Our Staff

Our staff is devoted to providing an innovative, creative, effective, and personalized treatment experience. The staff at Ocean Recovery is composed of licensed therapists, addiction counselors, as well as addiction medicine specialists.

Peg Tilford, MRC, LCPC, CSAT-S, CADC

With over 20 years of clinical experience in the field of chemical dependency and co-occurring disorders, Peg has worked with individuals, couples, and families in residential and private practice settings. Utilizing multiple treatment modalities ranging from guided imagery to cognitive behavioral therapy, Peg seeks to enhance clients’ internal resources and integration of body, mind, and spirit. Peg has additional training and sensitivity to the interaction of multiple addictions, including sexual addiction and compulsivity. She is a supervisor for therapists completing the training process developed by Patrick Carnes, PhD.

Karen Knab

Karen Knab has been working in the field of addiction counseling since 2005. She began working at Hazelden Center for Youth and Families in Minnesota for two years while completing her Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. She began working at Ocean Recovery in 2007 as a counselor in both the chemical dependency and eating disorder tracks. Currently she is the program director of the men's facility. She specializes in dual-diagnosis among young adult populations.

Walt Nielson

Walt Nielson utilized his tumultuous upbringing in the Whitehall projects in Philadelphia and his experience of nine years in the military into a BA of History at CSUF and an MS in psychology. He is currently in the process of getting his doctorate, while simultaneously pursuing a facet of his career working with gang affiliated youth. He has worked with autistic youth and runaway youth in the Trenton, NJ Projects. Walt came to California seven years ago, and has been working with the men’s alumni and women’s recovery units for the past five years.

Ted Bryans

Ted has been a counselor since 1989, his own experience in recovery motivating him to specialize in substance abuse and multiple family group counseling. He has working in primary treatment setting as well as outpatient treatment settings focusing on adolescent and young adult treatment. Ted works with the women at Ocean Recovery in both individual and group therapy, helping them to replace addictive behaviors with healthy coping mechanisms and developing plans for productive living and lifelong sobriety.

Jonathan Bellman, MD

Doctor Jonathan Bellman is a psychiatrist in Orange County. He completed his training at New York University Medical Center in 2001. Dr. Bellman is the medical director of the Westminster Therapeutic Residential Center (County of Orange Health Care Agency) for individuals with mental illness. He is a consultant and lecturer at Hoag Hospital and a consultant at assisted living facilities to evaluate individuals struggling with substance abuse, depression, and other cognitive disturbances. Dr. Bellman is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and the Orange County Psychiatric Society. He is also in private practice in Newport Beach.

We maintain 24/7 staff supervision with office hours from 8am -10pm.