About Us

Mission and Philosophy

Threshold Community Program is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the social, emotional and educational growth of neurodivergent individuals and their families.

We value all forms of diversity, identity and relationships, and we are committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of equity, inclusion, and advocacy through community engagement.  

We envision a world that prioritizes respect and acceptance of every person, and we seek to make this vision a reality.

Threshold Community Program is one of only a few organizations in the country that has explicitly embraced Stanley Greenspan’s Developmental, Individual-differences, & Relationship-based (DIR)/Floortime model as the foundation of its approach. We believe that healthy social-emotional development is the key to success in the social realm, the academic realm, and in the “real world.” The DIR/Floortime model is a broad framework for understanding how development occurs, how emotions relate to learning, and how we can best interact to foster growth in social-emotional and cognitive areas. In addition to using the principles of the DIR model to guide us, we also use a variety of broad teaching approaches and specific strategies to address the individual needs of each adolescent and adult participant.

Directors & Providers & Trustees

Executive Director

Beth Champ

Executive Director
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Beth Champ | Executive Clinical Director

Beth (she/her)  has been with TCP since 2009, first as a counseling intern and mental health counselor, before transitioning into a leadership role. Before joining Threshold Community Program, Beth worked in post-secondary education and health care strategy consulting. 

Beth has an M.S. in Counseling from Georgia State University, as well as an M.S. in Chemistry and an M.B.A. from UCLA. She is licensed as a professional counselor (LPC) in the state of Georgia, is a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) and a licensed Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS). She has an Advanced DIR Certificate from the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders and has presented regionally and nationally on such topics as sexuality, crisis intervention, autistic relationships and higher level thinking in adolescents and young adults.

About Beth

Providers & Affiliates

Betsy Bull

Betsy Bull Counseling, LLC
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Betsy Bull

Betsy (she/her), joined Threshold in the fall of 2017. She started as a counseling intern before becoming a full-time staff member. Betsy led family and therapy services as well as managing the social and emotional curriculum at Threshold.

Betsy earned her M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Georgia State University and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. Additionally, Betsy holds a DIR Certificate of Proficiency (DIR-Proficient) from the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders (ICDL). Originally from Arizona, Betsy moved to Atlanta to attend Emory University, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature and Visual Arts. In her spare time, Betsy enjoys cooking, dancing, and reading psychological thrillers. 

Betsy provides individual and group counseling to adolescent and adults.

About Betsy

Sarah Champ

Strata Education & Advocacy
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Sarah Champ

Sarah Champ (she/her),  joined Threshold in the fall of 2013 and oversaw the design and implementation of the academic, processing, transition, and wellness curriculum. Sarah has an M.S. in Special Education from the California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo. Sarah is certified in Pivotal Response Treatment, DIR/Floortime, and Lindamood-Bell reading intervention (LIPS, Visualizing and Verbalizing, and Seeing Stars). Sarah has over fifteen years of experience as a special educator in public, in-home, and private school settings.  Sarah regularly presents her work regionally and nationally in foundational mathematics education, developmental lesson planning, and crisis intervention. She is the owner of Strata Education and Advocacy, located in Tucker, GA.

About Sarah

Melissa Davis

Melissa Davis, LLC
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Melissa Davis

Melissa (she/her) joined Threshold in the fall of 2018, after completing a counseling internship during the 2017-2018 program year. She provides individual and group support using DIR/Floortime approaches, and works with families to support their experience. Melissa completed her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Mercer University in August 2018 and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Berry College. In her free time, she enjoys live music, a good karaoke party, traveling, hiking, and spontaneous road trips.

