About
Edward L. Spencer, MD, FAPA
About
Edward L. Spencer, MD, FAPA, QME
Welcome!
I am a UCLA-trained, board-certified psychiatrist in private practice in Beverly Hills, California since 2011.
I provide comprehensive, high-quality psychiatric medication treatment and psychodynamic psychotherapy to adults in my outpatient practice and serve as an expert witness and independent medical evaluator in complex medical-legal cases.
Thank you for your interest in my practice. I look forward to hearing from you!
Contact Dr. Spencer →Services Provided
Adult psychiatry, offered in-person and by telehealth
I offer in-person appointments for medication management and psychotherapy in my office in Beverly Hills. I value the opportunity to meet patients in the office, especially at the beginning of our work together. I also offer HIPAA-compliant video appointments through Zoom to patients across California.
Diagnostic evaluations
The first step in developing a treatment plan is a thoughtful, deliberate, and detailed evaluation of your psychiatric symptoms and difficulties. I am also available for second opinions and one-time consultations.
Medication management services
I provide psychopharmacological treatment for all types of psychaitric conditions, including but not limited to mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and substance use disorders. Following a careful diagnostic evaluation, I will provide recommendations for medication treatment, if indicated. In some cases, the treatment indicated may be a carefully supervised process of deprescribing medications.
Transference-focused psychotherapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy
I focus my psychotherapy practice on transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP). TFP is an evidence-based psychotherapy treatment for patients with certain personality disorders, such as borderline personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder.
TFP can also be used to assist patients who do not have a diagnosis of a personality disorder, but who find themselves experiencing frustrating, recurring difficulties in their sense of core identity, working lives, or relationships.
TFP is an intensive, exploratory psychodynamic psychotherapy, typically occurring once to twice per week, that may be indicated after a careful clinical evaluation. Please contact me if you are interested in an evaluation for transference-focused psychotherapy.
Consultation to families
I also work with families navigating a loved one's psychiatric symptoms or the behavioral pattern known as "failure to launch." I am available for consultations with family members, alone or alongside their loved one. These consultations may include education about relevant psychiatric conditions, guidance on motivational interviewing strategies, and recommendations for higher levels of psychiatric care when appropriate.
Contact Dr. Spencer →New Patient Information
Thank you for your interest in my practice. If you are interested in becoming a new patient, please call and leave a message, and we will arrange a short telephone discussion of your needs. If I am able to help, we will schedule an initial diagnostic evaluation.
Your initial diagnostic evaluation will be scheduled for 60–90 minutes. I encourage patients to come into the office to complete the initial evaluation, but remote evaluations are also available. At the end of the evaluation, I am often able to make initial recommendations for medication treatment or psychotherapy, if indicated. In some cases, the diagnostic evaluation may require additional visits to complete. Followup appointments will be scheduled for 25-45 minutes, depending on our focus.
Contact Dr. Spencer →Fees & Billing
I do not participate in any private insurance networks and am considered an out-of-network provider. I am able to submit out-of-network claims to most insurance companies on your behalf, and can provide superbills when needed.
Please contact the office for information about current professional fees.
Medical-Legal Services
Independent Medical Evaluations
I have an established reputation for conducting detailed and defensible psychiatric evaluations, and for providing credible and persuasive written IME reports. I have experience conducting evaluations of personal injury claimants, and have a special interest in the evaluation of health care professionals facing investigations or adverse licensure proceedings.
Consultation and Case Evaluations
I am available to provide consultation and case review services to attorneys and regulatory agencies. I also have experience in the evaluation of medical records for quality of care/standard of care issues within psychiatry.
Worker's Compensation AME Services
As a Qualified Medical Evaluator within the California Worker's Compensation system since 2016, I am available for engagement as an Agreed Medical Evaluator. I am available to conduct PQME and AME evaluations in psychiatry at various locations within Los Angeles county and the Inland Empire, and remotely.
Contact Dr. Spencer →Selected CV
Education & Training
- MD, Baylor College of Medicine, 2007
- Internship and residency in psychiatry, UCLA Medical Center, 2007 - 2011
Experience
- Private practice of adult psychiatry, 2011 - present
- Staff physician, Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA adult, geriatric, emergency, and consultation/liaison services, 2011 - 2023
- Expert reviewer and clinical evaluator, Medical Board of California, 2016 - present
- Qualified Medical Evaluator — State of California, 2016 - present
- Authored hundreds of independent medical evaluation reports, and successfully testified at numerous live and remote depositions, hearing, and trials
Certifications
- Board certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, 2011 with ongoing maintenance of certification
Licensure
- California, Texas, New York, Connecticut
Contact Information
Edward L. Spencer, MD 450 N. Bedford Drive, Suite 309 Beverly Hills, CA 90210 Tel: (310) 425-3820 Fax: (855) 729-4884 Office hours Monday - Thursday by appointment; video appointments Fridays