Dr. Rachel Sandercock PhD

Bio

Dr. Rachel Sandercock is a licensed clinical psychologist with a deep commitment to neurodiversity-affirming care. As the Director of Evaluations at Unfurling Littles, she brings a strengths-based, person-centered lens to autism diagnostic evaluations and mental health services across the lifespan.

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Her path to this work began during her undergraduate years at the University of Pittsburgh, where research on early differences in language development and time spent with neurodiverse families sparked a lasting commitment to autism care. After completing her BPhil, she was awarded the Cohen Fellowship in Developmental Social Neuroscience at the Marcus Autism Center in Atlanta, where she deepened both her research skills and her connection to the autistic community.

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Rachel earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at UNC Chapel Hill, training within the TEACCH Autism Program and the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities. Her clinical and research work focused on supporting autistic individuals through key developmental transitions, with an emphasis on tailoring services to reflect each person’s strengths, values, and goals.

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She completed her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Colorado School of Medicine – JFK Partners, where she led collaborative interdisciplinary diagnostic teams and adapted mental health interventions to better meet the needs of autistic learners. Her work has been published in academic journals and book chapters, and she continues to share her learning at national conferences.

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In 2022, Rachel returned to her hometown of Philadelphia to serve as a psychologist in the Autism Integrated Care Program at CHOP. She joined Unfurling Littles in 2025 to help expand psychological services grounded in compassion and connection.

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Outside of work, Rachel finds joy in exploring new restaurants, cheering on Philly sports teams, wheel-throwing pottery, and spending time with her husband, young son, and their three dogs.