New Beginnings has named Shana Burns as the agency’s clinical director. Burns brings with her to New Beginnings a range of clinical, administrative and management experience, most recently serving as the forensics manager for Santa Barbara County’s Department of Behavioral Wellness.
She previously served as a regional manager for the Department of Behavioral Wellness, overseeing mental health outpatient clinics in northern Santa Barbara County.
Burns is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 17 years of psychotherapy experience and 15 years of leadership experience. He therapeutic specializations include serving adults with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, trauma, relationships issues and legal/justice involvement. She maintains her own private practice.
Before working for the county, Burns was an administrator for Telecare Corporation in Ventura; program director for Bonita House, a residential treatment program based in Berkeley; and the assistant director for Sharper Future in the Bay Area, where she supervised a team of forensic psychologists and psychotherapists.
Burns received her MA in integral counseling psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies and her BA in English literature from the University of Iowa.
“We’re so excited to hire Shana,” said Kristine Schwarz, New Beginnings executive director. “She brings to the position both clinical and administrative expertise, which will help us improve the quality of our mental health services and the efficiency of our clinic.”
“I am tremendously grateful and excited to step into my new role,” said Burns. “I believe access to quality, sliding scale mental health services is needed now more than ever. I look forward to supporting our clients and our counselors and growing the impact of our counseling center and agency.”
New Beginnings, at 324 E. Carrillo St., Ste. C, Santa Barbara, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. For more, contact the development department, 805-963-7777 ext. 112, or email development@sbnbcc.org.