What types of therapy are offered at AMFM?

AMFM offers individual therapy, group therapy, CBT, DBT, EMDR, family therapy, holistic therapy, psychodynamic therapy, TMS therapy, and alternative therapies such as art, music, and equine therapy.

Who can benefit from mental health therapy?

Therapy can help individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, OCD, eating disorders, and other mental health conditions.

Does insurance cover therapy at AMFM?

Yes, most major insurance providers cover mental health therapy and treatment programs at AMFM. Coverage may vary depending on the plan and provider.

Where are AMFM therapy centers located?

AMFM offers therapy programs across California, Virginia, and Washington, with residential, PHP, and IOP options available at multiple in-person and virtual locations.

What levels of care are available?

AMFM provides residential treatment, partial hospitalization (PHP), and intensive outpatient programs (IOP), ensuring clients receive the appropriate level of support for their needs.

Food as Medicine at AMFM Healthcare

Published: 04/23/2026 | Updated: 04/23/2026

Authored by: Emma Loker, BSc, PgDip

Edited by: Jemma Strain, BSc Psychology, PhD

The relationship between what you eat and how you feel runs deep. Mood, energy, concentration, and sleep are all influenced, at least in some part, by the food that’s on your plate.^[1]

“Nutritional psychology” is the name of the field that researches and maps this connection, and it’s been increasingly shaping how forward-thinking mental health treatment programs approach total-person care.^[2]

A Mission For Michael knows that food and mental health are impactful and important alongside therapy and psychiatric care. This is why our Food as Medicine program is a structured and evidence-based curriculum that teaches you how nutritional choices can help improve your well-being. This includes recognizing how they can stabilize your blood sugar, reduce inflammation, and directly support your emotional health.

Read on to learn more about our Food as Medicine approach at AMFM.

Our Nutritional Approach at AMFM

Food as Medicine at AMFM is firmly grounded in the well-researched principles of nutritional psychology. This is because there’s a growing body of evidence linking dietary patterns to mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and mood dysregulation.

As such, we treat nutrition as an active therapeutic and healing tool, running in parallel with the rest of your clinical programming throughout your stay. For instance, clients can learn how specific nutrients (or the lack thereof) can influence brain chemistry and how chronic inflammation impacts mental health conditions.^[3] We’ll also teach you how everyday food choices can support your recovery over eight weeks of structured group work, reinforced through the food you’ll get to eat and prepare onsite.

The concepts introduced in group sessions are always integrated into mealtimes, in cooking classes, and even on supervised dining outings to give you real-world applications and experiences. And you’ll always be hands-on to help what you learn become long-term habits for your continued healing and recovery.

What to Expect in Food as Medicine at AMFM

From your very first week, nutrition will be a visible and intentional part of your treatment plan, each and every day. It becomes so through the following process:

Building the Foundation

Our Food as Medicine approach establishes why food matters so much in the context of mental health and active recovery. Clients are given the opportunity to develop a clear picture of how nutrition, mood, and physical health all connect, giving everything that follows an understandable framework.

Actively Learning

Every week, you’ll be able to attend a group session that explores a new aspect of the diet and mental health connection. These might focus on whole foods and inflammation to gut health, blood sugar balance, and heart health. Each session is educational and accessible, designed for people with no prior knowledge or experience. But, at the same time, it never talks down.

Applying New Knowledge

The principles from each week’s sessions are always reflected in the meals prepared by our on-site chefs. For instance, breakfasts are built for sustained energy and focus, lunches to help your mental clarity, and dinners to aid eventual sleep and digestive recovery.

Getting Hands-On

AMFM’s cooking classes give you the practical skills and know-how to carry your learning forward after discharge. This includes nutritious recipes, kitchen confidence, and the knowledge of how to build anti-inflammatory meals from scratch using everyday ingredients.

Practicing in the Real World

Supervised dining-out outings incorporate onsite learning with making nutritious choices, budgeting, and navigating new environments outside the residential setting.

Program Structure and Weekly Schedule

The Food as Medicine curriculum runs across eight weeks in all, with one dedicated group session per week. Each session builds on the last progressively, moving from foundational concepts to practical, real-world applications. Here is an overview of what you can expect:

Week 1 – Overview: Establishing the connection between nutrition and physical, mental, and emotional health, along with introducing core ideas around how food plays an active role in your health and healing process.
Week 2 – The Power of Whole Foods: Exploring the ins and outs of nutrient-dense, unprocessed foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. This includes how they provide the necessary vitamins and antioxidants to support immune function and recovery.
Week 3 – Inflammation and Healing Foods: This module looks at how chronic inflammation connects to mental health issues and how foods like fatty fish, turmeric, and berries can be helpful.
Week 4 – Gut Health and the Microbiome: Covers the gut-brain connection and how imbalances can directly factor into mental health conditions, with practical guidance around probiotics, prebiotics, and fiber.
Week 5 – Blood Sugar and Energy: Looks at how fluctuations in blood sugar can affect mood and energy. It also explores the glycemic index, mindful eating practices, and strategies for preventing energy spikes and crashes.
Week 6 – Healing the Heart: The relationship between physical and mental health, such as how heart-healthy fats, omega-3s, and antioxidants can improve your cardiovascular system.
Week 7 – Detoxing and Liver Health: Making an introduction to the liver’s role in natural detoxification for the body and examining the benefits of vegetables and green tea.
Week 8 – Sustainable Lifestyles: Taking a long-term view of what’s been learned and encouraging local, seasonal, and plant-based eating as a sustainable practice for your health.

