About Social Skills Training Academy · Los Angeles
Social Skills Training Academy is a Los Angeles-area social skills education practice serving children, teens, and young adults ages 3 through 17 (with coaching available through adulthood). Founded and directed by Dr. Tammy Van Fleet, PhD, BCBA-D, the academy is a sister program to Behavior Insights, Inc. and offers evidence-based group social skills classes plus 1:1 social skills coaching rooted in Applied Behavior Analysis. The practice operates out of an office in Encino, California, in the San Fernando Valley, and serves families across the greater Los Angeles region.
Social Skills Training Academy is the social-skills education division of Behavior Insights, Inc., a private Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) practice based in Encino, California, in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles. It was founded by Dr. Tammy Van Fleet, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst at the doctoral level (BCBA-D) who holds a PhD in Applied Behavior Analysis from The Chicago School, Los Angeles, and a California teaching credential. According to the academy's own materials, Dr. Van Fleet started Social Skills Training Academy on the premise that all children — not just those with disabilities — can benefit from direct access to structured social skills training, and she designed a specialized, age-tiered curriculum that teaches social skills in a fun, interactive, evidence-based learning environment. The academy serves children from early preschool through high school (ages 3 to 17) with group social skills classes divided into Early Preschool, Preschool, Elementary, Later Elementary, and Middle School / High School tracks. It also offers individualized 1:1 Social Skills Coaching for ages 7 through adulthood. The curriculum follows a clear instructional model — introduce the topic, model the skill, practice through lesson activities and role-play, give positive feedback, and monitor progress — and focuses on social interactions, interpersonal relationships, communication skills, executive functioning, emotional regulation, and independent living skills. The practice specializes in working with individuals with and without disabilities in areas such as ADHD, anxiety, emotional regulation, attention and focus, phobias, and social skill acquisition. The leadership team includes Dr. Van Fleet as director, Mikayla Lapré (M.S., BCBA) as the lead social skills group coordinator and behavior consultant, and Diana Pineda (M.S., BCBA) as the Social Skills Groups Coordinator and Instructor. Dr. Van Fleet is also on the board of directors of Spectrum Workforce, a non-profit connecting individuals with autism to entertainment-industry jobs. Third-party directories list the academy at 6345 Balboa Blvd., Suite 163, Building III, Encino, CA 91316 (with some older listings showing 15235 Burbank Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91411). Public reviews on independent directories are uniformly five-star, with parents and professional colleagues describing significant gains in children's confidence, friendship-making, and school participation after working with Dr. Van Fleet and her team.
- Owner
- Dr. Tammy Van Fleet, PhD, BCBA-D (Director and Founder)
- Serves
- Greater Los Angeles area; primarily the San Fernando Valley (Encino, Sherman Oaks, Tarzana, Van Nuys, Simi Valley, and surrounding communities). Third-party review locations on file include Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks, Tarzana, Simi Valley, and San Fernando Valley.
- Rating
- 5.0 (7 reviews on Unilocal); no Google/Yelp rating located.
About Social Skills Training Academy
Social Skills Training Academy is a Los Angeles-area social skills education practice founded and directed by Dr. Tammy Van Fleet, PhD, BCBA-D. It operates as the social-skills arm of Behavior Insights, Inc., a private Applied Behavior Analysis practice headquartered in Encino, California. The academy states that it 'aims to aid your child in developing the skills to acquire and maintain social relationships, which are the number one predictor of childhood success.' Its central belief is that all children — not only those with disabilities — benefit from direct, structured social skills training.
- Founded by Dr. Tammy Van Fleet, PhD, BCBA-D
- Sister program to Behavior Insights, Inc. (Encino, CA)
- Serves children and teens ages 3 to 17, plus 1:1 coaching through adulthood
- Evidence-based curriculum rooted in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Mission and Vision
The academy's published mission and vision center on equipping every child with the social skills needed to navigate each stage of life confidently. The team believes social skills are 'just as important to a child's success as other needed skills,' and they have built their entire program around delivering age-appropriate social skills training in a fun, interactive group environment.
- Mission: Help every child feel confident and knowledgeable in social situations.
- Vision: Ensure all children have the necessary social skills to be successful at each stage of life.
- Curriculum model: Introduce the topic → Model the skill → Practice via lesson activity and role-play → Provide positive feedback → Monitor progress.
Our Team
The academy is led by Dr. Tammy Van Fleet, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst at the doctoral level with over a decade of dedicated social-skills experience. She is supported by two BCBA-level clinicians who coordinate the group programs and provide individualized coaching. All services are delivered under Dr. Van Fleet's supervision using evidence-based practices.
- Tammy Van Fleet, PhD, BCBA-D — Director and Founder; PhD in Applied Behavior Analysis from The Chicago School, Los Angeles; California teaching credential; author of The School-Based Behavior Technician and creator of The School-Based Behavior Technician Online Training; board member of Spectrum Workforce.
