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Majority of my early adult life was spent on the streets, and in and out of DOC. No direction, no vision. When receiving an 8 year bid in my early 30s, I knew something had to change; I came into contact with an ancient manual of Taoism, that expressed personal discipline and balance. I knew by studying this discipline, I could use any obstacle as an opportunity, and utilized that 8 year sentence to learn how to rewire my perspective. Upon my release , I trained in recovery support and earned life coach certification through the Dharma modality, and have now structured my life around helping others in situations that I understand how to recover from.
James Roberts serves in the Admissions Department at Cholla Behavioral Health, where he is often the first point of contact for individuals and families seeking hope and healing. With compassion, empathy, and lived experience, James is dedicated to guiding clients through the admissions process with dignity, understanding, and respect.
After overcoming a lifetime of personal struggles with addiction, James discovered his passion for helping others find recovery and rebuild their lives. His journey allows him to connect authentically with those facing substance use and mental health challenges, offering reassurance that change is possible and recovery is attainable.
James is Peer Support Certified and trained in Trauma-Informed Care, ensuring every interaction is rooted in safety, trust, and empowerment. He is also certified in Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), providing knowledgeable support to individuals exploring evidence-based treatment options for opioid addiction.
James believes that reaching out for help is one of the bravest steps a person can take. He is honored to walk alongside clients at the very beginning of their recovery journey, helping them access the care and support they deserve.
As part of the Business Development team at Cholla Behavioral Health, I focus on building meaningful partnerships that expand access to high-quality mental health and substance use treatment. I work closely with healthcare providers, community organizations, and referral partners to ensure individuals and families are connected to compassionate, evidence-based care when they need it most.
Prior to joining Cholla, I served as a Peer Support professional with Riverside County, California, where I worked directly with individuals navigating mental health and substance use challenges. That experience strengthened my understanding of the real-world barriers people face when seeking care and reinforced the importance of connection, advocacy, and trust in the recovery process.
I have also worked with Young People in Recovery, a national nonprofit dedicated to empowering young adults in recovery through education, advocacy, and community engagement. This work deepened my commitment to recovery-focused systems of care and community-based support.
Bringing together lived experience, public-sector service, and relationship-driven business development, I am committed to advancing Cholla Behavioral Health’s mission by fostering collaboration, increasing awareness of services, and creating accessible, seamless pathways to care.
Jana Roberts graduated from Grand Caynon University and has 20+ years of experience as a family medical nurse practioner. Jana has spent the last decade specializing in behavioral health settings. You will be happy to find Jana onsight for all Medical needs.
Richard Jewell is a Licensed Independent Addiction Counselor (LIAC) and EMDR therapist in Arizona, specializing in substance use treatment, trauma-informed care, and behavioral health support. With a strong foundation in relapse prevention, motivational interviewing, and evidence-based modalities, Richard is committed to helping individuals build sustainable recovery and successfully transition back into daily life. His client-centered approach and dedication to ethical, compassionate care make him a trusted professional in the addiction and mental health field.
Emily O’Brien, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Clinical Director based in Phoenix, Arizona, with over 20 years of experience in the behavioral health field. She serves as the Clinical Director of Cholla Behavioral Health, where she provides clinical oversight for trauma-informed outpatient and intensive outpatient programs serving adults with mental health and co-occurring recovery needs.
My name is Savarra Valdez, and I have been working in behavioral health and addiction recovery for over five years. I consider myself a lifer in this field because recovery isn’t just my profession—it’s my personal journey. I fell into addiction as a teenager, made some painful choices, and hit rock bottom. But through those struggles, I found myself, rebuilt my life, and discovered a passion for helping others do the same.
Today, I am proud of the person I’ve become and the life I’ve created. My experiences allow me to connect deeply with the people I serve, offering both professional guidance and genuine empathy. I specialize in supporting individuals with co-occurring challenges, navigating legal and resource systems, and empowering clients to take steps toward stability and growth. Whether I’m facilitating groups, advocating in court, or sitting one-on-one with someone in crisis, I bring compassion, resilience, and a commitment to walking alongside them.
Fun fact, my favorite saying captures the heart of my work: “When you can’t look on the bright side, I will sit with you in the dark.”
Gaylon have worked in Behavioral Health since 2013. My focus has been Substance Abuse. I Look forward to continuing my work to help addicts learn coping skills and to apply them to everyday life in order to as emotionally self reliant as possible and achieve long term sobriety.
Graduate WP Care business school. Wyat
Daniel Brooks MD is the Medical Officer at Cholla Behavioral Health. Dr.Brooks has almost 30 years of experience with adults and kids. He is board certified in Emergency Medicine , Toxicology , and Addiction Medicine.
He is a clinical professor in the Departments of Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine, as well as co-director of the Center for Toxicology and Pharmacology Education and Research at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix.
His academic interests include poison center activities, patient care and the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders.
Kaitlin has several years of experience as a Nurse Practitioner working both in Primary Care and Telemedicine. Her main focus as a provider is establishing a trusting relationship with patients and working collaboratively together to develop the best plan of care for each individual.
Outside of work, Kaitlin enjoys hanging out with her family, working out, and reading. She has a 10 month old son as well as 4 dogs, it’s busy in her house!
Will Heise MD is the Medical Director at Cholla Behavioral Health. He is board certified in Medical Toxicology, Addiction Medicine and Family Medicine. Dr. Heise is committed to the evidence-based compassionate care of patients with substance use disorder.
He provides clinical leadership, quality assurance, policy development and direct patient care. He’s also engaged in research and teaching at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix. He believes in teaching the next generation of physicians and providers. Dr. Heise lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his family and enjoys exploring mountain heights, swimming holes and international cities.
Shannon offers medication management and brief psychotherapy with CBH. She has experience helping treat kids, and adults with a series of psychiatric and mental health disorders.
Katherine Nisbet is an experienced behavioral health executive and licensed clinician with over 17 years in counseling and 8+ years in leadership. As Chief Clinical Officer at Cholla Behavioral Health, she leads strategic initiatives, clinical program development, and quality oversight for substance use, mental health, and co-occurring disorder treatment. Katherine brings deep expertise in compliance, accreditation, and outpatient programming—especially for justice-involved and reentry populations. Her personal recovery journey informs her compassionate, evidence-based approach. Under her leadership, Cholla’s services remain grounded in innovation, accountability, and trauma-informed care.
Brian Reinhart is an accomplished behavioral health executive and the Process Management Officer at Cholla Behavioral Health. With a powerful personal journey through addiction and reentry, Brian brings both lived experience and strategic expertise to the design of systems that work, for clinicians, clients, and communities alike. He leads initiatives that blend operational efficiency, engagement strategy, and value-based care, ensuring Cholla delivers impactful, measurable results across all touchpoints.
Wayne Giles is an accomplished behavioral health executive and technology innovator with over a decade of experience in substance use treatment, compliance, and operations. As Director of Operations at Cholla Behavioral Health, he leads initiatives in systems analytics, billing optimization, and practitioner compliance. Wayne has authored a 12-step curriculum integrated into an LMS platform and has played a key role in deploying AI-driven solutions to enhance recovery engagement. His work ensures Cholla’s programs remain accessible, effective, and sustainable.
As a passionate leader in the healthcare industry, my mission is to revolutionize Behavioral Healthcare through the power of data and technology. With a firm commitment to integrity, accountability, culture, and performance. I am dedicated to driving positive change and strengthening the behavioral health standard for our patients.
