We believe in treating the client during the entire process of recovery.
‘No matter what’ is the foundation we seek to instill in the clients we treat.
As part of the human experience, life presents great joy and great obstacles. When we are living in despair and fear, some people turn to drugs, alcohol, or some other unhealthy behavior that leads us to a pattern where we feel like we’re circling the drain.
Whatever you are dealing with, you never have to use drugs or alcohol again. No. Matter. What.
No Matter What Recovery is your lifeline to wellness. In addition to providing education on healthy boundaries and communication in our everyday lives, we also treat the physical body with its ailments as holistically as we can.
We believe in reestablishing the way our clients handle life in the journey beyond treatment. Giving them a foundation that “we don’t drink or use, no matter what.”
We provide our clients with a plan for success, including aftercare and introducing them to a sponsor or recovery coach, as well as keeping them involved in the “No Matter What” community.
We can recover alone if we choose, but as addicts, we thrive in unity. We can’t do this alone.
We want this to be your last stop. You don’t have to ever drink or use again. We offer the hand of guidance and a way out; all you have to do is be willing.
If you are willing, we’ve got you the entire way. Every life is important. Every person matters. Every person is worthy of a life of love and happiness.
We give you the tools to help heal your body, mind, heart, and spirit.
Welcome to No Matter What Recovery!
Paulo Anthony Grayson is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, and now calls Los Angeles his home.
In addition to being the Chief Executive Officer of No Matter What Recovery, Paulo works as a sober companion and is part of a team that conducts interventions with a focus on adolescents. Paulo has years of experience managing operations, client care, and crisis intervention and management in the sober living, detox, residential, and treatment space. Furthering his career, Paulo is currently working on his Bachelors in Behavioral Health with an emphasis on trauma at Grand Canyon University.
Paulo understands the importance of consistency and patience in the early stages of behavioral health treatment, whether that is a focus on mental health challenges or substance dependency. Helping others is his passion, and he strives to make recovery for every client as impactful as possible while helping to instill healthy habits in an affirming, safe, and caring environment.
Paulo has eight years sober and is active in the Los Angeles recovery community: he serves as the entertainment chair on the Los Angeles Crystal Meth Anonymous Convention committee, as well as holds several service positions in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA).
Recognizing the need to be of service in other areas of his life, Paulo rides on a sober cycling team called the ‘Trudging Buddies.’ This group participates in the AIDS LifeCycle — a 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise money for the Los Angeles LGBT Center and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. No MatterWhat Recovery is also a proud sponsor of the Trudging Buddies and Aids Life Cycle. Additionally, Paulo is also involved in Best in Drag Show which is a fundraising initiaive for The Alliance for Housing and Healing which raises funds for Aids Project Los Angeles. This initiative allocates funding for the unhoused in Los Angeles who have an HIV or AIDS diagniosis.
Paulo and his husband, Anthony, have three fur babies — Nando, Decatur, and Jazz. Through sobriety, Paulo has had the gift of repairing his relationship with his family and loves to visit them in New Orleans as often as possible.
In his free time, Paulo enjoys anything athletic or fitness-related, traveling, spending time with his friends, dining out, cooking at home, and binge-watching his favorite television shows.
Paulo and Anthony, along with their team, have created a program that offers affirming and inclusive treatment for people that identify as part of the LGBTQ community, and The No Matter What Recovery culture which creates a safe space for queer individuals and allies to have a safe place to start the healing process.
Monica is the Chief Clinical Officer for No Matter What Recovery.
Her focus is on addictions, co-occurring disorders, trauma, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, sexual abuse, domestic violence, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, mood disorders, grief and loss, school and behavioral issues, personality disorders, self-harm, self-esteem, and interpersonal and relationship issues.
Monica has over 25 years of clinical experience in diverse settings and has experience with many different client populations in a wide variety of settings, including those with severe and persistent mental illness, people experiencing homelessness, and victims of trauma.
She has worked closely with the numerous local government health departments and agencies and has consulted on a number of shows and series as an expert. In addition, she is a seasoned presenter in national conferences.
Monica received an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University, a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Colorado, and is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
(License #LMFT36882).
Dr. Eric Chaghouri is our Medical Director at No Matter What Recovery.
