Banyan Palm Springs

Belinda began her journey working in treatment in 2006, at a co-occurring facility on the Big Island of Hawaii, with at-risk adolescents, in a school based forum. She then transitioned into working with pregnant and parenting women and children, in a residential setting, geared towards family reunification through CPS and family court. It was here, Belinda began her transition into management, overseeing that program, as well as several men’s and women’s housing units. Working with such a culturally diverse population, Belinda was able to gain important skills, which have been invaluable to her in the care she provides to all clients. For the past several years, Belinda has worked as the Director of Client Services at a dual diagnosis treatment facility in Palm Springs, CA. In addition to her vast work experience in field of addiction, Belinda is also a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor II, as well as an International Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Belinda is extremely excited to be a part of the amazing Banyan family where client-centered care is valued as a priority.

Dr. Keerthy Sunder, MD is an accomplished Physician with extensive experience as a clinician, researcher, administrator, teacher, and lecturer. He is also author of the Amazon International Best Seller book “Face your Addictions and Save your Life” and the creator of an online meditation program for health and wellness (www.tunemybrain.com) and for PTSD among returning war Veterans (www.beatptsd.com).

Dr. Sunder holds Diplomates from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the American Board of Addiction Medicine. He is also a Diplomate of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in London, England and certified as a Credentialed Menopause Practitioner by the North American Menopause Society. He served his Ob/Gyn residency at James Cook University Hospital in England. He served his Psychiatry residency at the University of Bristol, England as well as Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pennsylvania. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, a Member of the Credentialing Committee for the American Board of Addiction Medicine and a Life Member of the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine. He is currently on Clinical Faculty with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Riverside School of Medicine and an Adjunct Professor at Southern California University of Health Sciences. He has worked as an Investigator on over 30 Research Protocols focused on Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Substance Use Disorders, as well as a Research Psychiatrist or Co-Investigator on NIH studies related to Pregnancy and Postpartum disorders.

Dr Sunder has obtained extensive training in the practice of Mind -Body medicine and Integrative approaches including, Meditation, Neurofeedback and NuCalm to address health and wellness. The “Sunder Method” is at the forefront of utilizing cutting edge diagnostic tools, brain mapping and sophisticated technology including custom smart nutraceuticals to assist with healing complex Neuropsychiatric Conditions, Gut Brain Dysregulation and to optimize human performance.

Linda Santiago is a California resident, born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. While a student at Mission College, she volunteered for a suicide prevention hotline. It was here that she realized her passion for working in the mental health field. After finishing nursing school, she began working at a Dual Diagnosis facility, it was here that she identified her passion for working with people with not only mental health, but substance abuse as well. Linda has been in supervisory positions since 2012 and thrives in leading teams towards high standards of quality patient care. Linda offers nursing educational groups where they discuss unique ways to engage patient’s interest such as jeopardy/trivia and role-playing games. Linda finds creative and fun ways to educate patients and engage staff morale. Linda has been dedicated to the field of dual diagnosis for most of her career and continues to place top priority on patient care.
Linda joined the Banyan Palm Springs Team in August 2020 and looks forward to further developing and strengthening our nursing department. Our goal is to create a department dedicated to the care and compassion of the patients we serve.

Elizabeth Ross, Ph.D. is the Clinical Executive Director at Banyan Palm Springs. She is a licensed clinical psychologist. Elizabeth has been working in the field of addiction and mental health since 2004. The journey that leads her to become a psychologist includes the desire to help support those suffering with dual diagnosis. Working as a psychologist has never been a job, it is her life passion. The best part of her position as an executive clinical director is supporting an environment where clients can get the best care possible with a team of compassionate staff all with the same goal to provide clients and the families an opportunity for life-changing growth.

Charlie Nesbitt is the Clinical Director at Banyan Palm Springs Outpatient Program. He graduated with a Master of Arts degree in Psychology from Brandman University in 2018 and he has been working in the field of addiction and mental health since 2009. Charlie has experience with helping people with mental health, co-occurring disorders, and substance abuse, and is a recovering addict and active member of Narcotics Anonymous. He has a firm knowledge base in Chem/Sex addiction, codependency and co-occurring disorders. His theoretical work includes CBT, DBT, Humanistic/Client Centered and Existential direction. He is also certified in Acceleration Resolution Therapy (ART). Charlie is passionate in treating the substance use population. He champions topics including, but not limited to, overcoming guilt and shame, reducing the stigma attached to addiction, and coping with co-occurring medical issues while in recovery. His goal is to bring understanding and compassion into his therapy by creating rapport, empathy and trust. “You don’t have to do this alone.” “We do this thing called recovery together.”

Sammy began his journey working in substance abuse treatment on the Big Island of Hawaii in 2008. He has over 12 years’ experience working with co-occurring disorders, cultural diversity, and medicated assisted treatment. He is active in his own recovery, passionate about his position, and being able to serve as a brand ambassador to Banyan Treatment Centers in Palm Springs, California. He is committed to helping others seek treatment and getting the appropriate care they need.

Deborah possesses more than 10 years of progressive experience in acute care and the recovery field. Her professional history includes Eisenhower Medical Center and various drug and alcohol treatment facilities throughout the valley. Deborah holds the title of Nurse Supervisor at our PHP program in Palm Springs. She is currently working on a degree in psychology. “I absolutely love what I do and feel a sense of satisfaction and gratitude knowing that I am helping to make a difference in our clients’ lives.”

