About HBHS Rehab
Dedicated to healing lives through compassionate, evidence-based care
Our Story
HBHS Rehab was established in 2012 when a group of seasoned addiction medicine professionals saw an unmet need for research-driven, patient-centered treatment in the coastal San Diego corridor. Beginning with just 20 beds in a renovated oceanside property, the founding team prioritized therapeutic intimacy and clinical depth over rapid expansion.
Over 14 years that founding vision has matured into a comprehensive 48-bed campus supported by 95 professionals and enriched by more than 8,200 recovery stories. We have developed specialized programming for first responders, LGBTQ+ individuals, and professionals in high-pressure careers — reflecting the rich diversity of the La Jolla and greater San Diego community.
Under Executive Director Dr. Catherine Ashford, HBHS Rehab has earned a reputation for integrating cutting-edge neuroscience with the natural therapeutic benefits of our coastal environment. Her conviction that the Pacific coastline itself can serve as a catalyst for introspection and renewal permeates every aspect of our campus and programming.
Our Mission
HBHS Rehab is dedicated to providing rigorous, compassionate addiction treatment that targets the underlying drivers of substance use disorder. We honor the individuality of every person who enters our doors, building treatment plans that reflect their history, their strengths, and their vision for a sober future.
Rooted in the La Jolla coastal community and connected to the broader San Diego County network of care, we recognize that recovery flourishes through meaningful relationships — with skilled professionals, fellow travelers on the same path, and within a setting that inspires clarity and calm.
Treatment Philosophy
At HBHS Rehab, we view addiction as a chronic, treatable medical condition — never a moral failing. Our clinical model is built on three foundational commitments: Evidence-Driven Care, Integrated Mind-Body Healing, and Individualized Recovery Blueprints.
Our treatment protocols — including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, EMDR, motivational enhancement, and medication-assisted treatment — are selected for their demonstrated efficacy and continuously refined through internal outcomes tracking. We harness the restorative power of our coastal setting alongside clinical therapies, and every patient undergoes a thorough biopsychosocial and neuropsychological assessment upon admission.
Our Team
Dr. Catherine Ashford, PsyD, ABPP
Executive Director
Dr. Ashford has devoted 19 years to the field of addiction psychology, with a particular focus on trauma-linked substance use disorders. She earned her doctorate from the California School of Professional Psychology and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at UCSD's Department of Psychiatry. Before assuming leadership of HBHS Rehab, she directed clinical operations at a Scripps-affiliated behavioral health program and authored peer-reviewed studies on surf therapy as an adjunct to addiction recovery. Her board certification from the American Board of Professional Psychology underscores her commitment to the highest standards of clinical practice.
Dr. Rajiv Patel, MD, DABAM
Medical Director
Dr. Patel is board-certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine and brings 15 years of specialized medical expertise to HBHS Rehab. He completed his internal medicine residency at Scripps Mercy Hospital and subsequently trained in addiction psychiatry at the VA San Diego Healthcare System. His clinical interests include pharmacogenomic-guided detoxification and the treatment of opioid use disorder in patients with chronic pain. Dr. Patel regularly contributes to continuing education seminars at UCSD Health and serves on the San Diego County Prescription Drug Abuse Medical Task Force.
Monique Laurent, LMFT, CADC
Clinical Director
Monique Laurent brings 13 years of direct clinical experience to her oversight of all therapeutic programming at HBHS Rehab. A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, she previously led group therapy services at a residential facility in Encinitas and developed a family systems curriculum adopted by multiple San Diego County treatment providers. Her warm yet unflinching approach to therapy creates a space where patients feel both supported and accountable — a combination that consistently fosters breakthrough moments in recovery.
Our Facility
Amenities
- Private Rooms
- Gourmet Meals
- Fitness Center
- Yoga Studio
- Meditation Garden
- Swimming Pool
- Recreation Room
- Art Therapy Room
- Family Visiting Area
Ready to Learn More?
Contact us today to learn about our programs and team.