Dr Chaghouri is a 2007 graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he earned his B. A. in Biology with Summa Cum Laude honors. While at UCLA, he helped the men’s varsity volleyball team earn a National Championship in 2006. He was named the UCLA Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2007.
He earned his medical degree from the Keck School of Medicine in 2011. He completed his internship training in 2008 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the remaining three years of residency in general adult psychiatry at the Los Angeles County and University of Southern California Medical Center. He served as the Chief Resident in psychiatric emergency services during his fourth year of residency. He also served as Resident Clinical Instructor and Volunteer Faculty in the Department of Psychiatry at the Keck School of Medicine.
After completing residency, Dr. Chaghouri accepted a fellowship position in forensic psychiatry at the prestigious USC Institute of Psychiatry and Law. His scholarly activities included publishing in Legal Digest and presenting research findings at the Keck School of Medicine annual conference.
Since completing his forensic psychiatry fellowship, he has established a successful and thriving practice in Southern California, focusing on treatment of co-occurring psychiatric and addictive disorders. He has developed a strong clinical team of practitioners who share similar goals and philosophies regarding psychiatric treatment, including providing cutting-edge interventional treatments for psychiatric conditions. He works in an array of capacities with attorneys, courts, and other parties in actual or potential litigation. He also has extensive experience consulting and providing opinions on psychiatric issues for major television networks. Dr. Chaghouri’s interests include addiction medicine, substance use disorders, forensic psychiatry, medical ethics, psychological autopsy, gender wellness, and evidence-based treatment of psychiatric conditions.
Eric is a Native Angeleno and identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community. He loves to travel to visit his family roots in Lebanon, and in his spare time enjoys playing beach volleyball, exercising/working out, and spending time with family.
Lauren is our Nurse Practitioner at No Matter What Recovery.
Lauren has a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from James Madison University and two Master’s in Nursing from The George Washington University. Lauren completed her Nurse Practitioner education with a focus in family practice and psychiatry.
In addition to her medical experience, Lauren is a public speaker on the effects of sexual assault and trauma on an individual’s mental health. She has spoken on many college and university campuses, participated in a panel on Capitol Hill, and was a key speaker at a state summit hosted by Michigan’s First Lady.
Lauren is extremely passionate about helping others transform their trauma into thriving—not just surviving. Outside of her work life, Lauren enjoys spending time with her husband, Ben, who is a neurologist; her son, Eli; and their Boston terrier, Mildred.
Gabby Estrada is the Sober Living Regional Manager for No Matter What Recovery Residences. Prior to joining the team full-time, Gabby has worked in management and assistant management roles in both substance abuse/mental health treatment and the travel and tourism industry.
As a nonbinary trans queer person, Gabby understands the difficulties and complexities of life that make the LGBTQ+ community so much more susceptible to substance abuse and mental health issues. After years of hiding her true self in her using, Gabby openly shares about her life experiences and her recovery. She strives to create a sober environment where all can feel safe to be their authentic selves without fear of being disrespected or shamed for who they are or what they did in their past.
Gabby is a Latinx Native Angeleno and identifies as non-binary trans. In her free time, she enjoys going out to eat, working on her fitness goals, reading books, binge-watching TV shows, and going to concerts. She is an active member in AA, CMA, HA, and NA meetings across the LA area and has found fulfillment in helping others who still struggle.
Operations Manager | (he/him/his)
Danilo is the Operations Manager at No Matter What Recovery. Danilo’s primary role is to oversee the day-to-day operations and client care at the treatment center.
Danilo brings several years of management and front office experience in the medical field, working for a prominent neurologist in Beverly Hills as well as a chiropractic office. Earlier in his career, he honed his organizational skills working as a personal assistant in the demanding and fast paced world of the music industry.
Danilo is sober and continues to stay involved in the recovery community here in Los Angeles. He identifies as a gay man inspired by gender bending figures in pop culture. He appreciates working in an environment where he can live life the way he was meant to – being true to his authentic self.
Danilo was born in Mexico and raised in Los Angeles. As an immigrant, he takes pride in his commitment to establishing a better life for himself and his family here in the United States despite the challenges.
Primary Therapist | (he/him/his)
John is a Primary Therapist at No Matter What Recovery and has been involved insubstance abuse treatment for the past 10 years. He overcame his own issues with substance abuse years ago and decided to commit to a career in helping others.
