About MNDA Recovery
A compassionate, evidence-based addiction treatment center in West Covina, California, dedicated to helping individuals and families reclaim their lives from substance use disorders.
Our Story & Mission
Founded on the belief that every person deserves a genuine chance at lasting recovery, MNDA Recovery has grown into one of West Covina's most trusted addiction treatment centers.
MNDA Recovery was established to fill a critical gap in the West Covina community: the need for a comprehensive, residential addiction treatment center that treats the whole person rather than just the symptoms of substance use disorder. Our founders recognized that families across the San Gabriel Valley and greater Los Angeles area were struggling to find quality, evidence-based care that was also deeply compassionate and individualized. Too many people were cycling through programs that relied on one-size-fits-all approaches, and relapse rates remained discouragingly high. MNDA Recovery was built from the ground up to change that pattern by integrating clinical excellence with genuine human connection.
From our earliest days, we understood that addiction does not exist in a vacuum. It is intertwined with mental health challenges, trauma, family dynamics, financial stress, and social isolation. That understanding shaped every aspect of our facility, from the clinical programming we designed to the physical environment we created at our West Covina campus on North Azusa Avenue. We invested in hiring licensed clinicians with advanced credentials, built comfortable living spaces that promote dignity and rest, and developed a continuum of care that follows each client from their first day in medical detox all the way through outpatient aftercare and alumni support. Our goal has always been to create a place where people feel safe enough to do the difficult, transformative work that recovery demands.
Today, MNDA Recovery stands as a beacon of hope for individuals and families throughout California. Our mission is clear: to provide accessible, compassionate, and clinically rigorous addiction treatment that empowers each person to build a fulfilling, substance-free life. We are guided by core values of integrity, respect, evidence-based practice, and community stewardship. Every member of our staff, from our medical director to our intake coordinators, shares a deep commitment to these principles. We measure our success not by the number of beds we fill, but by the quality of lives we help restore and the strength of the recovery community we continue to build right here in West Covina.
Compassion First
We treat every individual with empathy, dignity, and unconditional respect, creating a judgment-free environment where healing can truly begin.
Clinical Excellence
Our treatment protocols are grounded in peer-reviewed research and delivered by licensed professionals with specialized training in addiction medicine.
Whole-Person Healing
We address the physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of addiction because lasting recovery requires treating the entire person.
Community Connection
We foster strong bonds among clients, families, and alumni, building a supportive recovery community that extends well beyond our West Covina campus.
Our Treatment Approach
At MNDA Recovery, we combine proven therapeutic modalities with personalized care plans to address the root causes of addiction, not just its surface-level symptoms.
Our treatment philosophy at MNDA Recovery is rooted in the understanding that addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disorder that responds best to comprehensive, multi-modal intervention. We reject the outdated notion that willpower alone can overcome substance dependency. Instead, we employ a structured yet flexible framework that draws from the most effective, scientifically validated therapeutic approaches available today. Each client who enters our West Covina facility receives a thorough biopsychosocial assessment conducted by our clinical team, which forms the foundation of a highly individualized treatment plan tailored to their specific history, co-occurring conditions, personal strengths, and recovery goals.
Central to our approach is the integration of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), two evidence-based modalities that have demonstrated exceptional efficacy in treating substance use disorders. CBT helps clients identify and restructure the distorted thought patterns and maladaptive beliefs that fuel addictive behaviors, while DBT equips them with practical skills in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness. These individual therapy sessions are complemented by robust group therapy programming, where clients gain perspective, practice social skills, and experience the powerful realization that they are not alone in their struggles. Our group sessions are facilitated by licensed counselors and cover a wide range of topics including relapse prevention, anger management, grief processing, healthy relationship building, and life skills development.
Family therapy is another cornerstone of the MNDA Recovery model. Addiction profoundly impacts every member of a household, and sustainable recovery often depends on repairing and strengthening those family bonds. Our licensed family therapists work with clients and their loved ones to improve communication, establish healthy boundaries, process the emotional toll of addiction, and build a supportive home environment for long-term sobriety. We also integrate 12-Step facilitation for clients who resonate with that framework, connecting them with local meetings and sponsorship opportunities in the West Covina area. Equally important are our holistic and complementary therapies, including yoga, meditation, mindfulness training, art therapy, and fitness programming, which help clients reconnect with their bodies, manage stress, and discover healthy sources of joy and fulfillment. This multi-faceted approach ensures that every client leaves MNDA Recovery with a comprehensive toolkit for sustained recovery.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Identify and restructure negative thought patterns that drive substance use, building healthier cognitive frameworks for long-term sobriety.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Develop critical skills in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and mindfulness to manage cravings and navigate life's challenges without substances.
