Meet Our Team
AKUA is a team of proud community-based owners building strong and healthy recovery communities.
Our team of compassionate professionals’ mission is to create an environment of healing and transformation for each client seeking change.
Our Clinical Team
Meet Our Highly Credentialed, Expertly Trained and Professional Clinical Team with Expertise in Substance Use and Mental Health
Dr. Christian Small
Medical Director
Christian Small, MD is board certified in addiction psychiatry, general psychiatry
and family medicine. He is one of a handful of doctors in the US who have the
experience and training to treat full spectrum medical and psychiatric illness. Dr.
Small has become a leader in delivering evidence based addiction practices,
medical and psychiatric care to addiction treatment programs. He is the founder of
Headlands Addiction Treatment Services, an innovative company bringing the
highest level of patient care to substance treatment and mental health programs.
Dr. Small was previously employed by the Veterans Administration in La Jolla as an
addiction psychiatrist and at the University of California San Diego. He is a
graduate of the University of Hawaii John A Burns School of Medicine and
completed a residency in Psychiatry and Family Medicine at UCSD.
Dr. Venice Sanchez
Medical Director
Venice Sanchez, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist and addiction medicine specialist. At her practice in Newport Beach, California, Dr. Sanchez takes a holistic approach to care that emphasizes not only medication management and traditional medicine, but also the incorporation of therapy, spirituality, healthy eating and exercise, and social factors. She is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and Addiction Medicine. Dr. Sanchez received her bachelor's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and her medical degree from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. She continued her training at the University of California, Irvine Psychiatry Residency Program where she was recognized by faculty with the Outstanding Resident of the Year Award as an acknowledgment for her dedicated efforts in education, the clinics, and her work with her patients. Dr. Sanchez has had extensive training at multiple facilities under the supervision of experts in her field, which allowed her to gain comprehensive knowledge and experience in treating a wide array of psychiatric disorders. Her work at the Long Beach VA, various addiction rehabilitation centers, and San Diego Detention facilities allowed her to gain expertise in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, substance abuse, and mood and thought disorders underlying substance use. Dr. Sanchez realizes the significant need in women's health, especially in treating pregnant and postpartum patients who are struggling with mental illness. She not only trained with a specialist at the Maternal and Fetal clinic at UCI Medical Center, but she was also at the forefront in opening up the first Women's Mental Health Medication Management Clinic at Long Beach VA Veteran's Hospital. Her passion for her field allowed her to diligently pursue the much-needed training and experience in treating patients who have a comorbid psychiatric diagnosis. She also specializes in treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders.
Tony Guerena
VP Akua South
Join us in welcoming Tony Guerena as our VP Akua South. Tony is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and accomplished clinical leader. He earned his MA in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine and also holds an MBA. We are fortunate to have Tony's expertise leading our teams in Akua South.
Dena Santos
Program Director
As Program Director, Dena cultivates our systematic and evidence-based program, calibrated to enable our clients' successful and long-term recovery. She brings grace and patience to every interaction and is a natural leader to the Akua team. Determined to cultivate her treatment skills, Dena achieved a CADC II, and ICADC. And with over 18 years of experience, Dena is a seasoned professional who manages Akua (Terra Loma) with skillful ingenuity. Dena's passionate and dedicated to all those seeking substance use disorder treatment. Our community thrives because our treatment professionals partner with our clients in trustworthy relationships'. We enable our clients to thrive in recovery and the culture of our community is shaped by Dena's effortless and compassionate leadership.
Our Management Team
AKUA’s Leadership team is dedicated to ensuring that each patient is treated as an individual, receives a treatment plan tailored to their specific needs, and is provided with the optimum opportunity to realize a full and rewarding life.
Tony Guerena
VP Akua South
Join us in welcoming Tony Guerena as our VP Akua South. Tony is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and accomplished clinical leader. He earned his MA in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine and also holds an MBA. We are fortunate to have Tony's expertise leading our teams in Akua South.
Nichole Martinez
Director of Outreach
Nichole has over 15 years of experience in healthcare, 10 of which are in the area of neuroscience, acute psychiatric and substance use disorder. As the Director of Business Development at both Southern California Neuroscience & Spine and the Brain & Spine Institute of California, she was part of the clinical study teams for two different surgical methods. Nichole has been on the leadership team at three different acute psych hospitals. At Pacific Grove Hospital, she was both the Director of Admissions and Director of Business Development, at Aurora Charter Oak Hospital, she was the Interim COO and Director of Business Development, and most recently she was the Director of Business Development at Del Amo Behavioral Health Hospital. Nichole is currently working on her doctoral project for her PsyD at Cal Southern University where she will graduate Magna cum laude in September 2024. Nichole's mission is to help people navigate the complexities of the healthcare system and get them the right treatment so that they can continue to live a healthy life.
