Luke Rasmussen
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.
Roll cursor over slide show to pause.
who we are
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.
What We Offer
Community-Based Services
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
Initial DMH Child/Adolescent assessment, DSM V diagnosis, clinical interview, and other standardized testing instruments including psychological testing.
A thorough appraisal of the youth’s functioning in their residence, school and community settings; includes health status, social support systems and daily activities.
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.
Seeking Safety, MAP (Managing and Adapting Practice), TFCBT (Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and PPP (Positive Parenting Program).
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.
The development of coordination plans and service plans; approval of coordination and service plans; utilization review/verification of medical necessity; and monitoring of progress.
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.
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.
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
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
Judy Weber-Israel
Tracy Weber
Janie Strasner
Lori Berthelsen
Kaylee Devine
Private Health Care Therapists
Our therapy staff
Cheryl Becker LMFT, ATR-BC
Joey Fredlund LCSW
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 Hochstadt PsyD
Nathan Howe LMFT
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 Hurtado LCSW
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 Jabbari LMFT
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 Mojica PsyD
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 Strasner PhD
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 Tejada LMFT
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
Danielle Abubakkar
Jacquelyn Green, MD
Julianna Munoz-Loaiza
Nathan Howe
Michelle Ruiz
Armando Santana
Priscilla Tejada
Christina Viramontes
Owen Welch
Michelle Xu
Trainees
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
Address:
170 S Oakland Ave
Pasadena, CA 91101
Email:
ContactUs@Tobinworld.org
Phone:
818-242-8403
Fax:
818-242-3187
