Drug Rehab Staff

Ocean Hills Recovery hires only the best, brightest, most effective counselors and administrators. A company is only as good as its staff! Ours is the best in the business. We choose our staff based on their commitment to the recovery community and their abilities with people. Every person on our staff is devoted to our company's mission and the individual's who walk through our doors asking for help. We Care!

Nicole earned her Master's degree in marriage and family therapy and is earning a concurrent doctorate in marriage and family therapy at California School of Professional Psychology.

Nicole graduated cum laude from the University of California, Irvine in June of 2007 with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. While there, she received honors recognition by Psi Chi and Golden Key honor societies.

Nicole has been working with alcoholics and addicts in some California drug and alcohol rehab centers as an advisor and counselor since 2004. She is passionate about providing quality counseling and care to her clients. Her main focus is on integrating the 12 Step and disease models of addiction with existential therapeutic theory. She is married to Greg; they have an adorable son together and an energetic yellow Labrador Retriever.

Greg opened his home and heart to alcoholics and addicts in 2003. He is a Certified Addictions Treatment Counselor (CATC) and a member of CAADE (California Association for Alcohol and Drug Educators). He has been working with people with addictions since March of 2001. Greg believes in a holistic approach to recovery. His focus is on drug alcohol addiction treatment with a combination 12 Step work, therapy and counseling, and the rejuvenation of the body through healthful eating and exercise. He has designed his program to foster a family-like atmosphere and believes that people in recovery are just beginning their lives. He encourages the people he works with to learn to enjoy life in sobriety. Greg's friends and clients lovingly refer to him as "Shaggy." He is married to Nicole; they have an adorable son together and an energetic yellow Labrador Retriever.

Alejandro Alva, M.D., received his education at the California State University of Fullerton and the Autonomous University of Guadalajara Medical School. After he completed his education and training in Guadalajara, Mexico, he returned to California to finish his residency at the University of California Irvine. He presently is a board certified psychiatrist in both forensic medicine and psychopharmacology.

Prior to Dr. Alva's work with Ocean Hills Recovery, he was involved in multiple endeavors including inpatient and outpatient work as well as clinical research in both Los Angeles and Orange counties. Dr Alva's focus is on the latest treatments available for psychiatric disorders, as well as aspects of ethnicity and their correlation within pathological states. Dr. Alva has over 20 years experience in serving the medical community in various capacities; as a patient advocate, clinician, researcher and medical director. Dr. Alva's expertise in child, adolescence, adult and geriatric psychiatry and his treatments in psychiatric disorders make him one of the nation's most prominent psychiatrists.

Dr Alva is a member of multiple professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, the Orange County Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the California Psychiatric Association, the American Board of Forensic Medicine, the American College of Forensic Examiners, the American Board of Psychopharmacology, the California Hispanic American Medical Association, the New York Academy of Science, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American association of Hispanic professionals.

Lastly, Dr. Alva understands the critical need for more bicultural/bilingual mental health care professionals. Dr. Alva and associates understand the attitudes and barriers facing the different ethnic populations in need of mental health services and also have a mandate to implement educational awareness and programs to address the identified barriers. Dr. Alva is bilingual and bicultural, which are critical attributes in ensuring access to and providing quality mental health services to all of our community.

"My goal is to treat all my clients with respect, dignity, and as I would like to be treated. I want to see my clients succeed in life and recover from their addictions. I strive to set a positive example as a woman in recovery and to provide a safe, sober environment."

Holly earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice at California State University Fullerton and graduated magna cum laude with honors. She is a member of the Alpha Phi Sigma National Criminal Justice Honor Society as well as the Golden Key Honor Society.

Holly graduated from Saddleback College in 2009 with a Certificate in Alcohol & Drug Studies. Holly is licensed by the state of California to provide addiction counseling services. She holds a CATC license, Certified Addiction Treatment Counselor, and she is a member of CAADE, California Association for Alcohol and Drug Educators. Holly has also been trained to work with clients in domestic violence situations and has completed state mandated training to help both victims and perpetrators of violence.

Holly began working with alcoholics and addicts in 2007 as the resident advisor for an all female sober living home. Holly began working with Ocean Hills Recovery in 2008, and has been with Ocean Hills since the beginning of her counseling career.

