Why The Sterling Institute for Autism?

This isn’t just a trend for us — it’s a mission.

Our journey into the world of neurodiversity wasn’t accidental or opportunistic. It’s been a purposeful, heartfelt commitment from day one — starting 30 years ago!

We’re not just trained — we’re specialists in neurodiversity.

Supporting neurodiverse individuals isn’t something we just know how to do — it’s what we’ve chosen to dedicate our careers to.

Each member of our team intentionally pursued graduate or medical training with one clear goal: to serve the neurodiverse community. We’ve spent years immersed in this work, and along the way, we’ve sought out every opportunity to deepen our expertise.

Each member of our team has pursued advanced degrees from top universities and APA-accredited programs, with specific, focused training in neurodevelopmental differences. From autism and ADHD to anxiety and learning differences, our clinicians bring years of experience in assessment, therapy, and support tailored for neurodivergent individuals across the lifespan.

We don’t just practice neurodiversity-informed care — we teach it.

At The Sterling Institute, we’re proud to be recognized as leaders in the field of autism and neurodiversity. Thanks to our depth of experience and clinical expertise, we’re regularly invited to provide continuing education and professional training to other clinics, healthcare providers, and organizations — both locally and around the world.

Our team has led specialized trainings on a wide range of topics, including autism in females, autism assessment, and neurodiversity-affirming approaches to care. These trainings reflect our commitment to expanding understanding and improving services for neurodivergent individuals everywhere.

We’re also honored to serve as a clinical training site for doctoral students in the Clinical Psychology program at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). These future psychologists learn directly from our team as part of their hands-on education in autism care and neurodiversity.

For the families we serve, this means you’re in the hands of professionals who not only stay up-to-date — we help set the standard. And that’s a difference you can feel in the quality of care we provide every day.

Our expertise goes beyond the clinic — we help advance the science of neurodiversity.

At The Sterling Institute, we combine hands-on clinical experience with extensive involvement in neurodiversity-focused research. Dr. Sterling has led important studies on depression in autistic adults and received funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to explore anxiety in autistic children. She has also authored peer-reviewed papers and books on autism and presented at international conferences, sharing her knowledge with professionals around the world.

This means the care we provide isn’t just compassionate — it’s informed by the latest scientific understanding. This means your family is supported by care grounded in both empathy and evidence — the best of both worlds.

Care we’d trust for our own families.

We say this with complete confidence: we would trust any member of our team to care for our own children. That’s how much we believe in the expertise, compassion, and integrity of the people who work here. Our team is intentionally small, and that’s by design. We believe that exceptional care starts with exceptional people—so we’re highly selective about who joins our practice. Each provider is not only deeply trained and experienced in neurodiversity, but also genuinely warm, compassionate, and easy to connect with.

We’re not just professionals — we’re parents, caregivers, and humans first. We know that every child who walks through our doors is someone’s whole world. Every adult is a sibling, a parent, a partner. That perspective shapes everything we do.

We love working together and share a heartfelt commitment to supporting neurodivergent individuals and their families.

We’re deeply connected in the neurodiversity community — and that means more comprehensive care for your family.

With years of dedicated experience in neurodiversity, our team has built strong, lasting relationships with professionals and organizations who share our commitment to supporting neurodivergent individuals.
We don’t just know about the resources out there — we know who’s behind them. We’ve collaborated with specialists, educators, therapists, advocates, and researchers in this space. We’ve trained alongside them, presented at conferences with them, and continued to grow through professional networks and consultation groups focused on neurodivergent care.

When your child or loved one needs support beyond what we offer — whether it’s speech therapy, occupational therapy, educational advocacy, medical care, or community programs — we can connect you with trusted providers who truly understand neurodivergence and approach it with the same respect and expertise we do.

Our connections also keep us informed. We regularly consult with other specialists in the field, stay up to date with emerging research, and lean on our broader professional community to ensure our care reflects the most current and comprehensive understanding of neurodivergent needs.

Because when we’re connected, you are too — and that’s how we help build the village every family deserves.

Helping you thrive — as you are.

At our clinic, we approach every individual with deep respect for neurodiversity. We don’t believe in “fixing” people — because there’s nothing wrong with being different. Our goal is to empower every person who walks through our doors to better understand themselves, embrace their strengths, and get support where it’s truly needed.

Whether you’re coming in for an assessment or therapy, our approach is collaborative, compassionate, and affirming. Assessments aren’t about labeling or focusing on deficits — they’re about uncovering what makes someone unique: their talents, their challenges, and the ways they process the world. Therapy is about building confidence, self-awareness, and strategies that work for you — not trying to change who you are.

Everything we do is grounded in a neurodiversity-affirming framework. We celebrate differences. You don’t have to mask or pretend here. You can be yourself — fully and safely. And we’ll meet you with respect, understanding, and genuine care.