About ELY Rehab
Our Story
ELY Rehab was established in 2017 when a group of behavioral health professionals saw a critical gap in addiction treatment resources across Tulare County and the wider Central Valley. Beginning with just 12 beds in a renovated Visalia property, the founding team prioritized depth of care over scale, ensuring every patient received the individual attention they deserved.
Over 9 years of steady, purposeful development, ELY Rehab has grown to a 36-bed campus staffed by 72 professionals who have collectively supported more than 4,500 recoveries. We have introduced specialized programming for agricultural workers, bilingual patients, and individuals navigating trauma — reflecting the rich and diverse communities that surround us in the Central Valley.
Today, under Executive Director Dr. Linda Nakamura's guidance, ELY Rehab continues to deepen its clinical offerings while remaining firmly rooted in the community. Her vision of accessible, culturally attuned care has earned the facility the respect of Tulare County health officials and, most importantly, the gratitude of the families who have found hope within our walls.
Our Mission
ELY Rehab is dedicated to providing thorough, compassionate addiction treatment that goes beyond symptom management to address the underlying causes of substance use disorder. We honor every person's unique story, build treatment around their individual needs, and equip them with lasting tools for a sober life.
Rooted in the Visalia community and the sprawling Central Valley, we know that recovery flourishes through connection — with skilled clinicians who listen, with fellow travelers who understand, and within a setting that draws strength from the natural beauty of the Sequoia foothills.
Treatment Philosophy
At ELY Rehab, we recognize addiction as a treatable medical condition rooted in biology, environment, and experience — never a moral failure. Our treatment model is built on three foundational commitments:
Evidence-Based Clinical Care: Our therapists utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, motivational enhancement, and medication-assisted treatment — each selected based on peer-reviewed outcomes data and continually evaluated through our internal quality assurance process.
Integrated Mind-Body Wellness: Recovery extends beyond the therapy room. We incorporate nutritional guidance, outdoor physical activities inspired by our proximity to the Sierra Nevada, mindfulness training, and creative expression to nurture the whole person — strengthening the body and calming the mind alongside traditional counseling.
Individualized Recovery Blueprints: Every patient arrives with a distinct set of circumstances, and cookie-cutter solutions fall short. Our clinical team conducts thorough biopsychosocial assessments to develop customized care plans that leverage each individual's existing strengths while thoughtfully addressing their specific challenges and long-term goals.
Our Team
Dr. Linda Nakamura, PhD, LMFT
Executive Director
Dr. Nakamura brings 18 years of leadership in addiction treatment and family systems therapy to ELY Rehab. She earned her doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of the Pacific and completed advanced family therapy training at the Ackerman Institute. Before arriving in Visalia, she directed clinical operations at two Central California treatment programs, earning a reputation for blending rigorous outcomes tracking with a deeply humanistic treatment culture. Her ongoing research into family-centered recovery models has been presented at national LMFT conferences and continues to shape programming at ELY Rehab.
Dr. Samuel Osei, MD, MPH
Medical Director
Dr. Osei is a board-certified physician with dual expertise in internal medicine and public health. He completed his medical degree at Howard University and earned his Master of Public Health from UC Berkeley, followed by residency training at UCSF Fresno. His career has focused on addressing substance use disorders in underserved rural communities, and he has published extensively on harm reduction strategies for agricultural populations. At ELY Rehab, he oversees all medical protocols, detox procedures, and medication-assisted treatment pathways, bringing a population health perspective to individual patient care.
Rachel Mendoza, LCSW, CAP
Clinical Director
Rachel Mendoza holds 14 years of hands-on clinical experience in substance use treatment across the Central Valley. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Addiction Professional, she developed ELY Rehab's group therapy curriculum and its bilingual counseling track — both of which reflect the linguistic diversity of Tulare County. Known among staff and patients for her warm but no-nonsense therapeutic style, Rachel creates a treatment environment where accountability and genuine empathy coexist, enabling patients to confront difficult truths while feeling fully supported.
Testimonials
"My family practically dragged me to ELY Rehab, and I resisted every step of the way. But the staff never judged me. The residential program gave me structure I hadn't had in years, and the family therapy sessions repaired relationships I thought were beyond saving. I have been sober eight months now, and my daughter and I talk every day."
— Lisa P., Residential Program, August 2025
"Being a working mom, I couldn't step away from my responsibilities for months. The intensive outpatient program at ELY Rehab fit into my schedule and still gave me the depth of treatment I needed. Rachel Mendoza challenged me to look at patterns going back to my childhood. That work changed my entire perspective, and I have been clean for over 14 months."
— Maria G., Outpatient Program, January 2025