About Melissa

Myochi Johnson

Betsy Bull Counseling, LLC
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Myochi Johnson

Myochi Johnson (she/her) has been with Threshold since the Fall of 2021, first as a counseling intern before joining as full time staff. She completed her Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy with a specialization in Medical Family Therapy at Northcentral University. She received her Bachelors of Arts in Biology from Fisk University in Nashville, TN. After working for over 15 years as a clinical laboratory scientist Myochi decided to follow heart to a career that is more people centered. Her goal is to work collaboratively with individuals and families to support them in creating the life they are proud of and excited about.

In her spare time, Myochi loves to sing, read, spend time with family and friends, binge her favorite tv shows, and cuddle with her dog.

About Myochi

Kaitlyn Morris

Kaitlyn Morris, LLC
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Kaitlyn Morris

Kaitlyn Morris (she/her) has been with Threshold since the spring of 2017, first as a counseling intern before joining as a counselor.  Kaitlyn is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in the State of Georgia. Kaitlyn has an M.A. in Professional Counseling from Liberty University, and she graduated from Clemson University with a B.A. in Psychology. Kaitlyn holds a DIR Certificate of Proficiency (DIR-Proficient) from the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders (ICDL).  

About Kaitlyn

Dave Nelson

Dave Nelson, LLC
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Dave Nelson

Dave (he/him) is the founder of Threshold, which began in 2005. 

Dave has an M.S. in Counseling and an M.A. in English Literature from Georgia State University, as well as an M.B.A. from Duke University. He is licensed as a professional counselor (LPC) in the state of Georgia. He has a DIR expert certificate and is a DIR Training Leader with the Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning (ICDL). He is an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS). Dave is also part of Floortime Atlanta, a professional group of clinicians in the Atlanta area who use the DIR approach.

Dave is the father of two adult sons and a stepdaughter. His interests include golf, literature, skiing, hiking, and biking. He is originally from Massachusetts, and still visits New England regularly. Before becoming a counselor, he taught Business Communication at GSU in both the undergraduate and graduate programs, and worked in the computer industry, providing development office turnkey systems to non-profit organizations.

About Dave

Board of Trustees

Laura Akins

Chair
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Laura Akins

Laura Akins practices law in the areas of estate planning and probate, with a  focus on special needs planning and elder law. Based out of Nadler Biernath’s Dunwoody office, she serves clients throughout the greater Atlanta area. Laura assists her clients in planning for benefit and asset protection, family emergencies, and for the end of life. After a loved one has experienced a catastrophe or passed away, Laura also helps clients navigate through the probate court procedure and legalities.
As a native Atlantan, Laura appreciates the opportunity to serve her hometown community. With patience and empathy, she guides her clients through the often overwhelming estate planning or probate processes. Laura finds it incredibly rewarding to connect with her clients and make difficult circumstances easier.
Laura received a B.A. in History from the University of Georgia and a J.D. from Cumberland School of Law, Samford University.
She is an active member of the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers and the Atlanta Bar Association. Laura also serves as a board member of Threshold Community Program in Decatur, C.H.O.I.C.E.S. Inc., and the Elder Law section of the Atlanta Bar Association.
When she isn’t working, Laura is passionate about fitness and nutrition. She loves finding new running routes or hiking trails to explore and enjoys trying new restaurants around Atlanta.

Laura joined the TCP Board in June, 2018.

 

About Laura

Beth Champ

Executive Director
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Beth Champ | Executive Director

Beth (she/her) has been with TCP since 2009, first as a counseling intern and mental health counselor, before transitioning into a leadership role. Before joining Threshold Community Program, Beth worked in post-secondary education and health care strategy consulting. 

Beth has an M.S. in Counseling from Georgia State University, as well as an M.S. in Chemistry and an M.B.A. from UCLA. She is licensed as a professional counselor (LPC) in the state of Georgia, is a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) and a licensed Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS). She has an Advanced DIR Certificate from the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders and has presented regionally and nationally on such topics as sexuality, crisis intervention, autistic relationships and higher level thinking in adolescents and young adults.