John received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Hunter College of the City University of New York. After receiving a certified alcohol and drug counselor certification from UCLA, John became a member of the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP). John completed a Masters of Clinical Psychology from Antioch University.
John has a deep understanding of the root cause of substance abuse and is trained in EMDR, trauma-focused CBT, and DBT.
In his free time, John enjoys spending time with his daughter, music, and aviation.
Primary Therapist | (she/her/hers)
Jo Bloomer is a Primary Therapist at No Matter What Recovery. She began seeing individuals and couples in 2013 at The Relational Center and The Southern California Counseling Center, both in Los Angeles.
Jo received a BFA in Acting from NYU, Tisch School of the Arts and trained at its Experimental Theater Wing. She finds that her background in acting organically informs her interest in attuning to people and their stories.
Jo received a Masters of Science, with a focus on Marriage and Family Therapy, from Cal State, Northridge. She is passionate about the therapeutic relationship and believes strongly in treating the client as a whole person.
Jo identifies as a surfer, though she has yet to properly stand up and stay up on a wave for more than a moment. She believes her wave is coming!
Primary Therapist | (he/him/his)
Ruben is a Primary Therapist at No Matter What Recovery. As an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and Associate Professional Clinical Counselor, he takes an integrative, collaborative, client-centered approach.
Ruben specializes in working with people navigating addiction and recovery, helping them explore the psychological, biological, social, family-centered, and early development factors involved. He is also passionate about helping LGBTQ+ people work through matters like coming out, gender dysphoria, internalized oppression, and other matters specific to the community.
Skilled at helping those struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, complex trauma, grief and loss, career development, aging, and relationship challenges, Ruben focuses on people’s strengths and finding solutions. With a Bachelor’s degree from UCLA and a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, he is trained in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP), drawing from psychodynamic, narrative, solution-focused, and family systems influences.
Ruben is a Los Angeles native and loves travel, running, yoga, and baking.
Case Manager | (he/him/his)
Jack is the case manager at No Matter What Recovery and has worked in the dual diagnosis treatment field for 2 years.
In that short time, Jack has gained experience working with varying special populations in multiple positions; from counseling previously incarcerated individuals to managing the cases of dual-diagnosed clients struggling with substance use and eating disorders, he has found his passion in serving the LGBTQ community.
As both a member of the LGBTQ community and with his experience in working closely with the demographic, Jack has insight into the unique barriers to treatment faced by the community and has learned how to employ inventiveness when it comes to navigating these barriers. He meets every client, face-to-face, on their first day of clinical programming to ensure a plan is devised to optimize success, whether that is addressing legal matters, prioritizing medical needs, planning aftercare, and beyond.
Jack is currently in the process of obtaining certification as an alcohol and drug counselor (CADC-I); he completed his education with Marste Training Services and is presently a Registered Alcohol and Drug Technician (RADT). Prior to entering the treatment field, he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California where he graduated in 2014. Jack still finds ways to apply his creativity in exploring solutions for all clients and their individual needs.
Jack was born in Santiago, Chile, but was raised in Ojai, California and still spends many of his weekends in his hometown. In his free time, you can find Jack tending to his many orchids, feeding his sourdough starter, or tackling a baking project alongside his husband.
Clinical Tech | (he/him/his)
Jorge is one of our clinical techs at No Matter What Recovery. In this role, Jorge handles day-to-day client care, testing, recording outcome measures, and ensuring clients are following the rules and guidelines of the center.
Previously, Jorge worked with his family business and helped maintain the operations of several organizations throughout the Glendale area, with a focus on packaging and inventory.
Jorge is openly gay and an active member of the 12 Step recovery community in Los Angeles. He holds several leadership positions at the district level as well as at his home group. As a sober individual, Jorge says he finds meaning and purpose in working with other fellows in their early recovery.
Jorge is a Native Angeleno and in his free time enjoys fun adventures with his chosen family, going out to eat, and giving lots of love to his two cats. Jorge is currently training for the AIDS Life Cycle, a 545-mile ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise funds for the Los Angeles LGBT Center.
If you’re willing, we’ve got you the entire way. Every life is important. Every person matters. Every person is worthy of a life of love and happiness.
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