Alcohol Rehab in the Bay Area - Creekside Recovery, Orinda, CA
Alcohol use disorder is a serious but treatable condition for many people in the Bay Area. If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol, whether it has been a long-term issue or a recent crisis, professional residential treatment can offer the support, care, and separation from daily triggers needed for lasting recovery.
Creekside Recovery is a residential alcohol rehab center in Orinda, California, serving people from the Bay Area and Contra Costa County. Our JCAHO-accredited facility has just six private beds, allowing us to provide a personal approach to treatment in a peaceful, supportive setting.
Begin today: (925) 399-4744
Why Bay Area Residents Choose Residential Alcohol Rehab?
Many people in the Bay Area have already tried outpatient treatment, or find it is not the right fit for their needs. Residential alcohol rehab offers something different: a fully immersive, recovery-focused environment, away from the places and routines that have contributed to addiction.
Orinda, located in the hills of Contra Costa County just east of Oakland, provides a natural separation from the busy urban areas of San Francisco, Oakland, Walnut Creek, and the East Bay. This distance matters. Research shows that residential treatment, which removes people from daily triggers and offers comprehensive care in a stable setting, can be very effective.
Clients from all over the Bay Area come to Creekside Recovery to start the deep, focused work needed for alcohol recovery. Here, the environment is designed to support healing every step of the way.
What Makes Creekside Different as a Bay Area Alcohol Rehab Center
Only six private beds. Creekside is intentionally small. With a maximum of six residents at any time, our clinical team — including psychiatrists, therapists, and counselors — provides individualized attention that is simply not possible in larger facilities. Every treatment plan at Creekside is built around the individual in front of us, not a standardized program applied to everyone.
JCAHO accredited. The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval is one of the highest standards of quality and safety in behavioral healthcare. Our accreditation reflects a commitment to clinical excellence that families and referring providers can trust when making treatment decisions for someone they love.
Licensed by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). License #070058AP, a California state license reflecting compliance with the state’s regulatory requirements for residential alcohol and drug treatment.
A genuinely healing environment. Our 11,000-square-foot residential facility in Orinda was designed to feel like a home, not like a hospital. Six private bedrooms, peaceful surroundings, access to the natural landscape of the East Bay hills, and an on-site chef who prepares nutritious meals all contribute to an environment where the mind, body, and spirit can begin to recover together.
Alcohol Rehab Services at Our Bay Area Facility
Medically Supervised Alcohol Detox
Alcohol withdrawal can be medically serious and, in some cases, life-threatening. This is why alcohol detox should always happen under clinical supervision. At Creekside, we provide medically supervised detox to make sure withdrawal is managed safely and comfortably, with our team monitoring each client and responding to any medical needs.
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy sessions with our licensed therapists are at the heart of alcohol rehab at Creekside. These sessions help clients work through the emotional, psychological, and behavioral patterns behind alcohol use, building the insight and skills needed for long-term recovery.
Group Therapy
Group therapy sessions, led by trained therapists, offer a space for shared experience, support, and healing. Because our facility is small, group sessions at Creekside are truly intimate. With no more than six participants, everyone has a chance to be heard and known.
Art Therapy
Creative expression can reach emotions that talk therapy sometimes misses. Art therapy at Creekside gives clients a way to process their experiences without words and helps them find new ways to understand themselves and their recovery.
Yoga and Meditation
Regular yoga and meditation sessions help with the physical tension, emotional ups and downs, and mental stress that often come with early recovery. These practices teach self-awareness and stress management skills that clients can use long after treatment.
Equine Therapy
Working with horses in therapy helps build emotional awareness, connection with others, and self-control. Equine therapy is a unique part of Creekside’s program and sets us apart from most other alcohol rehab centers in the Bay Area.
Outdoor Activities and Nature Immersion
Orinda’s location in the East Bay hills is perfect for outdoor therapy activities like hiking, nature walks, and spending mindful time in nature. Research shows these activities help with recovery. Moving your body, connecting with nature, and taking breaks from screens all support healing.
Nutrition and On-Site Chef
Alcohol use disorder can harm the body. Good nutrition during treatment helps the body recover and supports overall well-being. Our on-site chef prepares fresh, healthy meals for every resident, because we believe caring for the whole person includes physical health as well as mental and emotional health.
Our Treatment Team
Residential alcohol and drug rehab at Creekside is delivered by a multidisciplinary clinical team — physicians, licensed therapists, and specialized practitioners — working together to address every dimension of addiction and support lasting recovery.
Dr. Matthew Paley, DO Clinical Director
Dr. Paley completed his psychiatry residency at the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School and holds a Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from Touro University of California. His clinical focus includes addiction medicine alongside co-occurring psychiatric conditions — a combination directly relevant to the dual diagnosis needs of most residents seeking alcohol and drug rehab. He has published clinical research and holds a California medical license.
Dr. Ruth MacQuarrie, MD Medical Director
A Johns Hopkins–trained physician who completed her anesthesiology residency at UCSF, Dr. MacQuarrie’s broad clinical experience across emergency medicine and primary care — combined with her specific expertise in detoxification and substance use disorder care — makes her particularly well-suited to overseeing the medical dimensions of residential rehab. Her steady, patient-centered approach guides Creekside’s clinical safety standards across all programs.
