Meet Our Team

As Executive Director of Healing Tree, my mission is to ensure that every person who walks through our doors receives more than just high-quality treatment, they receive the foundation for a full and sustainable life in recovery.

What drives me is simple: Recovery is possible, because I live it. That experience informs everything I do, from the culture I build with our staff to the individualized care we deliver to each client. But personal experience alone isn’t enough. That’s why I place equal value on strong clinical leadership, evidence-based practices, and clear systems that support real outcomes.

I believe that recovery is more than the absence of substances, it’s the return to self, purpose, and connection. At Healing Tree, we treat the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. I work closely with our clinical and medical teams to ensure our program is not only clinically sound, but emotionally safe and spiritually aware, because lasting recovery requires depth, not just structure.

I’m especially passionate about what comes after treatment. Detox and residential care are critical first steps, but long-term recovery is built through planning, connection, and follow-through. My role is to ensure that every client leaves here with a roadmap, a support system, and the confidence to build something lasting.

Whether you’re seeking help for yourself, a loved one, or someone in your care, you can trust that Healing Tree is a place where people are treated with dignity, where clinical integrity comes first, and where we never lose sight of the human spirit behind the diagnosis.

Dr Sanjai Thankachen completed his residency in psychiatry in 2008 from Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in New York, where fifty percent of his rotations were at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. After his residency he worked at Ventura County, Medical Centers in an adult out-patient setting and now lives in Orange County, California.

Dr. Thankachen’s mission at Healing Tree Rehab is to provide world-class treatment that sets a high standard with science-based practices to treat mental and behavioral health issues. In addition to substance and alcohol abuse treatment, Dr. Thankachen is highly qualified to provide an array of care for secondary disorders, including depression, bipolar illness, schizophrenia, anxiety, and dementia related problems.

Recovery has transformed my life, turning my greatest adversity into my greatest strength. It taught me how to lead with compassion, connect with purpose, and live in service to others. As Program Director at Healing Tree, I bring that same mindset to every part of the client and staff experience.

I didn’t choose this work by chance, I chose it because recovery gave me a second chance. My personal journey allows me to meet clients where they are, help them feel seen and supported, and remind them that lasting change is possible. I believe deeply in creating a safe, structured environment where people feel like part of a family, because connection is often the first step toward healing.

In my role, I focus on building a consistent, compassionate program rooted in structure, support, and individualized care. I work closely with our team to make sure every client’s strengths and goals guide their treatment experience, and that our staff feel empowered and connected in the work they do.

What makes Healing Tree different is our belief that recovery isn’t something you force, it’s something you nurture. We guide with empathy, structure, and genuine human connection, creating an environment where people feel safe enough to grow. I’m honored to be part of that process every day.