About Us | VBS Healing Services | Addiction Treatment Center in West Covina

Our Story & Mission

Rooted in compassion, driven by evidence, and committed to transformation since our founding in West Covina.

How VBS Healing Services Began

VBS Healing Services was founded in 2009 by a group of behavioral health professionals who recognized a critical gap in addiction treatment across the San Gabriel Valley. At the time, residents of West Covina and surrounding communities often had to travel hours to access quality substance abuse care. Our founders, several of whom had witnessed addiction's devastation in their own families, set out to change that by establishing a treatment center rooted in both clinical excellence and genuine human compassion.

What began as a modest outpatient clinic on Glendora Avenue quickly grew as word spread about our personalized approach to recovery. Families throughout Los Angeles County began seeking us out, drawn by our commitment to treating each individual as a whole person rather than just a diagnosis. By 2014, we expanded into a full residential treatment facility, adding private rooms, a medical detox wing, and comprehensive programming for co-occurring mental health disorders.

Today, VBS Healing Services stands as one of West Covina's most respected addiction treatment centers, having helped thousands of individuals reclaim their lives from the grip of substance use disorders. While our campus and capabilities have grown enormously, our core philosophy remains unchanged: every person who walks through our doors deserves dignity, expert care, and a genuine path toward lasting recovery.

VBS Healing Services treatment center building in West Covina, California

Our Mission

To empower individuals and families affected by addiction through comprehensive, evidence-based treatment programs that address the mind, body, and spirit. At VBS Healing Services, we are committed to providing accessible, culturally sensitive care in a safe and nurturing environment, guiding every patient toward sustainable recovery and a renewed sense of purpose.

Our Core Values

Compassion First

Every interaction is grounded in empathy, respect, and a genuine desire to help each patient feel seen, heard, and valued.

Clinical Excellence

Our programs are built on peer-reviewed methodologies, and our clinical team maintains the highest standards of professional practice.

Individualized Care

No two recovery journeys are alike. We develop personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient's unique history, needs, and goals.

Holistic Healing

We treat the whole person, integrating physical wellness, mental health support, and spiritual growth into every phase of recovery.

Community Connection

Recovery thrives in community. We foster meaningful connections among patients, families, and West Covina neighbors alike.

Continuous Improvement

We invest in ongoing staff education, outcome tracking, and program evaluation to ensure our patients receive the best possible care.

VBS Healing Services by the Numbers

15+ Years Serving the Community

4,200+ Patients Helped

35+ Licensed Clinical Professionals

92% Program Completion Rate

Our Treatment Approach

We combine evidence-based clinical methods with holistic therapies to create a comprehensive, individualized path to recovery.

Therapist leading a group counseling session at VBS Healing Services

Treatment Philosophy

At VBS Healing Services, we believe that addiction is not a moral failing but a complex, chronic condition that requires comprehensive, multi-faceted treatment. Our approach is grounded in three foundational principles: clinical rigor, individualized planning, and holistic care.

Every patient who enters our West Covina facility receives a thorough biopsychosocial assessment conducted by licensed clinicians. This assessment informs a personalized treatment plan that addresses not only the substance use disorder itself but also underlying trauma, co-occurring mental health conditions, family dynamics, and social determinants of health.

We draw from the most current research in addiction medicine and behavioral health, integrating proven therapeutic modalities with complementary wellness practices. This dual approach ensures that patients develop both the clinical coping skills and the inner resilience needed to sustain long-term recovery.

Our Evidence-Based Modalities

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Identifies and restructures negative thought patterns that fuel addictive behaviors, replacing them with healthier coping strategies and decision-making frameworks.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Builds emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness skills, particularly beneficial for patients with co-occurring mood disorders.

Group Therapy

Facilitated peer support sessions that reduce isolation, build accountability, and allow patients to learn from shared experiences in a safe, structured environment.

Individual Counseling

One-on-one sessions with a licensed therapist to explore personal triggers, process trauma, set recovery goals, and develop a tailored relapse prevention plan.

Family Therapy

Engages family members in the recovery process, healing relational wounds, improving communication patterns, and building a supportive home environment.

12-Step Facilitation

Structured introduction to the principles and fellowship of 12-step programs, helping patients build a lasting recovery support network beyond our facility.

Holistic Therapies

Yoga, meditation, art therapy, fitness training, and mindfulness practices that nurture the body and spirit, complementing clinical treatment for whole-person healing.

Continuum of Care

Our comprehensive treatment continuum guides patients through every stage of recovery, from initial assessment to long-term aftercare.

1

Assessment & Intake

Comprehensive biopsychosocial evaluation, medical screening, and personalized treatment planning with our clinical intake team.

2

Medical Detoxification

Medically supervised detox with 24/7 nursing support, medication-assisted treatment when appropriate, and comfort-focused care to manage withdrawal safely.

3

Residential Treatment

Immersive inpatient programming with daily individual therapy, group sessions, holistic activities, and structured routines in our West Covina facility.

4

Partial Hospitalization (PHP)

Intensive day programming that maintains clinical rigor while allowing patients to begin reintegrating into daily life during evening hours.

5

Intensive Outpatient (IOP)

Flexible scheduling of therapy sessions and groups that supports patients as they return to work, school, or family responsibilities.

6

Aftercare & Alumni Support

Ongoing recovery coaching, alumni events, support groups, and relapse prevention resources that extend well beyond formal treatment completion.

Our Leadership Team

Our center is guided by experienced clinicians and administrators who bring decades of expertise in addiction medicine and behavioral health.

