Who We Are
Rest & Reset
At Monterey Bay Recovery, we blend a retreat-style setting with effective, evidence-based treatments for the ultimate recovery experience.
Meet Our Team
Andrea A. Cruz, LMFT
Clinical Director
Andrea A. Cruz is an experienced Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the Clinical Director at Monterey Bay Recovery. Over the past decade, she has held leadership and clinical roles at respected treatment centers including Neurish Wellness, Akasha Treatment Center, and Phoenix Rising. Her background includes working with adolescents in residential care, providing wraparound services for foster youth through DMH programs, and counseling families through community-based outpatient programs.
Andrea holds a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from National University and began her career at Center for Discovery, eventually presenting her work at the American Psychological Association’s 2016 conference. She specializes in treating mood disorders, trauma, substance abuse, and co-occurring conditions, and draws from a wide range of therapeutic modalities including CBT, DBT, Narrative, Psychodynamic, and Humanistic-Existential approaches.
Known for her strong clinical leadership and compassionate care, Andrea is committed to helping clients reclaim their identity, rebuild their lives, and experience lasting transformation.
Joseph Michel, CATC III
Program Director
Joseph is a Certified Addiction Treatment Counselor III with a degree in Psychology from Sonoma State University. Since 2021, he has held supervisory roles in inpatient detox and residential treatment programs, where he has overseen clinical operations, developed recovery-focused policies, and led teams with a trauma-informed, client-centered approach.
His professional path is deeply personal—shaped by firsthand experiences with trauma and addiction in his family and community. This has fueled his commitment to treating substance use disorders as complex conditions rooted in biology, psychology, and environment, rather than moral failing.
Joseph is especially passionate about fostering strong therapeutic alliances across clinical and medical teams. He finds purpose in supporting clients and their families through the challenges of early recovery, always leading with empathy, structure, and hope.
Mark Carman, ASW
Associate Clinical Social Worker
Mark is an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW #326476) with a Master of Social Work and a Bachelor’s degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences from California State University, Monterey Bay. He also holds dual associate degrees in Sociology and Elementary Teacher Preparation from College of the Sequoias.
Before entering the mental health field, Mark worked in hospitality leadership roles across Los Angeles and Las Vegas. His transition into therapy was inspired by his own experience with substance abuse and recovery—he celebrates 10 years sober this August. From volunteering at Pine Recovery to founding the online recovery community “Sober Pay It Forward,” Mark has consistently channeled his journey into service.
Now serving as an interim therapist at Monterey Bay Recovery, Mark brings authenticity, compassion, and lived experience to his clinical work. He is passionate about supporting clients through the transformative process of healing, helping them rediscover their strength and purpose.
Our Mission & Vision
Our Mission:
To empower individuals to reset their lives through a holistic recovery process in a natural environment.
Our Vision:
To set the standard for excellence through retreat-style addiction recovery.
Why Choose Monterey Bay?
Choosing Monterey Bay Recovery for treatment offers a unique and transformative experience, far removed from the clinical atmosphere of traditional rehab centers. Specifically tailored for high-functioning individuals who want to devote more time to personal reflection and self-improvement, our center presents an opportunity to embark on a journey of self-discovery and healing in a setting that mirrors a private retreat more than a treatment facility. Monterey Bay respects our clients’ need for privacy, but also encourages a deep and personal exploration of self, laying the foundation for a sustainable recovery. Here, you can truly breathe, go inward, and start the work of healing.
Contact Us
Discover a transformative recovery experience, blending holistic and traditional modalities with a beautiful natural environment, and setting a foundation for lifelong healing.
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