Short-Term Residential at OPI

818-264-2579
818-264-2579

A Premier Residential Treatment Center in Los Angeles

Our residential treatment center in Los Angeles, located in the San Fernando Valley region of California, offers an inpatient mental health program perfect for teens and young adults struggling with behavioral health issues like anxiety and depression. Our  beautiful location in Southern California provides a peaceful, serene setting for your family member to reflect and grow.

For young people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions in the Los Angeles area struggling with anxiety, depression, anger issues, suicidal ideation, and other mental health issues, the earlier they’re diagnosed, the more effective our residential treatment center can be. Identifying behaviors and symptoms early and getting help, including specialized care, can prevent further and more severe problems from developing later.

Tour Our Los Angeles Treatment Center

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Mental Health Treatment at Our Los Angeles Treatment Center

Our residential treatment center helps youth in Los Angeles overcome mental illnesses like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, and depression.

Conditions We Treat

Inpatient Treatment and Therapies Offered

Our facility's mental health services are highly recognized. Specialized inpatient treatments and areas of focus at our Los Angeles location include:

Insurance Reimbursement

Care at our Los Angeles Residential Treatment Center is frequently reimbursed by insurance plans. To determine if your insurance plan will cover the cost of inpatient care, contact our team or fill out our insurance verification form. We’ll work with your insurance company for free to help you understand your benefits. Let us help you demystify insurance coverage for residential treatment.

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We Serve Families Across the Country

Our facility offers coed residential care and support for teens and young adults who may be struggling with behavioral health issues. Located a short drive from the Los Angeles city center, our residential treatment center is proud to offer clients and families in Southern California and around the country customized inpatient mental health treatment from clinicians who use evidence-based methods.

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A Day at Our Los Angeles Treatment Center

Our program offers a structured, supportive environment designed to promote healing, self-care, and emotional wellness. The schedule for clients at our Southern California facility includes mental health and daily living activities, individual and group therapy, exercise, and meals. This approach, in combination with family therapy, is designed to build confidence, strengthen relationships, and improve social-emotional functioning.

7 a.m.
Wake Up

8 a.m.
Breakfast

9:30 a.m.
Group Therapy

11 a.m.
Workshops

12:30 p.m.
Lunch

1 p.m.
Therapy

4 p.m.
Wellness

4 p.m.
Family Therapy

6 p.m.
Dinner

8 p.m.
Living Skills

9 p.m.
Wind Down

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Therapeutic Activities

In addition to traditional therapy methods, our residential treatment center’s beautiful Los Angeles location will allow teens and young adults to participate in therapeutic and experiential activities like music therapy, sensory activities, walking/hiking, and cultural events.

Here are some examples of activities teens and young adults can participate in at our beautiful Southern California location:

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Emotional

Animal interactions

Painting

Music therapy 

Poetry 

Horticultural therapy 

Sensory work 

 

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Social

Karaoke 

Service projects 

Baking 

Gardening 

Dinner out  

Community events  

Nutrition coaching 

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Intellectual

Museums 

Cultural events 

Attending plays 

Improv workshops 

Educational workshops 

Career workshops 

Aquariums 

Zoo 

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Physical

Strength training 

Basketball 

Running 

Soccer 

Snowshoeing 

Hiking 

Fitness coaching  

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Spiritual

Yoga

Sound bath

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Our Therapists and Team

Alisa Foreman, M.A, LMFT

Position: Clinical Director
Alisa received a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Phillips Graduate Institute. She has a strong passion for the field of psychology and for supporting others on their life path through the power of therapy. She began her work at the California Counseling Center providing therapy to children, adolescents, couples and families. She also served as a child therapist, for the Los Angeles Unified School District, where she conducted both individual and group therapy for students at an elementary through high school level. Her passion for the mental health field began as an undergraduate student at UCSB where she volunteered as a Paraprofessional Counselor, for the Family Service Agency Suicide Crisis Helpline. She also worked as a research assistant at Verdugo Mental Health Clinic. She has had extensive training in Social Skills and Violence Prevention/Anti-Bullying and has run countless social skills groups and parenting workshops. Alisa is enthusiastic about the work that she does at OPI and the opportunity to help young adults on their journey to independence. She believes in the importance of finding joy and balance in life and building a healthy repertoire of skills to manage day-to-day life. When Alisa is not working she is focused on her other passion which is her family. She loves spending time with her husband and two daughters.

Alisa Foreman, M.A, LMFT

Clinical Director

Alisa received a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy...

