How We Can Help
Our Services
our specialties
What We Treat
Select from the list below for a description of each condition or behavior(s), as well as their corresponding evidence-based treatments.
Anxiety
Depression
Trauma and PTSD
Substance Abuse
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Overcontrol and Perfectionism
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Suicidal and Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behaviors
Anxiety
Anxiety is a cognitive, emotional, and physiological state in which we feel overwhelmed by the possibilities of what might go wrong. Anxiety disorders include persistent, overwhelming worry or fears about situations that we feel we can’t control. Anxiety has a wide range of symptoms and may include phobias, social anxiety, generalized anxiety, testing anxiety, perfectionism, OCD, and panic attacks.
Evidence based treatments for anxiety:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Prolonged Exposure (PE)
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- Mindfulness Based Treatments
Depression
Depression is a condition with persistent feelings of intense sadness, shame, low-self esteem, low energy, irritability, isolation, and a lack of motivation or pleasure from life. These symptoms are often present daily, even when there isn’t an obvious event prompting sadness or shame. Individuals experiencing depression may have difficulty sleeping (i.e. sleeping too much or too little), and have periods in which they feel emotionally “numb”.
Evidence based treatments for depression:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Behavioral Activation (BA)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Trauma and PTSD
Trauma is the psychological, physiological, and emotional response to an event or chain of events that are deeply distressing and painful. The emotions related to trauma are highly distressing and continue to be present even after the event has taken place. In the case of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, distress and memories associated with the disturbing event are ever-present and regularly resurface.
Evidence based treatments for PTSD:
- Prolonged Exposure
- Cognitive Reprocessing Therapy (CPT)
- DBT Prolonged Exposure Therapy (DBT-PE; Melanie Harned)
- DBT-PTSD (Martin Bohus)
Substance Abuse
Substance use disorders (SUDs) are characterized by regular use of drugs or substances, an inability to regulate substance use, experiencing intense cravings, engaging in risky behaviors, and an inability to stop using the substance even when there are negative consequences in multiple areas of life. Individuals with substance use disorders may find it very difficult to quit, either because of the effects while they are on the drug, or withdrawal symptoms when they are off it. While addiction is partly a physiological state, there are a number of effective treatments available.
Evidence based treatments for SUD:
- Motivational Interviewing (MI)
- Mindfulness Based Interventions
- Contingency Management
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological condition in which individuals experience the world in a different way, and, as a result, may have difficulty navigating our society. Individuals on the autism spectrum may experience difficulty in social situations (interpreting social cues, maintaining eye contact, social communication, etc), restrictive or repetitive behaviors, rigid thinking patterns, preferences for clearly delineated rules, or sensory overload.
Evidence based treatments for ASD:
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
- Parent Child Interactive Therapy (PCIT)
Overcontrol and Perfectionism
Individuals with perfectionism and over-controlling tendencies often set very high standards and goals for themselves, and experience distress when they don’t meet those expectations. They may base their self-worth on their achievement and punish themselves when they “fall short”. While failure is normal and can teach us a lot about ourselves and the world, perfectionism and over-control prevent individuals from allowing failure in their lives.
Evidence based treatments for perfectionism:
- Radically Open DBT (RO-DBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Mindfulness and Self-compassion Training
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD is characterized by the presence of obsessions (unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that cause emotional distress) and compulsions (behaviors that reduce the emotional distress caused by obsessions). This creates a cycle of repetitive behaviors meant to neutralize discomfort, but that the individual feels they have little control over and that often interfere with daily life.
Evidence based treatments for OCD:
- Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
BPD is a disorder characterized by dysregulation in several of the following areas: emotion dysregulation (intense emotions that are difficult to regulate), behavioral dysregulation (impulsive behaviors), interpersonal dysregulation (difficulty maintaining relationships), intrapersonal dysregulation (trouble with identity or knowing “who you are''), and cognitive dysregulation (chaotic thoughts, dissociation). Emotion dysregulation is especially present in BPD, and individuals with BPD often experience frequent, intense, long lasting emotions.
