Meet The Team
Our team approach to consulting provides families with well over 50 years combined experience. Our team of two consultants, a certified parent coach, and a clinical psychologist provides our families with a wealth of experience and support.
Our Consultants
Deborah Thomason and Susan (Skelton) Storzum have over 30 years of combined professional experience as educational consultants. They are members of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), the professional association of full-time experienced educational consultants. Deborah and Susan both have parented children who struggled as teenagers and were placed in residential programs and therefore have a true understanding of how difficult this process can be.
As educational consultants, Deborah and Susan have extensive personal knowledge of specialized schools and programs. They travel the country regularly visiting therapeutic boarding schools, residential treatment centers and wilderness programs. They continuously meet with Admissions Directors, Academic Deans, Clinical Directors and Program Therapists, as well as tour campuses and thoroughly explore each school's living environments and unique offerings. Because they visit all of our clients in primary treatment, they have a unique in-depth understanding of which programs work truly work well for which students.
Deborah Thomason is the Primary Consultant and owner of Skelton, Thomason and Associates. Deborah handles all of the primary placements and is the initial point of contact for the families. Deborah worked as a private school administrator for several years and has held a number of positions including Director of Admissions. Her bachelor's degree is in Psychology, and she has managed a number of non-profit organizations. Deborah is also a Certified Parent Coach and is passionate about her work with families. She is the proud grandmother of triplet grandsons!
Susan (Skelton) Storzum has a Masters of Arts degree in Family and Child Counseling, and founded the practice in San Jose in 1996. After helping hundreds of families access treatment for their children, she brought Deborah to the practice in 2003 so that she could move into retirement. After training Deborah for 3 years and transitioning ownership to Deborah, she realized how much she missed working with children and families and returned to the practice. Susan has three children and six grandchildren.
Our Parent Coach
Sarah Mack, our Certified Parent Coach, brings another twenty years of experience working with families and managing therapeutic programs to our practice. Prior to joining our practice she worked as a director of a therapeutic wilderness program, and also co-founded a therapeutic boarding school and a transition home program for adolescents. She has a unique understanding of the challenges parents face as they navigate their way through the treatment process and is available to assist at any point during the process. Additionally, Sarah has extensive training in chemical dependency issues and treatment. Sarah is the proud mother of two sons.
Our Consulting/Testing Psychologist
Dr. Kevin O'Keefe, licensed clinical psychologist, is available to provide clinical consultation to our team and educational and/or psychological testing for our clients. When necessary, he will perform a battery of intellectual, academic, emotional and personality tests for our clients in order to attain a thorough assessment. Dr. O'Keefe is a licensed, independent contractor, but is a vital part of our team. Click to access Dr. O'Keefe's web site.
Deborah and her team are known for their insight, patience, compassion, and above all, their personal commitment to the families they serve. They work with other professionals who take pride in their vocations, practice confidentiality, and conduct business with the utmost integrity. Skelton Thomason and Associates is not affiliated with any school or program. The needs of the child and the family are always the most important consideration.