April Peters, MBA

Position: Director of Admissions
April came into the field of mental health inspired by her own life experiences. As the daughter of a family member who endured decades worth of unsuccessful treatment stays, April knows firsthand the importance of finding quality treatment, not just for the participant but for the entire family. This life experience is what fuels her passion to only advocate for the absolute best treatment providers who operate with the most upstanding integrity. As she will tell you, she knows exactly what it’s like to be the family member believing in a treatment center with your whole heart and hanging on to every word with the hope that “this time it will work”. “When the opportunity arose to work for OPI and she met Jessica and team, April enthusiastically jumped aboard! April previously worked for InnerChange and established many long and enduring friendships along the way. She is thrilled to back in the family! April grew up on a farm in Arizona and attended Arizona State University where she obtained her degrees in psychology and business. Go Sun Devils!!! She now resides in Orange County where she can be found cheering from the bleachers of her daughter’s volleyball games, rescuing kittens for OC Small Paws, raiding the nearest Sephora, or cooking up some of her favorite Mexican recipes.”

April Peters, MBA

Director of Admissions

April came into the field of mental health inspired by...

Brittany Austin-Cook, MS, LMFT

Position: Therapist
Brittany holds a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Mercer University School of Medicine and received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Spelman College. Brittany specializes in the treatment of individuals struggling with addiction/substance abuse, mental health disorders, trauma and dysfunctional family dynamics. Before joining the OPI team, Brittany worked over 10 years in inpatient mental health and addiction treatment services. She strives to provide a nonjudgmental, empathetic, safe place for clients to share their experiences. She utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Bowenian Family Therapy to meet clients and families where they are and provide a nurturing environment to grow. In her free time she loves to cook, travel, shop, walk and spend time with loved ones.

Brittany Austin-Cook, MS, LMFT

Therapist

Brittany holds a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy...

Paul Figueroa, MA

Position: Program Director
Paul is the Program Director for OPI’s Short-Term Residential Treatment Program. Paul comes to OPI STR with over a decade of experience in residential treatment with adolescents and young adults. He is passionate about helping clients maximize their potentials and transition to living holistic, independent, lives. To that end, he believes in the importance of building strong therapeutic alliances with clients as a means to achieve that goal. Paul holds master’s degrees in Psychology and Intercultural Studies and is a certified social skills provider through the PEERS® Clinic at UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. His clinical background includes, experience in conducting psychotherapy from a cognitive-behavioral lens, assessment, training, research, and supervision, in clinics, hospitals, and schools.

Paul Figueroa, MA

Program Director

Paul is the Program Director for OPI’s Short-Term Residential Treatment...

Philip Wilke, M.A., LMFT

Position: Therapist
Philip received his Master’s Degree with a focus on Marriage and Family Therapy from Phillips Graduate Institute. He has a strong passion for helping others find their strengths as they go through their journey of finding self. He began his work at Phillip’s Counseling Center and ran groups at Camp Fred Miller. He continued his work, after graduation, at Paradigm Residential Center working with adolescents and families dealing with acute issues. Philip’s passion for the work started after serving in the military and working as a volunteer in S. Korea working at an orphanage named Holt Korea. It continued through volunteer work with adoptees as a camp counselor with Holt international around various states. Philip has been trained in Narrative Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy and some EMDR. When not working, Philip enjoys sports, video games, and outdoor activities and enjoys, when available, utilizing these hobbies in the therapy room.

Philip Wilke, M.A., LMFT

Therapist

Philip received his Master’s Degree with a focus on Marriage...

Sasha Samaranayake, MSW

Position: Therapist
Sasha holds her Masters degree in Social Work from California State University, Northridge. She takes great care and pride in taking the time to get to know her clients and building strong trusting relationships. Through empathy, patience, and kindness she connects with her clients in a way that fosters a safe space and lets them know they are being heard and understood. A majority of her work has been in supporting young adults in residential treatment dealing with mental health challenges that cause them to feel stuck and hinders them from realizing their true potential. Offering support and guidance to people, through different treatment modalities such as DBT, CBT and strengths-based approach, and helping them find clarity, healing, direction, purpose, empowerment, and hope is what Sasha is passionate about. Her focus is not only on the person but also on their environment and what may be serving as a barrier towards their progress and connecting people with needed resources and opportunities. In her free time she enjoys hiking, fitness, the beach, trying out new restaurants, attending concerts, traveling and spending time with her cat, Katara. “Vulnerability is not about winning or losing. It’s having the courage to show up even when you can’t control the outcome.”

Sasha Samaranayake, MSW

Therapist

Sasha holds her Masters degree in Social Work from California...

