I never take time to do reviews. But, I felt like this one could help others who are suffering like I was. When I first met Dr. Mac Donald over a year ag, I was so broken and lacked confidence and I got to a point that I couldn't feel or make decisions for myself. I realized I needed help. I had been to numerous counselors only to feel more confused and lost. I had gotten so bad that I literally couldn't look people in the face. My first appointment, I was so nervous and scared. Dr. Mac Donald saw the pain I was in and calmly talked to me and slowly gave me tools to calm down and made me feel safe to slowly trust him. At 11 years old I was sexually abused by a person close to our family until 17. My best friend passed away from cance, My mom then being diagnosed with cancer, My son who had a TBI jumped from a parking structure, my marriage breaking down from bipolar with a complete breakdown and hospitalization. I felt completely helpless and lost. I started doing abnormal ticks with my hands and mouth that I didn't even realize. Today, from the help of Dr. Mac Donald, I've gotten my life back. He helped me understand why and how I do the things that I trained myself to cope with things. He gave me answer and tools to help break the patterns that were keeping me stuck in the cycle I was living in. My kids, friends and family saw me change. I was getting healthy and thinking and feeling again. I soon realized that I was living in the moment and enjoying my life. I'm strong and confident again. The best thing that also happened, my husband saw me started seeing me change and the difference in me and it forced him to get help and is now seeing a counselor weekly. We are both healing. I found myself again, and have the strength and courage to believe in myself again. Dr. Mac changed my life and is nothing but professional, caring and kind. He cares and was there and accessible to help me through all the trauma I had lived through. I can't thank him enough for not only changing me, but he helped my family to start healing from all the pain. Cindy C read more

Dr. Mac is simply the best mental health physician around. From the moment we met I felt welcome and safe, and every session since then has been a trans-formative experience, guided by one of the most skilled and highly intelligent psych's in the business. Dr. Mac focuses on building a relationship grounded in trust, honesty, and partnership. His personal approach, combined with exceptional training and thoughtful treatment plans, has helped me overcome crippling issues in a shockingly short amount of time. Seriously, it feels like years of growth in a matter of months! His level of service is nothing short of exceptional. Emergency next-day sessions, flexible hours to accommodate my busy lifestyle, even the offer to come in on weekends should I ever need him to...He encourages me to record sessions for later review, simply because he wants me to get maximum value out of every conversation. We've adjusted medication plans in between sessions thanks to him checking in every few days (sometimes daily!) to monitor side effects, and make sure I'm comfortable with how I'm feeling. I have never been this happy with professional care, highly recommended!! read more

I have been seeing Dr. Mac for the better part of 10 years now after he came highly recommended by the University of San Diego Student Health Center. He has seen me through two bar exams, a cross-country move, career ups and downs, and more than a few failed relationships, and frankly, I don't know what I would have done without him! Not only is he an excellent doctor and psychotherapist, his "relationship-first" philosophy is evident in every aspect of his practice, from his bedside manner (seriously, he gives you a bottle of water at the beginning of every session!) all the way to billing/scheduling (both he and his nurse are super prompt at responding to emails). Especially if you are a busy professional, I will say that he is very accommodating when it comes to offering early morning and Saturday appointments, and I can't remember one time where I have ever had to wait for him in all the years I have been a patient. I can honestly say that the level of service that Dr. Mac provides through his "concierge" service model is worth every penny. If you are looking for personalized, whole-person care, I can't recommend Dr. Mac enough! read more

I saw Dr. MacDonald for around a year, and in that short time he made a bigger difference in my life than many other psychiatrists and psychologists whom I have seen for much longer. In the past, I had only felt comfortable seeing female providers - and coming into it, I didn't know if I could relate to a male in the same way. I am so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone, because my time working with Dr. MacDonald made a huge impact on me. I struggle with emotional intensity disorder, which has often been diagnosed in my past as generalized anxiety and depression. Dr. MacDonald taught me how to sit and exist with difficult emotions, and he showed me incredible compassion (which was always hard for me to feel towards myself). I could tell that he believed in my strength, and he was blunt with me at the best times. He has a great sense of humor as well which always helped diffuse my anxieties. I believe that Dr. MacDonald offers a fresh perspective backed by many years of medical expertise, and his insight helped me make substantial changes in my life. I am so grateful to have worked with him! read more

