Life-Changing Experience with Dr. Eric Li (CBT Psychiatrist) All my life I struggled with severe impulse control issues--sometimes almost to the point of physical outbursts: yelling, breaking pencils, storming away from people. In my earlier career, this was tolerated (even seen as "passion" in old-style work environments). I was a high achiever, deeply committed, and loved by family and friends, so I didn't fully realize how much others struggled with my outbursts from time to time. But as workplaces evolved and became less tolerant of uncomfortable situations, my behavior started creating real problems. Colleagues perceived my loss of control as personal attacks--even though, to me, it was more of a somatic battle, like burning up inside unless I released the emotion. At home, my daughters, now raising kids of their own, asked me directly to do something about it, so their children could see their grandpa for who I truly am: a passionate and loving person. I saw a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with depression and a debilitating impulse-control disorder. Thankfully, I had always managed to stop short of crossing into true violence, but the struggle was real. I didn't want to go on medication, and through a referral I met Dr. Eric Li to try Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). From the first sessions, Dr. Li impressed me not only with his medical expertise but with his ability to map my internal brain activity patterns and create a customized CBT approach. It worked like magic. Within weeks, I no longer felt that unbearable "fire" inside. Over time, I gained the ability to moderate my reactions and express emotions in a balanced, constructive way. Today, I feel like a changed man. I'm able to reconnect with others fully and live a much more fulfilling life. I am deeply grateful to Dr. Li for giving me this second chance. Dr. Li is not only an excellent psychiatrist but also a remarkable person: a medical doctor, a skilled pianist, a conversationalist with encyclopedic knowledge, and--most importantly--someone with an exceptional ability to listen. I recommend Dr. Li wholeheartedly to anyone considering CBT. For me, it was truly life-changing. read more

Simply put, Dr. Li is the best. In addition to being impeccably credentialed and at the forefront of his field, he is one of the kindest and most caring individuals I've ever met. I've been working with him for several years now, and he has done so much good for me - from cognitive behavioral therapy to helping to manage anxiety and stress at work to navigating the ups and downs of parenthood, it's hard to think of an area of my life that he hasn't changed for the better. I couldn't be more grateful to him, and I couldn't recommend him more highly. read more

I can say without any hesitation, that Dr. Eric Li is an extraordinary psychiatrist, as well as a kind and compassionate human being. He is devoted to his patients and their well-being and he goes above and beyond what most psychiatrists offer their patients. For close to 20 years, Dr. Li has been treating our son and helping him navigate the challenges of being on the Autism Spectrum, as well as having a mood disorder. Dr. Li's exceptional appreciation for what it means to be on the Autism Spectrum has been invaluable for both our son and for us, his parents. Although Dr. Li prescribes and manages our son's medication, he has also been a wise and highly skilled therapist. He leads with empathy and uses cognitive behavioral and mindfulness based strategies to create realistic plans of action. He has also been a wonderful family therapist, when needed. In our case, he has been amazingly brilliant at maintaining confidentiality with our son while also guiding us, as our son's parents in how to best support him during crisis' and low points. In terms of medication, Dr. Li's vast understanding of the human brain, informs his conservative approach when prescribing medication, something we are very appreciative of. We have found this to be quite unusual, as many psychiatrists we have worked with are not as deliberate or cautious when it comes to selecting medication for their patients. In short, we are deeply grateful to have found Dr. Li. He is a rare clinician who has both a fine, highly educated mind as well as a lot of heart and a huge measure of compassion. Our journey has had some very daunting rough patches, but Dr. Li has stuck with us through it all. We really don't quite know what we would have done without him. read more

I met Dr. Li in 2019 when I was at the lowest point of my life after suffering with a crippling mental disorder since I was a kid. Of course, I didn't think I had a mental disorder all those years (I had a distorted "normal") until my first relationship crumbled because of it and until my husband told me that I needed therapy. I truly believe that God led me to Dr. Li's office. The fact that his office was only 10 min. away from UCLA. That he is a Christian and can relate to my thoughts. That he accepted me into his practice at the first call after I called multiple other unresponsive practices. That he loves working with children and adolescents, an aspect that I really needed as a kid. And that he offers talk therapy as part of his treatment so there is no need for a therapist. He is the therapist & doctor! I like to think that Dr. Li is entertaining me while God is doing His work because Dr. Li is pretty funny and can turn a dark, anxiety-inducing thought into something I could laugh about. In dark and scary times, there is hope. Although the disorder is something that I still struggle with, knowing that Dr. Li is there to offer support has been life-saving. I'm sure many of his patients feel the same and have nothing but good things to say about him. It's been a year of therapy, and I see myself healing one day at a time with Dr. Li's help. Thank you! read more

