Our Team

Philip was born and raised in San Diego. He grew up with parents who were functioning alcoholics /addicts. This led to adopting a faulty belief system from a very early age that using drugs and alcohol was an acceptable way to live. The belief system made it normal for him to begin using substances at the age of 15.
Philip has been a surfer his entire life and competed professionally for a few years in his 20’s. He has primarily worked in the surf industry. He eventually opened his own surf shop (Select Surf Shop) in the early 2000’s. His addiction eventually got the better of him and after losing his business and his family in 2006 he spent the next 3 years in and out of rehabs trying to recover. His substance abuse issues eventually landed him in federal prison. He used his time wisely and started working the steps of alcoholics anonymous and completing an 18-month treatment program. 
Philip was the primary caregiver for his mom who was permanently bedridden for the last 4 years. When covid hit he decided to pursue one of his goals and began going to school to become a substance abuse counselor.

After struggling with substance abuse issues for over 20 years philip now has 1 years of continuous sobriety and works a program of recovery givi4ng back to other addicts and alcoholics through sponsorship in the program of AA.

Philip studied AODS at San Diego City College and he is now completing his internship here at Coastal Detox of Southern California.

Philip’s main passion is sharing his experience, strength and hope with others who struggle with substance abuse issues. Helping others through their journey of getting and remaining free of their bondage of addiction.

Jeff was born and raised in San Diego, and spent much of his youth living blocks from where our residential housing is located.  He spent his teenage years skateboarding up and down the surrounding streets, and enjoying the Pacific Beach life in the 80’s/early 90’s. 

Jeff got to know the darker side of addiction early in life, with three near-death experiences in a row happening within a year.  He “settled down” into alcohol, and later in life became a professional brewer, but that too proved to be too cunning, baffling, and powerful a draw.  During Covid, he felt no choice but to surrender, and made the decision to get sober.  He attended a similar program to our own, and after completing the 30 days inpatient and attending IOP aftercare, he was able to forge a strong foundation of sobriety.  He has not found a reason to pick up a drink since the day that he checked into that detox.  After quitting the brewing gig (because of course, he had little choice there), he enrolled in the AODS program at City College with his sights on a new career of helping others.  Having completed the requirements involved, he went on to earn his certification in California for Substance Use Disorder Certified Counselor.

Jeff is married to his wife of nearly 25 years with a 21 year old daughter and 18 year old son, and thanks to the 12 steps, surrounding himself with a caring and supportive sober community, and coming to terms with his alcoholism, is able to lead others struggling with addiction through example and personal experience.

Nina grew up in San Diego and attended The School of Creative and Performing Arts where she was a triple threat ( Acting , Dancing & Singing ). Upon graduating high school at 16 Nina attended San Diego Mesa College for two years studying Abnormal Psychology and the Arts.

Nina worked for the city attorney’s office criminal division from the age of 16 and decided to focus on a career in Law. Nina was accepted to USD , but never attended. At the age of 21 Nina’s “other life “landed her on the wrong  side of the law & prison where she spent most of her adult life. While incarcerated she decided to go back to school to become a Drug Counselor. Upon her release she was employed by a local detox and rehabilitation center, as well as opened several recovery residences locally. Nina thrives while helping others and believes her calling is to guide others to tap into their full potential. 

Thora has worked in the Behavioral Health Industry for six(6) years, four (4) as Director of Compliance . She has experience with managing HR, payroll and compliance for state and federal regulations. In addition, Thora as a wealth of knowledge with The Joint Commission accreditation process and assisted many locations and agencies. Thora has a heart for the wellness of the community and the harmony needed within a company to ensure success. Thora owns a wellness company and is a sound healing practitioner, meditation and breath-work facilitator and certified Reiki Master. She believes in bringing that same passion in all she does and with every client she works with.

Kay Saffe grew up in Miami, Florida and is a first generation American with Argentinian roots. She struggled with drinking and substances, especially throughout her youth. Today, she has been in recovery for years and strives to prioritize her spiritual, mental, and physical health.

A lifelong athlete and ocean lover, she moved to San Diego to pursue a Master’s degree in counseling at the University of San Diego and progress her surfing. She has spent years working as a surf instructor and therapist, working with local non-profits that treat at risk individuals and families in English and Spanish. She incorporates a mindful and holistic approach to therapy. She is passionate about positive psychology and helping others through their recovery journey.

My name is Bobby, and I’m from the Pala Indian Reservation in North County San Diego. After struggling with substance use for over half of my life, I am now in recovery and actively working a 12-step program while prioritizing physical fitness as part of my healing. 

I chose to go into this field to be a source of hope for others. When someone walks through that door, I want them to see they can do it too. Today I am living a life rooted in purpose and growth. 

Nick grew up splitting his time between San Diego and Los Angeles, graduating from Granada Hills Charter High School. Shortly after graduating, his addiction eventually landed him in prison. After his incarceration, still struggling with addiction, Nick began exploring various energetic healing modalities in the hopes of realizing his sobriety. After achieving his sobriety, Nick pursued certification and mastery in these modalities with the goal of helping others struggling with addiction. Nick is the owner of Nascent, an energetic wellness company, and is Master attuned in 2 lineages of Reiki as well as a certified Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and Deep Chakra Healing practitioner.

