[Little Otter Live 4/29/25] Unpacking the Quiet Crisis: The Gap in Access to Pediatric Mental Health Care
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RAFT PROGRAM: AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

Specialty care program supporting families and kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder

The leading platform in virtual family mental health care. 
Evidence-based treatment. Measurement-based care.

The Challenge

A lack of whole-person and whole-family treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder results in increased costs

Failing to recognize and address neurodiversity with whole-family treatment can lead to increased costs, stress, isolation, and difficulties in accessing appropriate support, potentially impacting the well-being of both neurodivergent individuals and their families.

4x

4x higher ED utilization by adolescents with ASD than adolescents without ASD. Emotional dysregulation leads to ER visits, psychiatric hospitalizations, and crisis interventions.

70%

70% of children with ASD have at least one co-occurring mental health disorder. Traditional ASD care models focus on core symptoms, neglecting the broader family’s mental health needs.

2x

2x more likely that parents of autistic children stop working or transition to part-time work to care for their child. Parents experience high levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout, increasing healthcare utilization.

Refer a patient

Personalized and comprehensive mental health care 
that works for families.

WHAT WE TREAT

Most Common Co-Occurring Conditions

ADHD
Bipolar disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Dyslexia
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Epilepsy
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)
Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD)

common challenges

The most common co-occurring mental health challenges for kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Challenging behaviors

Challenging behaviors including aggression, property destruction, tantrums, kicking, etc.

Behavior management

Difficulties following instructions and routines, sleep disturbances, emotional regulation, skin picking, etc. 

Support for parents with transitions from higher levels of care

Helping parents navigate the complexities of transitioning care.

Suicide prevention & self-harm

Teaching parents to recognize and manage both typical and concerning behaviors.

Sleeping challenges

Helping you recognize typical vs. concerning sadness, and how to help your child feel better.

how it works

It all starts with the checkup

Get access to the highest-quality care, immediately.

Get support now
1

Tell us what’s going on

Help us understand your needs by answering questions about your family.

2

Begin care immediately

Book a 30-min kickoff call within 24 hours of requesting an appointment. Get matched with the best mental health clinicians.

3

Track progress, see results

Tailored care plans, assessment results, progress reports, and clinician notes. All in the Little Otter app.

our services

Evidence-based mental health care supporting kids and their families with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Our process meets families at all stages of their ASD care journey: whether the child has an ASD diagnosis and is receiving or awaiting ABA treatment, the child is awaiting a comprehensive ASD diagnostic assessment, or parents or siblings of a child with ASD seeking support.

Evidence-based Therapy

Evidence based programs like Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT-ASD), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) & Trauma-Focused CBT, and Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) with Master’s or PhD-level therapists.

Psychiatry

Expert assessment, titration, and comprehensive medication management   including stimulants, to treat co-occurring conditions like ADHD, depression, and anxiety for patients with ASD.

Parent Coaching

Master’s-level Board Certified Behavior Analysts with extensive expertise in working with parents of children with ASD using Parent Management Training (PMT) & RUBI Parent Training.

the little otter way

Evidence-based care with results that families can see

Transparency in treatment

Tailored care plans, assessment results, progress reports, and clinician notes. All in the Little Otter app.

Measurable results, backed by science

Evidence-based care. Actionable insights. Transparency between patients and clinicians.

High-quality virtual care

Access to quality care, faster. The right clinicians for your family’s needs, no matter where you live.

Whole-family care

For children, teens, parents, and caregivers. For every stage of a family’s growth. For every disorder, from mild to severe.

Our Expertise

The leader in child mental health

Dr. Helen Egger is the Co-founder and Chief Medical & Scientific Officer at Little Otter. She is a child psychiatrist who has been a leader in the field of child mental health for more than 30 years. Previously, she was Division Chief for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Duke Medicine and Chair of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Director of the NYU Child Study Center at NYU Langone Health.

Dr. Egger is also an internationally-recognized researcher in early childhood mental health. Her research has set the standard for measurement of child mental health, and it's the foundation of Little Otter's Family Mental Health Check-up and Little Otter's measurement-based, whole family model of care.

GET IN TOUCH

Get in touch to learn more

The only platform specialized in early child mental health.

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