Felt compelled to come leave a review here even though Dr. Li was my doctor 9-10 years ago when I was in my early 20s and struggling with an undiagnosed, debilitating mental disorder, on the brink of collapse. I still remember how kind and compassionate Dr. Li was, and how safe and cared for he made me feel. And as someone who's been in psychiatric care since then, I can assure you that that is not always the case, which is perhaps what brought me back here. Good doctors deserve good reviews. I hope you're doing well, Dr. Li! read more

I have been working with Dr. Li for a decade now. I started working with him when I was 16. He has given me the tools I needed to change my life. I went from being aimless and lost - without any future prospects, to having many choices after achieving a lot (many career paths are now open to me). I believe Dr. Li is one of the few truly compassionate doctors with whom I have worked. He has always listened to me and been willing to look for alternative treatments for me when the first line treatment has failed. Also, Dr. Li helped me find a primary care doctor. For many years, I had no primary care doctor. I didn't know that it's important to have a PMD, but Dr. Li pointed this out to me - and I am glad that he did. It is this sort of holistic approach that I believe is one of the ways Dr. Eric Li stands out. I can't say if Dr. Eric Li is the best psychiatrist for everyone. However, I know for me, he has been compassionate and caring - above the call of duty. I don't want to give to many details about the care I have received from Dr. Li because I am concerned about my privacy. However, I have nothing but positive things to say. I don't know if Dr. Li is currently accepting new patients. But, if you're lucky enough to be able to get an appointment with him, I strongly recommend that you at least try a session with him. EDIT: I have read other reviews and I am disappointed that people have given 1 star reviews because, for example, he did not call back a non-patient after 24 hours at time when his practice was full. I do not think that warrants a 1 star review. I think people see many 5 star reviews, have a less than perfect experience, then leave a 1 star review to 'balance things out'. I will warn that sometimes Dr. Li gets very busy and needs to return calls late in the evening. I would strongly recommend giving him time if you have non-emergency request or question and he isn't able to get back to you right away. Due to the nature of his practice, I assume Dr. Li often has to deal with acute crises like suicidal and manic patients. I know he has called me back as late as 8pm on a weeknight when I have had a non-urgent question. I think people often forget that doctors don't have superpowers (which can be difficult to keep in mind in times of distress). read more

I have been with Dr. Li for 8 years now. I can testify to these qualities: tride & true diligent well read, knowledgeable caring and generous committed Dr. Li is an excellent Child & Adult Psychiatrist. His greatest asset is his in depth knowledge of psychiatric mediations down to neurotransmitter modulation and cross drug reactivity. I consider him cautious and logical with psychiatric medication use. The other component that separates him from many psychiatrists is that he knows his patients. He spend an hour of therapy each time, which is truly the best way to take a history and understand what the correct diagnosis is. He was able to sort out diagnosis that many other psychiatrist missed/incorrectly diagnosed/incorrectly treated. He uses integrative methods. His extensive knowledge on behavioral therapy has helped me increase my tools of coping in conjunction with the medications I am taking. This is critical as medications never work alone on psychiatric illness. I highly recommend Dr. Li he is worth the wait and the, often, out of pocket cost because in my mind you cannot put a price on sanity, stability and peace of mind. read more

Don't waste your time and money here. He is totally unprofessional, rude, and condescending. The worst qualities you would ever want in a doctor. read more

Dr. Li is an amazing psychiatrist. He is able to combine an extensive understanding of psychology with an unmatched level of compassion for his clients which results in an ideal therapeutic environment. His knowledge and compassion for his clients really show from the first visit onward. Dr. Li is patient and takes his time to make sure he gives the right answer before jumping to conclusions unlike many other Doctors. With that, Dr Li does not over-medicate. In my experience most psychiatrists are quick to use prescriptions as a quick fix while spending less time on long term solutions. However, with Dr. Li, he takes the time to get to know the client and explores all possible treatment routes. Dr Li is also great and communicating with his patients both inside and outside of the office. He is quick to respond to phone calls and messages, and is usually flexible when it comes to scheduling. Overall, my experiences with Dr. Li have been very positive and I would highly recommend him. read more

