Premier Teen Treatment Center in California That Brings Families Together
Hillcrest Adolescent Treatment Center is a leading Teen Treatment Center in Agoura Hills, CA providing comprehensive behavioral health services for teens ages 12 – 18.
Treatment You Can Trust, Backed By Outcomes
- CARF Accreditation – recognition from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, demonstrating the highest standards in care and safety
- Expert-Led Programs – delivered by industry-leading clinicians and specialists in child and adolescent behavioral health
- Top-Rated Care – consistently earning a 4.9 out of 5 stars from over 100 verified Google reviews
- Proven Outcomes – families report exceptional satisfaction, and referring professionals place their confidence in our services again and again
California's Top Teen Treatment Center
At Hillcrest Adolescent Treatment Center, we provide comprehensive inpatient treatment for teens ages 12-18 that focuses on their mental, physical, and social well-being.
As a premier teen treatment center in California, our team of talented professionals works closely with both teens and their families to facilitate successful recovery.
Our California Teen Treatment Programs
Our adolescent treatment center offers specialized programs to help teens overcome addiction. We provide comprehensive residential care focused on long-term recovery for teens ages 12-18.
We address a wide range of behavioral health issues affecting adolescents. Our programs are designed to support teens and their families through evidence-based therapies.
Our mental health services focus on the unique needs of teenagers. We help adolescents navigate challenges like anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions.
What Families Say About Our
Teen Treatment Center
Discover how Hillcrest Adolescent Treatment Center has made a positive impact on teens and their families.
Read testimonials from those who have experienced our comprehensive adolescent residential treatment programs.
We Partner With Most Major Insurance Providers To Make Treatment Accessible for Teens & Families
At Hillcrest Adolescent Treatment Center, we accept a variety of insurance plans to make our comprehensive teen treatment center accessible to families. Verify your insurance today to ensure your adolescent receives the care they need at one of the leading teen treatment centers in California.
Our Distinguished Adolescent Program Model
Family Therapy
Family Therapy is a vital component of our programs at Hillcrest Adolescent Treatment Center. This type of psychological counseling helps teens and their family members improve communication and resolve conflicts, fostering a supportive environment for recovery.
Behavioral Therapy
Our Behavioral Therapy programs address a wide range of issues affecting teens at our adolescent treatment facility. By helping adolescents understand and change their behavior patterns, we promote healthier responses to challenging situations.
Expressive Therapy
Expressive Therapy, including art therapy, is utilized at our treatment center to provide a safe, non-threatening, and non-verbal outlet for teens to express their feelings. This approach helps adolescents communicate emotions they may find difficult to articulate verbally.
Conditions We Treat at Our
Teen Treatment Center
Mood Disorders
At Hillcrest Adolescent Treatment Center, we specialize in treating mood disorders affecting teens ages 12-18. Our comprehensive programs help adolescents manage conditions like depression and bipolar disorder, improving their emotional well-being and overall quality of life.
READ MORE
Anxiety Disorders
Teen anxiety disorders are common and often arise in early adolescence. At our teen treatment center, we provide effective therapies to help teens cope with excessive fear, worry, and nervousness, empowering them to navigate life's challenges confidently.
READ MORE
Psychotic Disorders
We offer specialized care for teens facing psychotic disorders, where distinguishing between reality and imagination becomes challenging. We support adolescents through personalized plans aimed at restoring their mental health and facilitating recovery.
READ MORE
Our Adolescent Residential Treatment Facilities
Explore the comfortable and nurturing residences at Hillcrest Adolescent Treatment Center. Our treatment facilities in California provide a safe and supportive environment for teens ages 12-18 to focus on healing and personal growth.
Meet Our Expert Clinical, Medical, and Academic Treatment Team
Our treatment team is here to provide the best care for your child. They provide for your child’s medical, psychiatric, educational, behavioral, and emotional needs throughout their treatment program. Learn more about our adolescent treatment team today.
Executive Director
Psychiatrist
Physician
Director of Education
CONTACT US
Frequently Asked Questions!
It can be challenging to distinguish between typical adolescent behavior and signs that professional help is needed. While mood swings and testing boundaries are normal parts of teenage development, certain warning signs indicate it's time to seek treatment:
Consider professional help if your teen is experiencing:
- Persistent changes in mood, behavior, or personality lasting several weeks
- Declining academic performance or loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed
- Withdrawal from family and friends
- Changes in sleep patterns or appetite
- Risky behaviors such as substance use, self-harm, or reckless actions
- Expressions of hopelessness or thoughts of suicide
- Inability to cope with daily responsibilities
Trust your instincts as a parent. If you're concerned about your teen's wellbeing, a professional assessment can provide clarity and peace of mind. Early intervention often leads to better outcomes.
Determining the appropriate level of care depends on several factors, including the severity of symptoms, safety concerns, and your teen's ability to function in daily life. The main levels of care include:
Residential Treatment: Recommended when your teen requires 24/7 supervision and intensive therapeutic support. This is appropriate for severe mental health conditions, safety concerns, or when outpatient treatment hasn't been effective.
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): Provides structured treatment during the day (typically 5-6 hours) while allowing teens to return home in the evenings. Suitable for those who need our clinical team conducts through assessments to recommend the most appropriate level of care for your child. We can help you navigate this decision during a confidential consultation.
