About ELIXA Rehab

For over 11 years, ELIXA Rehab has guided more than 6,800 individuals through addiction treatment at our Hawthorne, California campus. Anchored in clinical rigor and genuine compassion, we walk alongside you toward a life free from addiction.

Our Story

ELIXA Rehab opened its doors in 2015 when a small collective of addiction medicine practitioners recognized the urgent need for high-quality, accessible treatment in the South Bay corridor. Starting as a 16-bed facility, our founders committed to a patient-first philosophy that prioritized individual attention over volume.

Over the past 11 years, that commitment has fueled steady, intentional growth. Today, our campus accommodates 42 residents, and our team of 87 professionals has supported more than 6,800 people on their recovery journeys. We have added specialized tracks for young adults, veterans, and Spanish-speaking patients — each reflecting the diversity of our Hawthorne community.

Under the leadership of Executive Director Dr. Vanessa Cortez, ELIXA Rehab continues to evolve. Her emphasis on trauma-informed, culturally responsive care has earned the facility recognition from regional health authorities and, more importantly, the lasting trust of the families we serve.

Our Mission

ELIXA Rehab exists to deliver compassionate, evidence-driven addiction treatment that uncovers and addresses the root causes of substance use disorder. We meet every individual with respect, design therapies around their unique history, and arm them with practical skills for sustained sobriety.

Deeply connected to the Hawthorne community and the broader South Bay, we believe recovery thrives in relationships — with expert clinicians, with peers who share the journey, and within a facility built to inspire growth and hope at every turn.

Treatment Philosophy

At ELIXA Rehab, we understand addiction as a multifaceted medical condition — not a character flaw. Our clinical approach rests on three guiding principles:

Research-Grounded Practice: Every modality we employ — Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, motivational interviewing, and medication-assisted treatment — is backed by rigorous clinical evidence and subject to ongoing outcomes review.
Whole-Person Recovery: We integrate nutrition counseling, physical fitness, mindfulness practices, and expressive arts alongside traditional therapy. By engaging the whole person — mind, body, and spirit — we foster resilience that endures beyond treatment.
Tailored Treatment Plans: No two patients share the same story, and no two care plans should be identical. Our clinical team performs in-depth biopsychosocial evaluations to construct recovery roadmaps honoring each individual’s strengths, challenges, and aspirations.

Our Team

Dr. Vanessa Cortez, PsyD, LMHC

Executive Director

Dr. Cortez has spent 16 years advancing behavioral health programs across Southern California. After earning her doctorate in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University, she held leadership roles at two Los Angeles-area treatment centers before founding the clinical framework that defines ELIXA Rehab today. Her published research on culturally responsive addiction care has shaped training curricula across the region, and her hands-on leadership style keeps the patient experience at the center of every operational decision.

Dr. Amir Nazari, MD, FASAM

Medical Director

Board-certified in addiction medicine and a Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, Dr. Nazari oversees every facet of medical care at ELIXA Rehab. He completed his residency at Cedars-Sinai and brings particular expertise in opioid use disorder, medically complex detoxification, and co-occurring cardiovascular conditions. His protocols for medication-assisted treatment have been adopted by peer facilities throughout Los Angeles County, and he is a frequent guest lecturer at UCLA's Addiction Medicine Fellowship.

Keisha Blackwell, LCSW, CADC II

Clinical Director

Keisha Blackwell brings 12 years of frontline clinical experience to her role leading therapeutic programming at ELIXA Rehab. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, she designed the facility's trauma-focused group curriculum and its family reintegration pathway. Colleagues and patients alike describe her as both fiercely compassionate and refreshingly direct — qualities that create a therapeutic environment where honest self-examination becomes possible.

What Our Alumni Say

"I walked into ELIXA Rehab in April 2025 convinced nothing would work. The residential team proved me wrong within the first week. Dr. Nazari's detox protocol made the withdrawal manageable, and the daily group sessions gave me a vocabulary for feelings I had been numbing for years. Ten months later, I am still sober and finally present for my kids."
— Jasmine T., Residential Program, April 2025

"The outpatient program at ELIXA let me hold onto my job while getting serious help. I drove from Inglewood three evenings a week, and every session was worth the commute. Keisha Blackwell pushed me to confront patterns I had been dodging for a decade. I celebrated 18 months sober this past January."
— Roberto L., Outpatient Program, July 2024

"After struggling with anxiety and alcohol for most of my twenties, the dual diagnosis track at ELIXA finally connected the dots. Learning that my drinking was tied to untreated PTSD changed everything. The psychiatric care and the therapy worked together in a way I had never experienced before."
— Denise K., Dual Diagnosis Program, September 2025

Begin Your Journey to Recovery

Our compassionate team is ready to help you take the first step.

Call (209) 439-9049 Admissions Info