About Dr. Maya

Aloha! I’m Dr. Maya Matheis, Director of Mango Tree Center and a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in neurodiversity-affirming care.

I provide neurodiversity-affirming diagnostic evaluations, therapy, and parent coaching for autistic, ADHD, and other neurodivergent children, teens, adults, and their families. Many of the individuals I work with are seeking answers—whether they are wondering if they or their child may be autistic, navigating ADHD or learning differences, pursuing accommodations, or looking for support with mental health and everyday challenges. My goal is to help clients gain a deeper understanding of themselves, build on their strengths, and access supports that align with their unique needs and values.

For more than 15 years, I have worked alongside neurodivergent individuals and their families across clinical, educational, research, and community settings. My career began in direct support roles as a respite care provider, paraprofessional in special education classrooms, and social worker in community mental health settings. These experiences taught me the importance of meeting each individual and family with humility, flexibility, and respect for their lived experience, lessons that continue to guide my work today.

My clinical approach is rooted in three core values: alliance, respect, and empathy.

Alliance means building a collaborative partnership with clients and their ʻohana. I believe the most meaningful growth happens when we work together toward shared goals.
Respect means honoring each person’s identity, culture, strengths, and experiences. As someone who is mixed-race, disabled, and multicultural, I understand the importance of feeling seen and understood. I am committed to providing affirming, inclusive care that recognizes the diversity of human experiences. I also strongly support the neurodiversity movement and believe that neurodivergent people are the experts on their own lives and needs.
Empathy means creating a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where clients can explore challenges, celebrate strengths, and feel genuinely heard. I strive to listen deeply, remain curious, and learn alongside the individuals and families I serve.

In addition to my clinical work, I remain actively engaged in autism research and workforce development. I serve as an affiliated researcher with the Center on Disability Studies at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and as Co-Principal Investigator of the ECHO Autism Hawaiʻi project, which helps increase access to autism expertise across the state through provider education and consultation. These roles allow me to stay connected to emerging research while supporting systems-level improvements in care for autistic individuals and their families.

I earned my PhD in Clinical Psychology from Louisiana State University, where I specialized in autism, neurodevelopmental assessment, and evidence-based interventions. I also hold a Master of Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis with a concentration in child mental health. During my MSW training, I worked closely with parents of autistic children, providing coaching and support to help families navigate everyday challenges. My training as both a psychologist and social worker allows me to understand individuals within the broader contexts of family, school, and community.

My APA-accredited predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship were completed at the UC Davis MIND Institute, one of the nation’s leading centers for autism research and clinical care. Through this training, I developed specialized expertise in autism and neurodevelopmental assessment across the lifespan, as well as evidence-based interventions for autistic individuals and their families. I am also an alum of the Northern California LEND Program and the NIH-funded Autism Research Training Program (ARTP), which supports the development of future leaders in autism research.

Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with and learning from many of the field’s leading clinicians, researchers, and advocates. Some of my most meaningful lessons have come not from textbooks or training programs, but from the people who have trusted me to be part of their journeys.

I am grateful to serve individuals and families across Hawaiʻi and remain committed to helping create a community where neurodivergent people are understood, supported, and celebrated for who they are.

Licensure

Hawai‘i, #PSY19790

California, #PSY32638

Clinical Training

2019-2021 Postdoctoral Scholar, UC Davis MIND Institute

2020 Certification in Project ImPACT

2019 Certification in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

2018-2019 APA-Accredited Predoctoral Psychology Internship, UC Davis CAARE Center & MIND Institute

2018-2019 Northern California Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Program

Education

2019 PhD, Clinical Psychology, Louisiana State University

2014 MSW, Child Mental Health, Washington University in St. Louis

2007 BA, Psychology, Bard College at Simon’s Rock

Selected Peer-Reviewed Articles

Franz, L., Goodwin, C. D., Rieder, A., Matheis, M., & Damiano, D. L. (2022). Early intervention for very young children with or at high likelihood for autism spectrum disorder: An overview of reviews. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 64(9), 1063–1076.

Boyd, B. A., Stahmer, A. C., Odom, S. L., Wallisch, A., & Matheis, M. (2022). It’s time to close the research to practice gap in autism: The need for implementation science. Autism : The International Journal of Research and Practice, 26(3), 569–574.

Cervantes, P. E., Matheis, M., Estabillo, J., Seag, D. E. M., Nelson, K. L., Peth-Pierce, R., Hoagwood, K. E., & Horwitz, S. M. (2021). Trends over a decade in NIH funding for autism spectrum disorder services research. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 51(8), 2751–2763.

Matheis, M., Matson, J.L., Hong, E., & Cervantes, P.E. (2019). Gender differences and similarities: Autism symptomatology and developmental functioning in young children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49(3), 1219-1231.

Issarraras, A., Matson, J.L., Matheis, M., & Burns, C.O. (2019). Differences in developmental concerns of young children with autism spectrum disorder across racial/ethnic groups. Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 22(3), 174-179.

Matheis, M., Matson, J.L., & Burns, C.O. (2018). Premature birth, low birth weight, and positive screening for autism spectrum disorder in an early intervention sample. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 30(5), 689–705.

Jiang, X., Matson, J.L., Cervantes, P.E., Matheis, M., & Burns, C.O. (2017). Gastrointestinal issues in infants and children with autism and developmental delays. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 1–11.

Matson, J.L., Matheis, M., Burns, C.O., Esposito, G., Venuti, P., Pisula, E., … Goldin, R.L. (2017). Examining cross-cultural differences in autism spectrum disorder: A multinational comparison from Greece, Italy, Japan, Poland, and the United States. European Psychiatry, 42, 70–76.

Matheis, M., Matson, J.L., Burns, C.O., Jiang, X., Peters, W.J., Moore, M., … Estabillo, J. (2016). Factors related to parental age of first concern in toddlers with autism spectrum disorder. Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 20(4), 228–235.

Matheis, M., & Matson, J.L. (2015). Autism spectrum disorder screening refusal rates: Findings from a statewide early intervention program. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 27(6), 755-770.

Selected Book Chapters

Matheis, M. (2020) Assessment and diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in individuals with intellectual disability. In J.L. Matson (Eds). Handbook of dual diagnosis: Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment in persons with intellectual disabilities (pp. 267-283). Springer.

Matson, J. L., Matheis, M., Estabillo, J.A., Burns, C.O., Issarraras, A., Peters, W.J., & Jiang, X. (2019). Intellectual disability. In M. J. Prinstein, E. A. Youngstrom, E. J. Mash, & R. A. Barkley (Eds.). Treatment of disorders in childhood and adolescence, 4th edition (416-447). New York: Guilford Publications.

Matheis, M. & Estabillo, J.A. (2018). Assessment of fine and gross motor skills in children. In J. L. Matson (Eds). Handbook of childhood psychopathology and developmental disabilities: Assessment. New York: Springer

Matheis, M., Estabillo, J. A., & Matson, J. L. (2017). Managing challenging behavior in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. In M. Gelbar (Eds). Adolescents with autism spectrum disorders: A clinical handbook. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Matheis, M., & Turygin, N. C. (2016). Depression and autism. In J. L. Matson (Ed.), Handbook of assessment and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (pp. 285–300). Springer International Publishing.