Our Story

Nine years ago, a group of addiction medicine physicians and licensed counselors noticed something troubling about Santa Cruz County: families in crisis had nowhere local to turn. Parents were driving loved ones two or three hours to find a residential bed, and by the time they arrived, the window of willingness had often closed. The gap in local services was costing lives.

That realization led to the founding of DMH Rehab at 1146 Soquel Ave. Our founders pooled clinical expertise and community relationships to build a 31-bed facility designed around one principle: stabilize first, then guide toward lasting recovery. From the beginning, the center was structured so that someone in acute crisis could walk in the same day and receive medical oversight within hours.

Over the past nine years, more than 3,600 patients have moved through our programs. What started as an urgent response to a local need has grown into a comprehensive treatment center with 56 staff members, multiple levels of care, and deep roots in the Santa Cruz community.

Our Mission

DMH Rehab exists to deliver clinical excellence at every stage of addiction recovery. We believe that rigorous, science-driven care is not at odds with compassion; it is the highest expression of it. Every protocol, every staffing decision, and every treatment plan we build is measured against one standard: does it produce the best possible clinical outcome for this individual?

That commitment drives us to maintain board-certified medical leadership, invest in continuing education for all 56 staff members, and adopt evidence-based therapies as soon as peer-reviewed research supports them. Clinical excellence is not a slogan at DMH Rehab. It is the operating system behind everything we do.

Treatment Philosophy

Our treatment philosophy rests on three pillars that work together to address the full spectrum of addiction and recovery:

Neuroscience-Based Care: We ground every intervention in brain science. From understanding how substances hijack reward pathways to using therapies like CBT, DBT, and EMDR that reshape neural patterns, our clinical team translates research into practical, personalized treatment plans.
Spiritual Exploration: Recovery often demands meaning beyond the clinical. We offer patients space to explore their own spiritual framework through meditation, mindfulness practices, and reflective group work, without prescribing any single belief system.
Peer Accountability: Lasting sobriety is built in community. Our model pairs patients with accountability partners, facilitates honest peer-led group sessions, and creates a culture where residents hold each other to the commitments they make in treatment.

Our Team

Dr. Lorraine Akiyama, MD

Medical Director

Board-certified in addiction medicine and emergency medicine, Dr. Akiyama has led clinical operations at DMH Rehab since the facility opened. She designed our crisis stabilization protocol and oversees all detox and medication-assisted treatment programs, drawing on 18 years of experience in acute care settings.

Franklin Osei, LCSW

Clinical Director

A licensed clinical social worker specializing in dual diagnosis and trauma recovery, Franklin directs the therapeutic programming across all levels of care. He supervises our counseling team and holds advanced certifications in EMDR and dialectical behavior therapy.

Dr. Vivian Trask, PsyD

Director of Neuroscience-Based Programs

Dr. Trask develops and refines our neuroscience-informed treatment protocols. With a doctorate in clinical psychology and specialized training in neuropsychological assessment, she ensures that every patient receives care aligned with the latest brain science research.

Miguel Sandoval, RN, BSN

Director of Nursing

Miguel manages our 24/7 nursing team and coordinates patient safety across detox and residential units. His background in critical care nursing and substance use disorder treatment ensures the highest medical standards throughout every phase of stabilization and recovery.