VIP employs a number of Evidence-Based Practices approved by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. These programs were developed by industry leaders in the fields of mental health for children. After a child is accepted as a client and their history and current needs are assessed they may be placed in one of these EBP programs with a therapist or team of therapists trained in the delivery and evaluation of the specific program.

The current Evidence-Based Practices in place at VIP are:

TF-CBT: Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

For children ages 7-18 who have experienced some form of trauma exposure or symptoms of depression in response to trauma. Clients will receive treatment that focuses on helping them discuss and work through the trauma by using techniques that include family sessions, cognitive behavioral approaches, narrative therapy to help the client work through their history and experiences and not letting these negative events define them for the rest of their lives.

IPT: Interpersonal Therapy for Adolescents

For adolescents ages 12-18 who have experienced depression, anxiety, anger or are acting out. Clients will work on their depression that can include sadness but also anger towards others or themselves. IPT will help clients understand how relationships with family and friends can be a support and assist them in developing healthy relationships and connections and evaluate unhealthy interpersonal relationships. The goal is to reduce or eliminate the depressive feelings and grow into a healthy individual.

CPP: Child Parent Psychotherapy

Part of VIP's specialized Birth to 5 Program for children age 0-6 who are experiencing attachment disorder, bonding problems, behavioral concerns due to trauma. Therapists work with these very young children that have not yet gained the verbal skills to express themselves. The children express themselves through play and symbolism in an attempt to express their feelings. These therapists are highly attuned to follow the child’s expressions of needs and confused understanding of the world they were growing up in without the adequate safety of a caretaking adult. Clinicians guide the caregiver and assist them in gaining a more comprehensive understanding of the child’s inner world.

IY Kids: Incredible Years for Kids

For children ages 6-12 who need help building social skills building or are acting out or need guidance. Incredible Years is a group based treatment where children are taught through games and activities to be socially collaborative and skilled. The focus of the treatment is on rewarding desirable behaviors and reducing or eliminating undesirable or inappropriate behaviors. Reinforcement and rewards are the foundation of this treatment.

IY Dino: Incredible Years for Little Kids

For young children under the age of 5 who are exhibiting socially inappropriate behavior. Incredible Years is a group based treatment that focuses on rewarding desirable behavior so that less desirable or inappropriate behaviors can be reduced or eliminated. Clients learn with the use of dolls, games, and play to be socially skilled and equipped to play with peers.

IY Parents: Incredible Years for Parents

The incredible years parent program is a group based parenting treatment that assists parents with implementing structure in the home, rewarding appropriate and desirable behaviors as opposed to attending to behaviors that are not desirable. Most children seek attention from their parents. If the child learns that the parent responds when they stomp their feet, then the child will continue to stomp their feet. If the parent reinforces the child’s behaviors that are appropriate, asking politely, using words, etc, then the child will receive attention from the parent and the child and parent have a more pleasant interaction.Parents are guided through the use of multi-media presentations and discussion, and are also informed of what their children are working on concurrently in the IY group for children.

Triple P: Parenting Program

Triple P is an intensive parenting program that is conducted one on one to help and assist caregivers in parenting their children who are clients at VIP. The treatment helps parents look at their parenting style and approaches and requires that the parent actively practice at home what they are discussing in therapy.

CBits: Cognitive Behavior Intervention for Trauma in School

For children in middle school and high school, ages 12-16, who have been exposed to trauma. This is a a trauma treatment program for children that were exposed to trauma in the school. The treatment is conducted in group format and helps the clients work through the traumatic experiences in a step-by-step manner.

MAP: Managing and Adapting Practice

The MAP system is used by therapists to coordinate and supplement the use of evidence-based practice for children’s mental health. MAP is not a single treatment model. Rather, it employs several tools to assist in the selection, review, adaptation, or construction of treatments for a particular child's characteristics based on the latest scientific findings. It can include individual, family or parent therapy. It can incorporate other systems, such as schools, and can address depression, anxiety, traumatic stress, and disruptive behavior, or any combination of these in children ages 0-18.