About MASE Rehab
Our Story
MASE Rehab was established in 2018 when a group of addiction medicine professionals saw an unmet need for quality substance use treatment in the High Desert region. They chose Apple Valley deliberately — a place where the sweeping desert terrain and clear skies could offer patients distance from urban triggers and space for genuine self-reflection. The facility began with just 12 beds and a resolve to prioritize depth of care over capacity.
Over 8 years of steady, purposeful growth, MASE Rehab has expanded to 32 beds and assembled a team of 65 specialists who have collectively supported more than 3,400 individuals through recovery. We have developed specialized programming for first responders, veterans, and individuals with chronic pain conditions — populations that reflect the unique demographics of San Bernardino County and the broader Inland Empire.
Under the guidance of Executive Director Dr. Gregory Whitfield, the facility has become a cornerstone of behavioral health in the High Desert. His commitment to integrating desert-based experiential therapies with rigorous clinical practice has distinguished MASE Rehab as a destination where the environment itself becomes a catalyst for transformation.
Our Mission
MASE Rehab is dedicated to providing thorough, compassionate addiction treatment that uncovers the forces driving substance use and equips each individual with durable tools for sober living. We approach every person with dignity, craft treatment around their distinct circumstances, and prepare them to thrive beyond our walls.
Rooted in the Apple Valley community and serving the greater High Desert, we are convinced that recovery flourishes when clinical excellence meets genuine human connection — between patient and provider, among peers in shared struggle, and within a desert setting that strips away distraction and invites honest introspection.
Treatment Philosophy
At MASE Rehab, we recognize addiction as a chronic medical condition shaped by biology, environment, and experience — never a moral shortcoming. Our treatment framework is built on three foundational commitments:
- Evidence-Driven Care: Each therapeutic modality we utilize — Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, motivational enhancement, and medication-assisted treatment — is anchored in peer-reviewed research and continuously evaluated through measurable patient outcomes.
- Desert-Integrated Healing: We harness the unique therapeutic qualities of the Mojave Desert landscape. Guided nature walks, outdoor mindfulness practice, and desert reflection sessions complement traditional clinical work, grounding recovery in the restorative power of the natural environment.
- Individualized Recovery Blueprints: Every patient arrives with a story unlike any other, and their treatment must reflect that. Our clinical team conducts thorough biopsychosocial assessments to build recovery plans that honor personal history, cultural background, co-occurring conditions, and long-term life goals.
Our Team
Dr. Gregory Whitfield, PhD, LPC
Executive Director
Dr. Whitfield has dedicated 14 years to advancing addiction recovery across Southern California's inland communities. After completing his doctorate in counseling psychology at Loma Linda University, he served as clinical program director at two San Bernardino County treatment facilities before founding the therapeutic model that defines MASE Rehab. His pioneering work on desert-based experiential therapy has been presented at national addiction conferences, and his leadership philosophy centers on creating an environment where both patients and staff feel empowered to grow.
Dr. Nadia Sorokin, DO, FASAM
Medical Director
Board-certified in addiction medicine and a Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, Dr. Sorokin directs all medical operations at MASE Rehab. She completed her residency at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center and holds specialized expertise in polysubstance withdrawal management, chronic pain and addiction overlap, and medically complex stabilization. Her detoxification protocols have been recognized by San Bernardino County health authorities, and she regularly contributes to continuing education programs for desert-region primary care physicians.
Darnell Jefferson, LCSW, ICADC
Clinical Director
Darnell Jefferson brings 10 years of hands-on clinical experience to his leadership of therapeutic programming at MASE Rehab. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, he developed the facility's relapse prevention curriculum and its community reintegration track for High Desert residents. Known for his calm intensity and ability to build trust quickly, Jefferson creates a therapeutic atmosphere where patients feel safe enough to confront the patterns that have kept them trapped.
Staff Credentials
- Board-Certified Physicians
- Licensed Clinical Social Workers
- Licensed Professional Counselors
- Certified Addiction Counselors
- Registered Nurses
Our team of 65 professionals collaborates to provide comprehensive, around-the-clock care at our treatment center.
Testimonials
"After two relapses at other facilities, I was skeptical that MASE would be any different. But this team genuinely cared. Dr. Whitfield checked in on me personally during my first week, and the aftercare plan they built was the most thorough I had ever seen. I have been clean for fourteen months and counting."
"I had been managing depression and drinking for most of my adult life without understanding how deeply the two were connected. The dual diagnosis program at MASE Rehab finally treated both at the same time. The psychiatric care and the counseling worked as one unit, and for the first time everything started to make sense."