I have had the very fortunate opportunity to work with Dr. MacDonald for over 5 years. And I do mean work. He is the most genuine, thoughtful, charismatic, and hardest working doctor I can imagine there could be. Dr. Kai has helped me rebuild my life through therapy/counseling (NOT just popping pills!) and challenges me which has made me a better person. If I ever need to get in quickly because of a tough time, he tries to find time to see me. He was one of San Diego's Top doctors of 2009, so that says a lot about him! I am so thankful for his guidance and help. I had nothing but positive experiences with his staff also. If I needed help with payment or billing questions, I spoke with the same person in a timely manner who was pleasant and kind-natured. There isn't a receptionist there, but that can be a good thing! Dr. MacDonald is just an incredible psychiatrist, and I have referred friends and family to him and they all had similar results. He is a very skilled, kind psychiatrist. read more

I have seen a number of therapists for talk therapy and psychiatrists for medication over the past 10 years, but I can't say that I experienced any noticeable gains or improvements until I started working with Dr. Mac. Dr. Mac is the most skilled, most observant, and most cutting edge psychiatrist I have ever worked with. He understands that developing a trusting relationship is the foundation for any meaningful psychological work. I trust that he has my best health / interest in mind, but he also has made me feel that my mental health treatment is in my control, which is quite different from my experience with other doctors. Working with Dr. Mac is collaborative and safe. He is also incredibly responsive via email. Highly highly recommend calling him if you are struggling and want things to improve, but beware, this is not a doctor who will just push pills on you, you will be expected to put in the work to get better in therapy. I have a feeling you won't regret it :) read more

Dr. Kai is the best! I sought out some help for some personal issues and I didn't want to go to the appointment at all. But once I walked in, I felt immediately comfortable. He is super easy to talk to about anything, and time passes so fast in his office. And I have gotten so much better with his help. All of my situations have improved, work, girlfriend, parents, school. Dr. Kai doesn't make it easy, either; he doesn't let me get away with being lazy. I have to do homework and he checks in with me to make sure I'm doing it too! I always feel respected and he doesn't talk down to me, which is a big deal for me. If you need a good psychiatrist or counselor (he is a doctor too, so he can take care of medicine if you need it), I HIGHLY recommend Dr. MacDonald. He is the best!! read more

If you're reading this review, congratulations! You've found Dr. MacDonald! He is the most brilliant physician who has completely transformed my life in the few short months I've been working with him. I've worked with close to a dozen different psychiatrists/therapists over the course of my life and can tell you that Dr. MacDonald is the best of the best. He truly offers concierge/individualized care, makes himself available for one-off appointments when needed, and is quick to respond to emails/texts. I've never experienced such thorough care and attention and more importantly, RESULTS, from a provider before. Dr. MacDonald is the real deal. I couldn't be more thrilled with the trajectory of my life right now, all thanks to the treatment I've received from Dr. MacDonald. read more

Dr. Kai Macdonald is an outstanding health care provider. I have been seeing him for almost two years. He is caring, kind and incredible responsive. In his therapy with me, he has provided keen insights and expertise that have enabled me to accept hard truths, tackle difficult issues and lovely embrace the person I am. His therapeutic approach supports and challenges me to evolve and grow. I really believe he fully sees and understands me, in a way my past health care providers have not. He is both a therapist and psychiatrist. So, when he describes his practice as a concierge practice, he is referring to his ability to draw upon his vast expertise to grasp the full picture and provide comprehensive support. I whole heartedly recommend Dr. Kai Macdonald. read more

