Louise Polzel, LCSW, is a Clinical Director with a strong foundation in trauma-informed care and substance use treatment. She earned her Master’s in Clinical Social Work with a sub-concentration in Military Social Work from the University of Southern California in 2016, followed by a Master of Studies in Law with a focus on Healthcare Compliance in 2023. Since 2016, she has worked extensively in the field of substance use, combining her expertise as a trauma-focused therapist with a deep commitment to both compassion and accountability in care.
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.
Pronouns: They/She
Sarah was born and raised in the Eastern Coachella Valley, and began their career with Bella Monte in February of 2019. Sarah started their journey here as an intern working towards their CADC, and has found themself wearing a plethora of hats since then. Sarah has worked as a Chemical Dependency Technician, Medical Technician, Aftercare & Alumni Coordinator, and Intake/Alumni Director. Sarah strongly believes in the work we do here at BellaMonte, and is willing to do whatever is needed to support our community, and staff. Sarah currently works in our medical department in her current position as Medical Technician, as well as supporting our admissions department, and alumni outreach. Sarah is a big advocate for radical self acceptance/love, and finds much passion in helping her community. Her compassion and love spans towards those in recovery, the LGBTQIA+ community, and to anyone facing hardships at the hands of mental health, addiction, or societal hardships. In their freetime, Sarah enjoys watching movies, reading, writing, playing bass, photography, and exploring the many beautiful nature excursions that the Coachella Valley has to offer. Sarah is currently working towards her LCSW, and hopes to continue growing with Bella Monte in the years to come.
Lynnette Gonzalez, SUDRC, is a Recovery Coach at Bella Monte Recovery Center, known for her empathy, creativity, and calm presence. As someone in long-term recovery, Lynnette brings both personal insight and professional experience to her work, helping clients rebuild their lives with dignity and purpose. She believes that sustainable recovery begins with planning for life after treatment—through smart choices around jobs, friendships, and support systems. Passionate about life skills development and relapse prevention, Lynnette is committed to making every client feel seen, supported, and empowered from day one.
Robyn has been with Bella Monte since 2021, and started her journey with us as a Chemical Dependency Technician. Soon after she was promoted to our Lead Chemical Dependency Technician, while simultaneously assisting in our medical department due to her 16 years worth of knowledge from working in the medical field. After showing how much love and dedication she had in these positions, she was granted the opportunity to take her knowledge and skills to our clinical team. Robyn is now one of our Addiction Counselors, and has been a great support to our community. Robyn is not only a huge support to our community here at Bella Monte, but also helps manage a local sober living, and has run the day to day operations over there for four years. Robyn has not only gone to further her education to clinically and medically understand addiction, but also is in recovery herself and adds a personal touch to her care. We are very grateful to have her as a part of our team, and cannot wait to see what the future has in store for her.
Before transitioning into the behavioral health field, Kevin spent over a decade in digital advertising, working with several prominent e-commerce companies in the Los Angeles area. In 2017, he launched his own digital marketing agency, where he specialized in performance-driven campaigns and strategic brand growth. Seeking a more purposeful career, Kevin shifted his focus to substance abuse treatment, leading admissions and marketing efforts for two treatment centers located on the Big Island of Hawaii. Since then, he has remained committed to helping individuals achieve recovery and lasting wellness.