BPD is a disorder characterized by dysregulation in several of the following areas: emotion dysregulation (intense emotions that are difficult to regulate), behavioral dysregulation (impulsive behaviors), interpersonal dysregulation (difficulty maintaining relationships), intrapersonal dysregulation (trouble with identity or knowing “who you are''), and cognitive dysregulation (chaotic thoughts, dissociation). Emotion dysregulation is especially present in BPD, and individuals with BPD often experience frequent, intense, long lasting emotions.
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Mentalization-based therapy (MBT)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADHD is a neurological condition characterized by difficulties with maintaining and controlling attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Individuals with ADHD may have difficulty with restlessness, organization, listening to instructions, task management, memory (forgetting appointments, trains of thought, projects, etc), time management, and completing tasks. These symptoms can impact an individual’s work, school, and relationships, and often emerge in childhood and adolescence.
Evidence based treatments for ADHD:
- Executive Functioning Training
- Mindfulness Training
Suicidal and Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behaviors
Suicidality includes thoughts, urges, and attempts to take one’s own life. Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behavior (NSIB) is causing deliberate, self-inflicted, physical injuries without the intent to die. Individuals take part in NSIB for a variety of reasons, including as self-punishment, distraction, or to decrease feelings of numbness. Both Suicidal and Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behaviors can be treated. Services such as DBT and CAMS show that there are countless ways to improve life and diminish pain without harming oneself, and equip patients with skills to help them build their life worth living.
Evidence based treatments for suicidality and NSSI:
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS).
our specialties
What We Treat
Select from the list below for a description of each condition or behavior(s), as well as their corresponding evidence-based treatments.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a cognitive, emotional, and physiological state in which we feel overwhelmed by the possibilities of what might go wrong. Anxiety disorders include persistent, overwhelming worry or fears about situations that we feel we can’t control. Anxiety has a wide range of symptoms and may include phobias, social anxiety, generalized anxiety, testing anxiety, perfectionism, OCD, and panic attacks.
Evidence based treatments for anxiety:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Prolonged Exposure (PE)
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- Mindfulness Based Treatments
Depression
Depression is a condition with persistent feelings of intense sadness, shame, low-self esteem, low energy, irritability, isolation, and a lack of motivation or pleasure from life. These symptoms are often present daily, even when there isn’t an obvious event prompting sadness or shame. Individuals experiencing depression may have difficulty sleeping (i.e. sleeping too much or too little), and have periods in which they feel emotionally “numb”.
Evidence based treatments for depression:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Behavioral Activation (BA)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Trauma and PTSD
Trauma is the psychological, physiological, and emotional response to an event or chain of events that are deeply distressing and painful. The emotions related to trauma are highly distressing and continue to be present even after the event has taken place. In the case of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, distress and memories associated with the disturbing event are ever-present and regularly resurface.
Evidence based treatments for PTSD:
- Prolonged Exposure
- Cognitive Reprocessing Therapy (CPT)
- DBT Prolonged Exposure Therapy (DBT-PE; Melanie Harned)
- DBT-PTSD (Martin Bohus)
Substance Abuse
Substance use disorders (SUDs) are characterized by regular use of drugs or substances, an inability to regulate substance use, experiencing intense cravings, engaging in risky behaviors, and an inability to stop using the substance even when there are negative consequences in multiple areas of life. Individuals with substance use disorders may find it very difficult to quit, either because of the effects while they are on the drug, or withdrawal symptoms when they are off it. While addiction is partly a physiological state, there are a number of effective treatments available.
Evidence based treatments for SUD:
- Motivational Interviewing (MI)
- Mindfulness Based Interventions
- Contingency Management
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological condition in which individuals experience the world in a different way, and, as a result, may have difficulty navigating our society. Individuals on the autism spectrum may experience difficulty in social situations (interpreting social cues, maintaining eye contact, social communication, etc), restrictive or repetitive behaviors, rigid thinking patterns, preferences for clearly delineated rules, or sensory overload.
Evidence based treatments for ASD:
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
- Parent Child Interactive Therapy (PCIT)
Overcontrol and Perfectionism
Individuals with perfectionism and over-controlling tendencies often set very high standards and goals for themselves, and experience distress when they don’t meet those expectations. They may base their self-worth on their achievement and punish themselves when they “fall short”. While failure is normal and can teach us a lot about ourselves and the world, perfectionism and over-control prevent individuals from allowing failure in their lives.
