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Conveniently located in Westwood, Los Angeles. 

Tailored integrated care for people with severe mental illness, all in one place

High-quality clinical treatment and compassionate social support to help people thrive physically, mentally, and socially.

We believe that treating the whole person leads to lasting health outcomes and a better quality of life

Amae Health provides specialty integrated care for people with severe mental illness. Our psychiatry-led approach recognizes the unique needs of our patients, and provides personalized treatment across behavioral medicine, primary care, and social health to help patients and families stabilize, prosper, and prevent future adverse events.

Immediate post-acute event engagement with patients & family

In-person care clinics with integrated community & support centers

Precision treatment plans integrating gold standard clinical models

Symptom & outcomes tracking powered by measurement-based care

People with severe mental illness don’t need a screen. They need a team.

Our outpatient care centers operate as both a clinic and a community center where our patients receive all medical care and recovery support. Some of our integrated services include:

Psychiatric Care & Medication Management
Primary Care
Group Therapy
CBT + DBT Integrated Therapy
Mindfulness
Holistic Health Coaching
Nutrition, Exercise & Sleep Management
Peer Support

We are in-network with the following plans

and accept most PPO plans out-of-network.

Our Team

Psychiatrist

Scott Fears, MD / PHD

Dr. Scott Fears is a psychiatrist and Chief Medical Officer for Amae Health. He received his MD and PhD from the University of Chicago before completing his psychiatry training at UCLA. He joined faculty at UCLA and is now Professor of Psychiatry in the Semel Institute for Neurosciences and Human Behavior. His academic work has included international research projects in genetics, neuroimaging and precision medicine. He has also served as the Medical Director of the STAND Clinic for UCLA’s Depression Grand Challenge Program. Dr. Fears has a passion for providing health care to individuals with serious mental illness including homeless and underserved individuals.

Previously, Dr. Fears was the Director of Psychiatric Services at Homeless Health Care Los Angeles, a non-profit dedicated to providing housing and health care to homeless individuals, and he has continued his service as a member of the Board of Directors. In 2014, he joined faculty at the Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Hospital and has managed the inpatient and outpatient operations providing care to individuals with serious mental illness.

Dr. Fears has a long-standing aspiration to address the growing mental health crisis and joined Amae Health to help advance high-quality mental health treatment. He has merged his experience in the treatment of serious mental illness with his knowledge in large-scale clinical operations and his academic expertise in precision medicine to help build a state-of-the-art model of care for Amae Health.

Psychiatrist

Caryn Bernstein, MD

Dr. Caryn Bernstein is the Medical Director of Psychiatry and Women’s Health for Amae Health. She received her BA from Stanford and completed a one-year fellowship at the CDC before going to UCLA where she received her MD in Psychiatry. During medical school, her plans for a career in public health expanded to include a passion for treating serious mental illness (SMI), recognizing that social and economic barriers impact the course of the illness and recovery. She went on to complete her adult psychiatry training at UCLA, where she gained expertise in perinatal mental health.

Dr. Bernstein also serves as the Los Angeles VA Health Care System Behavioral Health, Deputy Division Chief and oversees mental health programs focused on trauma, homelessness, psychosis, substance use disorders, and women’s mental health. She is also a physician educator and is an Assistant Clinical Professor at UCLA and won the UCLA Psychiatry Department’s resident teaching award in 2021 for her course focused on reproductive mental health and trauma. She is excited to bring her expertise to Amae to develop sustainable models of care that promote care engagement and recovery goals.

Psychiatrist

Gary Tsai, MD

Dr. Gary Tsai is the Medical Director of Behavioral Health for Amae Health. He completed his medical training at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine and is board certified in both general psychiatry and addiction medicine. Dr. Tsai is also the Director of the LA County Department of Public Health’s Division of Substance Abuse Prevention and Control.

As the son of a mother with schizophrenia, Dr. Tsai is a passionate advocate for improving our behavioral health systems and care delivery. He founded the production company Forgotten Films, focused on behavioral health issues, and is the award-winning author of Against All Odds: A Practical Guide to Successfully Navigate Psychosis and Behavioral Health Systems.

Psychiatrist

Jessica Jeffrey, MD, MPH, MBA

Dr. Jessica Jeffrey is a distinguished child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist, and the Adolescent Behavioral Health Lead at Amae Health. She also holds a role as the Associate Director of the Division of Population Behavioral Health at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. Recognized for her contributions to the field, Dr. Jeffrey is a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Her academic achievements include numerous publications on topics such as integrated behavioral healthcare and the impact of quality of life on depression. Dr. Jeffrey has a strong interest in advocacy for improved child mental health access. She serves on the FDA's Psychoharmacologic Drug Advisory Committee and the PRITE/Child PRITE Editorial Board, reflecting her commitment to quality improvement, trauma, and resilience in the realm of mental health.

Personalized treatment plans

Psychiatry

Psychiatric care involves a combination of medication and therapy. Our psychiatric team works with the full care team to develop a medication plan, monitors the effectiveness and side effects of medications, and makes any necessary adjustments to the medication regimen. In addition, our psychiatrists provide therapy and other forms of support to help patients manage their illness and improve their overall well-being. They work closely with other members of the care team, including primary care physicians, nurses, social workers, and therapists, to ensure that all aspects of a patient’s care are coordinated and integrated.

