A child’s emotional and mental well-being begins early—often before birth—and develops rapidly during the first years of life. Some children are exposed during pregnancy to substances, illness, significant stress, or untreated mental health conditions. Others may experience medical complications, disruptions in caregiving, or other early-life stressors. These experiences can affect how a child’s brain and nervous system develop and how they respond to the world around them.

For young children, stress and trauma are experienced through the body and relationships. As a result, early challenges can sometimes look like Autism or intensify Autism related traits, especially in areas such as regulation, sensory processing, communication, and behavior.

Children with prenatal exposure or early adversity may:

• Have difficulty calming their bodies or emotions
• Be more sensitive to sensory input
• Become overwhelmed more easily
• Struggle with sleep, behavior, or transitions

Mental health support for young children is not traditional talk therapy. It is developmentally appropriate, relationship-based, and trauma-informed, recognizing how early experiences shape behavior, emotions, and stress responses. This type of care supports both the child and their caregivers, focusing on safety, trust, predictability, and connection.

Trauma-informed care meets children where they are, adapts to their sensory and emotional needs, and avoids approaches that feel overwhelming or punitive. By building regulation, strengthening relationships, and honoring each child’s unique experiences, trauma-informed support helps children feel safe, understood, and supported as they grow.

A child’s emotional and mental well-being begins early—often before birth—and develops rapidly during the first years of life. Some children are exposed during pregnancy to substances, illness, significant stress, or untreated mental health conditions. Others may experience medical complications, disruptions in caregiving, or other early-life stressors. These experiences can affect how a child’s brain and nervous system develop and how they respond to the world around them.

For young children, stress and trauma are experienced through the body and relationships. As a result, early challenges can sometimes look like Autism or intensify Autism related traits, especially in areas such as regulation, sensory processing, communication, and behavior.

Children with prenatal exposure or early adversity may:
• Have difficulty calming their bodies or emotions
• Be more sensitive to sensory input
• Become overwhelmed more easily
• Struggle with sleep, behavior, or transitions

Mental health support for young children is not traditional talk therapy. It is developmentally appropriate, relationship-based, and trauma-informed, recognizing how early experiences shape behavior, emotions, and stress responses. This type of care supports both the child and their caregivers, focusing on safety, trust, predictability, and connection.

Trauma-informed care meets children where they are, adapts to their sensory and emotional needs, and avoids approaches that feel overwhelming or punitive. By building regulation, strengthening relationships, and honoring each child’s unique experiences, trauma-informed support helps children feel safe, understood, and supported as they grow.

Be Authentic Family Therapy
www.beauthenticfamilytherapy.com
Upland – (909) 618-0257
Art Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral, Existential/Humanistic, Family Systems, Person-Centered, Play Therapy, Psychodynamic, Sand play, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy for Anxiety or Fears, Child or Adolescent Issues, Depression, Loss or Grief, or Trauma and PTSD. Children 4 years and older; couples, families, and individual adults. Accepts IEHP, out-of-network provider for other insurance.

Carolyn E Wylie Center for Children, Youth & Families
https://wyliecenter.org/
Riverside – (951) 683-5193
Individual and Family Therapy, Group Treatment, and in-home Early Mental Health Treatment Services for children 2 through 6 years of age with significant behavior problems. Mental Health Services for women with Perinatal Mental Health disorders. Accepts Medi-Cal and IEHP. Treats ages 2-21.

Citrus Counseling Services
https://ccs-cares.org/
Redlands – (909) 793-1078
Various, NCTI, Trauma Informed Care, approved to provide supervised visitations, PCIT, PC-CARES, Thera play, Floor time, Promoting First Relationships, Watch, Wait & Wonder, Play Therapy, Dyadic Art Therapy, Infant Massage, Transdisciplinary Team, Telehealth, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), the Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM), the Community Resiliency Model (CRM), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT), and Equine Assisted Therapy. Ages 0-8 (Early Childhood Services), 9- adults (Adult and Family program), on a case-by-case basis.

Desert/Mountain Children’s Center
www.dmchildrenscenter.org
Apple Valley – (760) 955-3601
Big Bear – (909) 866-2165
Yucca Valley – (760) 369-3130
Hybrid services. Works with prenatally drug-exposed children, infants, high-risk children, and adolescents (those at risk of suicide, either coming out of the psych hospital or at risk of psychiatric hospitalization). Specializing in working with trauma as well as with youth of all ages and developmental delays. Most assessments are done via telehealth. Treatment is provided in person or via telehealth, depending on the situation. Birth to 21 years of age. Accepts Medi-Cal, IEHP, Tricare, Pacific Care, Molina, and cash on a sliding scale for services provided.

