Our Team

As a child growing up in New York, Barry Schoer couldn’t understand why his mother behaved the way she did and why he couldn’t help her. As a teenager, he was advised by a high school counselor to volunteer at a school for disabled children. Unfortunately, Barry was never able to help his mother, but his experience helping developmentally disabled children led him to find his purpose in helping others. Barry worked as an undergraduate to help change the laws in New York State so that individuals with addiction were placed in treatment rather than in jails and prisons. During his graduate program, Barry interned at Bellevue Hospital, where he was trained and then hired as a licensed psychiatric technician. It was Bellevue Hospital where Barry observed everything he believed was wrong with mental health treatment. This included inhumane conditions, excessive use of electroconvulsive therapy, the overuse of psychotropic medications without regard for long-term side effects, and the complete lack of any type of individual or group therapeutic engagement. Barry eventually moved to California because he had read that treatment of mentally ill individuals was far more advanced and compassionate on the west coast. During his years working in the psychiatric unit at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, various nonprofits, and the County of Santa Barbara, Barry focused on finding ways to improve treatment and open new opportunities for children and adults living with mental illness and/or substance abuse issues.

In 1983, the President of the Board of Sanctuary House called Barry and asked him if he would take the position of Executive Director. Today, he remains unwavering in his commitment to Sanctuary Centers and our ongoing goal to treat each and every client as an individual, not a diagnosis.

“Since 1986 I have worked in milieu settings with the singular goal of challenging the stigma of mental illness. It is always a privilege and an honor to see within each person the potential of what that life could be, will be, and watch as those dreams and hopes come to fruition.”

Lisa Moschini, Vice President and Clinical Director of Sanctuary Centers, has been with Sanctuary Centers since 2005. She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who holds a Bachelor’s of Fine Art in Art & Design from California Institute of the Arts and a Master’s in Clinical Art Therapy from Loyola Marymount University.

For more than 20 years, Lisa has supervised interns, conducted onsite workshops, given lectures, and provided continuing education credits to mental health professionals and educators throughout the United States. As an esteemed professional in her field,  Lisa has consulted on feasibility studies for non-profit organizations, presented at universities, and designed and implemented art therapy programs for children, adolescents, and adults.

Her first book, Drawing-the-Line: Art Therapy with the Difficult Client was published in December 2004 through John Wiley & Sons and has been translated into three other languages. Her second book, Art, Play, and Narrative Therapy: Using Metaphor to Enrich your Clinical Practice, was published in 2018, by Taylor & Francis/Routledge.

Christopher Reilly is an accomplished healthcare executive with over two decades of experience leading integrated behavioral health and primary care initiatives throughout California. As Chief Health Systems Officer at Sanctuary Centers of Santa Barbara, he oversees the joint Integrated Health Clinic developed in partnership with Premier Valley Medical Group. In this role, he directs daily operations of the interim facility while spearheading the design, construction, and expansion of a permanent clinic that will provide comprehensive primary care, psychiatry, and psychotherapy services seven days a week.

Christopher has a proven track record of building innovative, whole-person care models that expand access for vulnerable and underserved populations. His expertise spans managed care contracting, provider credentialing, program design, and sustainable revenue strategies. He has successfully secured grants and developed partnerships that strengthen safety-net services throughout the Central Coast and Central Valley.

Before joining Sanctuary Centers, Christopher held senior leadership roles with Good Samaritan Hospital, Clinica Sierra Vista, College Community Services, and Kern County Behavioral Health. His career highlights include launching recuperative care, day habilitation, and integrated medical-behavioral programs; overseeing more than 30 behavioral health sites across Kern and Fresno counties; and advancing trauma-informed, community-based models of care.

Christopher earned his M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University and his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Southern California. In addition to his executive leadership, he has served on numerous boards and statewide committees, and remains a passionate advocate for integrated, compassionate, and sustainable healthcare solutions.

