe County Mobile Crisis Unit at 888-573-1006.
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)
Residential
Foundations Asheville (trans friendly), https://foundationsasheville.com/
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
Lee Anne Horn, PMHNP-BC, https://leeannehorn.com/ (private pay)
The Pisgah Institute, Wheeler Heck, PMHNP-BC, https://www.pisgahinstitute.com/
Rebecca MacNair PHMHP-BC, https://almanaccircle.com/
John Rice, MD, Psychiatrist, Pardee Health, https://www.unchealth.org/care-services/doctors/r/john-l-rice-md
Ami Pearse DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC, https://peaceomcenter.com/
Dr Amber Collins PMHNP-BC, https://wayfinderpsychiatricwellness.com/about-dr-amber-collins/. (VIRTUAL or High Point, NC office)
Kelly Fagan, PMHNP-BC, Mindpath, https://www.mindpath.com/clinicians/kelly-fagan-pmhnp-bc/
Pediatricians & Child Mental Health Prescribers
** Dr. Nicki Groves, Sourwood Pediatrics, Direct Care Medicine, https://sourwoodpeds.com/
Rebekah MacNair, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, MSN, APRN, PMHNP, (mainly kiddos, but also autism throughout the lifespan) https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/psychiatrists/rebekah-macnair-asheville-nc/796816
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
*** Red Cedar Transitions, coaching & therapy https://www.redcedartransitions.com/
Brittany Soltani, OT, MA, https://paperbell.me/brittany-neuroauthentiq#about, 828-546-5050
Catherine Faherty, https://catherinefaherty.com/asheville-nc/
Dr Shannon South, https://drshannonsouth.com/
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/
Brad Archer, LCMHC, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/bradley-archer-asheville-nc/1645769
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/
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, ARFID inpatient 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/
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
Buncombe County Public Libraries have teamed up with local attractions and museums to offer free admission for library cardholders with a ZOOM pass! (great for home schooled kiddos)
https://www.buncombenc.gov/315/ZOOM-Pass
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/
