The mission of Swinomish Behavioral Health Services is to promote individual, family, and community healing and growth by providing high quality, accessible, and culturally appropriate resources and services for the Swinomish Tribal Community.
Get to Know Your Mental Health Providers
Julia Ortiz - Mental Health Coordinator, Project Director for Youth Spirit, Native Connections, and Circles of Care
I’m Mexican Nahua Mayan with ties to Lummi Nation. I believe in our own narrative leading the way to better health care for our people.
Laura Lindberg, MA, LMHC - Mental Health Clinical Supervisor
I have been a counselor with the tribe for six years working with teens at the school, and adults and families in Social Services. As an art therapist I find it helpful to use art and other alternative approaches, such as animal assisted therapy, to address the mental health needs of the client. I believe that a genuine relationship with the client, and truly hearing their story, are the most healing aspects of counseling.
Sabrina James - School Social Worker for Tribal Youth
I am an enrolled Lummi Tribal member, my parents are Anita and Reynold “Hutch” James Sr. I attended Washington State University, where I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in human development and a minor in psychology. I am currently working on my Masters in Social Work at the University of Washington, and have over five years of experience in Social Services. I look forward to sharing my knowledge and passion of working with our tribal youth and families here at Swinomish.
Hannah Guggenheim - Mental Health Counselor
I am joining the community counseling team after attending University of Washington’s School of Social Work and spending the last year working at Island County Behavioral Health in community outreach. Previously, I lived in Southeast Alaska working in domestic violence prevention and Tlingit language revitalization programming. My focus is trauma healing through storytelling, supporting family systems, individuals, youth, and LGBTQ+2S.
Swinomish Health Programs
Native Connections - Alexis Ballew
The Swinomish Native Connections Grant (SNC) seeks to grow a Pacific Northwest tribal systems transformation to provide comprehensive, coordinated, and culturally grounded care to all Swinomish children and youth (10-24) with complex needs and their families.
Circles of Care - Nakesha Edwards
The Circles of Care Program plans to build on our current service strengths and utilize our cultural resources, our strong partnerships with the La Conner School District, and the Swinomish Behavioral Health Programs to ensure that a non-duplicative coordinated enterprise occurs to reduce gaps in our mental health services and provide holistic, wraparound support for children and their families.