Meet Our Team

Gail M. Curran, MS, MBA, CEP

Therapeutic and Educational Placement Professional & Parent Coach
President & CEO

Gail M. Curran, MS, MBA, CEP is the principal independent educational & therapeutic placement consultant for Optimal Edu Options. She concentrates on the therapeutic and learning needs of children, teens, and young adults with behavioral, emotional and learning differences, including those involved in the juvenile system.

Gail has over 25 years of experience working with residential and day treatment programs for special needs students in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Arizona. Her work in residential treatment centers ranged from direct care to executive level management which allowed her to have a different perspective on types of therapeutic placements that are the best options for families. She possesses and specializes in comprehensive knowledge in finding the best options for struggling teens and young adults in the Phoenix and Tucson areas, as well as all of Arizona and across the United States of America.

Gail has been working in the profession of educational and therapeutic placement consulting since 2012. She earned professional member status of the Independence Educational Consultants Association (IECA) in 2015, and in 2017 was honored with the distinguished certification from the American Institute of Certified Educational Planners (AICEP). The certification sets the standard for professional educational advisors not only in knowledge and experience but ongoing professional development. There is no higher mark of distinction in the profession.

As part of her assessment process, she travels extensively across the country to evaluate boarding and therapeutic boarding schools, struggling teen programs, young adult programs, and other treatment facilities. Gail has a Master’s Degree in Human Development and Family Studies, in which she wrote her thesis on attachment disorders in children who experience trauma, loss, and separation from biological caregivers. She also holds an MBA in Organizational Leadership.

She is a member and serves on the board of ATTACh (Association for Training on Trauma and Attachment in Children). Her colleagues describe her as passionate, committed and determined to help youth, adolescents and young adults.

Professional Memberships:

• Certified Educational Planner AICEP (American Institute of Certified Educational Planners)
• Professional Member IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association)
• Professional Member NATSAP (National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs)
• Professional Member ATN (Attachment & Trauma Network)
• Certified Parent Coach CPC (Parent Coach Trainers Academy)
• AZ-PA (Arizona Psychological Association)
• SBSA (Small Boarding School Association)
• SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test)

DeAnna Granado

Educational & Therapeutic Placement Consultant, Life Coach & Advocate

DeAnna Granado is a graduate of Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice. Originally from Southern California, DeAnna moved to Arizona 22 years ago to attend ASU and has an extensive background in the criminal justice field with an emphasis on the juvenile and mental health population.

DeAnna’s background includes an array of experience working with juvenile offenders, residential treatment facilities and post-secondary programs for young adults, for over 15years. More recently, as a Manager of Business Operations, she wore many hats, which also included teaching and advising young adults transitioning into independence. The emphasis was to encourage and empower young adults into independence. This was accomplished by teaching life skills classes and coaching. In addition, as a student advisor, she helped students strive to achieve their goals with a primary focus on a career, education and social integration.

DeAnna joined Gail’s practice in 2019, as an education consultant and assisting with life coaching for young adults. DeAnna works in collaboration to provide a different perspective on the best therapeutic placement and options for families.

DeAnna and her husband have four children and enjoy cooking, being outdoors and traveling.

John Cohen

Licenced Professional Counselor (LPC)

John Cohen is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and has provided therapeutic services for over 30 years. His career experience includes many years as a wilderness therapist, Clinical Director, psychiatric hospital clinician, and clinician in the juvenile justice system. He also lived in Costa Rica for two years, developing and directing an adventure therapy program for young adults. His years of experience working with adolescents, young adults, and parents has shaped his knowledge and belief in the absolute value of quality planning to solidify the treatment process. In addition, his passion for promoting successful family systems and extensive experience make him an excellent choice for supporting families.

John worked 18 years in the juvenile justice system providing assessment and counseling services to adolescents and their families. He also worked in a psychiatric hospital and became a primary therapist in the wilderness in 2007. He was part of Ohio’s first mental health unit serving juvenile offenders.

He obtained a B.A. in Psychology from Ohio State University and an M.S. in Clinical Counseling from the University of Dayton. John has been a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) since 1997 and has been doing therapy with various populations for over 25 years.

John worked 18 years in the juvenile justice system providing assessment and counseling services to adolescents and their families. He also worked in a psychiatric hospital and became a primary therapist in the wilderness in 2007. He was part of Ohio’s first mental health unit serving juvenile offenders.

John specializes in adoption/attachment and has also worked with various behavioral and emotional challenges, including mood disorders, grief, trauma, substance abuse, social struggles, and learning and attention/impulsive disorders. John has a direct communication style and believes in getting to the issue’s core.

John has assisted countless young people and clients in developing stress management strategies and improve social and life skills. In addition, John has worked extensively with families in helping to improve family communication and relations. John has also supervised many clinicians working towards licensure and provided training to mental health workers. John is very committed and dedicated to his clients and their families. He strives to be professional and authentic with everyone he works with.

John grew up in central Ohio and obtained a B.A. in Psychology from Ohio State University and an M.S. in Clinical Counseling from the University of Dayton. John has been a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) since 1997 and has been doing therapy with various populations for over 25 years.

He loves mountain biking, hiking, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, skating, backcountry snowboarding, and playing guitar in his spare time. John is also a musician on the side and has been in many bands. He loves hiking with his dog Pliskin and has enjoyed raising him from 8 weeks old. John has guided biking trips all over the U.S. and also was the founder of a Mountain Bike club. He can frequently be seen riding my Motorcycle seeking out a new adventure.

Brady

Therapy Dog

Brady, our certified therapy dog is a fun-filled explosion of energy that our students and clients love to pet and play with. She especially loves to play catch and chase a ball, or just lay by your side or on your feet.