There is not enough praise I can give Dr. Li, I am a 37 year old female whom has had an extreme amount of stress and anxiety associated with medical problems and loss of my Mother for such a long time, but have been living with daily pain while still being a CFO of a company, and trying to seem "normal" to everyone else, I have suffered in silence with "normal" Doctors miss-diagnosing me and making my stress level even higher. After meeting Dr. Li for the first time at our consultation, he put me at ease, helped me understand what anxiety and stress was really doing to myself and my health, and he gave me hope WITHOUT MEDICATION!!!!! He has a unique technique that has been a light at the end of a very dark tunnel that I have been living in for a very long time. He goes SOOO way above and beyond exceptions for his patients, and thinks out side the box. If I am having a difficult day, hes only a phone call away, and I able to put me at ease almost immediately just with his wisdom and expertise. I come from a medical background and I can honestly say he is the best Doctor I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. He has taught me tools to "re-wire" my OCD into a healthy thinking patterns instead of the hamster wheel of anxiety. For anyone whom suffers with mental or physical stress, Dr. Li is the guru of Physiologist, and you will feel better after your fist meeting with him, he is my hope for a better life without anxiety! Melanie CFO read more

I am not much for writing reviews, but I feel that a professional as special as Dr. Li is worth touting. I have gone to a few psychiatrists over the past 10 years, and Dr. Li is by far the best. I have gone to many therapists over the past 25+ years, and Dr. Li is by far the best. And what a wonderful bonus to have a psychiatrist/therapist! In my experience, that is not so easy to find. I have been a patient of Dr. Li's for just over four years. During that time, I have seen him typically on a once a week basis. Whereas I used to often dread going to therapy and would discontinue it for long periods of time, I actually look forward to most of my appointments with Dr. Li. I feel kind of weird writing that, but it's true. He has a very warm and caring approach that he brings to the therapeutic relationship, as well as a great deal of wisdom to offer even in the most difficult and complicated situations. He also has a sharp wit--something that I very much appreciate and find can bring some much needed humor to what is an often rather serious business. I'll be honest and say what Dr. Li is not. He is not a cheerleader, by any stretch of the imagination. Dr. Li will not sit across the room from me and validate whatever I've done and said, and rarely call me on my stuff. Instead, he will say things about me and to me that aren't always easy to hear, but that help me to become more self-aware, and in turn, be a better person. Though he is a psychiatrist, he is not at all an overmedicater. In fact, when I first saw him, I was so medicated I could barely carry on a conversation. He quickly lowered dosages so I was able to get my life back. The other side of that less is more philosophy towards meds that some people may not like is that Dr. Li is not so quick to dispense the scripts for sleep meds et al. Dr. Li is also rarely on time. I know that some people wouldn't like this or simply don't have the time to wait for an extra ten or even thirty minutes. Whenever this happens, though, Dr. Li always gives me the full time for my session. I haven't always been as nice to Dr. Li as I should have been. There were times when I took him for granted. Well, let me tell you I was shaken to my very core the day that he decided he had enough of my crap and terminated me as a patient. I truly think he's the best there is. So I decided that was worth fighting for, and after much talk and my begging him to take me back as a patient, and then my eventual acceptance that I would quietly leave if that's what he wanted, Dr. Li said he would continue to treat me. Since then, I have tried to treat him like the rare gem that he is. Thank you, Dr. Li. read more

Dr. Li has my utmost trust and respect. My daughter went through a very dark period when she was 16. Dr. Li has treated her for depression and anxiety for the past 2 years, and I am happy to report that she is doing extremely well and adjusting well in college. I shiver to think what might have happened if it weren't for Dr. Li. He is knowledgeable, competent, compassionate, cautious with prescription, and not a yes-man. He knew when to be gentle and when to be tough. He spent the time to get to know my daughter, earned her trust, diagnosed the issues, and helped her cope with the issues and come out strong. Dr. Li wasn't always prompt in returning calls or texts, but that's because he was out there trying to save the world and could not spend all day tending to calls and messages. HOWEVER, he always called me right away even if it was late at night when it was urgent or a serious issue. He really cares about his patients. I trust him completely and recommend him to any adolescents suffering from depression or having a difficult time. It was a painful time for my daughter and us, and we are grateful to Dr. Li for getting us through it. read more