Kate Hunter, LCSW Program Manager
Licensed Clinical Social Worker Kate Hunter earned her Master of Social Work in Adult Mental Health and Wellness from USC. Her clinical work spans inpatient psychiatry, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and long-term residential settings — giving her direct experience with every level of care that clients may need before, during, and after residential alcohol and drug rehab.
Sara Appelbaum, LCSW Therapist
Sara is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing individual and group therapy throughout residential treatment. Her work with residents addresses the psychological and emotional patterns underlying alcohol and drug use — building the insight and skills that underpin long-term sobriety.
Beth Foley & Steph Peek, LCSW Somatic Therapist & Equine Therapist
Beth Foley brings a somatic therapy approach to residential treatment, addressing how addiction affects the body as well as the mind. Steph Peek, LCSW, leads Creekside’s equine therapy program — a structured therapeutic practice that develops emotional awareness and self-regulation skills in ways that complement traditional clinical treatment.
Our Approach to Alcohol Rehab at Creekside
Alcohol use disorder impacts people physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Effective treatment looks at all these areas, not simply stopping drinking, but also the patterns, feelings, and life situations that have kept the addiction going.
At Creekside Recovery, we use a holistic, individualized approach to alcohol rehab that begins with a thorough assessment of each person’s history, needs, and goals. From that foundation, our clinical team builds a personalized treatment plan that draws on the full range of therapeutic approaches available at our facility.
Serving Contra Costa County and the Bay Area
Creekside Recovery is in Orinda, California, in Contra Costa County, and is easy to reach from anywhere in the Bay Area. We serve clients seeking alcohol rehab from many communities, including:
- Orinda, Lafayette, Moraga, and the Lamorinda corridor
- Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Concord, and Martinez
- Danville, San Ramon, Alamo, and the San Ramon Valley
- Brentwood, Antioch, Oakley, and East Contra Costa County
- Oakland, Berkeley, Piedmont, and the greater East Bay
- San Francisco and the Peninsula
- Marin County, the South Bay, and throughout Northern California
For many clients, the drive to Orinda, whether through the Caldecott Tunnel or along Highway 24, feels like a symbolic transition. It means leaving behind the environment tied to addiction and entering a place focused on recovery and healing.
Is Residential Alcohol Rehab at Creekside Right for You?
Creekside’s residential alcohol rehab program may be the right fit if:
- You or your loved one has tried to stop drinking independently and has not been able to maintain sobriety
- Alcohol use has significantly impacted relationships, employment, health, or overall functioning
- A medically supervised environment for alcohol detox is needed
- Previous outpatient treatment has not provided sufficient support
- A private, small-group setting feels like the right environment for healing
- You are ready for a fully immersive, residential approach to recovery
If you are not sure whether residential treatment is right for you, our admissions team can help you look at your situation and explore your options. There is no obligation, just an honest, confidential conversation about what you are dealing with and what could help.
Taking the First Step Toward Alcohol Rehab in the Bay Area
Starting treatment is often the hardest step. At Creekside Recovery, we make admissions as clear and supportive as we can. Our team will answer your questions, explain what to expect, help check your insurance, and guide you through every part of the process.
To speak with our admissions team, call (925) 399-4744 or visit our Contact page to reach out online. We are here to help.
Frequently Asked Questions Bay Area Alcohol Rehab
Is alcohol detox medically supervised at Creekside Recovery?
Yes. Alcohol withdrawal can be medically serious and should always be conducted under clinical supervision. Creekside provides medically supervised detoxification for alcohol, with our team monitoring each client throughout the process to ensure safety and manage any medical needs that arise.
How many people are in treatment at Creekside at one time?
Creekside operates with a maximum of six residents at any time. This small size is intentional, as it allows our clinical team to provide individualized attention that is simply not possible in larger treatment facilities, and creates a more intimate, home-like environment for recovery.
Is Creekside Recovery accredited?
Yes. Creekside Recovery has The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval, which is one of the highest standards for quality and safety in behavioral healthcare. We are also licensed by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), License #070058AP.
Does Creekside accept insurance for alcohol rehab?
Please contact our admissions team at (925) 399-4744 to discuss your insurance coverage and payment options. We are happy to help verify your benefits and explain your options before you make any decisions about your treatment.
How far is Creekside Recovery from San Francisco and Oakland?
Creekside Recovery is located in Orinda, California, approximately 25 minutes from San Francisco and 15–20 minutes from Oakland via Highway 24 and the Caldecott Tunnel. We serve clients from throughout Contra Costa County, the East Bay, San Francisco, and the broader Bay Area.
What is the length of stay for alcohol rehab at Creekside?
Length of stay in residential alcohol rehab varies depending on each individual’s clinical needs, history, and progress in treatment. Our team will work with you to develop a treatment timeline appropriate to your situation. Please contact us to discuss what a typical treatment course might look like for your circumstances.
If you or someone you know is experiencing an alcohol-related emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. For mental health or substance use crisis support, the SAMHSA National Helpline is available 24/7 at 1-800-662-4357 (free, confidential).