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.

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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Mimi Louya joined Healing Haven in March 2023, bringing a strong background in early childhood development and a passion for supporting young learners with autism. She earned her Master of Education in Educational Psychology from Wayne State University, where her interest in working with individuals with ASD began while studying communication disorders during her undergraduate years.

Before becoming a BCBA, Mimi worked at several ABA centers with children ages 2–19, gaining hands-on experience as a behavior technician focused on individualized care. At Healing Haven, she first served as a BCBA and Practicum Supervisor before stepping into her current role as Clinical Director of the Early Intervention Clinic.

In her role, Mimi provides oversight and support to clinical staff, ensuring high-quality treatment that aligns with ethical standards and meets the unique needs of each child. Her thoughtful leadership and dedication to early intervention reflect Healing Haven’s mission to empower families through compassionate, evidence-based care.

Alexa Slater brings compassion, expertise, and a deep commitment to helping children thrive. She joined Healing Haven in 2021 as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and now serves as Clinical Director of the Young Learners Clinic, where she leads a team dedicated to supporting school-aged children in building essential skills for successful transitions into educational environments.

Alexa holds a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from Capella University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Saginaw Valley State University. Before joining Healing Haven, she gained hands-on experience as a behavior technician and practicum student at another clinic, laying the foundation for her thoughtful and client-centered approach.

Her passion lies in working with young learners, helping them grow through individualized, evidence-based care that fosters confidence and independence.

Brandon Gillespie joined Healing Haven in October 2021, bringing a strong foundation in Applied Behavior Analysis and a passion for helping individuals build meaningful skills for greater independence. He earned his Master’s degree in ABA from Ball State University and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in February 2020.

Prior to joining Healing Haven, Brandon worked as both a Registered Behavior Technician and BCBA at another agency, where he focused on supporting teenagers and adults in developing vocational and life skills that promote successful integration into the community. As Clinical Director of the School & Community Readiness and Life Skills Clinics on our Madison Heights campus, Brandon leads programs designed to prepare individuals for real-world environments, including school, work, and social settings. His thoughtful, goal-oriented approach reflects Healing Haven’s mission to empower every client and their family with care, expertise, and respect.

Maria Efremidis joined Healing Haven in March 2022 as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, bringing experience working with children ages 2–8 and specialized training in Applied Verbal Behavior to support individualized language and communication development. In 2023, she became a Practicum Supervisor, mentoring student analysts through their coursework and clinical growth. In 2024, Maria stepped into her current role as Clinical Director of the Farmington Hills Clinic.

Maria earned her Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis with an emphasis on Autism from Ball State University. As Clinical Director, she oversees clinic operations, supervises a team of BCBAs, and provides guidance to middle managers and Behavior Technicians. Her leadership ensures high-quality, ethical care tailored to each child’s unique needs.

Michelle Berlinski joined Healing Haven as BCBA in November 2022. She was promoted to Clinical Director of the Early Intervention Clinic in Madison Heights and later selected to lead the Clinton Township Clinic.  As Clinical Director she provides oversight, guidance, and clinical support to a team of BCBAs and Behavior Technicians. She is committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate care and ensuring individualized, evidence-based ABA services for every client.

Michelle earned her bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University and her master’s degree in education from the University of Cincinnati, establishing a strong academic foundation for her work in clinical leadership. Before joining Healing Haven, she served as a Clinical Director for in-home ABA programs for children and teens, gaining extensive experience supporting families across diverse needs and developmental stages in locations throughout the United States. Her leadership fosters collaboration, growth, and excellence in clinical practice.

Alex Kedzior joined Healing Haven in 2023, bringing nearly a decade of experience in speech-language pathology and a deep commitment to supporting functional communication within daily environments. She earned her Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Wayne State University and began her career treating adults with diagnoses such as Aphasia, Apraxia, swallowing disorders, and cognitive-communication challenges.

In 2019, Alex transitioned to pediatric care in private practice, where she worked with children of all ages experiencing speech and language challenges—including receptive and expressive language disorders, fluency, voice, and motor speech disorders. She developed a strong foundation in modeling and teaching multimodal communication to enhance functional language across varying contexts.

As Director of Speech Therapy since May 2025, Alex leads Healing Haven’s speech team, treats her own caseload, and fosters interdisciplinary collaboration across ABA, Occupational Therapy, and Counseling. Her passion lies in helping children and their families build total communication while providing strategies that empower connection and growth.

Tess Carolan earned her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Saginaw Valley State University in 2020 and has dedicated her career to helping children build independence and confidence. Her passion for pediatrics began in high school, where she worked as an OT tech and Handwriting Without Tears Camp Leader. Since then, Tess has served in leadership roles as a therapy manager and OT department director, bringing extensive experience in pediatric care from birth through childhood.

She holds certifications in Learning Without Tears, SOS Feeding Approach, Interactive Metronome, The Play Project, and DIR Floortime. At Healing Haven, Tess leads the Occupational Therapy team with a compassionate, individualized approach that empowers children and families to achieve meaningful progress.

Danielle Harrison has been working in the field of behavioral health since 2012 when she worked as a Behavior Technician. She became a Licensed Professional Counselor after earning her Master’s degree from Oakland University in 2015 and transitioned from Behavior Tech to Counselor at Healing Haven. And now as Director of the Counseling Services team, Danielle brings a compassionate, client-centered approach to therapy for individuals and families.

Danielle works with clients across all stages of life, creating a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental space for growth. Her therapeutic approach blends Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and principles of Applied Behavior Analysis, always meeting clients where they are. When working with children, she uses a child-led model that fosters trust and emotional safety.

Danielle also supports families through parent training, helping caregivers strengthen communication, set boundaries, and build confidence in supporting their child’s development. Her goal is to help individuals and families create meaningful change, build healthy habits, and move toward greater balance and well-being.

Kristofer Picano brings a diverse clinical background to his role as Director of Developmental Testing and Diagnostic Services at Healing Haven. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Rochester University and a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and Applied Behavior Analysis from the Michigan School of Psychology. His experience spans neuropsychological evaluations, psychiatric inpatient care, and traumatic brain injury rehabilitation.

Kristofer joined Healing Haven to gain ABA field experience and later applied his diagnostic expertise to build the organization’s developmental testing and diagnostic department. Under the supervision of Dr. Ruth Anan, he developed a comprehensive evaluation program for children and adults with developmental and behavioral disorders, specializing in autism spectrum disorder. Kristofer is committed to delivering accurate, compassionate assessments that guide families toward meaningful support.