Chris Seigel – Chief Program Officer, Queen of Peace Center & Saint Louis Counseling

Diana Wolf - Co-CEO, Verbal Beginnings

What does it take to grow an ABA organization without sacrificing culture, quality, or clinical excellence? In this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Timothy A. Zercher sits down with Diana Wolf, Co-CEO of Verbal Beginnings, to discuss the realities of scaling an ABA organization the right way. Diana shares why many providers struggle when they focus on headcount and expansion before building the operational and clinical infrastructure needed to support sustainable growth. She explains how Verbal Beginnings has built a culture centered on both client outcomes and employee experience, creating an environment where clinicians can thrive while delivering exceptional care. The conversation also explores leadership development, creating the right organizational roles, attracting top talent, and how AI is beginning to reshape marketing and intake processes in behavioral health. Whether you're leading a growing ABA practice, managing clinical teams, or thinking about the future of behavioral health operations, this episode offers practical insights on building an organization that can scale without losing its mission. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why infrastructure must come before expansion • How strong culture protects quality of care • The importance of putting the right people in the right seats • Strategies for reducing burnout and improving retention • How AI is changing intake, marketing, and client acquisition in ABA • What sustainable growth really looks like in behavioral health

Joy Pendola - Chief Clinical Officer, McCall Behavioral Health Network

In this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Timothy Zercher sits down with Joy Pendola, Chief Clinical Officer at McCall Behavioral Health Network, to discuss what it really takes to balance clinical excellence with operational demands in behavioral healthcare. Joy shares her journey into the field, the leadership lessons she's learned over nearly three decades, and why quality care should always remain the foundation of organizational growth. The conversation explores clinician retention, supervision, professional development, continuous quality improvement, and the growing impact of compliance and regulatory requirements on behavioral health organizations. Whether you're leading a behavioral health organization, managing clinical teams, or planning for growth, this episode offers practical insights on building systems that support both staff and clients while maintaining accountability and high standards of care.

Zoe Huppman - Human Resource Business Partner, Chimes

In this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Tim Zercher sits down with Zoe Huppman, Human Resource Business Partner at Chimes, to talk about what behavioral health organizations often miss when it comes to retention, hiring, and staff support. Zoe shares her perspective as both a former RBT and current HR leader, highlighting why organizations need to stop simply “filling bodies” and start creating environments where staff can actually stay, recover, and thrive. From realistic job previews to mental health days, quiet break spaces, supervisor support, and stronger community partnerships, Zoe offers practical insight into building teams that last. She also discusses the importance of understanding disability, behavior, and workplace support through a more holistic lens.

Dr. Monica Gilbert – Licensed Psychologist & Founding President, Crystal Minds New Beginning

What does real buy-in actually look like in behavioral health? In this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Timothy Zercher sits down with Dr. Monica Gilbert to unpack one of the biggest misconceptions in the field: compliance is not the same as commitment. Dr. Gilbert shares why clinicians often mistake attendance and agreement for true engagement - and how that gap leads to burnout, stalled progress, and frustration for both providers and families. They dive into the power of better questions, the role of motivational interviewing, and how shifting from “fixing” to truly understanding can transform outcomes inside and outside the session room. You’ll also hear how Dr. Gilbert has scaled her practice over 16+ years, the importance of stepping back as a leader, and why building the right processes and culture is critical for long-term growth. This is a practical, no-fluff conversation for ABA leaders, clinicians, and behavioral health operators looking to drive real impact. Learn more about Monica Gilbert: www.drmonicagilbert.com [http://www.drmonicagilbert.com] https://crystalabatherapy.com/ [https://crystalabatherapy.com/]

Beth DuPree, M.D., FACS, ABOIM – Chief Medical Officer, Gateway Clinics

What if we’ve been treating the wrong problem in healthcare? On this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Timothy Zercher sits down with Dr. Beth DuPree, a breast cancer surgeon turned integrative medicine leader, to explore why traditional medicine often misses the most important part of healing - the mind. With over 35 years in medicine, Dr. DuPree shares how her experience with cancer patients revealed a major gap in care: treating the physical disease without addressing the emotional and neurological impact.  The conversation dives into: *  Why “healing” goes beyond removing disease  *  The role of the nervous system and vagus nerve in recovery  *  How bioelectric therapies are changing outcomes in mental health and cancer care  *  Why medications alone often fail to address root causes  *  The future of holistic, patient-centered treatment  This is a powerful, forward-looking conversation on where behavioral health is heading - and what it will take to truly help patients heal.