Optimum Performance Institute - Woodland Hills, California

Henry W.

I came to OPI Long Term Program in search of support, healing, and growth. What I found instead was a deeply dysfunctional, misrepresented, and even traumatizing environment—one that failed me on nearly every level, especially socially and emotionally.

The program is sold as a comprehensive, therapeutic environment tailored to young adults with complex needs. What’s never mentioned is the massive disconnect between the clinical side of the program and the residential one—the place you actually live. The clinical staff may have credentials, but the residential staff—the ones most present in your day-to-day life—have no clinical training whatsoever. The only consistent qualification appears to be a willingness to work for $21–$26 an hour in Los Angeles. That’s not a wage that attracts professionals. It’s a wage that attracts people willing to tolerate chaos without question.

I was severely bullied and harassed by my roommates—specifically targeted for my weight and for being gay. They regularly made violent, graphic comments about rape fantasies, some of which involved other clients, and at times acted them out with pillows in front of me. This wasn’t subtle or occasional—it was disturbing and relentless. I reported this to multiple staff members, including the executive director. The response? I was told I could be moved back into the staffed apartments—a place widely seen by clients as a punishment. In other words, I was made to feel like I was the problem for reporting abuse. Nothing was done. No intervention, no removal, no accountability. The situation only changed because the two clients eventually left. I was left to endure it until then.

That’s not support. That’s negligence.

Even after my roommates left, I was excluded and isolated. Others formed cliques, went on group outings, and left me behind. For a program that claims to foster community, OPI was anything but. The staff treated us as incompetent and untrustworthy, denying us dignity and autonomy. My valid trauma responses were pathologized. I was blamed for the program’s failures and told my discomfort was a symptom.

OPI does not provide care. It provides containment—and it punishes you for asking for anything better.

Update: After posting a respectful version of this review, OPI publicly responded with a message of empty empathy and a suggestion to “reach out to the executive director.” Let me be clear: Jessica Breton and Alissa Foreman (the executive director and the clinical director) were fully aware of my experience. I reported the harassment multiple times. Their public comment is not concern—it is damage control. OPI continues to hide behind a caring facade to mask the reality: a deeply dysfunctional, for-profit institution owned by Embark Behavioral Health and their private equity investors.

OPI charged my parents over $70K and my insurance over $200K. In return, I was stripped of my dignity, harassed, isolated, blamed, and left more traumatized than when I arrived. OPI reinforced the message that my neurodivergence and mental health challenges were my fault, and strained my relationship with my parents. Ultimately, OPI has left me profoundly hopeless, struggling with daily suicidal thoughts and ideation, and questioning whether my life can ever become one worth living.

I preferred the Depression/Anxiety Psychiatric Unit at McLean Hospital over OPI—not because it offered freedom or comfort, but because even in its restrictive setting, the care was genuine. The staff at McLean are well-qualified, trained, and treat patients with respect and dignity. They understand the ethical boundaries of clinical care—boundaries that, in my experience, were not upheld by all OPI staff.

OPI/embark is not a place of healing—it’s a business carefully staged behind therapeutic buzzwords and polished marketing. It profits off the pain of vulnerable young people while offering them little more than neglect and control. Behind every brochure promising care is a system that prioritizes revenue over recovery, image over integrity, and silence over accountability.

RC

Our child had a truly transformative experience at OPI. While it took time to get acclimated, the dedicated and compassionate staff never gave up. Their patience, structure, and support helped build trust, confidence, and essential life skills. OPI specializes in helping young adults navigate the often-challenging transition to independence, and they do it with expertise and care.
One of the most impactful aspects for us as a family was the weekly parent and occasional family therapy sessions. These were incredibly helpful—not only did our child grow, but we grew as well. The process brought us closer, gave us new tools to offer meaningful support, and helped us understand each other in deeper ways.
Thanks to OPI, our child is now living independently, gainfully employed, healthy, and happy. We’re incredibly grateful to OPI for helping our child step into adulthood with confidence—and for giving our family the tools to support that journey.

