Dr. Shyanne Anthony is redefining the future of pediatric behavioral healthcare through her innovative leadership and commitment to transforming treatment for some of the most vulnerable youth. As the CEO of Perimeter Behavioral of Missouri, Dr. Anthony has steered the organization to the forefront of progressive, trauma-informed care while addressing the pressing needs of youth who are often labeled as “hard to place.” This transformative leadership marks the beginning of a new era in behavioral health, one that emphasizes individual understanding, access to care, and systemic reform.
Appointed CEO in September 2024, Dr. Anthony’s rise to leadership has been nothing short of extraordinary. A licensed mental health professional with a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology, Dr. Anthony is also a suicidologist, professor, and published researcher. She has become a national voice in pediatric mental health, achieving remarkable milestones before the age of 30, including the completion of her doctorate and her rapid rise to the top of an executive leadership role in a field traditionally dominated by more senior professionals. As she prepares to start law school in the fall of 2025, her commitment to combining clinical expertise with policy reform is evident in her determination to be a catalyst for broader change across the behavioral health landscape.
Under Dr. Anthony’s leadership, Perimeter Behavioral of Missouri, a 121-bed residential treatment facility located in the Ozark Mountains, has evolved to serve youth with the highest levels of acuity, including those with co-occurring diagnoses, suicidality, and treatment-resistant behaviors. These are the children who often slip through the cracks of the traditional healthcare system—those who have been labeled “too complex” for care. Dr. Anthony’s vision for personalized, trauma-informed treatment has led to the implementation of individualized care plans designed to provide stable and effective pathways to recovery.
One of the significant advancements under her leadership was the introduction of an autism-specific program in 2025. Aligned with Missouri Department of Mental Health’s initiatives, this program provides specialized care for children and adolescents on the autism spectrum, offering a tailored approach to treatment that combines behavioral health expertise with a deep respect for neurodiversity. This service expansion underscores Dr. Anthony’s commitment to closing the service gaps that have long existed in Missouri’s pediatric behavioral health system.
At the heart of Dr. Anthony’s approach is a belief in systemic reform. While Perimeter Behavioral of Missouri has become a leader in providing care for complex youth, Dr. Anthony recognizes that lasting change will require more than just one facility’s efforts. As such, she actively partners with other residential programs, schools, and state agencies to help elevate the standards of care across the region. Her collaborations focus on educating professionals about the nuanced nature of suicidality in youth, recognizing trauma responses, and providing tools for early intervention without pathologizing adaptive behaviors. Through these initiatives, Dr. Anthony is not just shaping the future of Perimeter Behavioral but also influencing the broader behavioral health system.
Her dedication to reshaping youth mental healthcare is rooted in her own academic research. Dr. Anthony’s doctoral work explored resilience in children raised by mothers with borderline personality disorder, an area that has long been overlooked in academic research. Her findings, which have been published in several books, provide profound insights into the identity development and mental health outcomes of young adults from high-risk familial backgrounds. This research is directly linked to the trauma-sensitive care that she promotes within Perimeter Behavioral of Missouri and across her broader network of professionals.
One of Dr. Anthony’s core beliefs is that no youth is too complex to treat. “We don’t believe any youth is too complex to treat. We believe they just haven’t been understood yet,” she explains. This philosophy is central to Perimeter’s work and is reflected in the individualized treatment programs that have been designed to address the unique needs of each child. Whether a child is struggling with severe emotional dysregulation or facing complex diagnostic challenges, Dr. Anthony’s team has worked to ensure that every child receives the care they need, not just to survive, but to thrive.
Dr. Anthony’s leadership style combines clinical nuance with administrative foresight, which has been particularly valuable in guiding the evolution of Perimeter Behavioral’s programming. She is not just a figurehead but a clinician deeply involved in every aspect of treatment delivery. Her role as a suicidologist has been instrumental in the organization’s approach to youth at risk of suicidality. Dr. Anthony’s efforts have transformed the way professionals in the field assess and intervene with high-risk youth, particularly through her groundbreaking work on baseline suicidality. These teachings have had a profound impact on residential facilities throughout the region, empowering staff to recognize the subtle signs of risk and provide early, effective intervention.
Dr. Anthony’s role as a national advocate for change is an integral part of her broader vision for pediatric mental health. While her work at Perimeter Behavioral is transformative, she has always sought to drive change at a systemic level. “My goal has always been simple—learn as much as I can so I can advocate for the kids who rarely get a seat at the table,” she explains. Through her collaborations with policymakers, other mental health professionals, and educational leaders, Dr. Anthony is helping to shape the future of youth mental health care.
Looking to the future, Dr. Anthony is poised to continue expanding her impact on both the clinical and policy fronts. Her pursuit of a law degree will further enhance her ability to influence national mental health policy, particularly in the areas of trauma-informed care and equitable access to services. This commitment to shaping policy underscores her belief that true transformation will come not just from individual care, but from altering the structures that govern how care is provided.
Dr. Anthony’s work at Perimeter Behavioral of Missouri and her broader influence in the field are setting a new standard for pediatric behavioral health. Her vision for the future is one where no child, regardless of their complexity, is left without the care they need. “Perimeter of Missouri is more than a program—it’s a proving ground for what pediatric mental health care can look like when you stop accepting ‘good enough’ and start fighting for better,” she says. Through her innovative leadership, Dr. Anthony is not just changing the way we think about mental health care for youth—she is changing the future of the field itself.
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About Dr. Shyanne Anthony
Dr. Shyanne Anthony is a licensed mental health professional, suicidologist, and CEO of Perimeter Behavioral of Missouri. With a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology, she is a nationally recognized advocate for pediatric mental health. Her research and leadership focus on trauma-informed care, suicide prevention, and systemic reform in youth behavioral health.
About Perimeter Behavioral of Missouri
Perimeter Behavioral of Missouri is a 121-bed residential treatment facility located in the Ozark Mountains. The facility provides comprehensive care to youth with complex mental health needs, specializing in trauma-informed, individualized treatment plans.
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