Luke Rasmussen

The photographer and rock climber straps a rainbow of LED lights to his body and records his ascent with a time lapse camera

Tobin Alan Weber

All of Tobinworld mourns the passing of Tobin Alan Webster, even as we follow the mission he inspired: serving the mental health needs of children and young adults in the Los Angeles area.

Toby had largely nonverbal autism. When he was born 57 years ago, the nature and challenges of autism were for the most part misunderstood and there were no programs for autistic children in Los Angeles. His mother Judy saw this as an injustice and created a special education school named Tobinworld, a happy collision of Toby’s name and his favorite song: “It’s a Small World (After All)”!

For over 40 years, the school served the needs of developmentally disabled children. Since its closure, Tobinworld has continued as a clinic providing mental health services for all young people with its team of dedicated staff and professionals. Toby lived on the premises of Tobinworld through all of its incarnations, infusing us with his indomitable optimism and perseverance. His spirit will always inspire and point the way in our mission.

For HALF A CENTURY...

…we have served young people, adults, couples, and families in facing their unique challenges and exploring all the possibilities life offers.

Mental health comes in many colors.

Each and every one of us is a rainbow.

Executive Director Judy Weber-Israel and Tobin Weber
Judy's dream for Tobin became a reality and a lifeline for thousands of students and their families.
Tobinworld grew to include a multi-campus school, mental health clinic, fund-raising gift shop, and an innovative vocational training program.
Now in its fifth decade, Tobinworld continues to provide mental health therapy and support to the Los Angeles community.
In our new Pasadena location, we offer telehealth options as well as professional, compassionate in-person sessions in a comfortable and secure private environment.
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who we are

who we are

In 1977, something remarkable began. Judith Weber was searching for inventive solutions to an overwhelming challenge: providing a relevant and effective education for her severely autistic son, Tobin. Her efforts and successes attracted the support of other parents and of the school district, who urged her to start a new school. Tobinworld was born, and for over 40 years served the needs of up to 300 emotionally disturbed, autistic or developmentally disabled students a year.
 

In 2003, Tobinworld expanded its charter to open a non-profit community-based mental health clinic, treating children and adolescents struggling with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges and supporting their families in meeting these challenges. We assist youth ages 5 to 21 in developing the skills and behaviors that support a happy and productive life.

We believe that parents and caregivers play a vital role in improving the lives of their children and view them as an essential part of our treatment team.
What we offer

What We Offer

Community-Based Services

Discover the possibilities of a well-lived life

Tobinworld’s objectives for this program include:

  • achieving the youth’s and family’s goals/desired results
  • a significant reduction or elimination of symptoms
  • restoration or maintenance of functioning consistent with the requirement for learning, development, independent living, and enhanced self-sufficiency
  • improvement in the emotional, social, and/or the academic functioning of their clients;
  • improvement in their family’s functioning
  • improvement in parenting skills, household management, accessibility to community resources, and family unity
  • assisting each youth to be served in the least restrictive environment as is possible
  • assisting the youth and family in assessing their needs for and acquiring access to medical, educational, recreational, social, prevocational, rehabilitative, and other community services necessary for the youth and family to meet their needs and enable the youth to function at his/her residence, school, and community
Assessment
Evaluation
Therapy
Evidence Based Practices
Rehabilitation
Plan Development
Targeted Case Management
Medication Management
Crisis Intervention Services
Assessment

Initial DMH Child/Adolescent assessment, DSM V diagnosis, clinical interview, and other standardized testing instruments including psychological testing.

Evaluation

A thorough appraisal of the youth’s functioning in their residence, school and community settings; includes health status, social support systems and daily activities.

Therapy

Individual, group and family therapy, which focus on symptom reduction and behavioral  changes as a means to improve functional impairments.  When substance abuse is an issue, substance abuse education and counseling might be offered, and when appropriate linkage to a substance abuse program.  Collateral contacts will be an important element of this service.

Evidence Based Practices

Seeking Safety, MAP (Managing and Adapting Practice), TFCBT (Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and PPP (Positive Parenting Program).

Rehabilitation

These services include assistance in restoring or maintaining functional daily living skills, social skills, grooming and personal hygiene, medication compliance and education, and support services; counseling for the youth and family members; training in leisure time activities; and substance abuse counseling/education for the youth and/or family members.

Plan Development

The development of coordination plans and service plans; approval of coordination and service plans; utilization review/verification of medical necessity; and monitoring of progress.

Targeted Case Management

Communication, coordination and referral between the program and other service agencies; monitoring service delivery to ensure the client’s access to service and the service delivery system; monitoring of the client’s progress and plan development.

Medication Management

Evaluation for the need for medication; evaluation of the clinical effectiveness and possible side effects of medication; obtaining informed consent; medication education; dispensing and administering of psychiatric medication (this may be done by the psychiatrist or a nurse); at least monthly follow-up for patients prescribed medication.  Each psychiatrist will participate in clinical reviews and consultations with staff.

Crisis Intervention Services

A service lasting less than 24 hours to or on behalf of a client for a condition that requires a more timely response than a regularly scheduled visit, with the focus on preventing loss of placement, school suspension or expulsion, hospitalization, and/or incarceration

Private Healthcare

A diagnosis is not a verdict. It is a direction home.

