A psychologist who understands
the whole picture

Training, experience,
and lived understanding

I'm Erin McNerney — a licensed clinical psychologist and board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA-D) based in Irvine, CA. I obtained my BA in Psychology at UC Santa Barbara, then returned to UCSB's Counseling, Clinical & School Psychology program for my Master's in Counseling Psychology and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, along with a certificate in Interdisciplinary Human Development.

Throughout my graduate training and decades in practice, I've specialized in supporting children and families navigating autism, ADHD, and related developmental differences. My clinical background spans individual therapy, parent training, and group work. I spent many years as a clinical director overseeing behavior-based programs for autistic children and those with other developmental differences, training and supervising staff, and shaping care at a systems level.

That breadth of experience shapes how I work with individual clients today — with precision, context, and genuine curiosity about each person's unique profile. I don't just know the research. I've lived it clinically, administratively, and as a parent of four navigating the same Orange County schools and special education systems my clients encounter.

What makes my practice different

My clinical approach

I draw on evidence-based frameworks that I believe in not just because the research supports them, but because I've seen them work across thousands of hours of clinical practice.

My stance on neurodiversity

I view autism, ADHD, and other neurological differences as natural variations in human neurology — not deficits to be corrected. Much of the distress neurodivergent people experience comes from living in environments not designed for how they're wired. My work focuses on understanding your neurology, removing those barriers, and building on your actual strengths. When I use diagnostic language, it's because access to services often requires it — not because I believe a label defines who you are.

I use both identity-first language ("autistic person") and person-first language ("person with autism") — I respect that different individuals and communities have different preferences, and I'll follow your lead.