Aeon La France completed his BA in Film & Digital Media at UC Santa Cruz and is a Microsoft Certified IT Professional and Certified Technology Specialist.  In 2007, he left the world of Bay Area Tech Start-ups behind to join Sanctuary Centers in their mission to serve the needs of the Santa Barbara community, and he continues to guide our organization through the ever-changing challenges and demands of 21st-century Information Technology.  He is a former radio broadcaster, audio production & mastering engineer, and his hobbies include masonry, horticulture, off-grid technology infrastructure, and modular synthesizers.

“Working at Sanctuary Centers provides the opportunity and privilege to support individuals with varying mental health challenges and substance abuse issues on their journey to recovery, as well as to witness each individual’s growth and healing. It is both deeply rewarding and an honor to be part of this process.”

Lauren Kopras has been a valued member of the Sanctuary Centers’ team since 2008.  Lauren began her tenure working as a Vocational Counselor in the Career Development Program. She later transitioned to the role of Program Director for the Outpatient Mental Health Program, and currently serves as the Chief Administrator of Programs.

Lauren holds a Master Degree in Clinical Psychology, and a Master’s Degree in Vocational Rehabilitation, with an emphasis on Rehabilitation Counseling. Lauren is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, as well as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. She is passionate about client advocacy, empowerment, and connecting clients with the resources and supports needed to build the fulfilling and enriching lives that they deserve.

”

“Seeing the clients stabilize, learn to live with their mental illness, and reintegrate to the community as they rediscover the joy in life – working at Sanctuary can be incredibly fulfilling.”

Dr. Denise Mock earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology in 1999 and has been working as a licensed psychologist since 2001. She became a part of the Sanctuary team in 2013. Her role at Sanctuary Centers involves supervising the clinical work and written assessments of our doctoral interns. She has served on the board of the Santa Barbara County Psychological Association. Dr. Mock continues to teach doctoral students as an Adjunct Faculty at Antioch University.

Dr. Eli Katz has been board certified in Psychiatry and Neurology since 1986 and has extensive experience in treating psychiatric conditions in both adults and seniors. He received a Bachelors of Science from Penn State and then attended Columbia University for graduate school. He earned his Medical Degree with Honors from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, where he also served his Psychiatric Residency at Hahnemann University Hospital. Dr. Katz has also taught Psychiatry at Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania. In 1990, Dr. Katz moved to Santa Barbara and he has been the Medical Director for multiple psychiatric centers and programs, including the Senior Mental Health Unit at Saint Francis Hospital, Vista Del Mar Hospital, Sansum Clinic, Santa Barbara County Mental Health and the Santa Barbara County Jail. He has been in private practice part-time at Santa Barbara Behavioral Health since 2001.

Originally, Dr. Katz served as Treasurer on Sanctuary Centers Board of Directors from 2000 to 2004. In 2004, however, he accepted the position as Medical Director, joining our team of experienced clinicians while also providing medical supervision and direction for all of our mental health programs. Dr. Katz is responsible for providing medical evaluations and treatment to our clients in need of pharmacological assistance to strengthen and reinforce the rest of their mental health care.

Dr. Steven Ruths completed his psychiatry residency at the University of Maryland/Sheppard Pratt program and his child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at the University of California San Diego/Children’s Hospital program, where he served as chief resident.  Dr. Ruths is a former competitive cyclist and in his free time enjoys cycling, skiing, cooking, and winemaking.

“I am honored to be able to work with Sanctuary Centers because it is the right thing to do.”

Dr. George Bifano began working with Sanctuary Centers in 1996. For his entire tenure at Cottage Hospital, which began in 1997, Dr. Bifano has been has been the on call psychiatrist for Emergency Admissions, with specialities in addiction medicine, psychiatry, and osteopathics. In addition to his professional accolades, he is also philanthropically active in the community. In one instance, he helped to raise $50,000 for CALM.

In his spare time, Dr. Bifano enjoys cycling and has participated in many charity relays. In 2007, for the Race Across America, he was part of an 8 man cycling relay who got across the country in 7 days, 7 hours – a mark that broke the over 60 age group world record for the 3000 mile distance and still holds today. He is a proud father of eight children & a proud grandfather to eleven grandchildren.