Dr. Michael Markopoulos is an experienced health care provider who is dedicated to helping individuals overcome addiction in San Diego. He has more than 25 years of experience in treating a variety of serious addictions. He has successfully treated substance use disorders that have involved opiates, opioids, alcohol, Suboxone, prescription medication, methamphetamines, and cocaine. With this span of addiction experience, Dr. Markopoulos has developed research-backed techniques and programs that provide successful treatment options for those committed to overcoming their substance use disorder. Dr. Markopoulos understands that quality treatment involves unique, specialized care that’s tailored to the individual.

Dr. Michael Markopoulos and the team of nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and other recovery professionals he works with provide a customized approach to short and long-term care. We are committed to treating and healing the entire individual, not just their addiction. We value everyone’s unique stories and experiences, and we tailor our approach to truly fit your needs.

Tess Quesenberry is a Physician Assistant who graduated from North Greenville University with a Master of Medical Science degree. With a background in psychiatry, addiction medicine, primary care, and aesthetics, Tess brings a wealth of diverse experience to her practice. She has specialized in the outpatient and inpatient settings, allowing her to provide comprehensive care across various healthcare environments. Tess is dedicated to her patients’ well-being and strives to provide compassionate care, empowering them to achieve overall health and wellness.

In her spare time, Tess enjoys spending time with her family and is a self-proclaimed foodie. She loves trying new foods and recipes, exploring culinary adventures whenever she can.

Ann Pierce has been a Physician Assistant for over 25 years and practicing addiction medicine for the past 15 years.  She has a Bachelors degree in Physician assistant studies and a Masters’ degree in Family Medicine. 

Vanessa Vinci is a dedicated Nurse Practitioner with over 13 years of experience in the nursing field and more than 5 years specializing in addiction medicine. Holding a Master of Science in Nursing and certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), she is currently advancing her expertise as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) student. Vanessa is passionate about delivering compassionate, evidence-based care to individuals struggling with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders.

After sixteen years of working in sales, Elias decided to pursue a career in the medical field in order to have a steady work environment to provide for his six children. Shortly after entering the field, Elias received a job working at a detox facility and decided that helping drug addicts and alcoholics is where his true passion was. Elias is currently attending school to complete his Associates in Nursing, and plans to continue working in detox to help those in need and watch as they succeed in life.

Sara is native to San Diego and graduated as a medical assistant in 2010. After graduation, she started working at the methadone clinic and began using drugs shortly thereafter. It did not take long before she was fully addicted to the substances she was using, leading to a life of crime. In 2017 Sara decided enough was enough, and she admitted herself into a rehabilitation facility. During her stay, she realized she wanted to give back and work in drug and alcohol treatment. Sara aims to help others in any way that she can in honor of all of the loved ones she has lost due to their disease of addiction.

Born and raised in San Diego, Arlene grew up surrounded by family members who struggle with substance abuse disorder. Watching everything her loved ones endured during their addiction and how hard they fought for their sobriety encouraged her to one day become involved in helping others also overcome their plight with drugs and alcohol. Arlene enjoys seeing other progress in their recovery and being a part of the process. Recently graduating from high school, she plans to remain in the healthcare field by furthering her education to become a nurse.

I was born in New York, the youngest of eight children. We were a tight knit Italian family. My mom and dad worked really hard, but my dad was an alcoholic and my mom was an enabler. His biggest fear was that his children would end up on drugs, but it was the ’70s and all his kids ended up doing just that. He was a militant man and an angry drunk and living in my house was very unpredictable. 

When I was 9 years old we moved to California and shortly after my mom kicked my dad out of the house for physically abusing my sister. I was basically raised by my brothers, and I was smoking weed by the time I was 12 and drinking by the time I was 13. By 14 I was dating a 28-year-old drug dealer and doing cocaine. I was married at 19, pregnant at 20.

In between raising my three sons, my addiction would show up from time to time, and when it did get a little unmanageable I was able to reel it back in relatively quickly and without any outside help. But at the age of 33, my husband and I came into a lot of money by building and selling a dot com company. I sold my home in North County San Diego and we moved to Hawaii. We bought a beautiful home right on the beach on the North Shore of Oahu. We had it all — my children were happy, my marriage was going well, but my husband began using heroin and it wasn’t long before I joined him.

This was an addiction that in no way was manageable. We went to Hawaii with almost a million dollars and five years later we had nothing left but a serious heroin addiction. We actually needed my family to buy the tickets to get off the island. 

After two failed marriages and multiple attempts to get clean, I finally surrendered my will and my life to the God of my understanding. I have been clean and sober since September 15, 2023, and working in recovery gives me a chance to give back and be a small part of the healing of others who are on their recovery journey. 