After reading these reviews I could not wait to get an appointment. I called and in his outgoing message he says he will call you back within 24 hours. I called for 3 days straight and never got a call back. At least call back and say I am booked and can't take you. For a "doctor" to say he will get back to you within 24 hours and never call at all is unprofessional and dangerous - good thing I'm not suicidal. read more

"When you have your health, you have everything. When you do not have your health, nothing else matters at all." I would argue this goes double for your mental health - Dr. Li gave me mine back. Dr. Li is the most qualified, compassionate, knowledgeable, and empathetic psychiatrist I have ever been treated by. In my 6 plus years of treatment thus far with Dr. Li, there has not been one issue/problem he cannot tackle in the most comprehensive of ways. Initially, I came to Dr. Li because of my eating disorder. From our very first meeting, I felt that Dr. Li listened - really, really listened to everything I was saying. Since then, I have always felt comfortable confiding in Dr. Li. I trust him. He cares deeply for his patients and their well-being. Dr. Li has helped me with anxiety and depression through medication and cognitive behavioral therapy. Yes, he does both! Dr. Li is incredibly competent. He understands that there is considerable overlapping symptoms between psychiatric diagnoses within and across diagnostic categories. His depth of knowledge of clinically relevant information and how to utilize and interpret it all from one session to the next distinguishes him from other psychiatrists in his field. Just to give a testament of just how good a psychiatrist this man is: I moved to NYC two years ago, but continue phone appointments with Dr. Li on a biweekly basis. I literally sit with a notepad and write down every word he says - it's gold. His ability to analyze my situation and implement long term solution/treatment plans that work and are tailored to my needs is a testament to his solid understanding of what is going on - at a biological level, a chemical level, and a psychological level. To have a therapist and a physician who is able to integrate a treatment plan from multiple levels of analysis is absolutely above and beyond any psychiatrist I have ever been in (or out of) a room with before. In conclusion, because of Dr. Li, my life is better, my relationships are better, my family is better. I do not know what we would do without him. Throughout the most difficult periods in my life, Dr. Li has been a beacon of light. He has an ability to analyze a situation, explain its impact on all involved, and navigate through solutions, all the while providing a non-judgmental atmosphere. He is a guiding light, a support, a true psychiatrist and doctor, who safely guides the ship into port. read more

I had a misunderstanding about the scheduling of an appt. which lead me to a wrong impression of Dr Li. Dr Li is , in fact, excellent . He has already helped me with my issues. I have seen numerous professionals , but he is the only one that has already helped me in my role as a father, which is of paramount importance to me. He is meticulous in his problem-solving. read more

I don't really like Doctors, most are pompous idiots who are motivated by what's best for their ego, and not what's best for their client. Dr. Li ain't like that. We may not always agree, but when he overrules something he explains his point of view in a level headed easy -to-understand way. As far as Dr.'s go he isn't willing to f*&k around but he's not afraid to take risks either if they are indicated, Plus he's kind of nice guy too, I like him. But even if I didn't I would still give him top marks as a Dr, To those who have said he can be be difficult to get ahold of, I've been riding him to get a secretary for a while, I really think he could use one, so sooner or later he'll crack :) read more

Dr Li is amazing with teenagers. As a parent he really understands them and how to relate to them. He is very very careful about medication. He also is one of the few psychiatrists that does meds and talk therapy. It makes all the difference read more

Dr. Eric Li is truly a life saver. Anyone that rates him less than a 5 has obviously not been treated by him and has jumped to ridiculous conclusions. I don't typically leave reviews and most people with a positive experience don't, only negative experiences cause someone to rush to review a professional and when I saw a few of the poor reviews I was dumbfounded and decided to set the record straight as Dr. Li is nothing but a kind, respectful, rationale, and amazing doctor. At a time when my professional career was just starting (23) I relapsed back to having debilitating panic attacks and realized that my worst fears had come back. Dr. Li met with me and helped me understand how a true psychiatrist can help balance life not just with medication but with education, meditation, and true understanding. I've been a patient of his for 10 years and I couldn't imagine a life without his professional help and kindness. He is the best psychiatrist I haee ever been to and I'm blessed to be able to call him a friend. Thank you for all that you do Dr. Li, and for always going above and beyond the call of duty. read more

I saw Dr. Eric Li back in 2012. I think he was not well organized as he one time did not call me back to schedule an appointment and did not answer when I would call him to schedule an appointment to get more medicine as I was running low. When the day came where I had no more medicine left, I went to his office without an appointment so he could write me another prescription so I would have my medicine. He did business very unprofessionally. read more