Dr. Robert Buley, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, spent the first 8 years of his career allocating much time and effort into creating an affordable, state funded treatment-counseling center in Casa Marvilla, California. He spent his next 8 years as the Clinical Director of Shasta County Substance Abuse, a rehab in Shasta County, California. For the next 12 years, Dr. Buley moved on to private practice treatment, specializing in counseling for adults with alcohol and substance abuse addictions. Dr. Buley found that he could impact and touch more clients through working at a Drug and alcohol treatment center. For the last several years, he has been the Clinical Director at a prominent rehab in California, another affordable treatment center with a specialty in working with adults suffering from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and abuse, connected to substance abuse issues. Dr. Buley connects to a vital piece of each client’s Recovery because he addresses the fact that the disease of Alcoholism and Addiction is almost always intertwined with the recognized co-occurring disorders.

He considers his expertise working with the causes of addictions, including depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder. He teaches seminars on abuse issues, substance addiction, relapse and prevention, and molestation issues. He is affectionately referred to as “Dr Bob”, by his clients and friends.

Joey Hunter is earning his CATC and is a member of CAADE. HE has been working with addicted people since 2007. Coming from a family where both parents are recovering from addiction and being in recovery himself, he has a propensity toward treating the disease of addiction from the family perspective. He is passionate about helping those with addiction return to self-efficacy and works with our clients to that end. Joey's kindness, insight, and intelligence have proven to be the assets most prized by Ocean Hills Recovery. His genuine desire to help allows him to connect with clients in a way that few others have been able to. His father, brother, and sister are graduates of our program and their experience as a reunited family has inspired his commitment to OHR and its vision.

Marco comes from a big Hispanic family and is originally from the San Fernando Valley. He graduated from West Valley High School in Woodland Hills. He has one older sister and two beautiful nieces. He just got married to Rachel, the love of his life. They have a beautiful three-month-old daughter. He is currently studying to be a registered nurse at Stanbridge college in Irvine. He is a passionate about surfing, running, and being of service. He is a very active Alcoholics Anonymous men's group member. As a graduate of Ocean Hills Recovery, his personal experiences and empathy for clients' experiences allow him to be a source of guidance for those under his care.

Marvin holds a BA in Communications from BYU and a MS in Communications from Ithaca College. His experience has been utilized by U.S. Ski Team, Snowbird Ski Resort, RPM Ecosystems, Deseret Morning News, The Ithacan, and The Provo Daily Herald. Marvin is proud that his education can help so many people to recover from addiction. When he is not at work, or at home playing with his kids he can be found taking pictures and surfing the waves of South Orange County. Marvin’s great passion is his wife of 7 years and their two beautiful sons.

In addition to being a very talented clinician, Danny is also an alumnus of Ocean Hills Recovery. His powerful personal experience has led him to pursue a counseling certification in Drug and Alcohol Studies. While at Saddleback College, Danny was placed on the Dean’s List. His eventual goal is to earn a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. A native of Hermosa Beach, California, Danny migrated to Dana Point to pursue his dream. He is dedicated to his family: his father, a Professor and City Councilman in Hermosa Beach; his mother, an elementary school teacher; and his sister, a Licensed Psychologist. Danny loves his job. He lives to watch shattered lives restored, families reunited, and hope renewed. The aim of his counseling techniques is to help clients begin to see the beauty in life and ultimately, see how their own experiences can benefit others.

“Sobriety is where life begins. You can start to live a life that is congruent with your instilled morals and values and live a life where you can reach all your dreams and aspirations. Through recovery you can have more fun than you can imagine. You will gain friends that will be there through the good times and bad.”—Danny Duclos.
Rachel Ramirez - Office Manager

Rachel, as an alumnus of Ocean Hills Recovery, has become familiar with all of the interior workings of the company, from insurance reviews to clinical matters. Her personal experiences at OHR have resulted in her dedication to the success of every client that comes into our facility. She is an efficient and capable administrator who is indispensible in the management of every aspect of OHR’s functioning. She is happily married and most proud of her young daughter. Her intelligence, ingenuity and efficiency as well as the new way of life she has developed have become an inspiration to others. She is happy to provide her daughter and younger siblings with a positive role model.

"My experience with addiction and recovery at a very young age and my infectious and unique personality have afforded me the opportunity to have an extreme emotional and motivational impact in adolescents and adults with addiction problems."