Hi my name is Carmen and I grew up in San Diego, California where I started abusing substances at a very young age. At age 23 I started using heavier substances that lead me to being homeless for almost 5 years. At the age of 27 I tried to get clean to get my life back, but I couldn’t get it together and wasn’t ready to let go of my addiction. I went back out for another year. I lost a lot of friends, family and my kids due to my addiction. I became tired of being alone and feeling hopeless. My life truly became unmanageable. That’s when I decided to focus on myself and become serious about my recovery. I gained enough courage to ask for help because I knew I couldn’t do it alone. Addiction is very hard but it is possible to recover!! That’s why I Love working at the Coastal Detox of Southern California to help others on their journey to recovery!! We Do Recover!!!

Matt Murdoch is a native of New Jersey. He currently resides in the South Bay with his wife and their blended family of 9 kids and 2 dogs. 

Matt is an active and proud member of the AA Fellowship and 12-Step Recovery Program. He and his wife started a recovery meeting in Eastlake that comprises AA, NA, and Al-Anon. His mantra is, “I am a being of maximum service to my fellows.”

When he’s not at Coastal, you can find him working with his wife at the small business they own and run, or on a paddle board somewhere in San Diego enjoying peace of mind and serenity

This work is personal to me. I’m in recovery from alcohol addiction and got sober in 2025, so I understand how hard the beginning can be. I care deeply about people and aim to create a safe, supportive space where clients feel understood and not alone. 

Outside of work, I enjoy fishing, going to flea markets, and playing Magic: The Gathering. I’m always down to play and happy to teach anyone who’s interested! 

My name is Robb Roy, I’m a Southern California native new to San Diego. I’ve been sober since 7/7/21. I struggled with addiction off and on for over 30 years, so I have an intimate understanding of the struggles our patients are going through. I find it very rewarding to help them through their recovery, starting at day one, letting them know it does get better, one day at a time. 

I like to golf, I volunteer for the homeless outreach every week, and I recently started doing an H&L panel once a month. I also love the Padres! 

Gabe Soriano is a San Diego native with strong ties to the South Bay community. He is a United States Army Veteran who has an extensive background serving our nation’s heroes in both the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the National Cemetery Administration (NCA).

Gabe is an active and sober participant in both Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous 12-step recovery programs. Being of service is paramount to lasting and rewarding recovery. Gabe is someone who always tries to put others before himself. He is busy raising two daughters and enjoys family trips to Baja California. A self-proclaimed “taco connoisseur,” Gabe can often be seen enjoying a taco, or three, at one of many of San Diego’s world-famous taco shops.

Born and raised in Northwest Indiana, Abby grew up in a household shaped by addiction and began using substances at just 15 years old. She made her first attempt to get sober in 2016, when insurance sent her to California to begin her recovery journey. Over the years, Abby attended multiple treatment programs, but it wasn’t until a drunk driving accident on her birthday in 2023 that everything changed. Determined to break the cycle, she entered a 90-day treatment center and committed fully to her sobriety.Now celebrating two years sober, Abby maintains her recovery through meetings, the guidance of a sponsor, and a strong support network. Outside of her recovery, she enjoys surfing, playing video games, and spending time with her beloved pug, Harley. She is currently attending UC San Diego, pursuing a career in Substance Use Disorder counseling, with the goal of helping others find the same freedom she has worked so hard to achieve.

Hi! I’m Sabrina! I was born in Houston Texas but raised here in San Diego. I enjoy boogie boarding at the beach, playing pool and drawing. I also like to volunteer for the Victory Outreach because I have been in those same shoes. I want to give back to my community as my community has been there for me in times of need. I have put myself through rehab multiple times and finally after my third run, self referred, I was able to pull myself out of homelessness and my drug addiction. If there’s a will, there’s a way! I came to work at Coastal Detox of Southern California to help those who are struggling. Every person that comes through these doors, I genuinely care for and will do everything in my power to help in any way.

My name is Mark Foster, and I have been working in recovery for the past six years. My sobriety date is May 28, 1996. I was introduced to Sundance and ceremonial life while I was incarcerated in federal prison at Terminal Island, California. I have been actively involved in Sundance for the past eight years, and it has played a significant role in my personal growth and spiritual development. 

Through this work, I have learned how to stay in balance in my life and to support others on their recovery journeys. I live on the San Pasqual Indian Reservation, where we have a sweat lodge and collaborate with various programs that support sobriety and healing within the native community. 

🔹 NSCA CPT
🔹 NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist
🔹 Professional Cupping Therapy Massage
🔹 BS in Sports Management from Cal Poly University

Seasoned recovery specialist renowned for his transformative work with athletes, gym enthusiasts, and individuals managing chronic illnesses. Through a tailored approach combining assisted stretching, cupping therapy, and specialized bodywork techniques, BJ has become a trusted ally in the pursuit of ultimate rejuvenation. Beyond the physical benefits of reduced inflammation, profound relaxation, improved blood circulation, and the effective flushing out of toxins from the body, BJ’s holistic approach extends to mental well-being. By fostering a sense of harmony between mind and body, BJ’s methods have been lauded for their ability to uplift one’s mental state, promoting a deep sense of inner peace and balance. Clients attest that the transformative effects of BJ’s work go beyond the physical realm, resulting in a profound change that resonates throughout their entire being.