S.E. Specter MD PhD ▪ Psychiatry | Nutrition Science
Beverly Hills, California
Palm Springs, California
Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
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Dr. S.E. Specter is a board-certified psychiatrist with an academic research background in the fields of Neurobiology and Human Nutrition. The practice offers comprehensive help for a wide range of mental health/behavioral difficulties, including low mood (depression), unstable mood (bipolar disorder), anxiety (including panic symptoms), problems with attention and concentration (ADHD), psychosis, post-traumatic stress, obsessional thoughts-compulsive behaviors (OCD), and relationship or work issues. Work with eating behavior and body image difficulties is a practice specialty.
This office has extensive experience offering pharmacological help to patients with their weight loss goals. Work with GLP-1 receptor agents, e.g. semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus) and GLP-1/GIP receptor agents, e.g. tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) can be a complex and challenging process. Safety, minimizing side effects, and long-range/sustainable change in eating behaviors are principal objectives of the successful results this practice can help patients achieve with these medications.
Dr. Specter holds clinical academic appointments in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and in the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He's a former attending physician in the Psychiatry General Outpatient Clinic at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and the most recent Medical Director of the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital Adult Eating Disorders Program.
Dr. Specter has instructed UCLA medical students in the Neuroscience (II) curriculum, lectured on the diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders to Psychiatry residents at the UCLA Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital (years 1 and 3) and at USC (R3 level), and is the former West Coast Chief of Psychiatry for Monte Nido & affiliates, a multi-site eating disorder residential and day program treatment facility.
Whatever brings you into the office, we'll work together to try to identify, understand, and resolve your difficulties. A good working relationship can be a critical component of the process, and sometimes just making the decision to get started is the most difficult part. Feel free to give the office a call to discuss whether it makes sense for you to come in for an initial consultation.
NOTE: both in-person office visits and video conference (tele-health) sessions are offered.
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DIAGNOSIS ▪ TREATMENT ▪ RECOVERY
psychopharmacology
(medication management)
psychotherapy
psychodynamic ▪ cognitive-behavioral ▪ interpersonal
individual ▪ couples ▪ family sessions ▪ group work
genetic testing
to explore psychotropic medication compatibility
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SPECIALIZING IN PROBLEMS WITH EATING BEHAVIOR AND RELATED ISSUES
overweight and overeating ▪ underweight and food-restricting ▪ perpetually weight fluctuating
compulsive overeating ▪ impulsive overeating
avoidance and/or intolerance of individual food components
eating disorders
anorexia nervosa ▪ bulimia nervosa ▪ binge-eating disorder
body image dissatisfaction
body dysmorphic disorder ▪ muscle dysmorphia
adult and adolescent males preoccupied with weight, muscle mass/definition, and compulsive exercise
MEDICAL OVERSIGHT FOR EATING BEHAVIOR ISSUES
medically-supervised diet and weight control
cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, endocrine (DM-II, PCOS), and other chronic diseases linked to excess body fat
evaluation of %body fat and lean body mass available (by bio-electric impedance instrumentation) available
bariatric surgery consultation
eating behavior assessment and recommendations pre- and post-procedure
pharmacological treatment for appetite control and weight loss
assessment for safety, risk-benefit, and potential effectiveness, as well as review of all medication options