Erika Lazo, LCSW
https://calmhappykids.com
Riverside – (951) 599-8383
Erika Lazo, LCSW, specializes in supporting children (birth to age 8) through play‑based, developmentally informed therapy. She creates a warm, supportive environment where young children can express feelings, build emotional regulation skills, and work through early childhood challenges in ways that feel natural and engaging to them. Erika partners closely with parents to strengthen attachment, reduce stress at home, and support healthy social‑emotional development. Accepts IEHP.

Rady Children’s Health, Autism Discovery Institute (ADI)
Children’s Hospital Autism Institute | Rady Children’s Health
Murrieta – (858) 966-7453
Diagnostic developmental evaluations by a clinical psychologist for children 18 months to 18 years of age. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for preteens and teens. Teen social skills group (PEERS). ABA parents coaching for children ages 18 months to 14 years old. BCBA-led social skills groups for children 4-8 years old. Accepts Tricare, UBH/Optum, Anthem Blue Cross, and self-pay for diagnostic evaluations, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and teen social skills groups (PEERS). Accept most insurance for ABA Parent Coaching and BCBA-led social skills groups.

Rady Children’s Hospital, Developmental Evaluation Clinic
https://www.rchsd.org/programs-services/developmental-evaluation-clinic/
Murrieta – (858) 966-8300 x 261058, Allison Scofield, Care Coordinator
Diagnostic developmental evaluations by a clinical psychologist for children 0-5 yrs 11 months. Early mental health treatment services for children ages 2-5 years 11 months, including individual and caregiver-mediated therapies (e.g., PCIT, PC-CARE, play therapy, trauma-informed therapy), social skills groups, and art therapy. Caregiver support groups run simultaneously alongside social skills and art therapy groups. Accepts Medi-Cal plans for Riverside County residents for all services (diagnostic evaluations, early mental health treatment). Accept some commercial insurance (Tricare, UBH/Optum, Anthem Blue Cross) and self-pay for diagnostic evaluations.

San Bernardino County SART Centers -Children (0-6 years old)
Citrus Counseling Services, Redlands – 909-793-1078
Desert Mountain Children’s Center, Apple Valley – 760-552-6700
Desert Mountain Children’s Center, Yucca Valley – 760-369-3130
Desert/Mountain Children’s Center, Big Bear Lake – 909-866-2165
West End Family Counseling Center, Ontario – 909-983-2020
Victor Community Support Services, San Bernardino – 909-890-5930
Offers high-level, short-term (6–12 months) intensive services when behaviors pose a health and safety concern (Not ABA); especially helpful for children who have trauma exposure. Examples of areas include Aggressive Behavior, Speech Problems, Short Attention Span, Prenatal Exposure to Drugs and/or Alcohol, Infants that are difficult to comfort, Sleep difficulties, and Excessive tantrums. Can refer for services to SART through Children and Family Services, Preschool Services, your pediatrician, or you may self-refer to the center nearest to you. Services are covered with combined funding between Medi-Cal, MHSA, and First 5 San Bernardino. Accepts Kaiser and single-case agreements with other health insurance companies.

Autism Society Options Policy

This Resource Guide was developed to provide families and professionals with an opportunity to find resources related to autism in the Inland Empire in one place.

All information provided or published by the Autism Society Inland Empire is for information purposes only. Specific treatment, therapy or services should be provided to an individual only at the direction of the individual’s doctor, caregiver, or other qualified professional. References to any treatment or therapy option, program, service, or treatment provider are not an endorsement by the Autism Society. References of treatments, therapies, programs, services, and/or providers are not intended to be comprehensive statements. You should investigate alternatives that may be more appropriate for a specific individual. The Autism Society assumes no responsibility for the use made of any information published or provided. The Autism Society Inland Empire provides information, but it does not constitute medical or legal information. Referrals provided are suggestions to organizations that might help, but do not constitute a recommendation. The Autism Society Inland Empire cannot be held responsible for consequences that arise from individual dealings with a professional or organization. The inclusion of any organization does not imply endorsement, and omission does not imply disapproval. The Autism Society Inland Empire may add or remove organizations from this list at its discretion.