Hillcrest Adolescent works with most major insurance providers to make treatment accessible and affordable. We are in-network with many commercial insurance plans and can verify your benefits prior to admission and work with the following insurances:
To determine your coverage:
- Contact our admissions team for a free, confidential insurance verification
- We'll review your specific plan's mental health benefits, including coverage for residential, PHP, IOP, and outpatient services
- Our staff can explain your out-of-pocket costs, including deductibles, copays, and coinsurance
If you don't have insurance or your plan doesn't provide adequate coverage, we offer alternative payment options and can discuss financial assistance programs. Don't let insurance questions prevent you from seeking help—contact us to explore all available options.
If you don’t see your insurance on this list, we still may accept it. Give us a call and we can review your family's plan.
Understanding the differences between these treatment settings can help you make the best decision for your teen:
Traditional Outpatient Therapy typically consists of one-hour weekly sessions with a therapist. Teens continue living at home, attending school, and maintaining their regular routines. This works well for those with mild to moderate symptoms who have strong family support.
Residential Treatment provides 24/7 structured care in a therapeutic environment. Teens live on-site and participate in intensive daily therapy, psychiatric care, academic programming, and recreational activities. This immersive approach is ideal for adolescents facing severe mental health challenges, safety concerns, or those who haven't responded to less intensive treatment. The controlled environment removes negative influences and allows teens to focus entirely on healing.
Key Differences:
- Intensity: Residential care offers multiple therapy sessions daily versus weekly outpatient appointments
- Supervision: Round-the-clock professional support in residential settings versus independent management at home
- Structure: Highly structured therapeutic milieu in residential care versus self-directed time in outpatient care
- Duration: Residential stays typically range from 30-90 days, while outpatient therapy continues as long as needed
- Peer Support: Residential care provides constant peer interaction in recovery, while outpatient teens may lack this community
Many families find that starting with a higher level of care and stepping down to outpatient therapy creates the strongest foundation for lasting recovery. Our continuum of care ensures your teen receives the right support at every stage of their healing journey.
Our Blogs
Hillcrest Adolescent Treatment Center is a behavioral health treatment center in Agoura Hills, CA, for teens ages 12-18.
Julia Gindi
Executive Director
With decades of experience in mental health and addiction treatment, Julia Gindi is dedicated to helping teens and their families navigate life’s challenges. She specializes in fostering healthy boundaries, strengthening family dynamics, conflict resolution, emotional coping, and self-esteem development.
Julia attended Southern Illinois University and is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC). She has worked across all facets of residential treatment, playing a key role in developing specialized programs that promote long-term healing.
A compassionate and dedicated professional, Julia has helped over 2,000 individuals reclaim their lives. Outside of her work, she finds joy in gardening and nature. As a proud grandmother of 14, her passion for creating positive change extends beyond her career, reinforcing her commitment to supporting individuals and families on their journey to healing and balance.
Dr. Michael Louie
Psychiatrist
Dr. Michael Louie is a board-certified psychiatrist with over 13 years of experience in mental health care. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in 2011 and completed his psychiatry residency at the Loma Linda University Health Education Consortium. Throughout his career, Dr. Louie has been affiliated with medical facilities such as Southern California Hospital at Hollywood and Los Angeles Community Hospital. He has practiced in various California locations, including Loma Linda, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, and Tustin. Dr. Louie is known for his holistic approach to mental health, tailoring treatment plans to meet the unique needs of each patient.
Dr. Shilpa Jindani
Physician
Dr. Shilpa Jindani is a board-certified diplomat of the American Academy of Family Medicine. She studied at the Sawai Man Singh Medical College in India, later completing her residency in Family Medicine at the University of Vermont. Dr. Jindani currently practices as a family medicine physician in California. She is also the medical director at Health Net.
Dr. Jindani is a former staff physician at Ventura County Medical Center. She is also a member of both the American Academy of Family Physicians and the California Medical Association. Dr. Jindani also serves as the Vice President of Tri-Vally Indian Medical Association. In addition, she is on the medical advisory board of a startup, eFind-a-Doc.
Dr. Jindani believes that integrative and preventative practices as well as mental health care lead to the best outcomes for overall health maintenance. Taking care of her patients is her passion. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and yoga.
Mark Paladini
Director of Education
Mark Paladini brings 12 years of experience teaching at the university level where he was celebrated for his curriculum design and lesson planning for undergraduate and graduate students. In addition to heading the undergraduate program that he co-created at Regent University, he also developed and ran a highly successful online master’s program for high school teachers. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle and is a graduate of the Los Angeles Teaching Fellows Program. Mr. Paladini also served on the recruitment team during his time at the university which gives him a unique advantage to help students prepare for what is needed to get into college.
Prior to teaching at the university level, Mr. Paladini taught and developed courses for UCLA Extension, taught middle school English for LAUSD, and mentored students at a National Blue Ribbon Elementary School in Los Angeles. He also has extensive experience in the entertainment industry (Fun Fact: Mark Paladini is an award winning Casting Director!) and brings his theatre skills into the classroom to create an engaging atmosphere where students enjoy the process of learning.