MEET THE
TEAM
Orange County Drug & Alcohol Rehab
OUR DEDICATED STAFF
Dr. Sanjai Thankachen
Medical Director
Dr. Sanjai Thankachen graduated from Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medicine in 2000. He completed his residency in psychiatry in 2008 from Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in New York, where fifty percent of his rotations were at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. After his residency he worked at Ventura County Medical Centers in an adult out-patient setting and now lives in Orange County, California.
Lisa Merry
Clinical Director
Lisa is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, she graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology. Lisa has over 20 years of experience in Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment. She has expertise as a Clinical Director, Clinical Supervisor, and creating high quality, client centered services in treatment. She has been a leader with Celebrate Recovery, a Christ Centered 12 step program, for over 25 years.
Andrew Sutherland
Program Director
Andrew was born and raised in southern California and graduated from California State University, Fullerton, with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. He has been with Sober Partners for 7 years and has worked in varying roles with the company. Currently, Andrew is the Program Director at Sober Partners and tries to instill two goals in each client he interacts with: to consistently make progress and to have fun in their recovery. Being in recovery himself, Andrew has made it his purpose in life to help others regain their lives and achieve their greatest ambitions.
Hailey Grimble
Treatment Cooridnator
Melanie Paniagua
Therapist
Courtlandt Gates
Therapist
Makaela Conol
Therapist
Robert Alvarez
Case Manager
Mell Jackson
Case Manager
Christian Beck
Case Manager
Greg Alexander
Operations Manager
Reuben Benitez
Program Technician
Margo Griffin
Program Technician
Brandon Beck
Program Technician
Deaidra Benison
Registered Nurse
