Our story
Born from the belief that recovery is possible for everyone.
Fresh Start Recovery Services was founded on the Orange County coast with one conviction: that healing happens when people feel genuinely seen, supported, and connected to something larger than themselves.
Why we exist
Fresh Start Recovery Services grew out of a simple but urgent observation: too many people were falling through the gaps of traditional recovery programs — not because they lacked the will to heal, but because the programs didn't meet them where they were.
We set out to build something different. A program rooted in warmth, clinical rigor, and the restorative power of Orange County's coastal communities. A place where recovery isn't just about stopping — it's about becoming.
Today, we serve individuals at every stage of their journey, offering group sessions, 1-on-1 counseling, and outdoor activities that use nature as a co-therapist. Our approach is holistic because people are whole — and healing has to honor that.
Est. 2012
Orange County, CA
Our values
What guides everything we do
Whole-person care
We treat the mind, body, and spirit together — because addiction touches all three, and healing has to as well.
Non-judgment
Every person who walks through our door deserves to feel safe. We hold space without shame, without conditions.
Community
Recovery is not a solo journey. We build genuine bonds between participants, counselors, and the broader coastal community.
Nature as medicine
The Orange County coastline isn't just a backdrop — it's an active part of our therapeutic approach.
Evidence-based practice
Our clinical methods are grounded in research: motivational interviewing, CBT, trauma-informed care, and more.
Dignity always
We believe every person in recovery deserves to be treated with respect, compassion, and genuine care.
Clinical
Evidence-based counseling and structured therapeutic frameworks
Physical
Movement, outdoor activity, and body-based wellness practices
Community
Peer support, group connection, and belonging
Nature
Coastal environment as an active therapeutic element
Our approach
Holistic, because people are whole.
Most recovery programs focus on one dimension of a person's struggle. We focus on all of them. Our holistic model integrates clinical counseling with physical wellness, community belonging, and time in nature — because lasting recovery requires all of these working together.
We draw on a range of evidence-based frameworks — including motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and trauma-informed care — and adapt them to each individual. No two paths through recovery look the same, and our program reflects that.
The people behind the program
Placeholder team profiles — to be updated with real staff bios.
Sarah Chen, LCSW
Clinical Director
Sarah founded Fresh Start after 15 years in addiction counseling, driven by a belief that recovery programs should feel as human as the people they serve. She holds a master's in social work and specializes in trauma-informed care.
Marcus Reyes, CADC
Lead Group Facilitator
Marcus brings both clinical training and lived experience to his work. His group sessions are known for their warmth, honesty, and the kind of safety that lets people say the things they've never said out loud.
Priya Nair, RYT
Wellness & Outdoor Programs Lead
Priya designs and leads our outdoor and movement-based programming. A registered yoga teacher with a background in mindfulness-based stress reduction, she brings the coast into the heart of our therapeutic work.
Come as you are.
You don't need to have it figured out before you reach out. A free, no-pressure consultation is the first step — and we'll take it together.