About Us

Individualized, Professional, Compassionate Care

Our Story

Innovative Interventions was started in 2006 to help individuals and families help themselves through home-based counseling. As of 2021, we offer mental and behavioral health counseling through home-based setting, office-based and HIPAA compliant telehealth platform. Home-based and office-based services serve people throughout Indianapolis and surrounding communities. We are, however, able to offer telehealth services for the entire state of Indiana. Our specialty is working with individuals that have Medicaid insurance.

Our focus is on individualized, professional, compassionate care for your mental health and peace of mind.

Currently, we have 18 Therapists (see below) and are growing all the time.

To get started with a Therapist, please complete our referral form.

Services

Our goal is to help clients utilize strengths and accept challenges in order to resolve the negative factors which impact their life and impede healthy functioning. Through our mental and behavioral health services, we offer trained and experienced Therapists. Our Therapists will make individual treatment plans to help achieve success for each client or family. To get started with a Therapist, please complete our referral form.

Specialties

Innovative Intervention Therapists offer vast experience with issues including but not limited to:

Depression
Anxiety
Anger Management
Stress
Issues with Self-Esteem
Issues with Self-Concept
Post Natal Depression
ADHD
Conduct Disorder
Oppositional Disorders
Defiance in Teens
Grief & Berevement
Relationship Issues
Family Dispute Resolutions
Positive Parenting

Services & Locations

We offer the flexibility of meeting on your schedule, when and where you feel most comfortable:

Individual Counseling
Family Counseling
Couples Counseling

Locations

Home-Based Counseling
Telehealth/Virtual Counseling
Community Based Services

Insurance & Payment

We are happy to be able to offer services for the following insurance providers:

Anthem Medicaid
Care Source Medicaid
Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP)
Hoosier Care Connect
Hoosier Healthwise
MHS - Medicaid
Medicaid
Self Pay

Meet the Team

Licensed Clinical Psychologist / Supervisor

Dr. Thomas A. Battocletti

Ph.D., HSPP

Dr. Battocletti supervises the Therapists at Innovative Interventions and has been with the practice since its inception in 2006. He has been a Licensed Clinical Psychologist since 1995, providing treatment to children, adolescents, adults, and families in a variety of settings. This includes working in community mental health, residential, and private practice.

CEO / Psychotherapist

Priscilla Johnson

MA, LMHC

Priscilla has been with Innovative Interventions since 2013 as a Psychotherapist providing psychotherapy, family therapy and couples counseling to with children, teens and adults. In January 2019, she was promoted to role of Chief Executive Officer. Prior to starting with Innovative Interventions, she has worked in various therapeutic and supervisory roles with community mental health centers, a college counseling center, and a non-profit organization.

Founder

Debra Dineff

MS, MFT

Debra is the Founder of Innovative Interventions. Prior to the inception of Innovative Interventions in 2006, she worked with children and families for over 15 years within the foster care system, Department of Corrections, Department of Child Services and within the school systems. She is an expert in strength-based therapy and innovative techniques.

Therapist

Vernon E. Billups Jr.

MA, LMFTA

Graduate Education:

MA in Marriage and Family Therapy

Northcentral University, 2021

Work Experience:

Department of Child Services (DCS), Community Mental Health and Private Practice

Therapist

Ashlyn Birdgewater

MSW, LSW, CAPRCI

Graduate Education:

Master’s in Social Work

Indiana University, 2023

Work Experience:

Started working in the mental health field with families involved with DCS in 2018- focus was reunification and stabilization. Founded a harm reduction outreach 2021. In 2022, worked in inpatient psychiatric setting and private practice providing psychotherapy. In addition to working with Innovative Interventions, also working as a mental health peer for a crisis-support hotline and conducting group therapy for teens in an outpatient program.

Therapist

Ciara Burks

MS, LMHCA

Graduate Education:

MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Indiana State University, 2020

Work Experience:

Children, teens and adults providing individual, family and couples therapy through outpatient services, experience with Department of Child Services (DCS)

Therapist

Jamie Daley

MA, LMHCA

Graduate Education:

MA in Counseling

Northwestern University, 2021

Work Experience:

Department of Child Services (DCS), Inpatient Behavioral Health Center, Private Practice

Therapist

Shelise Decal

MA, LMFT

Graduate Education:

MA in Marriage and Family Therapy

Alliant International University-San Diego, 2019

Work Experience:

Children, Individual, Family and Couples Therapy, Group Home, Intensive Outpatient Services, Non-Profit, Private Practice

Therapist

Jamison Edwards

MA, LMHCA

Graduate Education:

MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Christian Theological Seminary, 2021

Work Experience:

Counseling to adults, teens, and seniors in private practice and non-profit organization including individual therapy, couples counseling and group therapy settings.

Licensed Psychologist (Spanish Speaking)

Dr. Juan (Manny) Hernandez

PsyD, HSPP

Graduate Education:

PsyD in Clinical Psychology

Adler University, 2019

Work Experience:

Health Behavioral Coordinator at Veterans Medical Center, Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program, Outpatient Mental Health

Therapist

Michael Kaminski

MSW, LSW

Graduate Education:

MA of Social Work

IUPUI, 2018

Work Experience:

DCS working with children and families as well as neurodivergent population, outpatient substance abuse counseling, prison population

Therapist

Steve Kawiecki

MA, LMFT

Graduate Education:

MA in Marriage and Family Therapy (Summa Cum Laude)

Christian Theological Seminary, 2016

Work Experience:

Home Based therapy, Counseling at Wheeler Mission & Private Practice

Therapist

Nina Onesti

MSEd, NCC, LMHCA

Graduate Education:

MSEd in Mental Health Counseling

Indiana University, 2019

Work Experience:

College campus counseling center, community mental health, private practice

Therapist

Richard Payne

MA, LMHC

Graduate Education:

MA in Counseling

The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, 2003

Work Experience:

Inpatient Hospital, Community Mental Health, Private Practice, & School-Based Counseling

Therapist

Indya Peoples

MSW, LCSW

Graduate Education:

Master of Social Work

IUPUI, 2006

Work Experience:

Home Based Therapy, Department of Child Services, Community Transition – Juvenile Prison, Substance Abuse Assessments, Private Practice, Clinical Supervision

Therapist

Gabrielle Ryan

MSW, LSW

Graduate Education:

MA of Social Work

Indiana University, 2020

Work Experience:

School Social Worker, Special Education para-educator, Hospice Social Worker, consulting in behavioral management for children and persons with disabilities, experience with adults in a residential group home setting, international practicum experience in community development and intercultural awareness

Therapist

Eric A. Schwan

MA, LMHCA-Temp

Graduate Education:

MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Christian Theological Seminary, 2021

Work Experience:

Community Mental Health, Non-Profit, Private Practice, & Home Based Counseling

Therapist

Leah Whitmire

MA, MT-BC, LMHCA

Graduate Education:

MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Christian Theological Seminary, 2021

MA in Music Therapy

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College 2017

Work Experience:

Therapeutic work with developmental and physical disabilities, hospice care/medical, low-resource youth, Veterans, mental health and wellness, private practice and outpatient mental health

Therapist

Tina Williams

MA, ATR, LMHC

Graduate Education:

MA in Art Therapy

Saint Mary of the Woods College, 2016

Work Experience:

Community Mental Health and Private Practice