I am giving 4 stars because Dr keltner and I had a political disagreement (he assumed I was a Republican. I am a libertarian). Anyway, if him being a bit of a communist isn't a problem for you, or you find that shit easy to ignore, Dr keltner is great. He's Harvard trained. He is understanding of your mood conditions affecting everything in your life, including your interactions with him. So don't worry too much if you have a bit of ADHD anger that slips out occasionally because he can help you with that. Anyway, this review is a bit late in coming. I haven't seen him in years. But I'll always recommend him; the only bad advice ever gave me was to go on disability. And by the way, I myself am not easy at all to get along with. And Keltner, in another review, allegedly said "being mentally ill isn't reason to be a jerk" and whether or not be really said that, it's a correct statement!!! If you disagree with it, maybe you need to be less of a jerk yourself. Because Keltner is a very soothing kind man and if you are having a disagreement with him he generally remains calm. I saw him because my EDS doctor recommended him. He's very smart about medications. He will give you exactly what you need and nothing additional. Don't expect him to dope you up, but don't expect him to be a weirdo and anti benzos or anything either. He is HARVARD trained and actually is a very smart man. Don't even bother trying to trick him. read more

Since you chose to block me Dr kellner and not take my call were you aware that Richard Baer was gaslighting me this whole time. I never heard of gasoline before that explains my erratic behavior that explains how I never have a chance on the medication that you gave me to succeed. I looked at a chart of the medication that you gave me with a Xanax and how erratic it was and how you would give me a full prescription then drop me down and then so on and then let me go cold turkey it spells it out for itself Law suite. The pattern in which you were prescribing the medication shows the erratic irrational type of behavior demonstrating with me I have every right to sleep this out I have to write you those because you block me and it shows even more about your responsible you are please don't send your people to harassing anymore. read more

I only saw Dr. Keltner 2 times. Since I've had my two daughters I've struggled in ways other moms haven't. One friend of mine (who's a medical professional) who did, found out she had uncontrolled ADHD and that was why her anxiety and depression medications were not working. She got her undiagnosed ADHD under control and everything flowed into place. My oldest daughter has also had daycare professionals bring up ADHD for her. I wanted to see if maybe that was the case for me. The first appt, Dr. Keltner spent about 75% of the time talking about himself. I knew he'd been divorced, he was getting married in may, his ex wife and he have a good relationship but are much happier being divorced, he's a 'humble doctor' who focuses on research, but not for monetary reasons because he just enjoyed research. He reiterated his experience with the VA, how he went to college to be a physicist, but wasn't 'smart enough' so he went another route, did the VA thing, did private practice for 37 years now... blah blah blah. But asked me my age 4 times. He didn't seem to care what I had to say and pretty much had a bipolar diagnosis in his mind from the beginning. I mentioned I had trauma growing up (who hasn't) and he was fixated on that and whether I had PTSD. He wanted to try me on a medication for bipolar/mood stabilizing, which I wasn't excited about but I was willing to try anything. I ended up having a bad reaction to it, not his fault. Met with him a week later and he called 15 minutes late for the appt. I gave the phone over to my husband as that's what he had asked for in the first appt. He spent the next 30 minutes talking about himself, his credentials, his depression, to my husband, and when I got the phone back the doc said he wanted to see me every week because I'm 'complex' and that was it. I found out later from my husband he asked my husband if he thought I could have postpartum and if I was bad with our kids. That was pretty much the extent of their conversation about me. Dr. Keltner also wants me to see a counselor long term, which I wasn't against, but said he was going to send me a list, and I should choose the top one, even though she doesn't accept any insurance and sometimes insurance will reimburse. It was a terrible experience. read more

Very strange man. He may be super intelligent but he's not very smart! I am my mom's caregiver and I have power of attorney but he still won't talk to me my mom is suffering from dementia which she prescribes medication for but then told her she didn't have dementia. I tried to see him myself and he wouldn't change my medication to a new were better medication because he said it cost too much OK then. read more

