MEET THE
TEAM

Orange County Drug & Alcohol Rehab

OUR DEDICATED STAFF

Meet The Staff drsan

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. 
Meet The Staff lisam

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.
Meet The Staff andr

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.
Meet The Staff 2 2

Hailey Grimble

Treatment Cooridnator
Meet The Staff shutterstock 2004239294

Melanie Paniagua

Therapist
Meet The Staff 3

Courtlandt Gates

Therapist
Meet The Staff 5

Makaela Conol

Therapist
Meet The Staff 1 2

Robert Alvarez

Case Manager
Meet The Staff 2

Mell Jackson

Case Manager
Meet The Staff 4

Christian Beck

Case Manager
Meet The Staff 2 1

Jake Calie

Operations Manager
Meet The Staff 1 1

Reuben Benitez

Program Technician
Meet The Staff Untitled design

Margo Griffin

Program Technician
Meet The Staff shutterstock 2004239294

Amy Field

Therapist
Meet The Staff shutterstock 2004239294

Deaidra Benison

Registered Nurse