Staff Profiles

Click here for Board Member Profiles

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Ryan Thompson, M.D.
Executive Director and Founder

Ryan Thompson M.D. is a Board Certified Family Physician who has been practicing in Calaveras County for 21 years. He graduated with honors from Chicago Medical School in 1985 and subsequently completed his Family Practice Residency at Memorial Medical Center, Long Beach in 1988.

Though he has always treated individuals with ADHD and Autism, his interest in these disorders became heightened with the discovery that his son struggled with both conditions. Living in a rural area made it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to access comprehensive services for his son. In spite of multiple attempts to foster development of such needed services, adequate help was not found. With the help of his wife and other trained professionals, the Mind Matters Clinic was developed to meet these needs.

Through specialized training and practical experience, he has become the area’s expert in assessing and treating ADHD, Autism and related disorders. His approach is unique in that services provided are truly comprehensive utilizing medical, dietary and nontraditional methods which combine to provide the most effective treatments available in the region.

Over the years, he has provided educational seminars and consultations for groups of professionals, educators, parents and public organizations while promoting effective treatments and hope for these individuals.

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Kim Thompson
Dyslexia Remediation Specialist and Cofounder

Kim Thompson is a cofounder and Dyslexia Remediation Specialist at Mind Matters.  Using a unique learning system, Kim combines proven techniques to create a highly motivating, fun, effective group treatment modality.  

Kim has more than 20 years of teaching experience in elementary schools.  She worked for many years in inner city Long Beach before coming to Murphys and starting a family.  When her son was diagnosed with severe learning disabilities, ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder, she sought further training in treating these disorders, earning a certificate as a Dyslexia Remediation Specialist.  She currently divides her time between directing the enrichment program at a local private school and her work at Mind Matters.

Kim has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Redlands.  She earned her teaching credential from California State University Long Beach. Her personal experience, professional background, and down-to-earth style, welcomes, inspires and gives hope to families.

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Susan Deax-Keirns, MA, LMFT
Clinical Director

Susan Deax-Keirns is both clinical director and therapist at Mind Matters managing programs and staff and providing counseling for adults, children, adolescents, and families affected by ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Learning Disabilities.  She uses a mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral approach in working with distractibility, impulsivity, anxiety, depression, and behavior problems.  She also works with and supports parents, siblings, and spouses of people affected by these disorders.

Prior to joining Mind Matters, Susan trained for several years at Santa Clara University working with students, staff and faculty.  She has also worked in private practice and at Calaveras County Mental Health. She has been a serious student of mindfulness meditation for 17 years and is a trained EMDR therapist. 

Susan is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  She earned a MA in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University and a BA in Psychology from the University of Oklahoma.  She is married and has three young children.  She combines her academic and clinical training, her love of mindfulness and paying attention, and her gift of working with children and families to create non-threatening, comprehensive and effective treatment plans.

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Beth Gaisford
Learning Specialist

Beth Gaisford is a Learning Specialist at Mind Matters.  She has been an elementary school teacher since 1995.  In 2006 she transferred from the traditional classroom to the Enrichment department at the private school where she works. There, under the mentorship of Kim Thompson, she began providing Dyslexia Remediation and Social Thinking classes.

Beth is a certified provider of Edu-Therapeutics, which she offers in conjunction with a very effective Reading Fluency program.  She facilitates the computer based Fast ForWord program, an intensive individualized reading intervention.  She also teaches Social Thinking classes.
 

Beth has served as a mentor teacher in the past.  In addition to serving children with learning inefficiencies, she enjoys providing resources to teachers and parents seeking solutions for their students with learning challenges.  She divides her teaching time between the classroom and Mind Matters.

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Linda Swedlund
Learning Specialist

Linda Swedlund works at Mind Matters as the Autism Specialist and Educational Consultant, providing assessment, training, and interventions to individuals of all ages. She conducts evaluations of individuals suspected of having social skills deficits or an Autism Spectrum Disorder.  In addition to multiple sessions with the individual being evaluated, her evaluation process might also include parent and teacher interviews and classroom or home observations. She provides educational analysis for individuals who require assistance with 504 or IEP planning.  She determines strengths and weaknesses to best direct effective interventions.

Prior to joining Mind Matters, Linda worked for over 16 years as a Special Education teacher and 10 years as an Autism Specialist.  As a teacher, she taught students from kindergarten to age 21 with a wide range of disabilities. As an autism specialist, her responsibilities included:  conducting trainings for educators and families regarding Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD); evaluation of students suspected of having ASD; conducting social skills groups; transition planning; Individualized Education Program (IEP) development and implementation; and consultation with families/teachers on individual students.  Linda has consulted extensively with administrators, psychologists, therapists, specialists, teachers, agencies, and families regarding appropriate services, placements, accommodations, and modifications for individuals with exceptional needs. 

Linda graduated from the University of Oregon with a B.A. in Psychology and later received her Masters Degree in Special Education, also at the University of Oregon.  She has been actively involved with the Autism Society of America, along with the Association of Retarded Citizens.  Her extensive education, practical experience, and sense of humor provide unique support to individuals and families living with Autism.