SamaritanCares

B.E.A.M.S. Staff

We invite you to meet our Behavioral Specialists and other Program Staff. If you have a question you can contact the 
BEAMS office at 909-985-0513 or email at info@BeamsTherapy.org.

Dr. Douglas McKown, Psy.D.
​Executive Director, B.E.A.M.S.Clinical Director

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Dr. McKown has over 30 years of professional experience and is a licensed psychologist. He holds masters and doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology from Fuller Graduate School of Psychology as well as a masters degree in Theology.  His experience includes private practice, Director of Counseling at the Headington Institute, staff Psychologist at the Claremont Colleges and Loma Linda University Medical Center. He has clinical expertise with adults in the following areas: Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, stress management, relationship/couples therapy, clergy issues, spiritual integration, assessment, learning disabilities, and conflict resolution/communication skills.

Anita Robinson, M.S. - Behavior Specialist

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Anita is a native of Alabama where she earned a BS degree from Alabama State University. After moving to California she earned an MS degree in Special Education from National University and she also holds an Education Specialist Instructor Credential emphasis in Mild/Moderate Disabilities. She has worked for the Riverside Sheriff Department as a Case Manager for prisoners assigned to home detention, a Special Education Teacher for 9th – 12th grade students, and as Program Coordinator for youth training programs for the National Council of Negro Women Bethune Center. Anita has worked as a Behavioral Specialist for the B.E.A.M.S. program at Samaritan Counseling Center since 2008. 
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Natali Garcia, M.Ed., AMFT - Behavior Specialist
 
Natali joined our staff as a BEAMS Behavior Specialist in 2019. She completed her master’s degree in Marriage & Family Therapy at Cambridge College and  her BA in Psychology at CSU San Bernardino. Natali has a background working with children, teens and adults with disabilities, as well as providing education to parents from diverse backgrounds.  She also has experience working with individuals, groups, couples, and families using a variety of therapeutic approaches. Natali completed her internship at The Salvation Army Rehabilitation Center in Perris, CA. She helped the men to regain their sobriety and reconcile with their families.  Natali is bilingual, fluent in English and Spanish. 

Evelyne Banks, D.Min, M.A. - Behavior Specialist

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​​Evelyne completed a master's degree in Educational Counseling at the University of Redlands and has a doctoral degree (D. Min) with an emphasis in Counseling. She is a multi-lingual counselor fluent in English, Spanish, and French. She has many years of experience with a multitude of diverse client issues. Evelyne worked as a school teacher and a social worker prior to joining Samaritan Counseling Center as a Behavioral Specialist for the B.E.A.M.S. program in 2005. Se Habla Español.
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Karen Shigenaka, M.S.W., LCSW - Behavior Specialist
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Karen completed her Masters in Social Work at the University of New England, with an emphasis in children and families.  She has a background in working with families in the foster care system, partnering with the foster child, foster parents, and birth parents.  Karen also completed her internship hours as a Counseling Trainee at a domestic violence agency, working with survivors and counseling alongside clients as they healed from their trauma.  She has worked from a trauma informed care approach in both types of agencies.  Karen has experience in treating survivors of domestic violence, anxiety and depression, parenting, and blended families. She joined Samaritan Counseling Center as a B.E.A.M.S. Behavioral Specialist in 2018. 
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Flor Alvarez, M.A., AMFT - Behavior Specialist

​​Flor received her BA in Psychology at the University of California, Riverside and her master’s degree in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University. She has a background in Applied Behavioral Analysis for individuals of ages 2 – 20 years with developmental disabilities. She has worked with individuals with diagnoses including autism, ADHD, and anxiety, helping them gain communication, behavioral, social, and self-help skills that are functional in everyday life, through using mindfulness techniques and behavioral techniques such as functional communication training, differential reinforcement, implementation of visuals, prompting, etc. At Samaritan, she works with a variety of populations, using a variety of techniques to support individuals, and apply previously learned skills to a larger scope of populations. Flor is bilingual, fluent in English and Spanish.