Find Mental Health Treatment Programs

A Mission For Michael (AMFM) provides treatment for adults experiencing various conditions. Mental Health support is a phone call away – call 866-478-4383 to learn about our current treatment options.

California Locations

See our residences in Southern California’s Orange County & San Diego County.

Fallbrook - Peony

Female identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Secluded area with library, large backyard, and pool with beautiful views.

Carlsbad - Goldenbush

Female identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Features large rooms, updated interior, & covered seating in backyard.

Carlsbad - Hoover

Male identifying house with double occupancy rooms for our clients with beautiful ocean views, large rooms and relaxng atmosphere.

Dana Point - Blue Lantern

Male identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Features calming large rooms, updated interior, and outdoor pool.

Dana Point - Crystal Lantern

Male identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Includes large rooms, updated interior, and private treatment rooms.

Fallbrook - North Ridge

Male identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Featured amenties include tennis court, pool, and game area.

Laguna Hills - Waterwheel

Female identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Features large rooms, updated interior, and large backyard.

Laguna Niguel - Campeon

Male identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Features large rooms, updated interior, and covered seating in backyard.

Lake Forest - Grayston

Male identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Features large rooms, relaxing spaces, & covered seating in backyard.

Lake Forest - Sunnybrook

Female identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Newly remodeled interior with large rooms and backyard with garden.

San Juan Capistrano - Banderas

Male identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Features updated, modern interior with relaxing outdoor space to unwind.

San Juan Capistrano - Valencia

Female identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Features large rooms, updated interior, & covered seating in backyard.

Mission Viejo - Michelle's House

Residential treatment center just for women who’ve experienced trauma, domestic violence, or overwhelming life challenges

Minnesota Locations

Take a look at our homes on the east side of the Metro area in Washington County.

Stillwater - Arcola

Male residential house with double and single occupancy rooms. Secluded area with large backyard many dedicated spaces for therapy.

Stillwater - Dellwood

Female mental health residential house with double and single occupancy rooms. Beautifully appointed, relaxing atmosphere for healing.

Virginia Locations

View our facilities in Fairfax County, VA within the DC metro area.

Annandale - Rebel Rose

Female identifying house with single and double occupancy rooms. Secluded area with movie theater, on a large property.

Fairfax Station - Derbyshire

Male only house with double occupancy rooms. Secluded area with large rooms, gorgeous interior, and music/game room.

Great Falls - Kellie Jean

Gender inclusive house with double and single occupancy rooms. Secluded area with movie theater, game room, and large property.

Vienna - Browns Mill

Gender inclusive property with double and single occupancy rooms providing compassionate care in a peaceful setting for adults.

Vienna - Corsica

Gender inclusive house with double & single occupancy rooms. Secluded area with large backyard, movie theater, & dedicated therapy spaces.

Vienna - Lawyers

Male identifying house with double and single occupancy rooms. Secluded area with large backyard many dedicated spaces for therapy.

McLean - Lewinsville

Female house with double occupancy rooms. Featuring modern living spaces, comfortable meeting rooms, & well-appointed bedrooms.

Treatment Modalities We Use

Our nutritional programming fits hand-in-glove with your other mental health treatment at AMFM. In other words, it naturally connects with traditional treatments like CBT and DBT to address negative thought patterns and emotional regulation challenges that can also contribute to poor dietary habits.

For those experiencing chronic inflammation, disrupted sleep, low energy, or mood instability, the food and mood connection is particularly relevant alongside your other care. Directly addressing your nutrition as a natural part of your treatment plan is both practical and beneficial, with our cooking classes and snack preparation slotting alongside gardening

Why Choose Us?

Nutritional psychiatry is a major and emerging field, yet most inpatient facilities only acknowledge it in passing. A Mission For Michael proudly offers our eight-week curriculum to build your food literacy. This includes improving your working knowledge of how gut health, inflammation, blood sugar, and dietary patterns interact with mood, energy, and overall mental health.

Chef-prepared meals are always designed and cooked with therapeutic intent, aligning with the principles you’ll learn about in group sessions. Cooking classes will also give you the skills you need to do so yourself, and meals outside our welcoming facilities will prepare you for real-world examples to feel good about.

Are you ready to take control of your health? Start the admissions process today by reaching out to our team. We can verify your insurance benefits and give you all the information you need to make a change.

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