Pamela Calad
Marketing Director
Pam Calad has over 10 years in healthcare marketing. After earning her BA in Psychology at University of California, Irvine, Pam worked for an Orange County-based IT & Digital Agency running marketing efforts for Assisted Living Facilities across California. As Marketing Director, Pam is responsible for increasing Akua's awareness within the community to help new clients achieve lasting recovery.
Kelly Lynne Harris
Director of Admissions
& Utilization Management
Kelly Lynne Harris
Kelly Lynne Harris has worked in the Behavioral Health industry for 21 years and is thrilled to be a part of Akua! Kelly Lynne moved to Laguna Beach CA, from New Jersey , in 2002 and started her career as a house mom for adolescents struggling with addiction. From there, she worked her way to positions such as Admissions Director and Utilization Review Director. Kelly Lynne studied at Temple University and went on to become a Nationally Certified Interventionist, doing hundreds of crisis interventions for those struggling with mental health or substance abuse.
Being in recovery herself, Kelly Lynne understands how important a smooth and stress-free transition into treatment is and wants to provide all of our clients with the chance to take their life back!
Our Community Outreach and Admissions Team
Kelly Lynne Harris
Director of Admissions
Kelly Lynne Harris has worked in the Behavioral Health industry for 21 years and is thrilled to be a part of Akua! Kelly Lynne moved to Laguna Beach CA, from New Jersey , in 2002 and started her career as a house mom for adolescents struggling with addiction. From there, she worked her way to positions such as Admissions Director and Utilization Review Director. Kelly Lynne studied at Temple University and went on to become a Nationally Certified Interventionist, doing hundreds of crisis interventions for those struggling with mental health or substance abuse.
Being in recovery herself, Kelly Lynne understands how important a smooth and stress-free transition into treatment is and wants to provide all of our clients with the chance to take their life back!
Nichole Martinez
Director of Outreach
Nichole has over 15 years of experience in healthcare, 10 of which are in the area of neuroscience, acute psychiatric and substance use disorder. As the Director of Business Development at both Southern California Neuroscience & Spine and the Brain & Spine Institute of California, she was part of the clinical study teams for two different surgical methods. Nichole has been on the leadership team at three different acute psych hospitals. At Pacific Grove Hospital, she was both the Director of Admissions and Director of Business Development, at Aurora Charter Oak Hospital, she was the Interim COO and Director of Business Development, and most recently she was the Director of Business Development at Del Amo Behavioral Health Hospital. Nichole is currently working on her doctoral project for her PsyD at Cal Southern University where she will graduate Magna cum laude in September 2024. Nichole's mission is to help people navigate the complexities of the healthcare system and get them the right treatment so that they can continue to live a healthy life.
Camille Parsons
Sr. Community Outreach Specialist
Camille graduated from Western Carolina University with a bachelor’s degree in business and has completed her AODS education through San Diego City College. Camille is in the application process for the CADC II certification through CCAPP. Camille has been working in the treatment industry since 2016 and her passion for helping others through the cycle of addiction is undeniable. Camille’s ability to connect to a diverse group of people, while aiding in the transition period with our clients, helps to lesson relapse potential when transitioning into the AKUA alumni program. Through her case management and community outreach experience, Camille has been able to develop close relationships with several facilities in the San Diego area. Her vast resources aid our clients and alumni for ongoing support post treatment in hopes of providing the highest-level of accountability. Camille has proven to provide encouragement, unity, and greater integration throughout the recovery community in San Diego and within the AKUA alumni program. With numerous weekly meetings and ongoing monthly events, the AKUA alumni program continues to show great success. With our strong community, we can process together, have fun together, and ultimately, recover together.
Erika Broadbent
Outreach Specialist
“Erika has spent the past few years in Business Development within the Eating Disorder field using both her own personal recovery and community outreach to help those struggling to find the healing and resources they need.
With a background in Fashion Marketing & Design, she has always had a passion for helping others. Through her own recovery journey, she’s dedicated her life to helping others and over the past 11 years she’s volunteered to run support groups and loves to support fellow Recovery Warriors all over Southern California. She is excited to continue to support those seeking their own healing and working alongside a team passionate about doing the same. What Erika loves most about this work is the ability to continue to give back to the community and make real change in the fight against Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Eating Disorders and help to stop the negative impact they have on the lives of so many.”