Dr. Mitze Burnett: Empowering Autism and Developmental Disabilities Through Novel Approaches

Dr. Mitze Burnett-Empowering Autism | Burnett Therapeutic Services | The Enterprise World

Every individual, regardless of their challenges, wants to feel seen, heard, and supported— that’s the vision that drives Dr. Mitze Burnett and her team at Burnett Therapeutic Services (BTS). With a deep understanding of the unique needs of individuals with autism and developmental disabilities, BTS provides compassionate, evidence-based care that empowers individuals to thrive.

Dr. Mitze Burnett’s passion for helping people with developmental disabilities grew stronger as she worked as a Behavior Consultant in an Applied Behavior Analysis Agency. In 2015, this passion, paired with her love for providing mental health services, inspired her to start Burnett Therapeutic Services (BTS)—making her one of the most iconic healthcare leaders to watch in 2025.

Burnett Therapeutic Services At The Core

Headquartered in Napa, California, Burnett Therapeutic Services (BTS) is a leading provider of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Mental Health Therapy Services. BTS offers a wide range of services, including autism and behavioral therapy, mental health counseling, and skill-building programs.

Today, BTS has become an invaluable resource for the community. The organization is dedicated to providing compassionate and effective treatment for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), neurodevelopmental disabilities, and mental health issues.

Expanding its reach beyond Napa, BTS serves surrounding communities including Solano, Sonoma, Sacramento, Fresno and Modesto. In the coming future, it plans to expand to more places across California.

A Risk-Taking Leader’s Guide to Success

In determining what risks to take, I ask myself two questions–how will this risk benefit our clients? How will this risk benefit our staff? If the potential benefits for our current and future clients outweigh the risks to the business, Dr. Mitze Burnett is ready to move forward while evaluating the situation carefully.

She views any profits as a medium to elevate BTS’s services and foster a more supportive environment for its team, reinvesting in the future for both clients and employees “How can we allocate more resources to benefit our clients and create a more fulfilling workplace for our employees?” Dr. Mitze Burnett asks. This approach aligns with her commitment to promoting professional growth for those who seek leadership positions.

Ultimately, Dr. Mitze Burnett’s focus remains on fulfilling BTS’ mission: providing exceptional services to our clients and families while ensuring a supportive work environment for our staff.

A Culture of Growth and Care

Throughout her life, Dr. Burnett had numerous experiences that motivated her to create a practice that could provide services to individuals with diverse needs including autism, anxiety and depressive disorders, communication issues, and a variety of other mental health issues.

Today, led by Dr. Mitze Burnett, Burnett Therapeutic Services (BTS) has become a community dedicated to professional growth and excellence. At BTS, a culture of continuous learning is fostered by encouraging its team to attend relevant conferences, share research, and build partnerships—ensuring BTS stays at the forefront.

The two pillars of BTS are teamwork and mentorship. A supportive environment has made it a space where everyone can learn from each other and develop their skills to grow together as a team. This hands-on approach ensures that BTS delivers the highest quality of care to its clients.

Striking The Balance of Growth and Quality

BTS understands that maintaining the high standards of quality that have defined the organization since its inception is vital for success. Although a delicate task, BTS aims to strike a balance between growth and making sure it is effectively meeting the needs of clients, families, staff and communities.

Two of the crucial roles at BTS are played by its dedicated VP of Clinical Operations, Amy Montanez, and Director of Client Services, Melissa Holbrook. With their leadership leading a team with extensive Autism and ABA experience, this department at BTS has grown significantly since its inception, ensuring each service remains top-tier.

Prioritizing Safety and Support

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, BTS faced the challenge of ensuring the safety of both staff and clients while maintaining all of its essential services. To develop comprehensive safety protocols, Dr. Mitze Burnett quickly built a team of experts, including a physician, nurse practitioner, Autism consultant, and attorney, who prioritized the well-being of everyone involved.

To offer more flexibility, BTS allowed families to choose their preferred service delivery method. For anyone who opted for in-person services, strict safety measures were implemented, requiring both staff and families to adhere to daily health checks and follow established guidelines.

Throughout this challenging period, BTS remained steadfast in its commitment to supporting families in need. By prioritizing safety and offering personalized care options, BTS demonstrated resilience and dedication to providing essential Mental and Behavioral/Autism services even in the face of unprecedented circumstances.

A Growing Team, Expanding Reach

Burnett Therapeutic Services offers a diverse group of dedicated professionals, from Behavior Technicians (1:1 service delivery to clients) to Board Certified Behavior Analysts. Achieving growth with this talented group of people, BTS serves multiple counties—Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Sacramento, Fresno, Stanislaus, and across California—bringing high-quality care and support to families in need.

To meet the growing need for specialized support, BTS is expanding its services to include Autism & ADHD evaluations, Occupational Therapy, and Speech & Language Therapy. These new offerings are designed to address the specific needs expressed by families in the community, providing additional avenues for healing treatment, growth, and communication.

Embracing Telehealth

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, BTS swiftly transitioned many of its staff to cloud-based applications in order to meet the communities’ needs. This enabled BTS to offer telehealth services, a shift that has been met with continued support from both clients and funders based on client needs.

By leveraging HIPAA-protected cloud-based applications, BTS provides mental health and autism services to its clients with more convenience. This transition to a cloud-based application also helped in eliminating problems related to traffic and scheduling, making it easier for individuals to participate fully in therapy sessions.

Shaping the Future of Autism Services

Burnett Therapeutic Services remains at the forefront of the industry through active exploration of innovative approaches to mental health care. By participating in pilot programs and strategic partnerships, BTS addresses emerging needs and offers alternative service models that meet the differing needs of each family.

In 2022, BTS collaborated with Catalight Care Services to pilot a program named Chat, a valuable resource for Kaiser members seeking support with developmental milestones and communication skills. This program provided a flexible option for families who may not be ideal candidates for traditional ABA therapy but would benefit from supportive services. BTS has also been involved in two other pilot programs with Kaiser members to further expand its reach and service offerings.

As a sponsor of the Autism Investor Summit, now going on three years, and committed to supporting the autism community, BTS actively participates in industry events to shape the future of autism services and advocate for policy changes that benefit individuals with mental health and developmental disabilities.

Dr. Mitze Burnett-Empowering Autism | Burnett Therapeutic Services | The Enterprise World

Comprehensive Services at BTS

  • Individualized Treatment: Tailored services for children, youth, adults, couples, and families. 
  • Family-Centered Approach: Working closely with clients and their families for holistic support.
  • Comprehensive Services: Communication training, skill building, coping skills training, family work, therapeutic counseling, behavioral therapy, cultural diversity, and strengths-based activities.
  • Holistic Approach: Addressing a broad array of human needs through our services.

What’s Next for BTS?

Dr. Mitze Burnett-Empowering Autism | Burnett Therapeutic Services | The Enterprise World
  • Upcoming Expansion: A new clinic is scheduled to open in Modesto, CA in November 2024
  • Mission: BTS is committed to providing accessible, high-quality mental health and Autism/ ABA services to families across California.

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