Olivia B.

Hearing details of the experienced people go through at this institution has been traumatic in of its own, I can only imagine the things the people inside are actually going through. This institution seems to promote the robotization of young adults in order to “prepare them for the real world,” I would argue they are doing the opposite, and only harming a true individualistic nature some clients need in order to thrive.

nahc

I’m 20 btw, I arrived at OPI on June 24, 2024, coming from a previous short term residential program near by. First day was great, got introduced to all my staff and met tons of nice peers. I would find myself having lots of anxiety, depression and just hopelessness in life. I used to be scared to talk to therapist but i learned that they can’t help you unless you tell them what you want help with. My previous treatment and OPI really helped me learn that skill.

Groups are great, get to meet all the other clients, but sometimes the space can feel like a high school with cliques and others thinking it’s okay to talk down on other clients due to their mental health. So sometimes the “safe space” they try to provide isn’t safe because you get talked about behind your back. Unfortunately OPI doesn’t seem to do anything about this bullying. Myself was never harassed/bullied, but I would watch it happen all the time to other clients and would have to stand up for them and whatever kids BS thinking they know everything.

All the staff are kind at OPI, they will be hard on you when it has to be if they really know you want to succeed and learn. For those parents who just send their kid expecting to get fixed automatically or get forced to be fixed(that is not what OPI does). If your child seems to not want to do the program, OPI unfortunately won’t discipline them due to being afraid of backlash from parents. No parent wants to hear that their child is not improving, not wanting to help themselves, and won’t accept or listen to advice other than threaten other with their own suicide. If a kid wants to go out and do drugs and have sex with others they’ll be able to do it. Also tons of clients will have nicotine… GL

I had plenty of relapses at OPI, and the addiction department was always understanding. I actually finally understood that I no longer drink to feel good, I relapsed a time at OPI because I wanted try and use substance normally, though knowing one of my problems was using substance to cope. Instead of getting mad, upset, or disappointed, they helped me realize the growth and how I didn’t go drugs to cope with some problem, but that I relapsed because there wasn’t any problems.

So they really dig deep into you and look into your actions closely. Staff at the apartments, eh it can be hit or miss whether the staff just stays on their phone the entire time while doing their hourly rounds or you could have that staff that actually cares about you and notices when you look down and actually asks how you are doing. Most of the apartment staff are nice, but there are some odd heads.

Lunch outings are a great way to meet other clients and bond more with them instead of in groups all the time. There are 2 groups each weekend, Only problem is, the cliques will complain until they all get in the same group and so then no one gets to meet anyone new.

Shoutout Staff: Arianna, Spencer, Janet, Ali, Janet, Sarah, Momma Mariam(joke name for her, she gonna see this and get mad), Karen, Mina, Gabe, Mario, Marvin, Jeff, Arlieta, Jazz, k/cali(my gang), Orlando, Diego, ALL DRIVERS, Josh,

Arianna and Spencer were part of my main treatment team and both provided outstanding work to help me learn about myself and gain confidence. Arianna was my therapist and helped me the same amount that i wanted to help myself. She realized how motivated I was to getting better and really reciprocated the energy and helped me.

Spencer was my life coach, and he helped me learn things about myself that I could never truly know. He made me realize that it’s okay to have feelings as a dude, it’s okay to open up and learn from mistakes. He was like a brother to me and if I had a 2nd chance to choose another life coach, I would chose Spencer again.

Anyway, I believe I got what I needed from OPI, but because I was motivated and determined to get better I did. It’s going to be harder for you or your child if you come here, not wanting to be better yourself. Wish everyone the best of luck in their life story and hope this helped you in deciding treatment.

Catalina G.

