Dr. Reyes will serve as the Associate Program Director for the UCLA-Kern Addiction Psychiatry Training Program and a Psychiatrist for the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Team 

Dr. Reyes (right) pictured with Dr. Nazila Shoar, Addiction Psychiatrist for KernBHRS (left) at the UCLA-Kern Psychiatry Training Program graduation.

For Dr. Colleen Reyes, addiction psychiatry has never been just about treating substance use. It is about understanding the person behind the diagnosis. Throughout her career, she has seen how closely addiction is connected to trauma, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychosis, and other mental health conditions. That understanding has shaped the way she approaches patient care and ultimately led her to specialize in addiction psychiatry.  

"I wanted to develop the skills to treat the whole person, rather than just their diagnosis," she said.  

Over time, her connection to the field has become even more meaningful through the patients, families, and individuals she has encountered both professionally and personally. 

Originally from Los Angeles, Dr. Reyes is beginning to make Kern County feel like home. She enjoys Bakersfield's reputation as "Nashville West" and, as a country music fan, appreciates the legacy of Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. She also recently learned that Bakersfield is home to another iconic band, Korn. She is looking forward to exploring the county's Basque heritage and appreciates Bakersfield's central location, where the beach, mountains, and major cities are all just a few hours away. Compared to Los Angeles, she says the affordability of Kern County offers a quality of life that can be difficult to find elsewhere, while still allowing her to remain close to family. 

While the two counties differ in size, Dr. Reyes sees many of the same challenges affecting both communities. Addiction, homelessness, and mental illness remain significant issues regardless of geography. The greatest difference, she explained, is the availability of specialized resources. Los Angeles offers a much larger network of treatment options, while clinicians in Kern County often must be more creative in connecting clients with the services they need. Rather than viewing that as a limitation, she sees it as an opportunity to think differently and work collaboratively.  

"I've really grown to appreciate both settings and learn from them," she said. 

That same mindset is shaping the goals she brings to Kern Behavioral Health & Recovery Services (KernBHRS). While Dr. Reyes describes herself as someone who is "full of ideas," she is equally committed to first learning from the people and programs already serving the community. She wants to understand the strengths of the department, identify where the greatest needs exist, and build upon the work already being done.  

"The biggest impact comes from working within those constraints and putting my creativity to the test," she said.  

Rather than focusing on what is unavailable, she hopes to find innovative ways to expand care using the resources that already exist. 

Looking ahead, Dr. Reyes hopes to improve access to addiction treatment throughout Kern County. She envisions more affordable detoxification and residential treatment options that allow patients to remain close to home while receiving care, reducing both financial and transportation barriers. She also hopes to strengthen collaboration between hospitals, clinics, and community partners so patients experience a more connected continuum of care. At the center of each goal is a commitment to making treatment more accessible, more coordinated, and more compassionate. 

Above all, Dr. Reyes hopes to change the way people think about addiction. She believes substance use disorders remain one of the most misunderstood areas of medicine, particularly because many people expect recovery to happen in a straight line. She explained that relapse can be part of the recovery process rather than a sign of failure. What continues to inspire her is seeing patients reclaim their lives.  

"Recovery is not linear," she said. "Seeing that recovery is possible... there is hope."  

As she begins her work at KernBHRS, that hope, combined with compassion and a willingness to think creatively, is what she hopes to bring to every person she serves.