Emerging and Evidence Based Practices
Our agency uses a number of state-approved Evidence-Based Practices, in partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and the California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions (CIBHS), which was previously known as the California Institute for Mental Health (CiMH).
Crisis Oriented Recovery Services (CORS)
CORS is a short-term counseling program to provide immediate crisis intervention, identify needs, and connect families to ongoing services. We use this program to help people cope with crises by managing stress or harm. CORS promotes the development of coping strategies that individuals can use to help restore themselves to the way they were before the crisis event. CORS was adapted from the Benjamin Rush Model developed by Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
TF-CBT is a program designed for children and teens who have experienced a traumatic event. This program helps individuals build skills and tools to feel less depressed, less anxious, and feel more in control of thoughts and feelings. Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, was developed jointly by Esther Deblinger, Ph.D., Judith Cohen, M.D., and Anthony Mannarino, Ph.D.
Managing and Adapting Practice (MAP)
MAP helps individuals and families identify, track, and manage unwanted behaviors and symptoms. MAP uses an online database to search through a large amount of research specific to individuals to find information about what will help that person succeed. MAP therapists use this database to find what research has shown to be helpful to specific individuals and uses that information to help each person to meet their individual goals. This program was developed by Dr. Bruce Chorpita.
Seeking Safety (SS)
Seeking Safety is a program to help people find safety from trauma and substance abuse. It is based on five principles including obtaining safety, focusing on ideals, and paying attention to the clinical process. This program is focused on the present and helps people dealing with substance abuse and reactions to past trauma. It has been demonstrated to be effective in treating co-occurring substance abuse and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Seeking Safety was developed by Lisa M. Najavits, PhD.
Aggression Replacement Training (ART)
ART concentrates on development of individual competencies to address various emotional and social aspects that contribute to aggressive behavior in youths. Program techniques are designed to teach children and adolescents how to control their angry impulses and take perspectives other than their own. The main goal is to reduce aggression and violence among youths by providing them with opportunities to learn prosocial skills in place of aggressive behavior. Clients are seen in groups to address social skills, anger control and moral reasoning.
Individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Ind CBT)
Ind CBT, conducted in an individual format, aims to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety with a variety of treatment strategies including psycho-education, skills acquisition, contingency management, Socratic questioning, behavioral activation, exposure, cogntive modification, acceptance and mindfulness strategies and behavioral rehearsal. Ind CBT is based on the principles of Aaron T. Beck, MD.