Cecilia Pinhel was born and raised in Brazil, where she also obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Education. She became fluent in both English and Spanish during her travels abroad. In 2005, after moving to Santa Barbara, she completed her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University. Cecilia has amassed a wealth of counseling experience working with children, families, victims of abuse and domestic violence, and adolescents on probation for drug use and possession. Her work has taken her through some notable community organizations including CALM, CADA, and the Santa Barbara County Welfare Services Department.

Cecilia first became involved with Sanctuary Centers as an intern for our residential treatment program, Sanctuary House. During this time, she also provided both individual and group therapy at our Outpatient Mental Health Center. Soon thereafter, she was offered a full position as a counselor at Sanctuary House, before being promoted to Program Manager. She was promoted again to Program Director in 2015.

In 2017, Cecilia became a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist. Fifteen years into her tenure with Sanctuary Centers, Cecilia appreciates every opportunity to continue putting her skills into practice by helping clients that come through her program at Sanctuary House.

After exploring courses in kinesiology and business, Taryn Rahier came to realize her love for psychology and social sciences. She has completed both an Associate’s degree in Psychology with certificates in mathematics and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Brain Sciences from UC Santa Barbara. In 2021, Taryn began working for Sanctuary Centers as a part-time counselor within our Mental Health Inpatient Care program (Sanctuary House) but quickly realized her desire to be more involved. Only after a few months, she became a full-time Sanctuary House Counselor and began facilitating the Team Building and Leadership Skills group. Taryn worked in this position for a little over a year and was then promoted to Sanctuary House Assistant Program Director and subsequently moved into her current role as Sanctuary House Program Director. She aspires to continue her education with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology or Forensic Psychology so she can be of better clinical support to the communities around her.

I have found a great deal of pride and satisfaction in working with and seeing our clients grow enough to become independent and be able to pursue their own passions in life. We have a fantastic and knowledgeable team that is not only invaluable to learn from but also amazing to see in action while serving our clients.

“We have a great team of caring people who make a difference in people’s lives every day.”

Michael Andrews joined the Sanctuary Centers team in 2002 after completing his Master’s in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University. He has worn many hats during his tenure here and is our resident expert at juggling tasks. As our Career Development Program Director, Michael finds that his previous experience as a vocational specialist and his time spent as the residential manager for a home for developmentally disabled clients comes in especially handy.

It is truly an honor and privilege to be part of the mission and exceptional team at Sanctuary Centers. It is my personal and professional goal to be of service and support to our clients each day, while making certain to meet SCSB’s mission to provide comprehensive and personalized mental health care and housing for those who need it most in our local community.

Adam came to Sanctuary Centers with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Entrepreneurship, and over 20 years of management experience in nonprofit agencies. These include a residential care facility for adults with developmental disabilities, a vocational day center for adults with developmental disabilities, and, most recently, a multilevel care retirement community for aging adults.

Adam has extensive nonprofit and management experience, including a deep understanding of how to navigate occupancy needs, lease agreements, and the wide range of property management tasks within a nonprofit setting. He also holds an unwavering passion for and dedication to serving vulnerable populations in the best way possible—helping them achieve their goals for independent living.

When he’s not at Sanctuary, you can find Adam spending time with his family hiking and swimming in the Los Padres National Forest, fishing from his kayak, planting and propagating succulents, or disc golfing with friends.

“Sanctuary Centers is filled with caring staff, who are always watching to see what each client needs and providing it.  It’s wonderful to see our clients grow and move forward in their lives and it’s a testament to both a competent staff and clients who want to have a better life.  Staff and clients are both very inspiring!”

Sharon Ybarra obtained her Ph.D. in Counselor Education from Ohio University in 1994. She specializes in Trauma Recovery and is certified in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). In multiple settings, including hospice and private practice, Sharon has worked with many individuals and families to address issues of mental illness, HIV/AIDS, trauma, and grief. In 2005, She began working with a new team of professionals to support inpatient clients in their recovery as Sanctuary House Case Manager, a job she enjoys and excels at to this day.