I've had several positive experiences with Dr. Keltner in the past few months. A close family member was struggling with severe depression and hospitalized twice, Dr. Keltner was very kind on the phone with me and willing to work with him. It's worth noting Dr. Keltner's main areas of specialty are addiction and chronic pain. If you cannot get in with Dr. Keltner, another psychiatrist who works in the area one day per week is Dr. Sheth in Rancho Mirage. I am familiar with him through work and find him to be extremely dedicated as well. read more

I have had only one appt so far with John keltner and it was the very best experience!! He is easy to talk with, extremely knowledgeable about meds and has a great desire to help me!! He talks for as long as needed, not like here is your pill and bye. So refreshing!! Thank you John keltner, I'm so lucky to have found you! Stacey McKernan read more

Dr Keltner was able to see me after my primary Dr referred him. I assumed he was in my insurance plan, HMO . When I saw him he said he had problems with Blue Cross but he would see me anyway. Because I was new he said i could pay him $100 monthly til my bill was paid if insurance denied. Insurance denied my claim , I appealed and am waiting to hear decision .I need a refill for panic attacks .Walgreens contacted him . He called tonight and said unless I paid him $430 now he wouldnt refill it. He knows his bill is being appealed. He said I would have to see him, pay upfront , before he could refill anything. I am diagnosed with clinical depression and severe anxiety. I am so stressed because of his demand for payment. He made me feel like I dont pay bills , a loser.I will pay him one way or the other, but my relationship with him is over. read more

Thank you for reading this review. I am a 52-year-old female with chronic debilitating depression, anxiety, and pain. I look absolutely fine, but have become reclusive, due to bodily discomfort. After my first visit with this doctor, I didn't want to go back. He spent our time talking about himself, all of his degrees, all of his experience, all of his training--even his own struggle with depression. I felt that he did not listen to me and did not really care what I had to say whatsoever. I got the impression that he was very arrogant, self-absorbed, and narcissistic. But I decided to give him a second chance, as there are literally no psychiatrists in the Coachella Valley. (Dr. Keltner remarked that he was driving up every weekend from San Diego because of the shortage of psychiatrists in the desert-- that he could make much better money here.) (Yes, he told me that in front of his office manager, Jesus. Unprofessional.) By the end of the second session, I left with the same impression. Dr. Keltner's dogged diagnosis of bipolar disorder was incorrect, and by the end of the second visit, he still wasn't sure about his own bipolar diagnosis and wouldn't prescribe anything (not even the Paxil I'd been on for two weeks, which I ended up getting from my PCP.) He wanted me back the following week, stating, "I need to figure you out." I should have skipped the third visit, as it was a total waste of time and money, just as the first two visits had been. On my third--and final--visit, I told Dr. Keltner that I'd stopped Paxil because of severe upper leg spasticity that has kept me awake for 2 nights straight along with headache--and sharp arm pains, which I had never had before. Not only did this "pain psychiatrist" call me a "hypochondriac" because of having had what he considered abnormal side effects from Paxil and intolerable side effects from numerous psychotropic meds, but he also called me a "jerk"! Yes, a jerk! Why? Well, it was because I had not made an appointment with either of the two psychologists that he had wanted me to see, whom I had already told him weren't covered by my insurance. He refused to believe that and insisted that they would be covered. When I insisted that they weren't because I had already checked with Anthem online and over the phone, he told me that Anthem wouldn't know--that I needed to call the psychologists directly. I suggested that I call them right then and there. He said he didn't want to do that on his time because he wanted to discuss my hypochondria... and that I was being a jerk. WOW. He validated his name-calling, saying, "Having mental illness is no excuse for being a jerk." I couldn't be bothered arguing with such a childlike, self-righteous man; so I left. I would be interested to see how many others agree that this doctor suffers from arrogant narcissism and lacks the compassion, empathy, and care to treat individuals who may be suffering from mental illness coupled with pain. read more