Compassionate, expert psychological care you can trust.
Dr. Michelle Garcia & Associates is a one-stop practice for Autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities across the lifespan — from diagnostic evaluations and family support to expert testimony, for families and attorneys nationwide.
Psychological Evaluations · Counseling · Family Support · Expert Testimony · Specialized Sex Offender Treatment for Autism/IDD
Autism & IDD in family and legal matters
When a person with Autism or an intellectual or developmental disability is part of a custody dispute, a Due Process hearing, or a criminal case, a lot is at stake and the details are easy to miss. Dr. Garcia explains the person’s condition and needs, including over the long term, the impact of stressors, trauma, and environment, and how disability shapes behavior, in written reports and on the stand. Our team then provides treatment that fits, including counseling, family support, and ASOTP (Associate Sex Offender Treatment Provider) treatment where needed for individuals with Autism/IDD.
A full spectrum of psychological support for the neurodiverse
From the first evaluation to ongoing support, every service is grounded in evidence and delivered with warmth.
Psychological & Neuropsychological Testing
Clarifying diagnostic concerns for Autism, IDD, learning disabilities, AD/HD, and emotional conditions, for school, disability, guardianship, and legal needs.
Immigration Evaluations
Assessments for immigration cases, for direct clients and attorney referrals. Available in Spanish, and in Amharic and Tigrinya through a translator.
Individual/Family Counseling
Counseling and family/parenting support for individuals with an Autism or IDD diagnosis.
Social Skills & Behavior Support
Social skills groups through our partner, PEERS of The Woodlands, plus behavior plans and parenting support in your home.
Specialized Treatment
Focused care for Autism and intellectual & developmental disabilities, including ASOTP treatment for individuals with Autism/IDD.
QOL Curriculum
Healthy-relationships and safety program for individuals with disabilities: from prevention to diversion.
Why this work is personal
Dr. Garcia’s career was transformed when she unexpectedly became the leader of an interdisciplinary team providing community-based behavioral health services to individuals with Autism and IDD in Louisiana. She quickly discovered her passion: making a meaningful difference for individuals and families with limited resources. Whether accompanying families to medical appointments, writing behavior plans, connecting individuals to community organizations, or responding to crises, she did whatever was needed. Her work extended statewide, including supporting individuals with disabilities after Hurricane Katrina at the New Orleans airport and after Hurricane Rita in a local shelter.
After moving to Texas, Dr. Garcia missed working on the “front lines.” Following her mentor’s advice, she founded her company in 2007, bringing innovative in-home, day program, and school supports to Houston and eventually across Texas. An engaging presentation in Pennsylvania connected her with The Arc of Blair County and led to the QOL Curriculum, a healthy-relationships education program that opened doors to addressing critical gaps in the criminal justice system for individuals with Autism and IDD.
Today, Dr. Garcia’s mission remains deeply personal: improving quality of life wherever she can. She supports individuals and families through assessments, resource building, and testimony; leads a team of clinicians; and presents nationally to educate others. With warmth, compassion, and unwavering passion, she continues to advocate for individuals whose needs are too often misunderstood or overlooked.
Today, Dr. Michelle Garcia & Associates brings together six licensed psychologists, associates, and counselors. We believe every person deserves to be understood, not just assessed, and we treat every family who walks through our door as our own.
Our specialty is Autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities across the lifespan. That includes the QOL Curriculum, a healthy-relationships and safety program for individuals with disabilities: from prevention to diversion.
Meet the team →State and federal cases
16 testimonies from December 2021 to January 2026.
She has also testified in custody, child support, death-row, and school-board matters. Case names are kept confidential.
Trusted by advocates and attorneys
Dr. Michelle Garcia is a psychologist with deep expertise in autism and its intersection with the criminal justice system. She has been a trusted expert on autism-related issues, helping inform both K–12 Family Life Education legislation and cases involving autism and criminal charges. Dr. Garcia is highly respected by courts and diversion programs nationwide for explaining how autism can affect behavior and interactions within the justice system. Her expertise has helped educate legal professionals, including all Virginia Circuit Court judges. Her knowledge and practical insights have significantly improved understanding of autism in both educational and legal settings.
For the last 5 years, I have had the pleasure of working on cases with Dr. Michelle Garcia. Her expertise and guidance regarding students with disabilities has greatly helped several of my clients. I wholeheartedly recommend her professional services to anyone requiring Independent Educational Evaluations or Forensic Testimony.
Dr. Michelle Garcia is highly regarded in the special needs family law bar and is a fierce advocate for those children that cannot advocate for themselves. Her forensic reports are thorough, comprehensive, and written in such a manner that their content is understandable by judges and lawyers alike. When our firm has the pleasure of working with Dr. Garcia on contested special needs matters, there is a heightened sense of confidence that I take into the courtroom and with the knowledge that her opinions will be persuasive.
In the highly consequential work of defending autistic individuals accused of crimes, Dr. Garcia is in the unique position of not only being one of the rare autism experts I trust to effectively help us avoid the most serious consequences, but also able to help us ensure that there will be no future offending.
Ready to take the next step?
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