Susan Warren

Position: Residential Director
A NJ native, Susan earned a BA in business administration and had a career in corporate training and development before moving to Los Angeles in 2011. Once in Los Angeles, Susan began working in the addiction treatment and mental health field and knew this was her new career path. Since that time, she has worked at several facilities with all age groups. Susan recently received an AA in social and behavioral science and is working on earning a BA in psychology from California Coast University. She is a member of WAAT (Women’s Association for Addiction Treatment) and is active in the recovery community. Susan enjoys spending time with her husband and their pets, watching football, going to live music events, and cooking. She feels blessed to be working at OPI and excited to help young adults on their journey to health, healing and happiness. “Work for a cause, not for applause.”

Susan Warren

Residential Director

A NJ native, Susan earned a BA in business administration...

Jessica Breton, LMFT

Position: Executive Director
Jessica Breton is the Executive Director at the Optimum Performance Institute and has been with OPI since 2009, holding the positions of licensed therapist and Clinical Program Director. Jessica’s background and expertise are well suited to serve the young adults at OPI. She holds a BA in psychology from University of California at Santa Barbara and has a Master’s degree from Phillips Graduate Institute in Marriage and Family Therapy. She received Training in Mentalization-based Treatment Approach in Psychotherapy for Borderline Personality Disorder through UCLA Semel Institute. She also has training in Treating Multiple Severe Disorders with Dialectical Behavioral Therapy with Michael Hollander, Ph.D., from Harvard/McLean Hospital. Additionally, Jessica has participated in Social Skills and Violence Prevention Training from the California Family Counseling Center. She has served as a Marriage and Family Therapist with the California Family Counseling Center, has worked in several Los Angeles Unified School District elementary, middle and High Schools and has maintained a small private practice. Ms. Breton is a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, as well as Evolving Women. At her heart, She is a passionate clinician. Jessica strongly believes that the relationships we build with clients and staff members helps to create an environment conducive to growth, healing, and change. When not at work, Jessica loves spending time with her husband and 2 small boys.

Jessica Breton, LMFT

Executive Director

Jessica Breton is the Executive Director at the Optimum Performance...

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Los Angeles Treatment Center FAQ

During inpatient treatment at our Los Angeles center, youth maintain a shared schedule designed to help heal mental health issues. On a typical day, they’ll wake up at the same time, eat a healthy breakfast, do yoga or meditate, participate in a range of group and individual therapies, take part in therapeutic activities like sound baths or swimming, and wind down at night with a nutritious dinner and group support. This shared schedule provides 24 hours of care so that teens and young adults can learn healthy ways of living and overcome difficult mental health issues.    

The main differences between our residential care and a typical inpatient treatment program are the treatment environment and length of stay. Our beautiful location in Los Angeles  provides teens and young adults with residential treatment in a healing, nurturing setting and a schedule that mirrors home life but with therapy mixed in throughout the day. Inpatient treatment usually takes place in a hospital environment. Our facility also provides a longer treatment time, lasting around 90 days on average compared to an inpatient hospitalization stay that often lasts for several days. 

The length of treatment differs for each teen and young adult, but on average, residential treatment at our Los Angeles treatment center lasts around 90 days. 

Youth from all over the United States can come to our Los Angeles facility for the intensive 24-hour care it can provide for a wide range of mental health issues. For youths who have safety issues or a lack of support at home or who need a high level of care after an inpatient hospitalization or outpatient treatment, our residential treatment center can be a good option. 

Our residential treatment is necessary when your teen or young adult’s mental health needs are too great for outpatient care or when they’re stepping down in treatment intensity, for example from an inpatient hospitalization program. Residential Treatment care can also be a good option if someone feels unsafe at home or is trying to break out of a negative daily routine. 

It can be hard for teens and young adults to think about or accept going to a residential treatment center to address their difficult mental health issues. Help motivate your child to embrace this type of treatment by asking open-ended questions about their situation and how this experience could improve it. Reassure them you’ll provide support by participating in family therapy during their stay and maintaining regular communication with them while they’re at the facility. Share success stories from residential treatment programs. We’re happy to provide a few testimonials from our Embark locations. 

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A Continuum of Mental Health Care Offered Across the U.S.   

Multicultural Family Success Adolescent Teen Anxiety Treatment Embark Behavioral Health

If residential programs don’t offer the level of care your teen or young adult needs, Embark Behavioral Health offers a range of exceptional treatment and therapy options across the United States.

From virtual counseling to outpatient therapy, our robust continuum of care will provide the right level of treatment to help your child overcome difficult mental health challenges.

Contact us today to learn more about our programs and how they’re changing the lives of adolescents, teens, and young adults across the U.S., helping them embrace a fulfilling and purposeful future.

Continuum of Care or
Virtual IOP

Start your healing journey

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Phone: 818-264-2579

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Short-Term Residential at OPI  

6123 Woodlake Ave,

Woodland Hills, CA 91367

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Read more about our treatment outcomes.