About Beth

Kat Grier

Board Member
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Kat Grier

Kat Grier CFP® , CPA is a wealth advisor at Merit Financial Advisors, in Atlanta, GA.  She helps her clients navigate all chapters of their lives by listening to their needs and desires and creating tailored financial and planning solutions. Born and raised in Atlanta, she has always been committed to building long-term relationships both personally and professionally. Before joining Merit, Kat co-founded and served as managing partner of an Atlanta-based tax consulting firm. She is passionate about supporting and engaging in community – whether that is at home, at work, or in the world.

When she is not helping her clients, she’s spending time with her wife and daughter, working in her vegetable garden, cooking (and making an absolute mess of the kitchen), listening to live music, or planning the family’s next travel adventure.
Kat joined the TCP board in February, 2025.

About Kat

John Grime

Board Member
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John Grime

John Grime and his beautiful young family have been residents of Tampa, Florida since 2010. They believe their adopted hometown is truly a wonderful place to live. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he is a proud graduate of Central Catholic High School and the University of Pittsburgh. 
He is a Vice President at JP Morgan and leads a team of Treasury Services representatives. His role entails moving the world's commerce every day through helping clients and managing treasury services and he is proud of the work his team does daily. Being a professional at a large financial services organization, he has firsthand knowledge of how complex systems work and how investment dollars yield big benefits. 
As a father of a child with autism, he realizes how important it is to make a difference in the world. Through his advocacy, John has a passion for helping others and is an active member of a North America Caregiver group at JP Morgan. His dedication to developing and consulting for organizations that look to enrich the lives of others and those that make a difference in the world fuels his purpose. Using his talents to strengthen the autism and neurodiverse communities is a commitment he embraces every day. 
John and his family take full advantage of the Tampa Bay area and its natural beauty as they spend weekends at the beach, the park, or just enjoying the wonderful weather. 
 
John joined the TCP Board in March, 2023.
About John

JoJo Gilbert-Ross

Board Member
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JoJo Gilbert-Ross | Chair

Joye “JoJo” Gilbert-Ross has owned Operation Boot Camp Decatur since 2007. In that time she’s helped to whip hundreds of Atlantans into shape and loved every minute of it. In addition, she also owns an interior design/home staging business, home.staging.love. Prior to stepping out into the entrepreneur world, JoJo worked at several non-profit agencies in the Atlanta area as well as South Florida. Her love of helping others and interest in what each individual brings to the world is part of what fuels her passion for TCP. “TCP provides something that is so basic to what so many of us lack: somewhere we are celebrated just as we are. TCP goes one better-bringing out that potential that students themselves didn’t even know they had. If I can do anything to create more of that in the world, I am in!” JoJo lives in Kirkwood with her wife, Melissa.

JoJo joined the TCP Board in June, 2013.

About JoJo

Tim Harland

Board Member
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Tim Harland

Tim Harland heads the marketing efforts for Slope Software, a software as a service company based out of Atlanta, GA, where he leads organic and paid campaigns to increase the company’s presence in the actuarial modeling software space. He has worked with the company since 2020, before which he worked at Threshold Community Program as Development Manager, responsible for grant writing and fundraising for the organization. Tim is excited to serve TCP from a new perspective on their board of directors.

Tim joined the TCP Board in November, 2022.

About Tim

Sarah Kelsey

Board Member
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Sarah Kelsey

Sarah Kelsey is an openly autistic attorney and naturalist. She is a Staff Attorney in the Atlanta Legal Aid Society Disability Integration Project, assisting Georgians who are at risk of institutionalization with access to services in the community. Previously, she worked in Atlanta Legal Aid's Home Defense Program assisting Atlanta-area homeowners with mortgage and title issues. She has served on the Southern Center for Human Rights Ambassadors Leadership Council since 2018, and as the Council's Co-Chair since 2021. Sarah graduated from Emory Law School with honors and was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 2016.