In 2020, Tobinworld expanded its mental health services and now accepts many major insurance plans and all PPO insurance plans. We provide outpatient therapy to children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families.  Our multi-disciplinary team of licensed mental health professionals are trained and experienced in treating a wide array of issues.

  • Addiction
  • ADHD
  • Anxiety
  • Behavioral Problems
  • Bipolar Disorders
  • Couple/Relationship Issues
  • Depression
  • Developmental Disabilities
  • Eating Disorders
  • Family problems
  • School issues
  • Addiction
  • ADHD
  • Anxiety
  • Behavioral Problems
  • Bipolar Disorders
  • Couple/Relationship Issues
  • Depression
  • Developmental Disabilities
  • Eating Disorders
  • Family Problems
  • School Issues
Our leadership team

Our leadership team

Judy Weber-Israel

Founder and Executive Director

Tracy Weber

Assistant Director

Janie Strasner

Director of Mental Health

Lori Berthelsen

Associate Director of Mental Health

Kaylee Devine

Quality Assurance Manager

Private Health Care Therapists

Mental health is not about fixing what is broken--it is about growing what is possible
Our therapy staff

Our therapy staff

Cheryl BeckerLMFT, ATR-BC

Cheryl has been a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for over thirty years. She is also a registered, board certified Art Therapist. She has extensive experience working with children, adolescents and families experiencing depression, anxiety and trauma related to abuse history and is trained in trauma-focused CBT.

Joey FredlundLCSW

Joey is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with ten years experience in medical care settings, focusing on maternal mental health and the stress and trauma issues faced by healthcare workers. She also provides psychotherapeutic support for children, adolescents, young adults and their families who live with chronic illness or cancer.

Steve HochstadtPsyD

Steve is a licensed Psychologist with over 20 years of experience working with children and adolescents and as an administrator of a large mental health clinic.  Steve spends much of his professional life supervising beginning therapists and para-professionals.

Nathan HoweLMFT

Nate is a licensed, bilingual (Spanish-speaking) therapist. Nate has more than 10 years experience working with dually diagnosed clients with Developmental Disorders and/or Substance Abuse. Nate also provides services to Tobinworld’s Community Based Services clients.

Karen Huestis PhD

Karen is a licensed Psychologist with over 25 years of experience.  Karen has extensive experience working with trauma, and child sexual abuse.  Karen also runs our training program and has trained and supervised therapists for most of her career.

Adrienne HurtadoLCSW

Adrienne is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who confronts the challenges of grief and loss, maternal issues, depression, and relationships. Fluent in Spanish, her 20 years of experience in community mental health, school-based, and clinic settings is informed by a spiritual perspective.

Ladan JabbariLMFT

Ladan is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist whose therapeutic process centers around flexibility, patience and empathy. She is committed to providing clients with a safe, non-judgmental space to heal and explore the possibilities in moving forward with life.

Herson MojicaPsyD

Herson is a licensed Psychologist specializing in anger regulation issues, ADHD, anxiety, depression, parent-child, and couples relationship therapy. He addresses issues of trauma, adjustment, LGBTQI, and phase of life problems. His therapeutic services are integrative, strength-based, and always culturally sensitive.

Janie StrasnerPhD

Janie has been a Licensed Psychologist in California since 1991, with training and expertise in treatment of anxiety, depression, developmental delays, autism spectrum disorders, trauma and other mental health issues. Janie is trained in the evidence-based practices: trauma focused-CBT and CORS.

Priscilla TejadaLMFT

Priscilla is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with extensive experience in hospital-based intensive outpatient programs, family counseling and behavioral therapy with students struggling with chronic mental illness. Priscilla professional skills are also available to Tobinworld’s Community Based Services clients.

Community Based Services Therapists

“The strongest people are those who win battles we know nothing about.” -Jonathan Harnisch, an artist and author who lives with schizophrenia

Danielle Abubakkar

Jacquelyn Green, MD

Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

Julianna Munoz-Loaiza

Nathan Howe

LMFT

Michelle Ruiz

AMFT

Armando Santana

AMFT

Priscilla Tejada

LMFT

Christina Viramontes

AMFT

Owen Welch

Michelle Xu

AMFT

Trainees

"You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand." -Woodrow Wilson

Brandon Curalli

Marcus Eiland

Jennifer Mendiaz

Joshua Noh

Training the next generation of therapists is a vital part of our mission at Tobinworld and our commitment to the professional therapeutic community that serves the people of Los Angeles. We provide pre-degree trainees and interns with extended education and supervised real world experience in all aspects of treating children and families, including trauma, cultural competency, law and ethics, parent education and how to support and empower children who are challenged by both developmental and mental health disorders. Our goal is to help launch therapists on successful careers of contributing to the lives of clients through professional competency and an unbending respect for the privacy and dignity of the individual.

Connect With Us

Connect With Us

Address:

170 S Oakland Ave
Pasadena, CA 91101

Email:

ContactUs@Tobinworld.org

Phone:

818-242-8403

Fax:

818-242-3187