Group Therapy
Build connection and accountability through facilitated group sessions covering relapse prevention, communication skills, and peer support.
Individual Counseling
One-on-one sessions with licensed therapists to explore personal trauma, co-occurring disorders, and develop a customized recovery roadmap.
Family Therapy
Heal family relationships damaged by addiction through structured sessions focused on communication, boundaries, and collective recovery.
12-Step Facilitation
Guided introduction to 12-Step principles with connections to local meetings, sponsors, and fellowship groups throughout the West Covina area.
Holistic Therapies
Complement clinical treatment with yoga, meditation, art therapy, and fitness programming that nurture mind-body wellness and stress resilience.
Our Leadership Team
MNDA Recovery is led by experienced, credentialed professionals who bring decades of combined expertise in addiction medicine, clinical psychology, and behavioral health administration.
Dr. Michael Hartwell
Executive Director
PhD, Clinical Psychology | CADC-II
Dr. Hartwell brings over twenty years of leadership experience in addiction treatment administration. He earned his doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Southern California and holds an advanced certification as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Before founding MNDA Recovery, Dr. Hartwell served as the program director at two nationally recognized rehabilitation centers in California, where he developed innovative outcome-tracking systems that significantly improved long-term sobriety rates. His vision for MNDA Recovery centers on creating a treatment environment that pairs rigorous clinical standards with deep personal compassion. Dr. Hartwell is actively involved in daily operations at our West Covina facility, regularly meeting with clients and families to ensure every person receives the individualized attention they deserve. He is a member of the American Psychological Association and the California Association of Addiction Recovery Resources.
Dr. Sarah Chen, MD
Medical Director
MD, Board-Certified Addiction Medicine | ABAM
Dr. Chen is a board-certified physician specializing in addiction medicine with extensive experience in medically supervised detoxification, medication-assisted treatment, and the management of co-occurring psychiatric conditions. She completed her medical degree at UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and her residency in psychiatry at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in addiction psychiatry. At MNDA Recovery, Dr. Chen oversees all medical protocols, ensuring that each client's detox process is as safe and comfortable as possible. She personally conducts medical evaluations for incoming clients and collaborates closely with the clinical team to develop integrated treatment plans that address both the physiological and psychological dimensions of addiction. Dr. Chen is passionate about reducing the stigma surrounding medication-assisted treatment and educating families about the neurobiological underpinnings of substance use disorders. Her expertise ensures that our West Covina treatment center meets the highest standards of medical care.
Jessica Morales, LCSW, LCDC
Clinical Director
LCSW, LCDC | Master of Social Work
Jessica Morales serves as the Clinical Director of MNDA Recovery, bringing a wealth of experience in evidence-based therapeutic interventions for individuals struggling with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from California State University, Los Angeles, and is dually licensed as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor. Jessica has spent over fifteen years working in residential treatment settings, specializing in trauma-informed care, cognitive behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing. At our West Covina campus, she supervises the clinical staff, designs group programming curricula, and maintains quality assurance protocols that ensure treatment fidelity across all therapeutic modalities. Jessica is deeply committed to culturally responsive care, and she has developed specialized programming to serve the diverse communities of the San Gabriel Valley. Her warmth and clinical acumen make her a trusted mentor to both clients and staff at MNDA Recovery.
Our Clinical & Support Staff
Beyond our leadership team, MNDA Recovery employs a multidisciplinary staff of licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs), registered nurses (RNs), certified addiction counselors (CACs), psychiatric nurse practitioners (NPs), recreational therapists, nutritionists, and dedicated residential support technicians. Every clinician on our team maintains active licensure with the State of California and participates in ongoing continuing education to stay current with the latest advancements in addiction science and treatment methodology. Our support staff members are trained in crisis intervention, trauma-informed approaches, and motivational enhancement techniques. Together, this team provides round-the-clock care at our West Covina facility, ensuring that clients have access to professional support whenever they need it, day or night.
Our Facility & Amenities
Our West Covina campus is designed to support every aspect of recovery, blending clinical functionality with comfort, warmth, and spaces that inspire healing and personal growth.
