Insight to Teen Culture

who we are

Insight to teen culture is an organization of diverse and dedicated professionals who are constructively working with tweens, teens, young adults and their families.

Our intention is to share information, offer support and solutions to the challenges that our community encounters.

Meet Us

We're the team who makes great things happen.
Our team is creative, collaborative and passionate about supporting our community of youth and their families.

Stephanie Bien, LMFT, LPCC has been a licensed psychotherapist since 1992. Families are my specialty: Using play therapy with children, connecting and guiding teens, teaching “Parent Effectiveness Training” skills to adults, running groups for “Parent’s of Teens”, educating about “Co-Parenting through Divorce” and enabling families to build a stronger foundation through communication.
New group starting for parents of children, tweens and teens to handle their frustration and P.E.T. "Parenting Class : Raising Cooperative Kids" in Agoura Hills/Calabasas. Ms. Bien is the co-author of "Bully Prevention Tips for Teens: 18 Powerful Ways to Protect Yourself through High School" and speaks and teaches about Bully Prevention.
Stephanie also specializes in hospice care and counseling as well, enabling families to sort through and communicate about end of life issues. Helping the family to resolve the old issues, helps ease the way through the grief process. She is the founder of Insight to Teen Culture and co-founder of Get it Out!
Please visit https://www.stephaniebien.com for more information.

Robin Gingold, MD has been a pediatrician at Agoura West Valley Pediatrics since 1995. Dr. Gingold was born and raised in Los Angeles. She graduated with honors from Brown University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She then attended University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine and completed her pediatric internship and residency at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. Dr. Gingold specializes in patients from birth until 21 years of age. She has developed a personal interest in adolescent development. Dr. Gingold has two offices, one in West Hills and one in Agoura Hills. She is a member of the AMA, AAP, CMA and LAPDS societies. Besides being a founding member of the Insight to Teen Culture, she is a board member of the Muses of the California Science Center, runs a book club and enjoys exercise, cooking and gardening. For more information, please visit www.agourawestvalleypeds.com or join her facebook page or Instagram site at Agoura-West Valley Pediatric Medical Group.

Jill Stowell MS in Education: Founder of Stowell Learning Centers, holds California teaching credentials in elementary education and learning handicaps, an MS degree in Education, a California Resource Specialist Certificate, and Dyslexia Remediation Specialist Certification. She opened her first center in 1984 to help children and adults with dyslexia, learning disabilities, and other learning and attention challenges. In the past 30 years, SLC has helped thousands of students with a variety of learning challenges to become successful learners.
Jill has developed a very comprehensive continuum of learning skills that allows the centers to create programming for each student that is very specific to his or her needs. She is passionate about getting to the root of the learning problem, and helping children and adults become independent learners. Jill is also the host of LD Expert Live, and you can find more information about Jill and Stowell Learning Centers at www.stowellcenter.com

Sharon Volner, LMFT “My philosophy is that people, whether they are struggling with mental health or addiction issues, need to know their reality.”
Sharon brings a broad range of experience to her role as the Chief Clinical Officer of La Ventana Treatment Program. She has over twenty years experience working with at-risk youth, couples, families, and adults in the field of mental health and addiction. She has worked at various rehabilitation centers with youth and adults struggling with issues of addiction and their underlying psychological causes. Sharon has worked as a trainer and operator on a crisis suicide hotline. Sharon has worked directly with the homeless population in assisting them in stabilizing slaventanatreatment.comevere and persistent mental health and substance dependence as well as gaining housing and employment. Sharon maintains a private practice in Westlake and is a Clinical Supervisor to registered interns working towards their licensure. Sharon’s approach is multi-modal: she addresses the biological, psychosocial, spiritual, and nutritional aspects of addiction and treatment.
Sharon earned her MS in Counseling with Distinction from California State University. She is a member of CAMFT, and a Co-Leader of her daughter’s Girl Scout Troop in efforts to help young girls develop empowerment and leadership. Sharon is also the Vice President of Fundraising for the Theatre Boosters at her daughter high school

