I've been a patient in with Cara since 2016, and it has truly been a transformative experience…read more Before meeting her, I was living my life never quite feeling right. Despite my concerns, my HMO doctor repeatedly told me there was nothing wrong. I had resigned myself to the idea that I would spend the rest of my life feeling slightly off--unwell, but not sick enough for doctors who treat based on statistics to take action. Then I was introduced to Cara. She listened to me, ran blood tests that my primary care doctor deemed unnecessary, and discovered an issue that had been overlooked. She began treatment right away but didn't stop there. She continued to listen, test, and make adjustments to my care, refining the approach until I truly started to feel better. Cara is very direct and precise in her treatment approach. For instance, when I started taking a vitamin she hadn't recommended, she made her disapproval clear. That's because she cares deeply about your health and expects you to be an active partner in your care. She's thoughtful, knowledgeable, and always up to date on the latest research. Cara ensures that your treatment is holistic, with a focus on healthy living, vitamins, and medication working together to support your overall well-being. I would recommend Cara to anyone ready to understand why they don't feel the way they should--those truly seeking to improve their well-being. Today, I can honestly say that I wake up feeling energetic, happy, and without anxiety or depression--something I never thought possible!

I just had an initial call with Cara, and I feel dumbfounded and shell-shocked. She came across as…read morerobotic and completely devoid of empathy. She repeatedly questioned my therapist's credentials and emphasized the importance of laying out one's entire educational and training history on their website. I found this to be extremely digressing, rude, and off-putting. Really - this is what you want to focus on after I answered your questions about the trauma I am experiencing? She asked me towards the end of the call if I had any questions. Before I could even formulate my question, she cut me off and explained that she's the "most expensive" because of XYZ and that quote "I only work with people where money isn't an issue for them". During this mini tirade, she emphasized how a lot of people expect a magic pill. When I reminded her (gently) that I had mentioned in our email exchange that I specifically do NOT expect a magic pill, she suddenly grew defensive and said "okay sorry but I receive 1000 emails a day and I can't be expected to remember everything. I am human too." Is this how a "top-tier" psychiatrist is supposed to treat prospective clients? I am shaking as I type this out. It was as if she has NO CLUE on how to talk to people who are suffering greatly with their mental health. STAY. AWAY. Also - read her responses to the negative reviews that she receives on Yelp. Just completely devoid of human emotion - just cookie cutter, professional speak. No honest accountability for her actions. No genuine apologies. There's a level of sociopathy that I believe has helped her achieve the success that she has achieved - by removing human emotion and empathy for others out of the equation, she's discovered that she can make a lot of money (but she only serves people who don't have a problem with money - remember that!)

Years after starting with Dr Yantis, a psychiatrist, I keep getting better and better!…read moreEarly and in some distress, I asked him "How can you be so sure that my life will improve? That got his most reassuring smile, and a quick answer: "Because I am an optimist!" His very large toolkit has a method for you too, doubtless combining his classical training and many local real-world solutions. Dr Yantis deserves your full attention!

Dr Yantis is wonderful, caring, and very smart! Am so lucky I found him. Highly recommend.read more

I received excellent care from Julia. Its difficult to put into words how grateful I am for her…read more Aside from the therapy and the medication I feel I could not have gotten over coping with my mental health issues. I had been treated in the past by great ppl but Julia made understand my part of the healing process.

ICK Not accepting new patients. Found this out after…read moreinsisting on knowing her availability BEFORE I filled out their required intake form and getting a referral from my primary doctor. Why do so many businesses have customer service backwards these days?

He will change your life and the impact with ripple through out your life…read more The Mind/Body Foundations training has truly changed my life. Looking back to where it all started, I realized that adopting a beginner's mindset and approaching life with a child's curiosity played a huge role in my growth. This program gave me a remarkable gift - understanding and compassion, not just for others but for myself, too. Learning to truly listen helped me connect with people on a deeper level. I've also learned to spot when something's bothering me and not react impulsively. Instead, I've become better at settling within myself and giving myself space for some self-reflection - a skill I didn't have before. By not jumping to quick reactions, I've built stronger, more meaningful relationships in my personal life and at work. This newfound composure has boosted my confidence in making decisions, leading to better choices overall. I've also healed some of my core wounds, which have helped me connect with people, excel in my job, and make new friends after a big move across the country. The Mind/Body Foundations training helped me know my true self and uncover my heartfelt intentions. These discoveries guide me as I consider making significant changes in my life. Knowing my true self gives me the confidence to take these steps, and my heartfelt intentions act as a compass, pointing me in the right direction. I recommend the Mind/Body Foundations training to anyone seeking personal growth, self-awareness, and a more fulfilling life. This program has been instrumental in helping me connect with myself and those around me on a deeper level. Thank you, Chad, for this incredible journey of self-discovery and growth!