Evidence based treatments for perfectionism:
- Radically Open DBT (RO-DBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Mindfulness and Self-compassion Training
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD is characterized by the presence of obsessions (unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that cause emotional distress) and compulsions (behaviors that reduce the emotional distress caused by obsessions). This creates a cycle of repetitive behaviors meant to neutralize discomfort, but that the individual feels they have little control over and that often interfere with daily life.
Evidence based treatments for OCD:
- Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
BPD is a disorder characterized by dysregulation in several of the following areas: emotion dysregulation (intense emotions that are difficult to regulate), behavioral dysregulation (impulsive behaviors), interpersonal dysregulation (difficulty maintaining relationships), intrapersonal dysregulation (trouble with identity or knowing “who you are''), and cognitive dysregulation (chaotic thoughts, dissociation). Emotion dysregulation is especially present in BPD, and individuals with BPD often experience frequent, intense, long lasting emotions.
BPD is a disorder characterized by dysregulation in several of the following areas: emotion dysregulation (intense emotions that are difficult to regulate), behavioral dysregulation (impulsive behaviors), interpersonal dysregulation (difficulty maintaining relationships), intrapersonal dysregulation (trouble with identity or knowing “who you are''), and cognitive dysregulation (chaotic thoughts, dissociation). Emotion dysregulation is especially present in BPD, and individuals with BPD often experience frequent, intense, long lasting emotions.
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Mentalization-based therapy (MBT)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADHD is a neurological condition characterized by difficulties with maintaining and controlling attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Individuals with ADHD may have difficulty with restlessness, organization, listening to instructions, task management, memory (forgetting appointments, trains of thought, projects, etc), time management, and completing tasks. These symptoms can impact an individual’s work, school, and relationships, and often emerge in childhood and adolescence.
Evidence based treatments for ADHD:
- Executive Functioning Training
- Mindfulness Training
Suicidal and Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behaviors
Suicidality includes thoughts, urges, and attempts to take one’s own life. Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behavior (NSIB) is causing deliberate, self-inflicted, physical injuries without the intent to die. Individuals take part in NSIB for a variety of reasons, including as self-punishment, distraction, or to decrease feelings of numbness. Both Suicidal and Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behaviors can be treated. Services such as DBT and CAMS show that there are countless ways to improve life and diminish pain without harming oneself, and equip patients with skills to help them build their life worth living.
Evidence based treatments for suicidality and NSSI:
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS).
Our Approach
Evidence Based Treatments
We specialize in state-of-the-art cognitive behavioral therapies (CBTs), including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Behavioral Activation (BA), Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Prolonged Exposure (PE), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and other evidence based treatments to help improve our clients’ mental health and quality of life. We provide active, present focused interventions that involve collaboration with your therapist to learn to better identify, understand and manage your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Most of our therapists are also scholars, actively contributing to the research base supporting the efficacy of these interventions.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
What is DBT?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a 6–12-month evidence-based treatment (meaning there is research showing it works) for folks who struggle with complex and sometimes severe emotional and behavioral problems. The “D” comes from the word “dialectics”, the process of holding multiple opposing perspectives or views as true and finding a synthesis between them. For example, we are doing the best we can AND at at the same time we need to learn alternative ways to manage our problems more effectively. In DBT, dialectical strategies help both the therapist and the client get unstuck from extreme positions. The core dialectic in DBT is that of balancing acceptance and change in the process of building and maintaining a life that feels worth living.
DBT is helpful for folks with high emotional sensitivity (often rapidly shifting emotions), emotional reactivity (intense emotions), and impulsivity, which sometimes lead to maladaptive behaviors such as angry outbursts, using substances, self-injuring, under-eating, over-eating, avoiding school or work, socially withdrawing, or abruptly ending relationships. Although these behaviors may temporarily reduce emotional pain, they often end up causing more problems and make it difficult to lead a life that feels meaningful and worth living. DBT targets the problems that cause distress and teaches skills to respond to them in a more effective, values-consistent way.
Modes of Treatment Delivery
What are the components of DBT?