Dr MacDonald is a passionate and caring individual. He made me feel very comfortable and at ease right from our first meeting, allowing me to express my thoughts. He has provided me with excellent and professional care. Before prescribing any medications, we discussed the pros and cons of each and which ones would be best for me. He is laid back and completely non-judgmental, so I've always felt comfortable telling him anything, more than I thought I would tell anyone. Dr. MacDonald has been pivotal in my healing process and helping me get back into society. He asks the right questions to move me forward in my process, in my own time. I completely trust Dr. MacDonald which is key to my success throughout my journey. I highly recommend Dr. McDonald! read more

Dr. Kai is a rad doctor. I've seen a few due to my ADHD and I just needed some help getting my mind straight so I can work and go to school. He helped me sort out lots of stuff and I didn't feel weird about talking to him. I didn't want to take medication any more just to see how I do without them and he was open to helping me try. Now I'm still on meds, but the amount I need is lower and I'm better overall. Plus I can call him and he answers his phone, or calls me right back! If you need a great psychiatrist that doesn't seem like a too-busy doctor, I definitely recomend Dr. MacDonald. He is the best! read more

Dr. MacDonald provides detailed psych, addiction, and "fit for duty" assessments. Assessment can be tricky; not all clinicians will go to the lengths necessary to carefully comprehend & communicate the nuances of their patients effectively. Dr. MacDonald's reports are fair, insightful, and uber-thorough. He truly cares about his patients and he follows up - reaching out to coordinate care with other clinicians. Many psychiatrists do not do this. This puts him at the top of my trusted psychiatric referrals. I highly recommend him. read more

In a world saturated with clinicians these days, it can be very challenging to find the an effective psychiatrist/therapist with whom you connect. People spend years and money in therapy with clinicians who just chat about your life, which is not therapy. Fortunately, Dr. Mac's treatment is unique and unparalleled. His knowledge is unequivocal compared to the majority of professionals in his field. His compassion is unprecedented, and his professionalism impeccable. He is one of the few clinicians I highly recommend. read more

If you're looking for a highly trained/skilled/intelligent Psych Dr. then look no further Dr. MacDonald is your guy. Took my son (adult age) here for consultation and treatment. Dr. MacDonald presented thoughtful probing questions and based on answers provided excellent feedback and guidance. He can drill down and get to the source of the mental behavior issues and then put together a treatment plan. I found him to be considerate and caring...very good at prompt return calls. I highly recommend him. read more

I have been a patient of Dr. Kai MacDonald for more than 7 years. I came to Dr. MacDonald in severe physical and emotional pain. Through Dr. MacDonald's treatment that combines medicine, psychiatry and emotional strengthening, I have found a chemical and emotional balance that no doubt saved my marriage, saved my business and has improved my quality of life greatly. I highly recommend Dr. MacDonald to anyone dealing with chronic pain, addiction and the emotional stress caused by both. read more

If you are in need of such services, Dr. MacDonald's professionalism and promptness will make a substantial difference in your journey. It is invaluable to know that you can get your doctor on the phone within an hour or so, sometimes immediately should the situation demand it. Further, having a doctor who can day-to-day monitor your medications and tailor them as needed is crucial. If I ever have a friend in need I will be pointing them directly to Dr. MacDonald. Thank you Dr. Mac! read more

Dr. Mac is the best! I am very surprised to see someone gave him a 1-star review. It doesn't sound like him at all. I had to add my 5-stars because he was just voted as one of San Diego's Top Docs for the 3rd year in a row! He offers many patients a sliding scale, and treated me so well and my brother-in-law so well and worked within our budgets. Dr. MacDonald is a class act; and really cares about his patients and takes the time to be a really good doctor. read more

I have been working with Dr. Macdonald for a couple of years. He is a caring, professional, and ethical doctor. He has helped me to overcome debilitating phobia's and create significant changes in my life. He is compassionate, understanding, and forthright. I pay promptly each month and I have never had any problems with his nursing staff. read more