I'm incredibly grateful I was able to work with Chad. I would recommend him to anyone seeking more…read morepeace, ease, and clarity on their path. A friend recommended Chad when I was looking for a coach to support envisioning the next chapter of my career. I'm so glad I took the leap, as this work has improved all areas of my life-- not just at work. He connects aspects of mindfulness, spirituality, and psychology in a way that deeply resonated with me. The work was challenging, refreshingly to the point, and very much worth the effort. I felt supported through it all. Chad is an incredibly intuitive and generous coach, and I wish everyone was able to experience this kind of coaching and support. Go for it!

I saw Dr. Xia during a very difficult time in my life, and from our very first interaction, I felt…read morethat he was someone I could trust. He was knowledgeable, supportive, and incredibly patient with all of my questions. I'm proud, grateful, and relieved to say that I've made it through to the other side, and I truly don't think I would be in the better place I am today without Dr. Xia's care and support.

Dr. Xia was very helpful to guide me in the right direction. He is interested in the entire story…read moreand was able to understand me well. I received some great advice from him. I'm very grateful for his help.

Dr. Ward is a very compassionate psychiatrist. I'm so happy she finally left LifeStance…read more I found all the information about her on her website: www.elizabethwardmd.com

I was a patient of Dr. Wards for many years. At first I thought she was a good doctor but I never…read moregot better in all the years that I was her patient. The last time I saw her (2015) I was crying because I had debilitating leg pain for 4 months and barely able to walk. I had seen multiple doctors and no one could figure out what was wrong with me. She has no compassion. I told Dr. Ward the situation and she just said I needed a mood stabilizer. When I refused the medication she said my time was up and handed me a book titled why am I still depressed. I WAS NOT DEPRESSED! I threw the book in the garbage at the clinic and left. Once I found out what was causing my leg pain I emailed her to try and educate her that just because someone cries it does not mean they need a mood stabilizer. And just because someone has pain it does not mean they have a psychiatric disorder. Psychiatric doctors never try and figure out the cause of a patients mental health issues. There are causes but they just give you a label and drugs. Google 13 blood test everyone with depression should get. Also, google mental health symptoms and Lyme disease. Lyme, Babesia, Bartonella and CIRS have been the cause of my pain and suffering for 22 years. This includes all my mental health issues and the labels she gave me. Dr. Ward has tunnel vision and needs to get educated. She just wants to give you drugs and does not care about your overall health. I no longer take any prescriptions medications and I am much healthier now that I am almost done treating the CAUSE.

For twenty years, if not longer, I have suffered from a deeply treatment-resistant form of Major…read moreDepression, against which nothing has historically worked. I have tried everything from CBT to traditional therapies, a dozen different psychiatric medications, Intensive Outpatient treatments, and even Trans-cranial Magneto-Therapy, all without much if any effect. I have, at times, been deeply suicidal, or otherwise barely able to function normally at my job or in my life in general. I truly thought that it was impossible for me to improve at this point, having tried everything I could think of. But then I met Dr. Cohen. In less than four months of treatment, Dr. Cohen has completely shattered this paradigm. My major depressive episodes have all but evaporated, going from multiple times a week to disappearing entirely for more than two months. She has changed my view on not just my depression but on the root causes of it, guided me into and through a medical leave of absence from my job that turned out to be the best decision I've made in decades, and has even helped immeasurably with my other outstanding family obligations and issues that I am attempting to resolve. There is more work to do, of course, but the turnaround from six months ago is beyond amazing and borderline unbelievable. I truly did not ever think I would be able to get to where I am now, and it is thanks to Dr. Cohen. In my extensive experience with mental health practitioners, Dr. Cohen is far and away the most effective, professional, and helpful Doctor I have ever consulted, and I honestly don't know that I would be here at all today if not for her.