Prior to law school, Sarah worked as a botanist, and she continues to volunteer her time with conservation organizations and community science initiatives to locate and document wildlife in the Southeast. She is a member of Georgia Audubon, Georgia Native Plant Society, and the Georgia Botanical Society, for which she served as the first Chair of the Maureen Donohue Habitat Conservation Fund Committee. Sarah is currently one of Georgia's top contributors to the community science platform iNaturalist.

Sarah is passionate about civil rights, disability justice, and environmental conservation. She lives in East Point with her family.

Sarah joined the TCP Board in November, 2022.

About Sarah

Jonathan Leon

Board Member
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Jonathan Leon

Unapologetic in his commitment to fighting racism, Dr. Jonathan Leon brings over a decade of
experience in philanthropic strategic programming, community organizing and culturally responsive youth development as the Sr. Director of Forward Promise (FP). After joining Teach
for America to work in the Atlanta Public School system, he served as the Senior Director of Regional Impact at nonprofit civic leadership development organization, Leadership for Education Equity (LEE), to support equity-focused leaders in the Atlanta, Georgia community in their work to affect change in law, policy and systems. Fueled by the desire to ensure equal opportunity for quality education for all youth, he earned his Doctorate in Education Policy and
Leadership from American University.

Jonathan joined the TCP Board in August, 2023.

About Jonathan

Matthew Morris

Board Member
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Matthew Morris

Matthew is a Co-Owner and Vice President at Combine Academy, an international boarding school located outside of Charlotte, NC. He specializes in international recruiting and relations, manages admissions, and assists with student-athlete placement into universities. Prior to joining Combine Academy in 2015, Matthew was a college basketball assistant coach at Wofford College (2011-2013) and Clayton State University (2013-2015). 

Matthew is a 2008 graduate of Clemson University, where he received a B.S. in Marketing and was a 4-year letterwinner on the men's basketball team, also being named to the ACC All-Academic Team for the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 seasons. After graduating, he played professional basketball and coached at the academy level in Belgium and France from 2008-2011.
 
Originally from coastal South Carolina, Matthew and his wife Kaitlyn moved to Atlanta in 2013. Matthew is excited to serve TCP on its board of directors.
 

Matthew joined the TCP Board in August, 2023.

About Matthew

Dave Nelson

Board Member
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Dave Nelson

Dave has an M.S. in Counseling and an M.A. in English Literature from Georgia State University, as well as an M.B.A. from Duke University. He is licensed as a professional counselor (LPC) in the state of Georgia. He has a DIR expert certificate and is a DIR Training Leader with the Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning (ICDL). He is an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS). Dave is also part of Floortime Atlanta, a professional group of clinicians in the Atlanta area who use the DIR approach.

Dave is the father of two adult sons and a stepdaughter. His interests include golf, literature, skiing, hiking, and biking. He is originally from Massachusetts, and still visits New England regularly. Before becoming a counselor, he taught Business Communication at GSU in both the undergraduate and graduate programs, and worked in the computer industry, providing development office turnkey systems to non-profit organizations.

About Dave

Jocelyn Ralston

Board Member
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Jocelyn Ralston

Jocelyn is a native Atlantan and a proud graduate of the University of Georgia with a B.A. in English and Classical Studies. She and her husband Ward have three children, two daughters and a son who is a participant in the Kirkwood group at TCP. Jocelyn is excited to have the opportunity to serve on the Board at TCP because it has made such a difference in not only her son’s life, but in the whole family dynamic.

Jocelyn retired from the workforce 21 years ago to focus on family. Jocelyn has spent many years volunteering at all three of her children’s schools. She spent many years as a volunteer with Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, leading two troops and holding multiple Service Unit level jobs in the Dunwoody Service Unit. Jocelyn is also an active volunteer at her parish, Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, where she is currently an elected member of the Parish Pastoral Council and serves on the Parish Liturgy Committee. Jocelyn also enjoys volunteering for The Catholic Foundation of North Georgia.