There are four modes of standard outpatient DBT. This is different than many other psychotherapies that consist of just one mode or aspect of treatment, such as individual therapy. Note: Family participation is also mandatory, meaning at least one primary caregiver must participate in treatment, alongside their teens (ages 13-18) who need DBT.
Individual Therapy
Weekly; 45 minutes
Individual therapy in DBT focuses on helping clients apply the DBT skills to specific challenges they are facing and to change problematic behaviors, beliefs, and emotions. Sessions include going over diary cards, a record of events, target behaviors, and challenges the patient experienced that week. Through going over the diary cards, therapists and patients discuss, practice and troubleshoot skills that could be used in similar situations in the future.
DBT Skills Training
Weekly; 60-120 minutes
Skills training is run in a psycho-educational format, more like a class rather than group therapy where people come to vent or find support. Skills trainers assign homework to help clients practice the skills in their everyday lives. The full curriculum runs for 24 weeks and covers skills in four modules: Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation, and Distress Tolerance. These skills are concrete and designed to be applied quickly in a wide variety of situations.
In-the-moment Phone Coaching
As needed; ~10 minutes
Patients can call their therapist between sessions when they are experiencing a real-life challenge or crisis, but don’t want to engage in problematic behaviors that might only provide temporary relief (substances, binging, avoidance, self-harm, avoidance, etc.). During these brief (<10min) calls, patients learn how to use their skills in the moments and situations where they need them most, not just during session with their therapist.
Consultation Team of DBT Therapists
Weekly; 60-90 minutes
Each week, all our DBT clinicians—individual therapists and skills group leaders—meet to discuss cases and provide each other with peer-supervision. Together we share responsibility for client care. Our focus during these meetings is on increasing our own motivation, competence, and fidelity to the treatment, while also addressing treatment obstacles to ensure we are able to provide the best possible care to our patients.
Parent Coaching and Family Therapy
Weekly/as needed; 45 minutes
We provide parents with the skills and support needed to balance validation and acceptance with effective limit setting and behavior plans to address and change problematic behavior patterns. Parents also receive skills coaching between sessions. DBT-informed family therapy helps family members better understand and validate each other, facilitate effective communication when there is disagreement, and develop rewarding and meaningful relationships with each other.
DBT Skills Modules
What is DBT Skills Training?
DBT asserts that pervasive difficulties in managing emotions arise in part from skills deficits. Accordingly, one component of DBT is weekly skills training designed to remedy those deficits and build a “tool box” of skills. We use the following handouts and worksheets for adults and adolescents. If a client has an existing individual therapist, the client may be able to continue with their existing therapist, and we would collaborate on the skills.
Core Mindfulness
Skills for staying fully aware in the present moment, with acceptance and compassion. Mindfulness skills allow us to experience and participate in our reality without the additional baggage and judgements that we so often bring with us.
Distress Tolerance
Skills for tolerating pain in difficult situations. Crisis survival skills help us get through life’s most intense and painful moments without engaging in impulsive or harmful actions that might make things worse. Radical acceptance helps us reduce suffering and make change possible.
Emotion Regulation
Skills for learning to identify, understand, and manage our emotions. This module will also help with reducing vulnerability to Emotion Mind, a mindset in which we make decisions based on emotions instead of values, wisdom, or logical reasoning.
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Skills for making effective requests (and saying no), communicating our needs, managing interpersonal conflicts, and building and maintaining relationships with other people, while also maintaining our own self-respect.
The Middle Path
Skills to balance the dialectic of acceptance and change in ourselves and our relationships. These skills also help us to maintain a balanced viewpoint for ourselves and others, to facilitate conflict resolution and collaborative problem solving.
Los Angeles Area Resources
Free Resources
Growing list of ideas for activities (nature, art, social, volunteering, etc.), and ideas for getting active, which is also an important part of feeling better.
Our team provides comprehensive DBT and other evidence-based treatments to help make positive changes in the lives of children, young adults, and their families.
Quick Links
Contact Info
- info@yfinstitute.com
- (323) 800-8883
- 1849 Sawtelle Blvd, Suite 610, Los Angeles CA 90025
- 250 W 1st St, Suite 242, Claremont, CA 91711
- 595 E Colorado Blvd STE 205, Pasadena, CA 91101
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