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We use proven methods of turning around the lives of troubled teenagers.
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888-948-9998
About Us
Abundant Life and Adolescent Growth Inc is a short-term residential in-patient, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient treatment facility that specializes in treating adolescent boys and girls, ages twelve through seventeen, who do have some capacity for normal functioning. These adolescents are experiencing emotional, behavioral, and learning difficulties. We offer proven methods of turning around the lives of teenagers inundated by emotional and behavioral problems. Our caring treatment team works in a unique environment which can help make a positive difference in a troubled adolescent’s life.
Residential Treatment
Once an adolescent has been admitted to the residential program, our treatment team works with each individual adolescent to develop a specific treatment plan to meet his/her individual needs. The treatment team consists of the following professionals: a medical director, master’s prepared therapists, mental health specialists, a licensed nurse, an educational counselor, the clinical director, the program director, and consulting clinicians. The treatment team delivers a full range of clinical and educational services. Each adolescent receives individual, group therapy, milieu intervention, and family therapy.
Family therapy is one of the most important aspects of our residential treatment. We work closely with the family from the beginning of treatment, integrating the whole support system in the therapy process. Family therapy helps prepare the family to support the positive changes the adolescent has made in treatment and helps all of the family members examine their own problems. Without adequate intervention, families tend to repeat negative patterns of interaction that sabotage the gains the adolescent has made while in treatment.
The adolescent will benefit from a highly structured therapeutic milieu, which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Each adolescent is responsible for maintaining the living environment and earning privileges through a graduated tier system. The environment is warm, comfortable, and structured. Structure in the program includes daily routines, community meetings, school, therapeutic groups and activities. All of the individual therapy, group therapy, milieu intervention, and family therapy provide our adolescents with the opportunity to have successful experiences, improve their self-esteem, and enrich social understanding.
Partial Hospitalization Treatment
Our partial hospitalization program (day treatment) is a structured, short-term active treatment that is operable at a minimum of 6 hours per day, 7 days per week. Adolescents are not cared for on a 24-hour per day basis, and leave the program each evening and on weekends. Partial hospitalization treatment is provided by our treatment team, which includes a medical director, master's prepared therapists, a licensed nurse, mental health specialists, and an educational counselor. Partial hospitalization is an alternative to residential treatment and offers intensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary clinical services for adolescents that are able to function in the community at a minimally appropriate level and do not present as an imminent potential for harm to themselves or others.
Our partial program is designed as a step down to a lower level of care from our residential program for those adolescents that still need individualized academic instruction, individual therapy, and family therapy. Completion of our residential program is not required for an adolescent to participate in the partial hospitalization program.
Intensive Outpatient Program ("IOP")
Intensive outpatient program is a structured, short-term treatment program that provides only individual therapy, group therapy, and family therapy. "IOP" is the lowest level of care we offer and usually meets a least three times per week, providing a minimum of 3 hours of treatment per session.
Adolescents at this level demonstrate some capacity to be in the home environment and attend school off site — however; adolescents still need the support provided by treatment groups and family therapy. Completion of residential treatment or partial hospitalization treatment is not required for placement in the "IOP."
Treatment Modalities
There are a number of treatment modalities utilized at Abundant Life. We individualize our treatment to address the specific needs of each client. Specific modalities include, but are not limited to, cognitive behavioral, brief therapy, solution focused therapy, reality therapy, structured therapy, and art therapy. Clients are seen for individual therapy 2-3x weekly and family sessions is conducted 1x per week. Moreover, we offer parenting classes twice per week and individual therapy for the parents once a week.
Multidisciplinary Team
Multidisciplinary team meets twice a week. It includes our psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, licensed therapists and nurses and other consulting clinicians. Each case is discussed individually. Cases are reviewed for progressions/regressions and weekly goals are assigned. The treatment team also invites each client to examine their progression in treatment and to explore what they feel they need to focus on in the upcoming week. Staff provides the client with feedback and clients give their peers feedback.
Discharge Planning
Discharge planning begins at intake. Clients participate in preparing for their discharge by completing a client discharge summary. The therapist generates a discharge plan in collaboration with the client and the family. Specific appointments and referrals are made prior to discharge and those appointments and referrals are included in the recommendations. At discharge, the client and the parents sign the form along with the therapist. The family is then given a copy to take with them upon departure.
After Care
The after care program at Abundant Life is a significant part of the treatment. There is a monthly alumni meeting for all former participants. The meeting is conducted by a licensed therapist and each former client and parent is invited to attend. The meeting consists of one hour with parents and former clients separated and one hour with the two groups combined. The support and encouragement given during this time is spectacular. This is a free service that is offered to former clients and the number of times that a former client can attend is unlimited. |
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Treatment Team
Arthur Pogosyan, M.D., Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist
Dr. Pogosyan is board certified in Psychiatry and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Pogosyan completed his Child & Adolescent Training at UCLA/NPI. Dr. Pogosyan has extensive experience in treating children with history of trauma and abuse. He has special interest and experience in treating ADHD, Anxiety Disorders, Psychotic disorders and Mood Disorders including Bipolar Disorder. Dr. Pogosyan teaches Child Development and gives talks to professionals as well as to public on topics of Normal Development, Patenting and Childhood Mental Disorders.
In 2006 he received a Fulbright Senior Specialist Grant and worked in Armenia for 6 weeks.