In her spare time, Jocelyn enjoys reading, cooking, baking, exercising, and watching SEC Football, particularly the Georgia Bulldogs and The Alabama Crimson Tide.

Jocelyn joined the TCP Board in September, 2016.

About Joceyln

Alana Shuckett

Board Member
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Alana Shuckett

Alana (she/hers) works as a Global Security Intelligence Manager for the Macquarie Group. Her duties include threat intelligence and analysis, people safety, and emergency management.

She identifies as neurodiverse and is presently helping her company launch a DEI employee network group in the Americas that focuses on neurodiversity. 

Alana is a polyglot with an MS in Homeland Security from San Diego State University and a BS in Psychology with an emphasis on Cognition from UC Davis.

She moved to Houston a few years ago and is a co-parent to two dogs and a squirrel. Her many interests include travel, current events, psychology & sociology, identity, philosophy, disinformation, and shiny things. Alana is originally from San Diego. And yes, she does miss the beach.

Alana joined the TCP Board in March, 2023.

About Alana

Akshat "AJ" Bhardwaj

Board Member
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Askshat "AJ" Bhardwaj

Akshat is a senior digital finance executive with over 20 years of experience leading large-scale transformation initiatives across Fortune 1000 companies. His professional journey has focused on helping CFOs, CIOs, and executive teams leverage the power of technology—especially AI, ERP, and analytics—to unlock business value, accelerate growth, and drive operational excellence.

Currently, Akshat leads PwC’s Cloud& Digital vertical in Atlanta, overseeing strategic engagements, digital finance delivery, and client partnerships. His work has enabled clients to achieve multimillion-dollar savings through finance process optimization, technology enablement, and advanced data strategies. Prior to PwC, AJ held leadership roles at Oracle, Deloitte, and Cognizant, managing high-impact programs across industries including technology, media, and manufacturing.

Beyond his technical background, Akshat brings a strong focus on community impact, mentorship, and strategic planning. He holds an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and multiple professional certifications in cloud architecture, ERP systems, and financial planning.

As a member of the TCP Atlanta board, Akshat is excited to contribute his experience at the intersection of finance, technology, and innovation to support our mission of community upliftment and equitable access to opportunity.

AJ joined the TCP Board in May, 2025.

About AJ

Stories

Press Release: Changes Are Coming to Threshold Community Program!

November 24, 2025
After 21 impactful years, Threshold Community Program (Threshold) will be closing its full-day, full-year program in June 2026 and shifting to a more flexible service ...
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Perseverance: An Important TCP Value

December 12, 2021
For the past couple of months, our organization has been focused on perseverance, one of our six core values. This semester has started out with ...
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A New Independent Living Project

December 1, 2021
I still remember my first apartment as an adult, a one bedroom unit on Cherry Street in Somerville, Massachusetts (before Somerville was cool). My father ...
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From the Backyard to the Backwoods

April 13, 2021
TCP highly values the great outdoors and as such we place a large emphasis on exercise. We typically dedicate an entire day every week of ...
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Our Year Has Begun at TCP!

September 2, 2020
Our year has begun at TCP! One month in, and we almost feel like we’ve always been working virtually. OK, that might be a slight ...
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Standing in Solidarity

June 10, 2020
Threshold Community Program’s mission is to support the education, growth and advocacy of a marginalized population, and we are committed to creating a world in ...
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Versatility & Discovery

May 29, 2020
Last August, before the start of the program year, our executive clinical director, Beth Champ, presented on our theme for the year: Versatility. I think ...
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Lara’s Interview

May 27, 2020
Lara is a counseling intern at Threshold Community Program from October of 2019 through May of 2020. Lara is from South Africa and she and ...
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TCP Virtual Art Gallery

May 8, 2020
We are excited to announce that the TCP Virtual Art Gallery is officially open and features artwork uniquely crafted by our participants and staff. The ...
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