The Healing Haven Team

Jamie McGillivary founded Healing Haven in 2010 with a clear mission: to support not only children with autism and other special needs, but their entire families. With 30 years of experience working with individuals with autism, Jamie brings deep clinical expertise and a compassionate, forward-thinking approach to therapy. Before launching Healing Haven, Jamie helped pioneer The HOPE Center at Beaumont Hospital. She holds a Master of Science in Clinical Behavioral Psychology from Eastern Michigan University.

Jamie remains closely connected to the families Healing Haven serves—personally meeting with each new family to understand their needs and guide them toward the right support. Her innovative leadership continues to shape Healing Haven’s programs, ensuring they evolve to meet the changing needs of children and their caregivers with empathy, excellence, and care.

Kristen Gann has been a driving force at Healing Haven since 2014, bringing a unique blend of human resources expertise and operational leadership to her role as Chief Operating Officer. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management from Ashford University and began her journey at Healing Haven as a Registered Behavior Technician and Training Supervisor.

As Chief Operating Officer, Kristen oversees all aspects of Human Resources, Scheduling, and Operations to ensure the seamless delivery of high-quality ABA services. With a strong background in organizational leadership and operational strategy, she plays a key role in driving efficiency, fostering a positive team culture, and supporting the clinical team in delivering exceptional care. Kristen’s commitment to operational excellence plays a vital role in advancing Healing Haven’s mission to serve families with compassion and integrity.

Peter Mitchell joined Healing Haven in 2018, bringing a strong foundation in financial strategy and operational management. A graduate of Western Michigan University with a degree in Finance, Peter previously served as the Finance Director for a healthcare organization specializing in payment integrity, before stepping into leadership roles at Healing Haven.

As Chief Financial Officer, Peter oversees all financial operations including financial planning, financial reporting, accounting, data analysis, forecasting and risk management. His thoughtful approach to financial planning and resource management supports Healing Haven’s growth and long-term sustainability, ensuring the organization can continue delivering high-quality care to families.

Dr. Jennifer Thomas brings over 30 years of experience in psychology and behavior analysis to her role as Chief Clinical Officer at Healing Haven. She joined the team in November 2019, driven by a passion for advancing clinical excellence and supporting families through innovative, evidence-based care. Dr. Thomas earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Nevada. Her career spans roles as a Behavior Analyst, Psychological Consultant, and university professor, giving her a broad and insightful perspective on clinical practice.

As Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Thomas, is responsible for the overall clinical strategy, quality, compliance, and integration of services across all disciplines within the clinics, including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Occupational Therapy (OT), Speech Therapy (ST), Counseling, and Diagnostics. She ensures the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based care that aligns with ethical standards and promotes optimal client outcomes.

Jocelyn Cook leads Healing Haven’s marketing and client services efforts with a focus on clear communication, strategic outreach, and exceptional client experience. Since joining the team in 2018, she has helped shape the organization’s brand and digital presence, while also overseeing all client and employee communications.

With a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Ohio University and prior leadership in employment branding and recruitment marketing, Jocelyn brings a strong blend of storytelling and strategy to her role. She also manages the Client Services team, ensuring a smooth onboarding experience for families seeking ABA, Speech, Occupational Therapy, Testing & Assessments, and Counseling services.

Kate Fritz joined Healing Haven in March 2017 as an ABA Therapist and Practicum Student. Kate received her Master of Arts in Behavioral Psychology from Western Michigan University where she also completed her undergrad in Behavioral Psychology. Before joining Healing Haven Kate worked for two other ABA providers, one of which was an inpatient provider. Kate served as our Early Intervention Clinical Director and Senior Clinical Director before assuming the role of  Vice President of ABA Operations. Her focus now is ensuring quality clinical expansion to make Healing Haven’s therapy services more accessible to families impacted by autism. Kate utilizes her years of experience as a Clinical Director to train new Clinical Directors who share in Healing Haven’s mission to provide high-quality and compassionate behavior health and autism therapy services.

Sarah Biviano joined the Healing Haven team in January 2020 as one of our Board Certified Behavior Analysts. She later moved into her current role managing our Young Learners Clinic. Sarah received her Master of Science in Clinical Behavioral Psychology from Eastern Michigan University. Before joining Healing Have Sarah worked as a BCBA serving clients up to age 21. As Clinical Director of the Young Learners clinic, Sarah supervises a team of BCBAs, provides support and guidance to middle managers and ABA Therapists and oversees building operations and development.

John Leither joined Healing Haven in July 2018 with prior experience in the field of ABA. He earned his master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University. After becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, John quickly advanced into leadership roles, serving as Clinical Director of both the School & Community Readiness and Life Skills Clinics. In this role, John supervised BCBAs and helped develop vocational and life skills programming focused on community integration and independence.

Now serving as Vice President of Clinical Applications, John focuses on enhancing efficiency and job satisfaction for both clinical and administrative staff through the strategic use of technology. His innovative mindset and deep clinical experience support Healing Haven’s mission to deliver compassionate, effective care to every family.

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