Past participant of 1 year and around 3 months here! I’ve been out since August 2024. OPI is definitely a treatment center…. Yes it helped me out in many ways and it still has its flaws. Staff were usually pretty chill and understanding. Yet OPI felt like being in a corny high school sitcom. Minus the comedy part (for the most part). Cliques were very present and it didn’t feel like a safe space. The only reason why I shared in groups was because I had to if I wanted to move up in the program. People WILL talk behind your back. I am sadly guilty of this too and I am NOT proud. I feel like OPI doesn’t take bullying and harassment seriously. Drama between pts and also staff is very present. They also forced me to write a 5 start review after I left a “bad one”. Still OPI has its perks but i wouldn’t recommend it or any treatment like it personally. I would’ve given it 2 stars but I’m feeling generous

Tatiana M.

I was at OPI for 197 Days and I am happy to say that It was the best decision that I have made with my life. I learned so much from how to make some amazing friends to how to make an accurate budget with my life coach Spencer.

Spencer is one of the best. He's not always by the book and helps one get to the bottom of things happening in every day life. His goal for each client is to have them as ready as possible and as prepared for what's to come tomorrow as can be. Not to brag but I also had one of the best therapists in OPI. Ali G is a fun, confident, wicked smart woman who always left me with something new to think about. She gives some of the strangest interventions I have ever had in my life but I promise if one gives it a try it's so worth it. Her goal is to work with you on your problem areas and get you to a point of feeling confident in those areas as well.

Everyone at OPI is someone that is always going to be willing to work with you no matter what. From the drivers to the ILS staff and beyond. Trust them to know what they are doing and keep an open mind when it comes to problem solving at the apartments.

The outings and activities that I was lucky enough to have the privilege of going on were always fun. For Halloween I had the privilege of going to Halloween Horror Nights, one of the best nights of my life. Chilling with other clients and getting to know them is always one of the best parts of any day. If you choose OPI keep in mind the memories you will make because It will certainty be a story to tell.

If you need to work on your mental health, addiction, or just want a better life for yourself, I recommend OPI 100%. Thank you to everyone that got me through my journey I honestly can't wait to find out what happens next!

B H.

The other parents leaving reviews are correct in their assessments of OPI. Let's start with the admissions and billing staff. Admissions will tell you whatever you want to hear, truth or not, to get you in the door. Both admissions and billing will be incredibly attentive until you sign the papers. After papers were signed, I had to ask my educational consultant to run interference to get my phone calls returned.

Next therapy staff. I thought for the price, we would be getting the best of the best, but I was wrong. They are young and inexperienced, often interns. Our therapist, A Griner, was an "associate" marriage family therapist, not even licensed. I expect that level of experience for let's say, my kid's first after school therapist, but not in a facility where clients have serious mental issues and have already failed lower levels of care and certainly not in a facility charging $25-30K/month. The skill and ease that comes with years of experience was sorely missing.

Residential staff- They too are also very young. My child was admitted under OPI's "intensive" level, where she was suppose to be monitored 1:1 with a staff member. During this "1:1" monitoring she acquired and used drugs several times, including the first day she was there. Of course, OPI does manage to charge you extra for this "intensive 1:1" monitoring. That month totaled around $34K. Drugs, alcohol, and sex between participants is rampant and staff look the other way.

OPI is a failure to launch program. Other parent reviewers have stated that and they are correct. They present themselves as equipped to handle clients with significant mental issues, but that's a ruse. There are several young adult treatment centers around the country for a lot less money. OPI offers nothing that you can't get for half the price elsewhere. I learned this after we were out over $200K. Look closely at this program. I was a desperate parent trying to find help for my kid and I didn't look close enough. Don't make the mistake I did.

Scott F.

Well well well... where to start? I have been a resident at OPI for 600 billion light years and what can I say this place really does wonders. I changed my pronouns and I developed schizophrenia. I now hear voices that tell me the demons are saying that Mr. R Kelly is good. Thanks a lot for helping me amongst other great, inexpensive treatment centers that were only 100 k an hour!!! I am super grateful for your services. As the profit Muhammad once said, Ayisha is my wife and she just turned 9 years old, and I shall marry her forever!!! May Allah be with your program. Punish the nonconforming jewish infidels.... and remain tolerant for all people. And most importantly, remember that my pronouns are mandatory!!! Yes!!! Good job!!! Yay OPI!!!!!