Dr. Patricia Nguyen, PsyD

Executive Director

Dr. Nguyen has served as Executive Director of VBS Healing Services since 2015, bringing over 20 years of experience in behavioral health administration and clinical psychology. She earned her Doctor of Psychology degree from Azusa Pacific University and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at UCLA's Semel Institute. Under her leadership, the center has doubled its patient capacity, launched its dual diagnosis program, and achieved a program completion rate exceeding 90%. Dr. Nguyen is passionate about removing barriers to treatment access for underserved communities in the San Gabriel Valley.

Dr. Robert Castillo, MD, FASAM

Medical Director

Board-certified in both addiction medicine and internal medicine, Dr. Castillo oversees all medical protocols at VBS Healing Services, including our medically supervised detoxification program and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) services. A graduate of Keck School of Medicine at USC, he spent a decade at Cedars-Sinai before joining our team in 2017. Dr. Castillo is a Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and a recognized expert in opioid treatment strategies. He leads our medical team of physicians, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses.

Danielle Harper, LMFT, CADC-II

Clinical Director

Danielle Harper directs all therapeutic programming at VBS Healing Services, supervising a team of licensed therapists, certified addiction counselors, and case managers. With a master's degree in marriage and family therapy from Fuller Theological Seminary and over 15 years of clinical experience, she specializes in trauma-informed care and dual diagnosis treatment. Danielle developed our integrated family therapy track and pioneered the center's holistic wellness programming, which includes yoga, art therapy, and mindfulness-based relapse prevention.

Our Clinical Staff

Our multidisciplinary team includes professionals with a wide range of credentials and specializations, ensuring patients receive expert care at every stage of recovery.

8 Licensed Therapists (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC)

3 Board-Certified Physicians

12 Certified Addiction Counselors

6 Registered Nurses (24/7)

Amenities & Facilities

Our West Covina campus is designed to provide a comfortable, restorative environment that supports healing at every level.

VBS Healing Services private treatment rooms and residential building

Private Residential Suites

Meditation Garden

Fitness center and yoga studio at VBS Healing Services

Fitness Center & Yoga Studio

Recreation & Lounge Area

Comfortable Accommodations

We believe that the environment in which you heal matters deeply. Our residential facility features spacious private rooms furnished with comfortable bedding, natural lighting, and calming decor inspired by the surrounding San Gabriel Valley landscape. Each room is designed to feel like a personal retreat, giving patients the privacy and peace they need to focus entirely on their recovery.

Common areas include a warm, inviting lounge, a fully equipped recreation room with games and reading materials, and a dedicated family visiting area where loved ones can reconnect in a supportive setting. Every space in our facility has been thoughtfully designed to foster a sense of safety, belonging, and hope.

Private rooms with en-suite bathrooms
Climate-controlled throughout
On-site laundry services
Dedicated family visiting area
Accessible accommodations available

Private patient room at VBS Healing Services treatment center

Gourmet dining and wellness facilities at VBS Healing Services

Dining & Wellness

Nutrition plays a vital role in recovery. Our on-site culinary team prepares three gourmet meals daily, plus healthy snacks, using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Menus are crafted in consultation with our medical team to support physical healing, stabilize mood, and restore nutritional deficiencies common in individuals recovering from substance use disorders. We accommodate all dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and culturally specific preferences.

Our wellness amenities extend well beyond the treatment room. Patients have access to a fully equipped fitness center, a dedicated yoga studio with daily classes, a tranquil meditation garden, and a heated swimming pool. An art therapy room provides creative outlets for self-expression, while our recreation room offers a space for socialization and healthy leisure activities. These amenities are not luxuries; they are integral components of our holistic approach to recovery.

Chef-prepared gourmet meals, three times daily
Heated swimming pool
Daily yoga and meditation classes
Art therapy room with guided sessions
Outdoor walking paths and garden spaces

What Our Patients Say

Hear directly from individuals whose lives were transformed through treatment at VBS Healing Services in West Covina.

When I arrived at VBS Healing Services, I had been struggling with alcohol addiction for over twelve years. I had tried other programs, but nothing clicked until I came here. The CBT sessions with my individual counselor helped me finally understand the thought patterns that kept pulling me back to drinking. The staff treated me like a person, not a case number. Being in West Covina meant my family could visit regularly, which made a huge difference. I completed the residential program in 2023 and have been sober for over two years now. VBS gave me my life back.

Michael T., Age 41

Residential Alcohol Treatment Program

I came to VBS Healing Services for opioid addiction and quickly learned that I also had untreated PTSD and depression. The dual diagnosis program here is incredible. Dr. Castillo and the medical team managed my medication-assisted treatment with such care, and the trauma-informed therapy sessions with Danielle's clinical team helped me process things I had been running from for years. The yoga studio and meditation garden became my sanctuary. I never expected a treatment center to feel like a place of peace, but VBS truly does.

Sarah L., Age 29

Dual Diagnosis & Opioid Treatment Program

As a veteran, I was skeptical about another treatment program. But VBS Healing Services approached my addiction differently than anywhere else. The combination of group therapy with other men facing similar challenges, one-on-one counseling, and the 12-step facilitation program gave me a framework for recovery that actually stuck. The facility in West Covina is beautiful and well-maintained, the food is honestly better than most restaurants, and the private rooms gave me space to reflect. I am grateful to every single staff member there.

James R., Age 54

Residential Treatment & 12-Step Facilitation

My daughter completed the intensive outpatient program at VBS Healing Services after residential treatment, and the transition was seamless. The family therapy sessions were transformative for our entire household. We learned how to communicate without enabling, how to set boundaries with love, and how to support her recovery without losing ourselves in the process. The team at VBS kept us informed every step of the way and genuinely cared about our family's healing, not just our daughter's. If you are in the San Gabriel Valley area and need help, do not hesitate to call them.

Linda M., Age 58

Family Therapy & Intensive Outpatient Program

About VBS Healing Services