Substance Abuse Counselors in Santa Barbara, CA

Clinical and Medical Staffadmin2022-06-30T05:59:33-07:00

MEET OUR ‘GOOD HEART’ STAFF & COUNSELORS

Our inpatient and outpatient treatment team is comprised of a multidisciplinary group of substance use counselors and mental health disorder clinicians. Our highly credentialed team is committed to finding, treating, and reconciling the underlying issues that bring individuals into substance abuse and or mental health treatment. Every staff member that provides direct services to clients at Good Heart Recovery has a personal, as well as a professional, desire to truly get to know the strengths, abilities, preferences, and needs of each person who desires to lead a new life.

Marjorie Gies, MD, PhD

Board-Certified and Licensed Medical Doctor
Danielle Spain, MA, AMFT

Program Director
Jill Frandsen, MA, LMFT

Clinical Director
Daria Wendkos

Lead Admissions Coordinator
Crystal Germanetti, MA, AMFT

Family Therapist and Alumni Outreach
Alexah Hart

Primary Therapist
Julien Santiago

Primary Therapist
Amy Zimmerman

Primary Therapist
Rose Miller, MS, LVN, LAADAC #113869

Detox Nurse
Jessica Flores, CATC I

Director of Reimbursement

I Need Help

You are not alone. We are here to help.

My Loved One Needs Help

Let’s come up with a solution together.

Marjorie Gies, MD, PhD

Board-Certified and Licensed Medical Doctor

Dr. Marjorie Gies graduated Magna Cum Laude in Psychology from Princeton University. She got her Medical Doctorate from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. She completed her residency at UCLA in Psychiatry and was the Academic Chief Resident and later the Chief Resident of the UCLA – NPI Adult Outpatient Eating Disorders Program. Dr. Gies started her Santa Barbara Psychiatry private practice in April of 1993. She got her Ph.D. in psychoanalysis from ICP-LA in 1999 and was later deemed the medical director of Cottage Hospital’s eating disorder program from 1995 – 1997. Prior to working at Good Heart Recovery, she was La Ventana’s Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Medical Director for four years. She is now the Medical Director for Good Heart Recovery IOP & PHP. At Good Heart Recovery, Dr. Gies provides all clients with weekly medication management, psychiatric evaluations, and a compassionate, psychoanalytical experience of one-to-one sessions between clients and their psychiatric experience.

Danielle Spain, MA, AMFT

Program Director

As Good Heart’s Program Director Danielle has a passion for driving the mission of seeing and treating the whole human. Danielle believes people are more than the labels placed on them by society and deserve the dignity and grace to heal in a safe healing community. Danielle has a heart for those not seen by society and believes everyone deserves to be seen through the lens of love, which is what attracted her to the Mission and Vision of Good Heart.

Danielle’s expertise is focused on helping people find healing from addiction and mental health. In 1994, she began her career working in a dual diagnosis residential treatment setting. She has spent most of her career working with underserved populations with a focus on supporting individuals and families suffering from the aftermath of addiction. Danielle has clinical expertise working with women in the child welfare system as well as families caught in the grips of violence. Danielle has over 15 years’ experience as a program director on Hawai’i Island before returning to Santa Barbara in 2015. While in Hawai’i, she taught substance abuse courses at Hawai’i Community College and facilitated professional workshops and trainings. Danielle considers herself a lifelong learner and is a PhD ABD in Psychology. She received her master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Phoenix in 2002. Prior to pursuing her master’s degree, Danielle completed her undergraduate program at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo where she double majored in Sociology and Communication. Danielle was an internationally certified substance abuse counselor while working in Hawai’i

Jill Frandsen, MA, LMFT

Clinical Director

Jill A. Frandsen is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist providing Clinical Psychotherapy services to community members of the Santa Barbara for over a decade.

She has extensive experience working with clients in mental health, substance abuse and co-occurring disorders. Some of her past work experience includes: Program Director for Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (CADA) Daniel Bryant Youth and Family Treatment Center; Clinical Therapist for The Salvation Army Residential Treatment Center, Clinical Therapist for Casa Serena Women’s Residential Treatment Center, and Clinical Therapist for Life Stance Heatlh (formerly Santa Barbara Behavioral Health).

Jill earned her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University in Santa Barbara, completed Addiction Studies courses at Santa Barbara City College and received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from University of California Santa Barbara.

Jill enjoys listening to music, walks with friends, meals with family, watercolor painting, and walking her dog on local beaches.

Daria Wendkos

Lead Admissions Coordinator

Bio coming soon

Crystal Germanetti, MA, AMFT

Family Therapist and Alumni Outreach

Crystal joined the Good Heart team in 2019 to expand upon her interest and training in person-centered, humanistic, and holistic healing in order to best assist others in finding their genuine and authentic selves. She completed both her undergraduate degree in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Applied Psychology and Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University Santa Barbara. Prior to joining Good Heart, Crystal worked as an admissions counselor at Antioch University Santa Barbara, harnessing the skills to meet people where they are at and to assist them in the pursuit of their continued growth. Since joining the Good Heart team, Crystal has gained clinical experience as a case manager, primary therapist, and group facilitator, as well as administrative experience in the admissions and outreach department as she pursues MFT licensure. She is honored to work with clients and their loved ones, fellow clinicians, and members of the community all while bearing witness to the amazing growth in each and every individual she comes across.

Alexah Hart

Primary Therapist

Alexah was born and raised in Santa Barbara, and returned to the area after living in Cincinnati, Ohio for four years. She attended University of California Santa Cruz, where she earned her Bachelor’s in Psychology in 2017. To intertwine her passion for social justice and helping others, she completed her Master’s in Social Work at the University of Cincinnati in 2021. While in Cincinnati, Alexah interned at a community mental health agency in Cincinnati, providing individual psychotherapy and advocacy for LGBTQ+ clients. She also worked as a school-based case manager at an elementary school, collaborating with teachers, therapists, and families to coordinate client care. She understands that compassion toward the self and others is essential to the path of recovery.

Julien Santiago

Primary Therapist

Julien has a strong passion for personal growth through community, self-reflection, and mindfulness. Growing up, Julien witnessed how effective therapy can create healing and transformation within individuals, families, and entire communities. Combined with a background of mentoring Youth and Young Adults of Color, he became dedicated to creating safe spaces for those looking to rediscover their authentic selves. Julien received his undergraduate degree in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Applied Psychology from Antioch University of Santa Barbara in 2019. He is currently in the process of completing his Masters in Clinical Psychology. As a part of the Good Heart team, Julien works with clients as a primary therapist, case manager, group facilitator, and intake coordinator. A quote by activist Miriam Rose sums up Julien’s treatment philosophy, “When we heal ourselves, we heal our ancestors from wounds that run deep in our family. When we heal our ancestors, we heal the world from wounds that run deep in humanity”.

Amy Zimmerman

Primary Therapist

Bio coming soon

Rose Miller, MS, LVN, LAADAC #113869

Detox Nurse

Jessica Flores, CATC I

Director of Reimbursement

Jessica has worked in the addiction treatment field for four years. Harnessing her life experience, education, and time in various roles in the field, she is able to advocate for her clients with passion and authenticity. Jessica is currently enrolled at Santa Barbara City College to finish her internship to be a certified drug and alcohol counselor and was recently accepted to Arizona State University’s online program to pursue her bachelor’s degree. She works tirelessly to ensure her clients come first. Jessica is a mother to two young boys and looks forward to integrating more into service in the Santa Barbara community.

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