Lightfully is woman-founded and woman-led. This is unique in the behavioral healthcare industry. Focused on changing lives, compassionately, welightfully.com leverage our clinical and leadership experience to create unprecedented programs, facilities, and therapeutic treatment opportunities for each human to grow and thrive. Lightfully offers Residential, Outpatient and Virtual Treatment for adults and
teens struggling with mental health concerns. Lightfully operates 18 programs across California. Lightfully Teen works with students of all genders, ages 12-17. Unlike other companies, Lightfully’s focus on primary mental healthcare is centered on these experiences: Depression and Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Personality Disorders and Trauma Related Disorders. For more information, call Maggie Spoonerow 818.651.6798 or go to https://lightfully.com

Evolve Adolescent Behavioral Health Evolve offers evidence-based treatment for teens, all genders, 12 to 17 years old, who struggle with mental health, substance abuse, and/or behavioral issues. DBT is in our DNA! We have and adolescent comprehensive DBT proevolvetreatment.comgram and our standard residential program. All programs across all levels of care have adherent DBT skills training. Evolve offers a full continuum of care, including Intensive Outpatient (IOP), Partial Hospitalization (PHP), and Residential Treatment Centers (RTC). To learn more, visit evolvetreatment.com or call 877-620-4598.

Angels of Light Children’s Foundation- Angels of Light Children’s Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides children, teachers, parents & professionals with effective Mindfulness tools and knowledge that deliver Whole Child, www.angelsoflightonline.comWhole Community & Whole Education benefits. Currently, children worldwide are being exposed to extraordinary levels of stress and disruption that even most adults find too challenging to process. Our mindfulness through Nature programs gives children tangible tools and skills to help them work through those moments of stress, anxiety, or fear. Our proven techniques call upon Mother Nature to help guide and reignite imagination in our children to better understand their emotions, manage stress and any other challenges they may be facing by using these special mindfulness skills to build a solid foundation for lifelong balance and well-being. We hope that children all over the world can have access to this type of program so each child can feel well-equipped in every situation that life presents. www.angelsoflightonline.com

Kathy and Jeff Long are the authors of “A Parent’s Guide to Anorexia” and the creators of the nonprofit Teens4TeensHelp.org. It was through their journey with their daughter that they came to understand the power of teens hearing personal stories of recovery. After their daughters story prevented a teens suicide they knew they had to create a platform where teens everywhere could hear these stores and understand that they are not alone, there is help, hope and resources for them.
Jeff is a graduate from the USC School of Cinematic Arts Film & TV and uses his experience from his many years in production to create the videos on the site.
Kathy is a licensed acupuncturist and has a private practice in Woodland Hills.

Engage Treatment is a Joint Commission Accredited professional psychological practice. We serve children, teens, and young adults struggling with depression and anxiety through a combination of therapeutic practices and community-focused treatment plans in three separate Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP): Preteen (10-12 year olds), Teen (13-17 year olds) and Young Adults (18-25). Engage Treatment also offers limited outpatient services to support families, parents, and youth through the Reflective Parenting Program, free virtual Parent Support Group, weekly support groups for youth, and support groups for youth identifying as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
We believe that it is our role to help lift the weight of the work that comes with depression and anxiety, so our clients can feel relief, be vulnerable and discover the incredible things that happen when they engage fully. At Engage Treatment, we embrace our commitments – to care, to help in any capacity we are able, and to improve every day. We are proud of our collaborative and growing community. We are honored to use our experience and expertise to help others and grateful to be part of communities such as Insight to Teen Culture. https://engagetherapy.com/about/

Cal Psychiatry is a group of 13 collaborative, compassionate & informed psychiatrists with 15 locations throughout Southern and Northern California. Our doctors specialize in treatments for ADHD, Anxiety, Women's Mental Health, Child/Adolescent Psychiatry & Medication Management. CalPsychiatry.com

