About Lilac Recovery Center in San Diego

Nora Jenkins has made the quality and committed care we provide at Lilac Recovery Center possible. She has played an active role in addiction recovery for over a decade. Her passion lies in helping both individuals and families heal. Substance use affects the individual in recovery, as well as their close family and friends. Nora is experienced in providing care to assist in rebuilding relationships to support healthy, long-term recovery. Her professional background includes clinical management, program administration, and counseling. This background provides her with the tools she needs to focus on recovery that involves mending family relationships and providing top-of-the-line care.

Through her years of experience, Nora understands that successful care should be unique to the individual. She is committed to continuing to provide the best possible care facilities throughout San Diego and the greater Southern California area.

Valerie Garza is a valued member of our staff who is committed to helping our clients physically heal and release the stresses associated with both addiction and recovery. Substance use disorders can affect a person mentally, emotionally, and physically. Valerie is a qualified Holistic Health Practitioner (HHP), as well as a Certified Massage Therapist (CMT). Valerie has completed more than 1,000 training hours at the International Professional School of Bodywork and the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine.

The techniques she has learned and developed as an HHP, as well as her skills as a CMT, allow her to provide a unique skill set to our care at the Lilac Recovery Center. Valerie has spent over a decade practicing in San Diego. She has developed a strong reputation for providing a high-quality physical therapeutic massage that opens the doorway for a meditative experience. This experience allows those receiving her treatment to feel physical relief. They also learn to focus inwardly to improve emotional and mental health and awareness. Her well-balanced approach to custom-tailored massage provides physical relief from stress and relaxation.

Dr. Steidle is a certified Equine-Assisted Psychotherapist and a licensed Clinical Psychologist who has extensive training in evidence-based practices such as Interpersonal Therapy for Depression, Trauma-Focused CBT, and Seeking Safety. Her career has long been dedicated to assisting individuals who need support in overcoming addiction and other mental health disorders.

For over two decades, Dr. Steidle has been involved in a variety of clinical settings to expand her experiences and help individuals of all ages and backgrounds work toward understanding their mental health and improving their current conditions. She has worked with individuals in settings that include intensive outpatient and residential inpatient programs in San Diego, individuals living with AIDS and HIV, providing quality psychotherapy in different community mental health centers, offering student counseling in a college setting, and providing mental health care at prisons. Dr. Steidle has become a client favorite here at the Lilac Recovery Center due to her gentle care and lasting compassion.

Jacob has committed over a decade of his career to the medical field. His expansive, well-rounded career began with home health. At an early age, Jacob knew that he wanted to serve his country. He enlisted in the U.S. Army, working as a combat medic and healthcare specialist. During his time in the Army, he became a nationally registered EMT. While stationed in Germany, he was responsible for training new medics. This helped to further develop his desire to help and educate others.

After his time serving in the U.S. Army, Jacob returned to San Diego to continue his work in home healthcare and addiction. Jacob found a sense of purpose in these fields as it let him not only treat physical ailments but also provide support for emotional struggles as well. He has long had a passion for serving and caring for others. Jacob is a favorite among our clients and our staff for this reliable sense of positivity. He can always put a smile on someone’s face.

Tracy has had an extensive career, creating a jack-of-all-trades in the care and services that she can provide. Her career began with providing care and assistance for special needs children. While working, she was always finding ways to expand her education as well. She earned an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy at the Argosy University-Honolulu in Hawaii. While working on her degree, she developed a passion for being a substance use counselor for treatment programs provided by a correctional women’s center in Hawaii.

Her career and personal life would eventually bring her to Sweden, which is where her husband is from. Her children were able to learn more about their culture while Tracy gained experience working case management for adolescent refugees, being a caregiver for children with special needs, and even working as a fitness instructor and retail business owner. Tracy has proven time and again that she is always ready for new life experiences and will excel in anything she puts her heart and mind into.

Tracy would eventually return to the U.S., finding her new place with our team at Lilac Recovery Center. She keeps pursuing and building her education while providing our clients with the support they need throughout their time with us.

Jennie is a valuable member of our staff who focuses on the complete healing process of reconnecting the body, mind, and spirit through yoga practices. Jennie holds over two decades of experience in helping children and families in settings such as group homes, juvenile halls, home-based services, and day treatment centers. She also worked for 10 years as a mild/moderate special education teacher at Lincoln High School. Jennie has always possessed a passion for giving back to her community in whatever ways possible.

Jennie discovered the power and benefits of yoga early in her career. She both practices and teaches yoga as a beneficial addition to any form of recovery. Yoga is a unique practice that utilizes a person’s bodily strength and encourages a reconnection with a person’s inner-self. This is done through a connection of body and mind brought together through flow movements and focused breathing techniques. Yoga can provide a healing power no matter the level of physical strength or experience.

Nicole has served as an RN in San Diego County for over 20 years. She is a native of San Diego and pursued her AS/RN degree from El Camino College in Torrance CA in 2001. She officially began her medical career at the Palomar Medical Center in San Diego where she started in the medical/surgical area and later moved to the critical care area. In 2007, she received the highly sought-after national certification as a critical care registered nurse. She would continue her academic pursuits, earning her BSN from California State University Dominguez Hills with distinguishable honors.

Nicole spent over a decade of her career in hospitals before moving into hospice care. This led her to further blend her medical background with her desire to provide compassionate, heart-felt care to those in need. She found a true passion in the ability to develop connections with people on a deeper level.

Brandy is a licensed marriage and family therapist who has proven to be a vital member of our staff. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in clinical psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology Los Angeles. Her educational background gave her experience in overseeing a variety of programs that specialize in dual diagnosis, those struggling with chronic homelessness, and those dealing with severe mental illness.

In addition to her role in a variety of mental health programs, she has also been an adjunct instructor for the human development department at Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena. She works with individuals of all ages, including children and families, to address a variety of emotional challenges. These challenges can include grief, loss, depression, anxiety, and trauma. Her care and compassion go a long way in providing carefully tailored care for individuals seeking substance use disorder recovery services at Lilac Recovery Center.