- Mikayla Lapré, M.S., BCBA — Behavior Consultant at Behavior Insights Inc. & Social Skills Training Academy; lead social skills group coordinator; M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Westfield State University (2020); experience with ages 18 months to 24 years across schools, homes, and community settings.
- Diana Pineda, M.S., BCBA — Social Skills Groups Coordinator and Instructor; M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis from California State University, Northridge (2021); over six years of experience working with individuals ages 3 through 24.
Curriculum Model
The academy uses a structured, repeatable instructional cycle for every social skill it teaches. This five-step model ensures children are not just told about a skill but see it modeled, get to practice it, receive immediate feedback, and are monitored for ongoing growth. The model is applied consistently across every age tier.
- Step 1 — Introduce the Social Skills Topic
- Step 2 — Model the Social Skill (show what the skill looks like)
- Step 3 — Practice the Skills (lesson activity and role-play)
- Step 4 — Positive Feedback (praise correct responses/strengths; guide on areas of difficulty)
- Step 5 — Monitor Progress (note strengths and difficulty areas to inform next steps)
Group Social Skills Classes by Age
The academy offers five age-tiered social skills groups so that instruction always matches the developmental stage of the learner. Each tier uses age-appropriate activities, evidence-based practices, and the academy's five-step curriculum model. All group classes are designed to be 'fun, interactive, and effective' so children can build confidence while learning.
- Early Preschool — designed to foster age-appropriate play skills, social skills, and independence in social situations; introduces topics that increase social interactions and social communication.
- Preschool — teaches age-appropriate play skills, social interactions, and communication skills through engaging, fun, research-based activities that promote strong social relationships.
- Elementary — teaches and enhances age-appropriate play skills, communication skills, and interpersonal relationship skills through interactive lessons and hands-on activities.
- Later Elementary — strengthens social skills from the early elementary program and introduces topics that foster successful independence in social situations, with emphasis on social interactions, interpersonal relationships, and communication.
- Middle School & High School — facilitates building social relationships and enhances interpersonal and communication skills; introduces age-appropriate interests and the execution of skills needed to maintain friendships.
1:1 Social Skills Coaching
For learners who already have a solid foundation of social skills but want targeted support on specific goals, the academy offers individualized social skills coaching. These one-on-one sessions focus on the individual's goals and needs and are available to anyone ages 7 through adulthood.
- 1:1 format focused on individual goals and needs
- Available for ages 7 through adulthood
- Beneficial for individuals with good foundational social skills who would benefit from a skilled practitioner
- Delivered by the academy's social skills coaches under BCBA supervision
Specialties and Clinical Focus
Beyond group and 1:1 social skills work, Behavior Insights, Inc. and Social Skills Training Academy offer a broad set of evidence-based clinical services for individuals ages 3 to 18+. The team specializes in several overlapping areas that often co-occur with social skills challenges, allowing for coordinated, whole-child support.
- ADHD
- Anxiety treatment
- Emotional regulation
- Executive functioning skills
- Appropriate social skills
- Phobias
- Attention and focus
- Academic deficits and school readiness skills
- Independent living skills
School-Based Work and Training
Through its parent organization Behavior Insights, Inc., the academy's director Dr. Van Fleet consults with and trains staff in educational and professional institutions. She specializes in conducting school-based Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) and has created a national online training resource for school-based behavior technicians.
- School-based Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs)
- Consulting and training for public and private schools
- Author of The School-Based Behavior Technician (book)
- Creator of The School-Based Behavior Technician Online Training
- Adjunct professor and guest lecturer in Applied Behavior Analysis
Service Area and Locations
The academy and its parent practice Behavior Insights, Inc. are based in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles. The primary listed address is in Encino, with families traveling in from across the greater Los Angeles area. Reviews on third-party directories show client families located in Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks, Tarzana, Van Nuys, Simi Valley, and the broader San Fernando Valley.
- Primary office: 6345 Balboa Blvd., Suite 163, Building III, Encino, CA 91316
- Some third-party directories also list 15235 Burbank Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91411
- Families served from across the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles
Contact and Hours
The academy can be reached by phone, email, and through its official website, and maintains active social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram. Published office hours (as listed by Therapy Solutions for Kids) are weekdays only, with shorter hours on Fridays.
- Phone (Social Skills Training Academy): (818) 351-9520
- Email: [email protected]
- Parent company phone (Behavior Insights, Inc.): (805) 506-3390
- Parent company email: [email protected]
- Website: https://socialskillstrainingacademy.com
- Facebook: /Social-Skills-Training-Academy
- Instagram: @socialskillstrainingacademy
- Hours: Mon–Thu 9 AM–6 PM; Fri 9 AM–5 PM; Sat–Sun Closed