I found Dr. Cohen on Yelp in December when I was battling a particularly nasty bout of depression…read more My usual refuges of eating healthier, exercising, or diving into hobbies weren't improving my mood. I lacked motivation, excitement for activities I once loved, and felt incapable of working, so after months of suffering I called Dr. Cohen. I've seen therapists off and on at various stages of my life, typically to talk about how I was currently feeling or my childhood. Though it was nice to talk to someone, I never felt like I made progress, developed coping tools or learned why *like clockwork* I'd spend 1/2 the year in a depressed state. In just a few months since seeing Dr. Cohen, I've had several breakthroughs which have helped me to understand the source of my depression. I'm also learning to be mindful of my triggers, so that I don't feel completely consumed by my emotions. I've been able to return to work and I've gone from being a withdrawn, shell of myself to feeling the full variety of my emotions. I'm still in recovery, but I'm learning to be patient with myself, to be kinder to myself, and to be more flexible. I wish I'd had Dr. Cohen earlier in my life, but I'm thankful to be in her care now and have her support. If you're ready to earnestly put in the work to get better, do yourself a favor and give her a call today.

I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 17 years old through a private practice…read more Out of necessity, I transferred my care to a psychiatrist who was generic, disinterested, and overworked. The cocktail of medicine the psychiatrist put me on worked for 8 years, or at least I believed it did. Fast forward to November 2019. I was in my first semester of law school when it became very evident that the cocktail of pills were no longer a service to me. I had to make a change, no matter the cost. I opened my laptop and searched, "ADHD specialist San Francisco, CA." Somewhere in the midst of that search, I found Doctor Johnson. I met with him, we spoke, and he immediately got me on a much more SAFER and EFFECTIVE treatment. Ultimately, I took a medical leave of absence because my grades suffered so greatly to the point of no return. I took the year to work and adapt to the new treatment. Now I'll get to the good stuff. I returned to law school in fall 2020. My (second) first semester of law school was amazing. I was at the top of my class. Of course I credit myself for putting the hard work in, but I have to give much credit to Doctor Johnson. For if it weren't for him, I would not have returned, and I would not have been as successful as I was. I wish this was the end of the story, but it's not. Second semester of law school, Spring 2021. I am unable to sleep. The pressure of needing perform at a high level is real because I set the bar so high for myself. Once I informed Doctor Johnson of what I was going through, he made sure he was on call for me during this whole period of time. He checked in on me daily, and did everything he possibly could to make sure I would make it through this difficult phase of my life. If you asked me a couple months ago if I thought I would make it through, I would of said no. But with the help of Doctor Johnson, my PCP, and my therapist, I fought and clawed my way through and ultimately, I was able to finish my first year of law school! Moral of the story: I am truly beyond grateful for Doctor Johnson, and I recommend him to literally anyone in need of a compassionate, caring, and highly intelligent psychiatrist. I hope this review helps others find their way to an enlightening path. Thanks for reading!

I met with Dr. Johnson in early June and my entire experience from start to finish has been nothing…read moreshort of amazing. Dr. Johnson is thorough, accommodating, and pays attention to acute detail when learning patient history/background. I've worked with many different Practitioners/Psychiatrists and this experience has been far and away the most hands on, more personalized, and *most importantly* the most HUMAN. For those of you who get healthcare through Kaiser or other HMO's, this should resonate profoundly. Dr. Johnson doesn't treat you like a number. I spent more time in his office than I did the waiting room. Very pleasant experience and would highly recommend to individuals looking for personalized and complete help. Thank you.

I started going to see Kay around April 2019 for stomach pain and associated back pain (that would…read morenot go away after trying everything with my doctor) after reading how hypnosis can help with pain management. I liked Kay right off the bat! She's gives off a very calm and friendly vibe and is wonderful to talk too. I enjoyed our sessions a lot. Talking through my issues was nice and getting her take was helpful. The sessions were very relaxing as well. What I regret was not taking the audios seriously. I should have listened to them every day to get the benefit but I neglected that. I think that was why I didn't really think hypnosis was fully for me. It helped but not as much as I hoped. Forward to April 2020. I got infected with Covid in March and was dealing with many symptoms that would not go away. One of them was horrible acid reflux. I've had acid reflux in the past but this was 20x worse! Diet and medicine weren't helping and Kay texted me to check in with how I was doing (perfect timing!). I figured why not try hypnosis again and see. We had our session via FaceTime. I really liked doing it via FaceTime bc I could do it from the comfort of my couch or bed. No looking for parking or driving to SF. I stopped the medicine but continued to eat GERD friendly and listened to the audio we made 3x a day. My acid reflux went away! I just had to be diligent. I then developed another covid symptom a week or so later which was horrible headaches and nerve pain. I had another session with Kay and my symptoms improved. A couple of weeks later I stated having chest pains and heart palpitations, which is think was because I was too plugged into social media surrounding covid. My anxiety went through the roof. I could not stop being anxious. It was really really bad. My heart was racing so much all day. I had a session yesterday and I'm already feeling less anxious. My heart rate is going back to normal and I'm so grateful to Kay. I was considering taking anxiety meds and but I'm glad I tried Kay first. I think it's a combination of talking it through with Kay and doing the therapy that really helped. She really is amazing at what she does and I recommend her to anyone dealing with either physical or mental issues.