Bella Mahl is at Muir Wood Adolescent and family services, we offer teen (ages 12-17) residential programs in Riverside, Clovis, and Sonoma county. We offer both primary mental health and substance abuse treatment; as an accredited dual-diagnosis program, we offer addiction recovery support with LADACs/CADACs as recovery counselors. For more information, contact Bella Mahl at 213-604-7553 or [email protected]

Clear Behavioral Health, we provide comprehensive treatment options for a wide range of mental health and substance abuse disorders. We meet you wherever you are on your mental wellness journey and create a personalized treatment plan catered to you.
From our intensive outpatient program (IOP), partial hospitalization program (PHP) and our virtual IOP, to our residential treatment centers, detox and rehab programs, and mental health programs for teens, Clear has a treatment option that will support you, or a loved one, every step of the way. [email protected] or Admissions: 866-558-2652

Bridge The Gap partners with your therapist, doctor, or treatment team to take action on your therapy skills. We serve individuals with addiction or mental health issues. You will be paired with a therapeutic mentor to develop a comprehensive plan of action. Some mentors help clients apply to jobs or organize their living space, while other mentors help clients manage their work or school responsibilities and stay on top of tasks or appointments. For families, the therapeutic mentor will act as a liaison between the therapy team, your loved one, and you. For therapists and treatment providers, the mentor will meet with clients in real world settings to put therapy homework into action and take case management out of the therapy room. https://www.bridgethegapservices.com/

Our Youth Board

Daisy Warner is an Insight Treatment Program alumni and current student at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas where she is studying psychology. Born and raised in the English countryside, Daisy moved to Los Angeles, California when she was 13 years old. Throughout her teenage years she struggled with depression, anxiety, self harm, disordered eating and suicidal ideations. Now, she aims to use her experiences to help others feel less alone and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. Through speaking at panels Daisy has shared her story with over 1000 teenagers in the community and wants to go on to work in the mental health field. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and animals, thrifting, listening to music, chasing sunsets, trader joe’s, matcha and beach walks.

Ava Marsh is an Insight Treatment alumni and current college sophomore at Biola University studying psychology. Her mental health journey began in her childhood, as she grew up frequently moving as part of a military family. She began struggling with anxiety at a young age and in her teenage years developed depression and began to struggle with self harm. Ava has a passion for community mental health resources/education and destigmatization of therapy for youth. She hopes to become a therapist for teens in the future. In her free time, Ava can be found roaming the isles of Target, watching Netflix, baking, studying at a coffee shop, or watching the sunset at the beach.

Katya Clark and is a student at Oak Park high school. i’m currently a junior and have struggled with a lot of mental health such as depression, body stigma, eating troubles, and anxiety. I’ve learned to manage it through energy redirection such as playing sports or going to the gym and therapy. I’ve tried to advocate for mental health and help prevent other young people from experiencing the same things. For my girl scout silver award, I created a mental health website for other teens struggling, I also spend my free time with my friends, going to the beach, baking, and making pinterest inspired crafts.

Jack Storch is an Insight Treatment alumni and a senior at Valencia High School. He struggled with depression and anxiety, as well as addiction, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. He grew up in Santa Clarita, where most of his non-immediate family members were active drug addicts. He began his journey with addiction and mental health disorders at the age of 15. He has been clean and sober for well over a year and plans to help his community in any means possible. He is an active member of the recovery community and plans to get certified as a drug and alcohol counselor after high school. In his free time, he spends most of his days making music, attending meetings, and enjoying activities like surfing, skiing, and rock climbing.

Marina is a sophomore at Oak Park High School. She moved frequently, and her last home was located in Turkey. She went to an international school, meeting people who were placed under similar circumstances, with many of her friends battling depression and various eating disorders. Marina built a strong interest in sociology and psychology, currently attending a peer counseling group at her school. She also enjoys writing short stories and playing with her cat during her free time.

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