Finding a Mental Health Professional

Finding and working with mental health professionals

We often receive questions about how to find therapists, psychiatrists, or other mental health professionals with experience working with individuals with Down syndrome. We have provided a few suggestions below.

Even if a mental health professional does not have experience working with individuals with Down syndrome or other intellectual and developmental disabilities, they can adapt their existing skills to effectively work with individuals seeking mental health treatment and support. Several organizations have developed resources with recommendations for mental health professionals on how to adapt their approach. A list is provided at the end of this article.

Find a mental health professional

Contact a Down syndrome clinic in your state.

Several national organizations have lists of Down syndrome clinics on their websites. If there is a clinic near you but adults are not seen, the clinic may be able to recommend mental health professionals in the area who see adults.

Global Down Syndrome Foundation

National Down Syndrome Society

Contact a local Down syndrome organization.

Your local Down syndrome organization or parent group may be able to provide recommendations for mental health professionals and/or put you in contact with other families who have worked with mental health professionals in your area. Several national organizations also have lists of local groups on their websites.

Global Down Syndrome Foundation

National Down Syndrome Congress

National Down Syndrome Society

Use the “Find a Therapist” tool on the Psychology Today website.

The Find a Therapist tool allows you to search for therapists, teletherapy, psychiatrists, treatment centers, and support groups. After searching for your zip code, you can use the filters to find professionals who take your insurance, offer particular types of therapy, and have experience in certain areas. Under the “Issues” tab, there are options for “Developmental Disorders,” “Intellectual Disability,” and “Learning Disabilities.” There are also options for specific mental health diagnoses such as anxiety, depression, and OCD.

Share resources

Mental Health Alliance

The Mental Health Alliance page on the Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Area website provides recordings of webinars and trainings, articles, and other resources to support mental health professionals. The webinar linked below is a good place to start.

Expand Your Knowledge on Mental Health and the I/DD Population

National Down Syndrome Society

The Mental Health page on the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) shares information about mental health of people with Down syndrome. The NDSS website also has a guide called Practicing Inclusive Mental Healthcare of Individuals with Down Syndrome that was developed specifically for mental health professionals.

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center

The Mental Health Therapy section of the Nisonger Center’s website has several resources for mental health professionals about how to adapt therapy for adults with intellectual disabilities. There are also resources for adults with intellectual disabilities about preparing for therapy.

Adult Down Syndrome Center

The Mental Health Conditions and Mental Wellness sections of our website provides resources that may be helpful for individuals with Down syndrome, families and caregivers, and mental health professionals, including a free PDF of Mental Wellness in Adults with Down Syndrome by Dennis McGuire, PhD, and Brian Chicoine, MD.