Services › Special Needs & IDD
Special Needs Telehealth Therapy.
Mental health therapy for children, teens, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and for the families who care for them.
Last updated: October 2026
Who We See
Who this is for
- Children and teens with autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, intellectual disability, or another developmental condition.
- Adults with IDD who want support with anxiety, mood, grief, or big life changes.
- Parents and caregivers carrying the daily load of appointments, behavior plans, school meetings, and regional center paperwork.
- Family members, school staff, and support coordinators referring someone for therapy.
Having an IDD diagnosis does not exclude anyone from mental health treatment. Depression and anxiety are often missed in people with intellectual disability because the symptoms get blamed on the disability itself. They are separate, and they are treatable.
Common Concerns
What therapy helps with
- Anxiety around routine changes, transitions, or sensory experiences
- Emotional outbursts that are hard to de-escalate
- Depression, low mood, and social isolation
- Grief, including losses others may not notice
- Sleep trouble tied to anxiety or sensory stress
- Trauma, and adjusting to changes in school, housing, work, or support
An outburst is often communication, not just behavior. Part of the work is figuring out what a given outburst is saying and building another way to say it.
Our Approach
How sessions are adapted
Your clinician calibrates each session to the person in front of them. One of our clinicians spent five years in direct care with people with IDD before joining PMHS.
- Pace and language. Concrete language, visual supports, and a slower pace when that helps.
- Caregiver coaching. For young children or limited verbal communication, coaching the parent or support person can be the main form of treatment.
- Trust over time. Consistency across several appointments often matters as much as any single technique.
- Coordination with consent. With your permission, your clinician can coordinate with school staff or a regional center service coordinator.
Telehealth
Why telehealth works for special needs
- No drive to coordinate and no waiting room full of noise and strangers.
- Sessions happen in a familiar room at home, where many patients feel calmer.
- Caregivers can schedule around school hours, respite visits, or after bedtime.
- Phone sessions are covered when internet is weak or video is too much.
What it costs: for most Partnership HealthPlan members, nothing. Members under 21 are covered under the EPSDT benefit, and adults are covered for medically necessary outpatient therapy. No referral from a doctor or regional center is needed.
Where We Serve
Families we serve across Northern California
PMHS is 100% telehealth, so families in every Partnership HealthPlan county can start from home, including these towns.
What PMHS does not provide
- Crisis or emergency services. Call or text 988, or call 911 if you are in immediate danger.
- Court-ordered evaluations or forensic assessments.
- In-person appointments. PMHS is 100% telehealth by video or phone.
- Sessions while you are physically outside California.
Common Questions
Special needs therapy FAQ
Does Medi-Cal cover therapy for a child with autism?
Mental health therapy for concerns like anxiety, depression, emotional outbursts, and trouble with transitions is covered for Partnership HealthPlan members under 21 through the EPSDT benefit when it is medically necessary. PMHS provides that therapy by telehealth, typically at no cost to the family.
Do we need a referral from a doctor or regional center?
No. Parents, caregivers, and adults with IDD can contact PMHS directly. We verify Partnership coverage and walk you through intake. No physician referral or regional center authorization is required to start.
Can telehealth work for someone with limited verbal communication?
Often, yes. For younger children or people with limited verbal expression, caregiver coaching can be the main form of support, with the clinician working through the parent or support person. Sessions can also use visual supports, concrete language, and a slower pace.
Can a parent or caregiver join sessions?
Yes. For children, caregivers are included at key points. For adults, caregivers and support staff can join when the patient consents and it genuinely helps. The therapy follows what the person receiving care wants and needs.
Can I get therapy for myself as a caregiver?
Yes. Your therapy is your own, separate from your family member’s services. If you are a Partnership member, stress, anxiety, depression, and grief tied to caregiving are all reasons to start, and no referral is needed.
We live in a small town far from any therapist. Can we still use PMHS?
Yes. PMHS is 100% telehealth. If your Medi-Cal is through Partnership HealthPlan in one of the counties it serves, you can attend sessions from home anywhere in California.
Ready to take the next step?
Care built around the person. Not a template.
Telehealth therapy for people with IDD and their caregivers across all 24 Partnership HealthPlan counties. No referral needed.
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