CBT + DBT Integrated Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) are two types of therapy that are commonly used to treat mental health conditions. CBT focuses on helping individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors that are contributing to their mental health issues. DBT combines elements of CBT with mindfulness and acceptance techniques to help individuals regulate their emotions and improve their relationships with others. Both CBT and DBT are considered to be effective treatments for a range of mental health conditions.

Holistic Health Coaching

Holistic health coaching focuses on the whole person, including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health. This type of coaching is provided by trained professionals who work with clients to help them identify and achieve their health and wellness goals. Holistic health coaching includes a range of activities, such as setting health goals, creating personalized action plans, and providing support and guidance to help clients make sustainable lifestyle changes. The goal of holistic health coaching is to empower individuals to take control of their own health and wellbeing.

Group Therapy

Group therapy is a form of therapy that involves a small group of individuals who are dealing with similar mental health issues. This therapy is led by a trained therapist or peer support and includes activities such as group discussions, skill-building exercises, and support from other group members. The goal of group therapy is to provide individuals with a safe and supportive environment where they can share their experiences, learn coping skills, and develop a sense of community. Group therapy is an effective complement to individual therapy and medication in the treatment of serious mental illness.

Primary Care

Primary care is a branch of medicine that focuses on the comprehensive and ongoing care of individuals, families, and communities. Primary care providers, such as general practitioners or primary care physicians, are responsible for providing initial and ongoing care for a wide range of health issues, including preventative care, health education, and the management of chronic conditions. They often serve as the first point of contact for patients seeking medical treatment, and play a critical role in coordinating care with other healthcare providers to ensure that patients receive the most appropriate and effective care for their specific needs.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a mental state characterized by a focus on the present moment and a non-judgmental awareness of one’s thoughts, feelings, and surroundings. This state of mind is often cultivated through the practice of mindfulness meditation, which involves paying attention to one’s breath and allowing thoughts and sensations to come and go without reacting to them. Mindfulness has been shown to have a range of benefits for mental and physical health, including reduced stress and anxiety, improved concentration, and increased well-being.

Nutrition, Exercise & Sleep Management

Nutrition, exercise, and sleep are three important factors that can affect an individual’s overall health and wellbeing. Our team works with patients to develop personalized plans for nutrition, exercise, and sleep that are tailored to their individual needs and goals. This involves providing education and support to help patients make healthy choices about their diet and physical activity, as well as working with them to identify and address any obstacles that may be preventing them from getting enough quality sleep.

Peer Support

Peer support is provided by individuals who have personal experience with serious mental illness. They are able to provide support and guidance to members of our clinic who are dealing with similar issues. This type of support is provided through a range of activities, such as one-on-one conversations, support groups, and peer mentoring. The goal of peer support is to provide individuals with a sense of community and connection, as well as practical advice and support from people who understand their experiences.

COORDINATED CARE IN ONE PLACE
EVIDENCE & MEASUREMENT-BASED CARE
EXPERT CLINICIANS

What our members say about Amae

I’m a sister of a patient at Amae. I felt immediate relief from the beginning of our first visit to their facility. The staff is incredibly supportive, caring, and immediately follows up when needed. This is unfortunately rare in the mental health field. Though it’s only been less than two months since my brother has joined Amae, I’ve noticed significant improvement in his overall well-being. For the first time, my brother has accepted that he needs help and is willing and eager to continue to do the work at Amae. We’re beyond grateful for the staff at Amae, and I’m excited for him to continue to stay on the right path.

Caregiver of Patient at Amae Health

When Amae was recommended to us, we thought we had run out of options. Or at least that none of the other options seemed to offer any real help. Our son, who had been sober and medicated for over a year, was dealing with a new serious mental crisis: for a couple of weeks, he had been super paranoid, agitated and incapable of focusing. Probably because he had stopped taking his meds. He had just been released from a hospital psych ward hold where they heavily sedated him. They had released him with no suggestions on what to do next.

After a few miserable days for all of us, we took him to meet the team at Amae. They were wonderful. A harbor in the storm! They gently convinced him to take a breath and to talk to them. Even though he was very adamant to leave. The psychiatrist offered to take him for a walk, just the two of them, and chat. Everyone there made both him and us feel heard for the first time in weeks. Fast forward, day after day, our son started participating more willingly in Amae’s outpatient program. Now, several months later, he willingly goes there twice a week. He is himself again: caring, calm and attentive. Active socially. He even has started to work again. And he takes his medication. All this seemed out of reach just months ago.

What a turnaround it has been! We are all so grateful for Amae’s very personal approach. They help him with his physical well-being, his mental health, his social skills, and his personal development. I feel that this kind of help is something that was greatly needed and lacking. I really wondered if anyone was listening and really willing to try to help individuals dealing with mental health (rather than just sedating or locking up people who are struggling). I feel like our kids have to live in a very complex and challenging world, with overwhelming global issues that must be really difficult to deal with. It is my opinion that Amae successfully offers a safe space for those who need help learning to cope and move on with their lives.

Parent of Patient at Amae Health

The people at Amae are very friendly and supportive. I've learned a lot of new coping skills and ways to control my intrusive thoughts. With the health coach, I've learned about nutritional foods and getting exercise. With the treatment and the medication, I'm getting better.

Patient at Amae Health

I met with one of your members today. She is still impaired but REMARKABLY better compared to when I last met with her.

UCLA Referring Psychiatrist

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We are a psychiatry-led integrated care provider of outpatient physical and behavioral health services delivered at our in-person clinics. Our goal is to eliminate disparities in care and improve health equity across marginalized and underserved populations.