Michelle Earnest, Psy.D., Director of Clinical Services
Dr. Earnest is a licensed clinical psychologist with years of experience specializing in treating children and adolescents with mental health and substance use issues. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from California School of Professional Psychology. Before joining the company, Dr. Earnest had the opportunity to work in a variety of settings, providing therapeutic services to children, adolescents and families.
Sieu Hinh, B.S., Director of Operations
Ms. Hinh received her B.S. in Biology from the University of San Francisco with minors in Japanese and Chemistry in 2000. She went on to start medical school at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA where she completed 3 years of medical school before deciding that becoming a physician was not the path she wanted for her life. During her clinical rotations while in medical school at various county, public, and private hospitals in the Los Angeles area she realized that there was a lack of continuity of care for many patients after discharging from the hospital. She is now dedicated to helping families find the resources available to them to assure that they get the best healthcare follow up that they can. Ms. Hinh currently works with the psychiatrist to help facilitate the education of the clients about their psychiatric medications as well as the distribution of the medications. She also helps parents with discharge planning and finding resources for their children after the client discharges from the facility.
Dana Howard, Facility Manager
Ms. Howard is responsible for the development, directing, execution, and outcomes measurement for our clinical performance improvement plan for the organization incorporating the mission, vision, and core values of the organization, and regulatory requirements. Using a collaborative model and management style, Ms. Howard engages staff to assist in the design and implementation of clinical performance improvement processes related to patient care and systems. Ms. Howard has the responsibility for education of staff in a uniform set of performance improvement principles, tools, and techniques.
Mary Darling, M.S., Therapist / Program Manager
Ms. Darling specializes in adolescents with unresolved grief and/or childhood trauma. Ms. Darling is aligned with a transpersonal psychological perspective, which aims towards an integration of the mental and emotional components of healing. At Abundant Life, she provides individual, family, and group therapy. Ms. Darling has a masters degree in social work from Florida International University.
Nastaran Khadavi, M.S., Therapist / Program Manager
Ms. Khadavi provides individual, family therapy, and group therapy to adolescents in our residential and outpatient programs. Ms. Khadavi helps adolescents deal with addictions and substance abuse, mood disorders, depression, suicide, stress management problems with self-esteem issues and emotional health. Ms. Khadavil has a masters degree in psychology from California Graduate Institute, Long Beach, CA.
Craig Duro, M Ed., CADC, RAS, Group Facilitator
Mr. Duro helps adolescents to understand and deal with social, behavioral, and personal problems by providing ongoing alcohol and drug prevention programs and conflict resolution workshops. Mr. Duro emphasizes preventive and developmental counseling by providing adolescents with the life skills needed to deal with problems before they occur and to enhance adolescents’ personal, social, and academic growth. Mr. Duro interacts with the adolescents individually and in small groups. He also consults and collaborates with each adolescent’s therapist and medical professionals in order to develop and implement strategies to help adolescents be successful in their community.
William Sperdute, Teacher
Mr. Sperdute began working with adolescents 10 years ago. Mr. Sperdute has worked with kids with various disabilities - Profound, Trainable, and Emotionally Disabled self-contained. Mr. Sperdute's mission is to touch each adolescent's life by tapping into their passion from an educational perspective. He models an enthusiasm for learning that is contagious. He believes that each child has a gift and sometimes children need help or encouragement finding these gifts. Mr. Sperdute is committed to helping the clients find those gifts.
Norma Santos, Program Counselor
Ms. Santos has worked extensively with adolescents for years. Ms. Santos plays a vital role in formulating a care plan for our adolescents. She provides care under the supervision of the facility manager and Administrator by assisting with self-care, administering and monitoring treatment regimens, and educating each adolescent and their parents to the medical process here at Abundant Life.
Timothy Wong, Program Counselor
Mr. Wong attained his B.A. in psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles. He has gained invaluable clinical experience working with clients with anxiety disorders at the UCLA Medical Plaza and has facilitated process groups composed of clients with mood and psychotic disorders. Additionally, Mr. Wong has led undergraduate discussion seminars at UCLA and holds a solid research background in cognitive psychology. He applies his knowledge in both cognitive and clinical psychology to effectively serve as a client care specialist at our programs.
Erika Valle, Program Counselor
Ms. Valle provides care to clients under the supervision of the facility manager and the director of operations. She attained her B.A. in Psychology from California State University, Los Angeles. She has a profound interest in the development and well being of adolescents and a strong desire to help them succeed. Ms. Valle applies her knowledge efficiently to educate adolescents on addictions and substance abuse, depression, and stress management. She interacts with clients individually and in small groups to help them deal with emotional and personal problems more effectively.
Joy Holmes, Psy.D., Founder
Dr. Joy is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 15 years experience in the behavioral health industry. She received a doctorate degree in Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology. Her emphasis area is in Individuals, Child and Family therapy. Before joining the company, she managed and administrated a dual diagnosis adolescent facility, which included implementation of policies / procedures.
John C. Lewis, M.A., Founder
Spent many years in financial markets. Mr. Lewis comes to us with extensive banking experience. Before taking on the role of Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Lewis was a commercial banker, responsible for underwriting loans and lines of credit ranging from $5 million to $50 million (both syndicated and non syndicated loans). Mr. Lewis holds a B.S. degree in finance with an emphasis in accounting. He also possess a Masters Degree in Political Science.
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