Bryan is a native to Southern California. He has created a full, rich and renewed life in recovery in the Palm Springs area. Taking on a role with novice experience, and tapping into his past experiences with facilities, he has grown with Banyan Treatment Centers. As the Maintenance Manager for Banyan Palm Springs, Bryan was instrumental in the opening of our Palm Springs locations, even through the struggles of the pandemic. Bryan’s creative input has assisted with finding and creating space to grow and expand our care to clients in need within our limited footprint.

With hard work and dedication, Bryan was promoted to become the Facilities Manager at Banyan Palm Springs. Now, as the Facilities Manager, Bryan oversees maintenance, housekeeping, landscaping, pool care, and the overall safety and cleanliness aspects of all properties. He believes in ensuring clients and staff are met with the best environment possible.

As a champion of change, Bryan found comfort in Banyan’s mission. He aligns himself with the same vision and values that Banyan believes in and has wholeheartedly been an advocate of Banyan and to those around him.

Linda was born in Glasgow, Scotland and has lived in the United States for over 30 years. Linda graduated from The University of Glasgow with a B.Ed Degree in French and taught High School prior to emigrating to the United States. Linda taught French at a small private school in Rancho Mirage for 12 years, which her three children also attended. Linda has a master’s degree in School Counseling and a master’s degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Chapman University, Palm Desert Campus. Linda had her own practice in Rancho Mirage for five years, has taught Psychology at Santa Barbara Business College and has also worked in both agency and residential treatment settings since she graduated in 2000.

Linda considers her work to be her life's passion and her personal goal at Banyan Treatment Centers, Palm Springs is to assist clients in healing from the pain and suffering underlying addiction, developing the skills to maintain recovery and making positive and lasting changes in their lives.

Ed Cueto was born in Cuba and was raised in Spain. In his early teens, Ed and his family moved to the United States and settled in Torrance, California. Ed attended California State University at Long Beach and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Ed worked for Wells Fargo Bank for twenty years. Ed’s last promotion within Wells Fargo Bank was to Vice President and Regional Marketing Manager for the Real Estate/Private Banking Division. In 1993, as a result of the passing of a loved one due to addiction and alcoholism, Ed decided to change his career focus, to help others less fortunate than him. He moved to Palm Springs, CA and went to worked for the Desert AIDS Project as the Director of Case Management, Education, Prevention, Testing and Outreach. After eight years, Ed worked as Director of a non-profit organization, which provided services to the Latino population, suffering from HIV/AIDS. Ed took three years off and traveled through Central and South America, as well as Spain. In 2011, Ed went to work for a treatment center in Palm Springs, as a Patient Care Coordinator. Ed retired in 2019, but when the opportunity to work at Banyan Palm Springs presented itself, Ed’s passion to help others caused him to end his retirement and join a staff of familiar faces, as well as to be a part of Banyan’s Mission and Values, which very much aligned with his own.

Agustin was born and raised in Uruguay. At the age of twelve he moved to New Jersey. In 2019, he relocated to Palm Springs, California. Given the opportunity to a fresh start, he began his journey in recovery. Finding a new purpose in life, subsequently after a long 15-year struggle with drug addiction, he decided to turn his life around and became an advocate to those in the continuous struggle with mental health and addiction, marking the end of a ten-year sales career in the automobile industry. Agustin joined the Banyan team as a behavioral health technician and quickly made his way into lead intake coordinator. A team player at heart, his work ethic, hard work, and dedication is felt across our community and beyond. While currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business management, some of the things he loves doing include play sports, such as soccer and tennis. He also loves hiking and going to the beach.

Born and raised in Palm Springs, Jamie has been working in the medical field for over 30 years. Recovery became, and has remained, a passion of Jamie’s, as a result of the effects her mother’s addiction, and later, the addiction struggles of two of her three children had on her. For the past 11 years, she has redirected her medical knowledge and expertise to the field of addiction and recovery. Jamie started her career at Banyan Treatment Centers as a phlebotomist. However, as the management team recognized her varied skill-set, Jamie’s services began to be requested in Intake, Clinical, Administration, and Family Services. As part of her role with Family Services, Jamie runs a weekly Banyan Family Zoom Call, with her oldest daughter, which is designed to give the families of our clients a safe place to talk, vent, and help others going through similar situations. She found that being in contact with the families directly is where her heart is. Jamie is deeply passionate about helping our clients and their families. She understands how difficult the journey through the recovery process can be and the courage required to take that journey. Jamie also understands the empathy and sensitivity required to guide those on their recovery journey. By combining her personal and professional experience, Jamie provides guidance and support to families here at Banyan as a Family Services Specialist.

Theodore "Teddy" hails originally from Minnesota but came to California by way of Texas in 2018. Teddy Played baseball and studied interdisciplinary studies and sports management at University of Texas at Arlington and has worked in finance and hospitality.

Teddy's own struggle with substance abuse brought him to Palm Springs in 2018. Desperate and having worked to achieve and maintain sobriety for nearly a decade, he sought a change in geography to bring about a change in perspective. As he is extremely close with his family in Texas, moving wasn’t easy, but since coming to California, Teddy has built a family in recovery and in Palm Springs and is actually able to work alongside the very people that helped save his life. As the Alumni coordinator for Banyan Palm Springs, Teddy appreciates going to work every day and extending the compassion and support that was shown to him and to all Alumni on their lifelong journey of recovery. Teddy loves helping people and has an intense passion for sports and fulfills a dream by currently coaching baseball. Teddy lives in Palm Springs with his girlfriend Kelly and is creating a sober life he loves. “I want you to remember the guiding principle of life. You can be what you want to be, if you believe in yourself and work hard, because anything, I mean anything is possible”