Meet the Team

Dr. Matthew Paley is a licensed physician in the states of California and Texas. He completed his residency in general psychiatry at the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School. He received a doctorate of osteopathic medicine from Touro University of California and a bachelor’s degree in public health from James Madison University. His clinical scope of work is varied, however, he has particular interests in addiction, reproductive psychiatry, and treatment-resistant depression. Additionally, he has published clinical work and has experience teaching medical residents and medical students alike. When not at work Dr. Paley enjoys camping and hiking, cooking, and exercising.

Dr. Nelson brings over 35 years of experience into the addiction medical field. Dr. Nelson has the passion and knowledge in providing the best treatment for each of his patients. He attended the University of Nevada Medical School and completed his post-graduate training at St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York, NY. Dr. Nelson has been practicing medicine since 1980 and brings his years of expertise to our program to ensure greater success with our clients. Dr. Nelson is trained in addiction medicine, and has seen first-hand what addiction and alcoholism can do to the mind and body. He believes that a compassionate approach in a non-judgmental environment, coupled with the appropriate medication, will allow for the greatest chance of physical and mental healing that can lead to a successful detoxification process and lasting sobriety for each individual.

An East Bay native, Kate Hunter is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who brings a deep connection to her community and a passion for helping others to her role as Program Manager at Creekside Recovery. With years of experience in the mental health and substance use fields, she has worked across a range of care settings, including inpatient psychiatry, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient services, individual therapy, and long-term residential care. This diverse background has equipped her with a holistic and practical understanding of how to support meaningful and lasting recovery from substance use and co-occurring mental health challenges.

Kate earned her Master’s degree in Social Work with an emphasis in Adult Mental Health and Wellness from the University of Southern California, where she refined her expertise in evidence-based practices and person-centered care. Her journey into the mental health and substance use fields began with a Bachelor of Science in Allied Health Science from St. Mary’s College of California, where she gained a unique interdisciplinary foundation in biology, psychology, kinesiology, and chemistry. This education helped shape her holistic approach to care and a deep appreciation for the interconnectedness of physical and mental health.

At Creekside Recovery, Kate takes pride in fostering a safe, supportive environment where residents feel empowered to heal and grow. She leads a dedicated team committed to providing personalized care that meets the unique needs of each individual, particularly those navigating the challenges of substance use recovery.

Outside of work, Kate enjoys camping in Northern California’s beautiful mountains and beaches, hosting craft nights with close friends, and writing poetry that reflects her experiences and passions. She also loves finding ways to give back to the community that shaped her, strengthening the bonds that make the East Bay such a special place to call home.

Jack was born and raised in Marin County and embarked on his journey in sobriety in 2015. He is known for his calm and compassionate presence, and he is deeply passionate about helping others in recovery. Jack’s personal experience and dedication to supporting others on their path to healing make him a trusted advocate and mentor in the recovery community.

Sara Appelbaum, LCSW (she/her) is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in trauma treatment. Her understanding of the deep connections between psychology, biology, and behavior began during her undergraduate studies in neuroscience at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and served as the foundation for her clinical training at the University of California, Berkeley School of Social Welfare. For over a decade, Sara has provided therapy in community mental health agencies across the Bay Area focused on serving individuals with high and complex mental health needs. Despite working with seemingly separate and distinct groups – Veterans at the Palo Alto VA, undersupported new mothers in residential care in Oakland, elders in greater Alameda County – she recognized the common threads that traumatic wounding can have on the human experience. Humbling as well as inspirational, her experiences reinforced her belief in the importance of somatically inclusive trauma treatment as a frontline therapeutic intervention and standard of care, and led her to expand her existing expertise in PTSD and complex PTSD (cPTSD) with training in both EMDR and Brainspotting and broadening her work to include children and teens.

Sara identifies first as a peer in recovery and second as a seasoned clinician dedicated to facilitating meaningful change for her clients. She brings a down-to-earth therapeutic style rooted in kindness, collaboration, humor, and honesty, and aims to provide therapy that feels like having coffee with a dedicated friend. Proudly born and raised in the East Bay, she frequently finds comfort and renewal in the region’s rich food, culture, and natural beauty in her free time.

While growing up in the Midwest, Beth found yoga, the first practice that invited her deeply into her body. This early glimpse into somatic awareness became the foundation of both her personal recovery journey and her life’s calling to guide others toward body-based healing.

Drawing from her extensive training in Yoga Therapy (her first love), Mindfulness Meditation, Somatic Trauma Therapy, and Embodied Movement, Beth helps clients reconnect to internal safety, break free from restrictive patterns, and create lives of authentic purpose. She is thrilled to be sharing her multimodal somatic approach to recovery with the Creekside community via monthly somatic groups and 1:1 sessions.

Outside of local residential and outpatient treatment programs, Beth supports folks through her private practice and her work with Resilient Recovery, offering monthly somatic recovery circles to the wider community (Oakland, SF, and online). If you’re interested in learning more about Beth and her work, you can do so here.

Steph Peek is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and the founder & executive director of Rusty Halo Foundation, a therapeutic program that partners with residential treatment centers to provide equine-assisted psychotherapy, experiential learning, and trauma-informed care for at-risk and system-impacted youth.

After a 25+ year leadership career in the construction industry, Steph left the corporate world to follow a powerful calling rooted in personal experience and service. In 2014, she rode a horse for the first time—and the emotional grounding and peace she felt during that ride sparked a transformative shift. Recognizing the therapeutic potential of horses, she immersed herself in clinical training and never looked back.

Steph holds a Master’s in Social Work (MSW), a Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC), and is certified in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy through EAGALA as well as CEIP-MH. She integrates expressive arts, energy psychology, and somatic work into sessions, offering a highly relational, strengths-based approach that resonates deeply with youth who have experienced complex trauma.

Her work centers on building trust, emotional regulation, and self-worth through meaningful human-animal connection—helping young people heal in a way that is engaging, grounded, and profoundly impactful.