Kay is the real deal. She helped me navigate a challenging moment in life when I was at a…read morecrossroads. I got a lot out of only a handful of sessions together--she was immediately helpful and never pressured me to engage in any sort of long term engagement, which I really appreciate. I have new tools I was able to put to immediate use, but more than that, her insightful questions and active listening helped me find the clarity I was seeking. I cannot recommend her enough. P.S. this was written by a real actual human :)

I started going to Esther when I was near rock bottom after the end of a relationship and continued…read moregoing for a bit over a year. Over the course of that year, Esther truly helped me gain back the self-confidence and self-respect that I had lost. She also helped me see the origin of many of my actions and behaviors that contributed to my problems and develop healthier and more productive responses to anxiety. Esther would start our sessions with a discussion of my prior week and what was troubling me, and give both insights and helpful suggestions for deciding on the path forward. After that, we usually worked on getting to the root causes of my anxiety or exercises to immediately provide some relief (many of which I could then use on my own). As I regained my self-confidence, the focus shifted to everything from work stresses to the most effective ways for me to reach my goals for the future. I am leaving therapy in such a better place than I started, and I couldn't thank Esther enough for the compassion, strength, and knowledge that she showed me. I highly recommend her for anyone going through a tough time in their lives, or just anyone who wants to get some great techniques and guidance towards achieving their goals!

It's been 11 years since the last time I wrote a review. What could possibly inspire me to want to…read morewrite a review after such a long hiatus? One word: therapy. I still remember the day I reached out to Esther requesting for her psychotherapy service. I had just ordered all these self-help books via Amazon that were piling up on my nightstand, but my mind was all over the place and I couldn't find a way to focus on where to begin. If you googled the phrase "woe is me", the top result would probably be a photo of me. I needed someone to help navigate me through my anxious thoughts, someone to provide me with the right tools that would let me better articulate my feelings, someone to boost my confidence, but most importantly someone to just help me get a grip on my entire mental wellbeing. Fortunately shortly after reaching out to Esther, she was able to take me in. I remember feeling wary coming into our first session. I had worked with a few other therapists prior to her, but I didn't feel like I got to where I needed to be with them. I remember during that very first session I was experiencing so much anxiety and overthinking so many events in my life. The simple question of "how are you doing/what is going on in your life?" sent me into a spiral and I remember just crying and pouring out so many bottled up emotions. By the end of our first session, we practiced a cognitive diffusion exercise together and I remember immediately feeling a sense of relief. I felt so much more hopeful than at the beginning of our session and that if I gave it more time I could overcome the mental obstacles that were holding me back. What really solidified my decision to stick with Esther was her hands on approach. With other therapists, we would have a full session of chatting, maybe do an exercise or two, and then pick up again the following week with nothing to hold me accountable with what we practiced. But with Esther, she would assign me homework that would consist of more than just reading. Her assignments would really challenge me to get out of my scared little comfort zone. Then the following week she would always follow up to make sure I really completed that homework. Six months later of consistent therapy with Esther, I can confidently say I am in a much better head space. She's provided me with so many tools that really helped build my confidence and foster a better relationship with myself through emphasizing the importance of self care and just really speaking more kindly to myself. It sounds so simple, but it honestly is a lot of work. I'm so glad I got through it with Esther. She has such a kind, compassionate, and most importantly a nonjudgmental demeanor. I always felt safe during our sessions and that I could speak my mind no matter how silly I thought I might sound. She really helped boost my confidence and made me believe in myself and that under all this "woe is me" there truly is an amazing lovable confident person.