Meet Our Staff
Our staff at Valley Recovery Center is dedicated to providing personalized treatment, and knows that everyone has a different story with different needs. Our team includes psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors, who work to guide patients through their entire recovery process. They also provide one-on-one therapy, develop a personal treatment program for each patient, and help patients set goals and achieve lasting recovery.
We Are Here For You
Your Treatment Dream Team
Christina Laborde, LCSW, CADC, Clinical Director
Christina Laborde, LCSW, CADC, serves as the Clinical Director at Valley Recovery Center, where she leads with compassion, expertise, and a deep commitment to helping men break free from addiction and rebuild their lives. With more than a decade of experience in behavioral health and substance use treatment, Christina brings both professional skill and personal passion to her role.
Her journey in the field began in 2013 when she earned her Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) credential. She went on to complete her Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from Capella University and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), practicing in California, Florida, and Nevada. Over the years, Christina has worked across diverse treatment settings—including inpatient behavioral health, PHP/IOP programs for active-duty military, and correctional facilities—gaining extensive experience in treating substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions.
As a military spouse, Christina’s career has taken her across the country, serving a wide range of populations such as veterans, service members, and incarcerated individuals. Her dedication to helping men in recovery is fueled not only by her clinical expertise but also by personal experiences with the impact of addiction on loved ones.
At Valley Recovery Center, Christina oversees clinical programming, staff development, and client care. She is passionate about delivering trauma-informed, evidence-based treatment in a supportive and structured environment—ensuring that every man who walks through the doors receives personalized care and the tools to achieve long-term recovery.
Dr. Siri Khalsa, Medical Director
Dr Sirisat Khalsa is a board certified Addictionologist with over a decade of experience as a specialist in detoxing and treating patients with alcohol and substance use disorders. As a graduate of USC medical school and Harbor UCLA residency, she spent 10 years a Family Practitioner before discovering her passion for caring for patients struggling with addictions. Her approach is to safely detox patients as comfortably as possible and to then focus on caring for the anxiety and depression and other mental health issues that typically accompany substance use disorders while simultaneously crafting plans to sustain long term sobriety. Dr Khalsa has extensive experience working with patients at all levels of recovery from detox, residential and outpatient.
David Manila, Program Director
Since 2020, I have made this field of work my home. The passion I have for helping people has always been the #1 motivating factor of my life. My experiences as a First Responder have ingrained a level of compassion and dedication to each individual I have an opportunity to serve. My goal as a Program Director is to help people find a new way to live, maximize their potential, and create a plan that has the ability to make the transition from supervised treatment to Self sufficiency as smooth as possible .
Tiffany Lambert, Counselor
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Ashley Lopez, Lead Technician
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William Vasquez, Technician
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Jason Harper, Technician
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Angie Hernandez, Technician
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Osmary Arana, Technician
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Nicole Rigby, Technician
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Joselyn Enriquez, Technician
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Juan Vasquez, Technician
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Melvin Rivera-Chavez, Chef
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Marlee Simon, MC-BC
Marlee Simon, MT-BC is a Board-Certified Music Therapist in Los Angeles, CA. She has been with us at Valley Recovery Center since we opened our Newhall residential care facility in 2015. Music therapy allows clients to explore their recovery process in fun, safe, noninvasive, and motivating ways through music. At Valley Recovery Center, clients participate in therapeutic, music interventions—such as receptive music listening, songwriting, lyric analysis and discussion, instrumental improvisation, and music and meditation—to express themselves, connect with peers, and develop coping techniques and transferable skills for recovery. Music therapy is an accessible modality of treatment for all ages and abilities; no prior music experience or skill is necessary to participate. “Music is a universal language that be used purposefully to motive, connect, heal, and inspire people. I am passionate about helping people to discover and actualize their fullest potential. It is my passion and purpose in life to provide opportunities for people to explore their sense of self and to enhance their quality of life with music.” Marlee received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy with a minor in Psychology from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, and received her Associate’s Degree in Psychology from College of the Canyons in Valencia, California. For more information about Music Therapy, visit melimusicllc.com (Meli Music LLC – Los Angeles-based music therapy services) and musictherapy.org (American Music Therapy Assocation).
Jennifer Poynter, Yoga Instructor
Jennifer Poynter is a yoga and meditation teacher who focuses on health and healing underserved communities and those impacted by trauma and abuse. Her classes are held in studios, drug rehabs, homeless shelters, and prisons. She has multiple certifications in yoga, meditation, yoga for trauma, and Tai Chi Qong. The power of yoga has helped her grow stronger emotionally, physically, spiritually, and artistically. Her care filled, balanced teaching style allows students to release tension and anxiety and open up to the knowledge, wisdom, and creativity that is already inside each of them.
Akira Funahasi, Breathwork Therapist
Dr. Akira Funahashi, OTD, OTR/L, is a breathwork facilitator on the Breathwork for Recovery team, an occupational therapist, turntablist, and healer. Breathwork is instrumental in Akira’s healing journey. Grateful for what breathwork provides her, Akira is inspired to share the power of breathwork with others who are open and ready to heal. As a transgender female, Akira has particular interests in helping others in the LGBTQ community, as well as individuals who struggle with childhood and sexual abuse trauma. Akira earned an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from the University of Cal Poly Pomona and a Master’s and Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California. She has over a decade of experience as a clinical and school-based occupational therapist, specializing in pediatrics. With over 20 years of professional and competitive DJ experience, Akira is deeply passionate about turntablism and devotes her life to the DJ arts. She is driven to fuse her love for DJing and her experience as an occupational therapist to develop new forms of expression and healing. Akira is currently completing David Elliot’s, Healer Trainings, certification program. Her core values are education, awareness, and empowerment.