Michael Castanon, visionary CEO and Founder of Care Predictor, has led an awe-inspiring life, having experienced some of the deepest lows as well as the greatest highs. A product of trauma at a young age, Michael has survived and thrived in spite of the various obstacles laid before him. He recognized that his healing began only after he formed a genuine bond with a care provider who showed him empathy and compassion, an experience that emphasized the crucial role human connection plays in an individual’s mental and emotional wellness. As a result, Michael felt a calling to pay it forward and make a genuine difference in the lives of others in need.
Consequently, after a successful 20-year career in the financial sector, Michael entered the behavioral health field with one mission – to transform lives. In 2019, Michael opened Alter Behavioral Health, a treatment facility that offers a full continuum of care for adults struggling with primary mental health disorders and, in some cases, secondary, co-occurring substance use issues.
Through his tireless commitment and efforts toward increasing accessibility to behavioral health resources, Michael has successfully secured over $12 million in grants from state and federal agencies for AlterCareLine, a virtual mental health platform that has facilitated over 200,000 no-cost care encounters. Additionally, Michael stands at the helm of Mindfuli, another online platform that provides longitudinal, virtual behavioral healthcare. Both of these initiatives have made a significant social impact throughout the state of California by strategically aligning individuals with a care team that best suits their needs. Additionally, Michael is host of the Alter’d Life podcast, a forum for guests to share their unique journeys, all of which highlight the importance of hope, growth, and resilience.
A pioneer in innovation, Michael is now leveraging A.I. and predictive analytics at Care Predictor, where he hopes to equip the behavioral health workforce with scientifically-validated insights and tools needed to effectively bond with clients. Research indicates that the most effective care providers possess the ability to form a strong therapeutic or working alliance with clients – a truth that Michael has both witnessed and lived. Through the groundbreaking utilization of technology to advance clinical and organizational outcomes, Michael seeks to foster change and hope for individuals by emphasizing and catalyzing the factor that made the biggest impact in his own life: human connection.