Oceanside Malibu Addiction Treatment Center

Dave Johnson developed Oceanside with a vision of creating a safe harbor for those to come to in recovery that would allow them to gain the skills needed for long term sobriety. Dave’s approach is very hands on as clients and family members not only see him on an almost daily basis at the facility but also know they can reach him by cell phone at any time. Dave’s passion for working with people has been a core part of who he is his whole life.While Dave has worked in the entertainment industry as a producer his real love has always been life coaching. Many clients joke about their “talks with Dave” as they know there is no time limit as Dave will spend whatever time is necessary to truly help someone through a crisis. One of the things that makes Oceanside different than all other sober livings is the amount of time that Dave spends with family members either on the phone or in person helping to work through current difficulties and educate and help families understand the process of recovery. Dave has flown across the country on an hours notice to pick up a client that needs help. Dave has also flown home with clients at the end of their stay at their request to help ease the first few days transition back home as this can often be a stressful time. Whether Dave is diving for lobsters with clients, snorkeling, kayaking or sitting on the deck talking you will always find that his heart and energy is always focused on helping set clients up to be successful by guiding them diligently through the early recovery process. Dave is known for being a straight shooter and telling clients and families the truth of what he sees. Dave also developed a resident trust program to help clients learn to manage money often for the first time in their lives. Many past clients have credited Dave for saving their lives as he has done interventions where he has literally picked them up off the floor and taken them to detox. Dave is acutely aware that addiction is a life and death issue and treats it accordingly. Dave has run process groups at a rehab in Malibu as well as leading groups at an in-patient detox unit. His education and training allows him to teach clients about the path that is most likely to lead to a successful outcome. Dave’s cell phone is constantly ringing as clients that have returned to all parts of the country continue to call him regularly to seek his advice and guidance. Dave truly makes a lifelong commitment to each client and will continue to help support them long after they leave sober living. While Oceanside could easily hold a dozen clients Dave continues to limit the number of clients in the facility so that he can give each one his individualized attention.

Kathryn Johnson is a licensed psychotherapist that is passionate about her work with those in recovery. She has worked as a therapist at some of the major rehabs in Malibu helping guide clients through detox, early recovery and working with their families. Kathryn is known for her incredible compassion. She has also worked as a clinical director of an adolescent in patient psychiatric unit for 5 years. Her background of working with clients, other therapists, and psychiatrists brings a wealth of knowledge to those in the early stages of recovery. Unlike other drug rehabilitation centers that focus exclusively on the 12 steps Kathryn recognizes the importance of making sure clients receive treatment for underlying issues that are key to maintaining sobriety and preventing relapse. She works with clients in helping them embrace the recovery process and make use of all the resources available to them. Kathryn had a vision of opening a facility that would provide intensive, individualized care and would teach clients the skills they need for long term sobriety. She has often described going from a 30 day rehab and then back home as going from elementary school to college. After many months of qualitative studying she found that the relapse rate from primary treatment was extremely high. Only a very small percentage of people leave primary treatment and stay sober. From working at some of the best facilities in Malibu herself she realized that while the primary treatment at these facilities was outstanding, that the facility itself was not designed to help people deal with real life stressors and every day situations that cause clients to relapse. Her vision of opening a home that provides the serenity of being right on the ocean, the stability of working with well trained staff, and a family like environment where clients could learn to be honest for the first time in their lives has become a reality. Our alumni continue to come back and visit us today and are very grateful for all the lessons they learned while at our sober living. Kathryn is very proud of our volunteer programs that our clients have worked at including feeding the homeless, working with at risk kids, delivering meals to shut ins, and helping abandoned animals find homes. She knows the importance on not just getting sober but learning how to stay sober by finding passion in your life, feeling like your making a difference in the world in your chosen area of interest, obtaining a strong support structure through 12 step, therapists and doctors, and finding out how to have sober fun. She has found that so many treatment programs or sober livings want to feel that they are “right” and have the one secret that will keep you sober. From much research she has found that it is a combination of many things that helps to insure lifelong sobriety. That is what Oceanside is- a place to put the pieces together to find out who you are and how to really live a great life sober.

Mark started in the field of mental health 30 years ago tending to the needs of the chronically mental ill. Mark believes the core of our profession is to relieve the suffering and heartbreak of people trying to cope with the worst moments of their lives. Struggling to overcome life’s tragedies can overwhelm are emotional wellbeing and cause greater burdens. He also believes through successfully healing that pain, we can find hope and strength. Mark’s professional philosophy combines encouragement and understanding, with psychotherapeutic techniques and skill building. Each client’s experience is unique, and their treatment is uniquely created to meet their particular goals. His experience spans a wide array of emotional and psychological difficulties, but the focus of his practice is primarily working with people suffering from the pain of grief, trauma, and substance addiction. Of all the psychotherapeutic techniques he employs, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is often the most powerful in relieving the painful effects of a variety traumas. EMDR is effective in treating traumatic events that happened in childhood and for recent events. EMDR was first developed in 1988 and is supported by more than 30 controlled studies. EMDR is a recognized by the National Institute of Health as an evidence-based treatment.

Phillipps has been described as a down to earth man who looks at all the facts in front of him before making a decision. He is known for his Honesty and his work with clients who are honest with him. He loves working with clients who want to live life in recovery. When he sees people ready to give up on life, he lets them know all of the options they can have in recovery verses what’s in addiction. He is an open-minded man who’s always looking at the next step for clients. While he’s been working in the field, he has enjoyed helping and watching each client progress in their recovery towards living life. Phillipps believes that having fun in recovery is essential. Phillipps is an avid family man who enjoys doing activities with his Grandchild in his free time.