{"url":"/palms/center-for-the-developing-mind","provider":{"id":"center-for-the-developing-mind","name":"Center for the Developing Mind","kind":"organization","about":"Center for the Developing Mind is a multidisciplinary treatment facility led by Dr. Esther B. Hess, a licensed developmental pediatric psychologist (PSY #16090) with over 30 years of experience. It is a certified nonpublic agency in California serving children, adolescents and young adults with developmental delays and regulatory disorders. The center has also expanded into adult services, and it takes part in a research project with UCLA colleagues on the feelings of neurotypical siblings of people with autism.","website":"https://www.centerforthedevelopingmind.com/","phone":"(818) 326-4665","email":"DrHess@CenterForTheDevelopingMind.com","instagram":null,"founded":null,"credentials":["CDE-certified nonpublic agency","Led by a licensed psychologist (PSY #16090)"],"languages":[],"image":null},"location":{"id":"main","name":null,"street":"2990 South Sepulveda Boulevard","unit":"#308","city":"palms","zip":"90064","neighborhood":null,"coords":[-118.428692,34.027538],"precision":"exact"},"serviceArea":[],"programs":[{"id":"developmental-therapy","type":"health","name":"Multidisciplinary developmental and mental health therapy","summary":"Psychology, speech, occupational and educational therapy for children and young adults with developmental delays, autism, ADHD and anxiety, in the office, home and school.","description":"A multidisciplinary center for children, adolescents and young adults with developmental delays and regulatory disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, learning disabilities and selective mutism. Dr. Esther Hess, a developmental pediatric psychologist, also teaches DIR/Floortime. Mental health, speech and language, occupational and educational therapists sometimes combine services within one session. The practice also treats child and family crises, depression and anxiety. Support extends to parents, siblings and grandparents, and instruction takes place in the office, the family home and the school classroom. Staff take part in IEP meetings with school districts, and monthly case conferences let parents meet their child's whole team at no charge. Psychology interns provide shadowing support at home and in class. The center is on the state's certified nonpublic agency list, so school districts pay for services through IEPs. Social skills building is also offered.","categories":["child-therapy","speech-therapy","occupational-therapy","social-skills","physical-therapy"],"ages":{"min":0,"max":21},"format":"in-person","health":{"specialties":["Child, adolescent and family psychotherapy","Speech and language therapy","Occupational therapy","Educational therapy","Social skill building","Parent, sibling and grandparent support","DIR/Floortime","Animal-assisted psychotherapy","IEP meeting participation and case conferencing"],"practitioners":["Esther B. Hess, Ph.D., licensed psychologist (PSY #16090)"]},"traits":{"specialNeeds":"focused","conditions":["autism","adhd","developmental-delay","learning-disabilities","sensory-processing","anxiety-depression","speech-language","intellectual-disability","trauma"],"delivery":["clinic","in-home","school"],"insurance":["school-district"],"feel":"A multidisciplinary office where psychology, speech, occupational and educational therapists work as one team and involve the whole family.","topics":["dir-floortime","iep-support","parent-training","sibling-support","case-conferencing","play-therapy","animal-assisted-therapy","nonpublic-agency","self-determination-program","educational-therapy","adults-also-seen","selective-mutism"],"groupSize":["one-on-one"],"methods":["dir-floortime"],"goals":["social"]}}],"source":{"url":"https://www.centerforthedevelopingmind.com/","name":"California Department of Education certified nonpublic agencies list, August 2026","fetched":"2026-10-12"},"updated":"2026-10-12","checked":null,"closed":null,"sample":false}