Administrative Team

Meet the Behavioral Associates Administrative Team

Alethia Williams-Thom, B.A., Office Manager, Director of Patient Accounts & Insurance Operations, Director of Undergraduate Internships, is a highly experienced healthcare administration professional with over a decade of expertise in practice management, medical billing, insurance reimbursement, revenue cycle management, and patient relations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hunter College, is certified in Medical Billing, and is currently pursuing her Juris Doctor at Brooklyn Law School.

Since joining Behavioral Associates in 2015, Alethia has played an integral role in the practice’s administrative and financial operations. She oversees patient accounts, insurance billing and reimbursement, administrative staff development, and the coordination of clinical and administrative services. She also directs the Undergraduate Internship Program, providing mentorship and professional development opportunities to undergraduate students interested in psychology, healthcare, and related fields. Additionally, she oversees the practice’s IVF Service Program, coordinating psychological assessments for fertility clinics across the country.

Beyond her role at Behavioral Associates, Alethia launched H.A.R.L.E.M. (Helping Adolescents Redefine Life, Education, and Mental Health) in 2024, a community initiative developed in collaboration with Behavioral Associates and Hunter College to support and empower adolescents in the Harlem community.

Alethia also founded Breakthrough Behavioral Billing LLC, a healthcare billing and practice management company specializing in behavioral health services. Through her work, she brings extensive experience in navigating complex insurance systems, improving billing processes, and supporting the operational needs of healthcare practices.

Her additional professional credentials include certifications from the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies and HarvardX. Through her legal education, Alethia hopes to build on her extensive experience in healthcare administration by pursuing a career in healthcare law, with a focus on patient advocacy, healthcare policy, and regulatory compliance. She aspires to help bridge the gap between healthcare providers, patients, and the legal systems that shape access to quality care.

Brandon Bernardi, MSEd, BA, Executive Assistant, Director of Office Systems and Social Media, has been with Behavioral Associates since 2018. Currently, he facilitates the daily operations of the company, provides oriented consulting services, manages our referral network, and directs our social media efforts. In addition, Brandon has helped develop and currently manages our digital office management system which possesses features crucial to our clinical and administrative operations. Brandon currently holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology from The College of Saint Rose, and has received a Bachelor of Arts in Social Psychology, with a minor in Political Science, from Hunter College.

Annie Reiner, BA, Research Associate, started out at Behavioral Associates as an intern. Currently, she is a recruiter and administrator for the “Shining New Light on Dementia Treatment” clinical trial. Annie received her Bachelor of Arts from Kenyon College where she majored in Psychology. She plans on going to graduate school to complete a doctorate in Clinical Psychology.

Administrative Interns

Keira Thornton, Administrative Intern II, is an undergraduate student pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Cognitive Science and Studio Art. Outside of the classroom, Keira is on the board of the Student Programming Council, where she works on marketing events for Marist. She is also a member of Psi Chi, the Psychology Honor Society. Keira enjoys working with children, and is interested in developmental psychology and neuroscience. She is also interested in the role of technology in counseling, and hopes to work in the neuropsychology field in the future.

Natalie Bernal, Administrative Intern, is an undergraduate student at Marist University pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with minors in Global Studies and Political Science. She is an active member of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, and is particularly interested in clinical psychology. During her time at Behavioral Associates, Natalie is interested in developing a deeper understanding of different therapy modalities. She hopes to pursue graduate education in psychology and is particularly interested in working in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) within international humanitarian settings.

*Photos Credit: Mad Shots Photography