At MNDA Recovery, we believe that the physical environment plays a vital role in the recovery process. When clients arrive at our facility on North Azusa Avenue in West Covina, they immediately notice that this is not a sterile, institutional setting. Our campus was thoughtfully designed to feel welcoming, secure, and restorative. The architecture blends modern functionality with warm, natural aesthetics, featuring open common areas filled with natural light, inviting outdoor spaces with mature landscaping, and private living quarters that provide each client with the comfort and privacy they need to focus on their healing. Every detail, from the color palette on the walls to the furnishings in the therapy rooms, was chosen with intentionality to create a calming atmosphere that reduces anxiety and promotes a sense of safety.
Our amenities go far beyond the basics. Clients at MNDA Recovery have access to private and semi-private rooms that are cleaned and maintained daily, a full-service kitchen that prepares nutritious, chef-prepared meals three times a day with dietary accommodations available for all needs, a fully equipped fitness center with modern cardio and weight-training equipment, a dedicated yoga and movement studio where certified instructors lead daily classes, and a tranquil meditation garden where clients can practice mindfulness surrounded by lush California greenery. We also offer a heated swimming pool for therapeutic recreation, a recreation room with games and leisure activities for social bonding, an art therapy studio stocked with professional-grade supplies, and a comfortable family visiting area where clients can reconnect with loved ones in a private, supportive setting. Each of these spaces serves a distinct purpose within our treatment model, supporting physical wellness, creative expression, social connection, and the quiet reflection that recovery requires.
Recovery Stories
Hear from real people whose lives were transformed through treatment at MNDA Recovery in West Covina. Their courage inspires everything we do.
When I walked into MNDA Recovery, I had lost everything: my job, my marriage, my self-respect. The medical detox program gave me the safe landing I needed, and the residential treatment team in West Covina helped me understand why I had been self-medicating for so long. Dr. Chen and her medical staff made the withdrawal process bearable, and the individual counseling sessions helped me confront childhood trauma I had been burying under alcohol for fifteen years. I celebrated two years of sobriety last month, and I have MNDA Recovery to thank for giving me the tools and the confidence to rebuild my life from the ground up.
Medical Detox & Residential Treatment
I came to MNDA Recovery in West Covina after three failed attempts at other facilities. What made the difference here was the dual diagnosis approach. For years, no one had properly addressed my anxiety disorder alongside my opioid addiction, and that is exactly why I kept relapsing. The clinical team at MNDA Recovery developed a treatment plan that tackled both issues simultaneously, using DBT skills training and medication management that finally got my brain chemistry on stable ground. The family therapy sessions also transformed my relationship with my parents. I am eighteen months clean today, working full-time, and genuinely excited about the future for the first time in a decade.
Dual Diagnosis & DBT Program
The outpatient program at MNDA Recovery allowed me to continue working while getting the intensive treatment I needed. I was skeptical at first that I could maintain sobriety without being in a residential setting, but the structure of the IOP in West Covina proved me wrong. Three evenings a week of group therapy, plus one individual session, gave me the accountability and coping strategies to stay on track. The group facilitators were exceptional and the other clients in my cohort became a genuine support network. I still attend the alumni meetings at MNDA Recovery because the community there is something I never want to lose.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
As a mother of two, I was terrified to admit I needed help with my prescription drug dependency. The team at MNDA Recovery in West Covina treated me without judgment from the very first phone conversation through my entire stay in the residential program. The holistic therapies, especially yoga and meditation in that beautiful garden, helped me reconnect with my body after years of numbing it with pills. The family therapy sessions brought my husband and children into the healing process, and today we are stronger as a family than we have ever been. MNDA Recovery did not just save my life; it saved my entire family.
Residential Treatment & Holistic Therapy
I entered MNDA Recovery at the lowest point of my life, facing legal consequences and complete social isolation from a decade-long methamphetamine addiction. The 12-Step facilitation program connected me with a sponsor and a fellowship that I still rely on every single day. What set the West Covina facility apart was how the counselors integrated the 12-Step philosophy with evidence-based CBT techniques, giving me both the spiritual framework and the practical cognitive tools to manage triggers and cravings. Jessica and the clinical team genuinely cared about my progress. Three years sober now, and I volunteer at MNDA Recovery because I want others to have the same chance I was given.
12-Step Facilitation & CBT Program
Begin Your Recovery Journey Today
Our admissions team at MNDA Recovery in West Covina is available to answer your questions, verify your insurance, and help you take the first step toward a life free from addiction.
(209) 255-5634Contact Our Team Admissions Process