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Behavioral Health

The Behavioral Health Department at American Indian Health & Services provides services that are reflective of the “Circle of Well-being” that encompasses the health of the mind, body and spirit.

We offer individual and group counseling, and provide referrals linking clients to appropriate programs and agencies for counseling and treatment.

To make an appointment, please call: (805) 681-7144

Meet our Behavioral Health Providers

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Dr. Krista Armenta-Belen, LMFT

Chief Behavioral Health Officer

Bio

Dr. Krista Armenta-Belen, Samala Chumash,  has been working in tribal  healthcare since 2010. Dr. Armenta-Belen is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a deep interest in culturally-informed therapy work that integrates evidence-based best practices with tribal beliefs systems and life ways. She utilizes EMDR and cognitive therapy into her clinical work. She comes to AIHS with extensive experience developing and delivering suicide prevention and wellness programs that focus on resiliency building through connectedness with community, culture, and self.

Dr. Armenta-Belen has a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University and a Doctorate in Behavioral Health from Arizona State University. She shares that her pursuit of higher education has been driven by her passion to create positive change within tribal communities through development of quality behavioral health and community programming by Native people for Native people.

Dr. Armenta-Belen is actively involved in traditional singing and dancing within her Chumash community and a Samala language learner.  In her time off you will likely find her coaching her sons various sports teams or enjoying the abundant local sunshine.

 

Jonnie R. Williams, Psy.D.

Jonnie R. Williams, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Bio

Dr. Williams (Bitterwater Clan, Diné Nation) received her Psy.D. from the Wright Institute’s APA-accredited Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program (Berkeley, CA). She completed her pre-doctoral APA-accredited clinical internship at Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families (Camarillo, CA), where she counseled children, adolescents and families with extensive histories of trauma and severe mental illness. Her post-doc was completed at American Indian Health & Services. She has received clinical training in a variety of settings: community mental health, integrated primary care, outpatient clinical services, substance abuse treatment, and residential treatment. Additionally, Dr. Williams has extensive training in child and adolescent psychological assessment.

Dr. Williams’ research interests include the impact of complex trauma within diverse American Indian communities. Her doctoral dissertation is a quantitative research study titled “Adverse Childhood Events and Adult Substance Abuse among Urban and Reservation American Indians.”

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Jennifer Sidhwa, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Bio

Jennifer joined American Indian Health & Services in early 2020. She holds a Master of Social Work from CSU, Long Beach, a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from UC, Santa Barbara and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UC Santa Barbara. She has worked in a variety of settings including health clinics, universities, K-12 schools and non-profit organizations.

 

Jennifer believes her role as a therapist is to create a safe and productive space for individuals to activate their own intuitive healing process while working collaboratively toward healing, resolution, and growth. She utilizes a variety of evidence-based practices to support and honor the mind, body and spirit of each individual she works with. Jennifer is especially passionate about utilizing mindfulness practices throughout the therapeutic process, and she is dedicated to meeting the unique mental health needs of diverse and underrepresented populations.

Vincent Gonzales

Vincent Gonzales

Substance Abuse Counselor

Bio

Vincent, a proud descendant of the Chickasaw Nation, Lakota People, and Mexican Immigrants, joined American Indian Health and Services as a Substance Use Disorder Counselor at the end of 2021. He received his substance use disorder counseling training from Santa Barbara City College, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Antioch University, and is currently completing a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology. Vincent has facilitated multiple trainings on trauma-informed care, cultural competency, and varying therapeutic modalities throughout the local community. Outside of the clinical setting, Vincent sits on a community development advisory board for the city of Santa Barbara and has been a music instructor since 2013.

Vincent’s philosophy as a Substance Use Disorder counselor focuses on addressing the entirety of a person as he believes SUDs are conditions that require holistic attention and consistent understanding. He utilizes evidence-based practices to address these areas of need while also honoring and integrating the cultural backgrounds of each individual. Vincent states, “It is a privilege to be in this field and to work with, learn from, and walk alongside sacred people on their journey to discovery and healing.”

Amy Lopez, MSW, ASW

Amy Lopez, MSW, ASW 

Social Worker

Bio

Amy Lopez is the newest member of our Behavioral Health team, having joined American Indian Health & Services in 2021. Amy received her Masters of Science in Social Work from California State University Northridge, and has certifications in Grief Counseling, Trauma Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and Suicide Prevention Training. She has worked with Hospice of Santa Barbara, Sansum Clinic Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, and Central Coast Health and Hospice, and has also served as the Vice President of the Santa Barbara chapter of the National Association of Social Work. We are excited about the skills Amy brings to our patients, and are glad that she has decided to come to AIHS.

April Calderon

April Calderon, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Bio

April Calderon, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, joined American Indian Health and Services in June of 2022. April received her Masters in Social Work, with an emphasis in mental health and school social work, from San Jose State University and her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from UC Santa Barbara. April’s graduate training and approach are rooted through a transcultural perspective lens. April honors the diverse cultural strengths of individuals and families and believes these play an important role in enhancing her client’s overall wellbeing. Her dedication to social work has been guided by her passion for working with under-resourced communities and populations. April has worked in a variety of settings where she has provided counseling and supportive services to individuals across the life span. These settings include non-profit organizations, K-12 schools, in-patient acute/ long term care, and more recently comes to American Indian Health and Services from Sansum Clinic’s Oncology department. April has a strong background in patient advocacy and is experienced in facilitating evidence-based practices which incorporate mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy.

April is local to the Santa Barbara area, in her free time she enjoys being out in nature and spending time with loved ones.

Dr. Link

Dr. Link

Clinical Psychologist

Bio

Coming soon. 

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Maggie Limon, LCSW

Bio

Coming soon. 

To make an appointment, please call the Medical Clinic at (805) 681-7144