Meet our Staff

Katie has worked at Ranch Creek Recovery since it’s opening in 2011. She has a background in customer service and hospitality. Along with Shelly, Katie is one of the first points of contact for our clients assisting them in the first critical steps of exploring the recovery process. She is here to assist in all questions pertaining to our program, providing a smooth and stress free admission process. Besides handling administration duties, Katie also oversees our office and marketing team. In her spare time Katie enjoys staying active with her husband, baby girl and her two lovable Great Danes.

Jacory is a counselor who’s driven to help those in need of sobriety by providing clients with methods that help repair broken relationships, address core issues and plan for sobriety. Jacory uses a mix of CBT, REBT and MET to help motivate those struggling with addiction. Jacory holds an Associates degree in AOD counseling, a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and is currently working to obtain a Master’s Degree in psychology. Jacory is also certified as a counselor through California Association of Alcohol and Drug Counselors.

Dena is a therapist who is passionate about assisting individuals in breaking free from the chains of addiction and mental illness. Her therapy approach is integrative, utilizing the therapeutic principles to meet the unique needs of the individual client. Dena currently holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, a Master’s degree in Psychology, and a PsyD in Clinical Psychology. In the last 10 years of her career, Dena has worked extensively with children and adults with developmental disabilities, providing therapy and administering psychological assessments. She also has experience providing individual and group therapy to adults with various mental disorders, substance use disorders, and co-occurring disorders alike. With empathy and compassion, Dena commits herself to each client as they take brave steps towards their own peace and happiness.
Dena is supervised by Dr. Alejandra Diaz, Psy29041

Jay is very passionate about the work he does with others, helping them find their own path to recovery, wellness and living a purposeful life. In 1996 Jay got sober and one of his goals was to help others not to have to go through what he had went through to get sober. Jay has been in the field for over 15 years now and has come up through the ranks with the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Counselors.

Christina has a passion for helping people from all walks of life who struggle with addiction, as it has been a part of her story since childhood. Christina is focused on the client’s needs as soon as they enter our program, and is able to teach, motivate, encourage and guide them through their recovery path. Christina is a Certified Counselor through the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Counselors and continues to further her education by gaining continuing education units and staying up to date on new treatment modalities.

Michelle has first hand experience helping others that are struggling with recovery. Addiction has been a part of Michelle’s life since childhood. She grew up with alcoholism and drug addiction in her family and has also struggeled with addiction in her past. As she advances at this facility and in her career, Michelle is furthering her education in AODS to become a drug and alcohol counselor and will continue to persue her passion to help others struggeling with addiction.

Paula enjoys helping individuals with addiction and loves being someone who our clients can talk to about there experiences and goals while in treatment. Paula is interested and excited about furthering her education and taking classes through CCAPP. Working at Ranch Creek Recovery has helped her gain skills and knowledge in the recovery field and she is looking forward to furthering her career and passion of helping those seeking sobriety.

Bella recently graduated from San Diego State University with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. She has always been interested in pursuing a career that allows her to help others. She is very familiar with the struggles that come with substance abuse and addiction as alcoholism has a history in her family. Bella hopes to continue her education in order to become a counselor to further assist those battling addiction. In her free time she enjoys watching scary movies with her fiance and two little dogs. She also enjoys taking trips to Disneyland and collecting pins."

Eric Cruz started his journey in health and fitness at the age of 13. After growing up as an overweight youth, he found exercise and nutrition as an empowering path for changing his life. Through reading and watching anything he could get his hands on related to health, Eric became his own experiment and first client. As he started to see results, he found that this lifestyle not only made him better physically, but mentally as well. He gained self-confidence and a stronger drive for achievement and knew this was what he would spend the rest of his life practicing. Eager to get out in the field, Eric completed his Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Missouri State University early and moved to California. There, he attended California State University at Long Beach and received a Master’s degree in Nutrition and Exercise. While his conventional education is foundational, he believes that continuing education is where health professionals really evolve and make a difference. To solidify his knowledge and expertise as a fitness professional Eric received credentials as a Certified Exercise Physiologist (EP-C) and Level II Exercise is Medicine Practitioner (EIM2) through the American College of Sports Medicine, an MS Fitness and Wellness Specialist through American Fitness Professionals and Associates, a Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) through the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and Functional Movement Techniques (FMT). With a strong foundation in the science of movement, Eric then took his nutrition education and practice to the next level by becoming a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P). It is this area that really sets him apart as a health and wellness professional as he brings the full picture of fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle together.

For more than 15 years, Michelle has been working with individuals and teams in areas of life-wellness and personal development. Her background includes counseling, coaching, nonprofit management and program development. In 2009 she launched Divine Equine to use the powerful connection of horses and humans for bringing out the best in their potential.

Having used horses to help adults and children with physical and intellectual challenges, as well as working with military veterans suffering from PTSD and other war-related traumas, Michelle realized that the same approach would be equally as powerful for professionals seeking improvement in their careers and workplaces. Combining coaching, training and experiential facilitation Michelle helps our clients in a therapeutic environment and works on leadership development, communication skills and conflict management.

Susie Orenstein-Turner, L.Ac, MPA was licensed in acupuncture and Chinese Herbology by the California Acupuncture Board in November of 2003. She received her Master’s in Oriental Medicine from the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine (PCOM) in San Diego, and began her course work at the New York PCOM campus. Susie received a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs where she studied Health/Science Policy. She received her bachelor’s degree from the Cornell University School of Human Ecology where she studied Health and Human Services. Susie practices acupuncture, integrates Chinese and Western Herbology and offers nutritional counseling.

SYDNEY SALT is a workshop creator, meditation facilitator and relationship coach. For 35 years, she has offered uniquely-inspired programs for groups and individual clients to experience reconnection, clarity and peace of mind.
Along with being a published writer and CD producer of original songs for healing and Hospice patients, Sydney coordinated educational and media peace programs nationwide for the Gandhi-King organization, created self esteem programs for Girl Scout of America leaders, and facilitated Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream symposiums, transformational workshops encouraging personal responsibility for a sustainable, just and thriving world.

Jennifer received her Bachelors of Science degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis on Exercise Science from Cal State San Marcos. She has continued her education with her Personal Training Certification in 2013 and became a Weight Loss Specialist in 2014 both through the National Association of Sports Medicine. Lastly, she is a Registered Yoga Instructor through Yoga Alliance and has been teaching since 2011.