This is my second review. My story maybe a little long- but worth reading here. I'm continuing to…read morebenefit from the information and care that Dr.Toups has provided for me over the years. She uses nutrition, supplementation, medications and her superior diagnostic skills and research skills as a physician to care for her patients. Her care plans and personalized data sheets to get you on track functioning and enjoying life - they are treasures! I am turning 66 in November and recently had to review my notes and information provided by Kat regarding my initial treatments because I had fallen out of the parameters and the functional way of living (supplements when needed, nutrition and exercise) for optimal health and was not functioning.I have adhd, anxiety, depression, arthritis, TMJ, Asthma, adverse medication reactions and metabolic problems (overweight) which is giving me borderline high blood pressure,borderline pressure in my eyes (re:glaucoma), IBS and prediabetes. A recent trip to the ER - made me reevaluate the low standards of self care especially regarding diet. Kat had the good plan and I strayed. In addition, I jumped on the WFPB vegan nutrition but I could never go all in and felt hungry and unable to digest the foods. I could only lose weight eating about 800 calories a day. I believe this way of eating also led me eating more High Carb processed food especially feeding my Sugar addiction. I decided two months ago to get back on track with "High Fat" keto diet prescribed by Kat and gave absolutely no regard for scale numbers. Initially, I gained weight - but now two months in (with very few cheats) it is stabilizing and the numbers are coming down slightly. My sugar cravings are almost gone. Here is what is now happening to me eating very few carbs, HIGH FAT, mostly grass fed beef or pork or eggs, a few what I call neutral veggies (example- green beans), few berries, no seed oils, olive oil, Kerry Gold butter, and a dash of cream for 1/4 cup coffee in morning, staying away from sugar substitutes - I feel "happy" I have "energy" I am exercising - swimming over 1 mile 5 days a week, I walk on my rural property 6K to 10K steps a day,I have no aches and pains, I recover from repetitive swimming easily, my recall for names and where I place items has improved, I have no doom and gloom in the morning, My ADHD symptoms improving (able to clean up messes and organize). My figure is changing, I have definition in my biceps and calves and my waist is smaller. My weight is now concentrated in my hips and thighs and butt. My TMJ has improved. Sleep improved- not perfect yet (supplementing with Magnesium). I was able to cut my BP med in half - soon hope to eliminate. Able to stop using daily Inhaler for Asthma and haven't used my rescue inhaler in 1 month. What arthritis? Gone! My skin looks vibrant. For sugar cravings I drink bone broth. I stay full as not to stray from this way of eating and I only counted calories a few times to see how much I am really eating - it turns out to be 1500 to 2000 calories a day - that is what I feel I need. I only eat when I am hungry except if I think I might get tempted on an outing or something - I will eat before I go. Thank you Kat for helping me. I pray I will not be tempted back into the wrong diet - this way of eating and exercising is too important. I have big plans for my future and look forward to everyday.

In my desperate search for a practitioner who could help my son with his MTHFR diagnosis, I…read moreresearched & contacted many. Dr. Toups replied on a Saturday with feedback, referrals and resource links. She was not only professional, but k-i-n-d and encouraging. It made me cry. When your child is not well, it can feel like shouldering the weight of the world. It was beautiful that someone I never even met cared enough to take the time to give a generous response. I'm grateful for the list of practitioners and I'll certainly utilize it. I appreciate you Dr. Toups!

Michael is wildly brilliant. I have been dealing with ADD my whole life and through the years have…read moregone to a variety of different Psychiatrists with no real understanding of what someone with ADHD goes through. I have a fairly extreme case and this thing I deal with is affects my work and relationships in dramatic ways. Since I have started working with Michael he has been able to target my medication and help me develop strategies and systems that make it possible to me get my arms around the chaos and desperation that has defined my life for so long. He is a compassionate listener and someone whose medical expertise has given me hope and I'm truly grateful

One of the most caring, professional and dedicated psychiatrists. I highly recommend Dr Kron to…read moreanyone who has not gotten the right diagnosis, treatment , meds or a practice with integrity such as his.

Great guy I am not sure if he is retired but when I saw him in 2020 he helped me with some old BS I…read morehave been dragging around since I was a kid

He is simply the best Psychiatrist I have ever had. He is thoughtful, compassionate, always…read moreeducated on the newest research and medications. He listens to your concerns, and cares about your concerns. He helped me manage severe depression while I was in and out of hospitals year ago. He has seen me multiple times a week and months apart, whatever my needs for support were he was ready to listen and help. Really, I cannot recommend him strongly enough!! He is in Walnut Creek now, not Lafayette.

Highly recommend. Best experience with a psychiatrist by far…read more Pros: Patient, kind, and efficient. Works with you to avoid unwanted side effects. Listens well and lets you talk without interrupting or dismissing. Office staff is friendly as well. Cons: Only accepts Anthem and Aetna insurance.

I have seen Dr Hartman for 4-5 years for several mental health conditions and severe ADHD…read moredisability. He is a psychiatrist set apart from the rest in his up to date knowledge and willingness to hear my reality and not challenge it. Too many psychiatrists have incredibly out of date beliefs and knowledge regarding ADHD and judge clients as drug seekers. To be quite honest he is one of the very few mental health providers that I can trust. The large majority have tried to control my narrative causing me more trauma and distrust of healthcare providers. Laura his office manager is efficient, proactive, and quick to take action.

I've known Dr. Watkins every since she was a medical student. I have worked with her and have…read moredirectly seen how much she cares for her patients She would never ask a patient for any reviews. That's just not how she is. Don't just use Yelp reviews to make the decision on which doctor to choose for you or a loved one. Call her office and you can decide for yourself! She is the kind of doctor anyone should choose. She cares so much for ALL her patients!

Dr Watkins is Smart and experienced , , compassionate, responsive, and understands the need urgency…read morethe urgency of the situation.

I have had mixed experiences with Dr. Bloch. While he is adept at communication and promptly…read moremanages prescriptions, his approach as a psychiatrist leaves much to be desired. He can be brilliant when you first see him but then as conflict from medication management comes, seeing him long-term comes with real complications. PROS: *Communication: Dr. Bloch is responsive to emails and efficient in ordering medication. *Medication Knowledge: He demonstrates a strong grasp of medication combinations. *Pleasant Interaction: Working with him is comfortable in low-pressure situations. CONS: *Lack of Transparency: Dr. Bloch's recommendations sometimes lack clarity, and his treatment decisions can seem arbitrary. I had on multiple occasions because of contracting nasty side effects said, "I don't want to be on this medication again." Dr. Bloch would forget what I said and recommend the medication (typically anti-psychotic) again at another point in time. *Conflict Management Challenges: He struggles to manage conflicts professionally, which can be frustrating if you are a long-term patient with volatile health challenges. *Inadequate Side Effect Guidance: I was not adequately informed about potential side effects, leading to unpleasant surprises. It is even more complicated when Dr. Bloch does not follow through with additional appointments for medication management. It is all on you to do the heavy lifting in scheduling follow-ups. *Poor Collaboration: Dr. Bloch's communication with other providers is inconsistent, leading to discrepancies in treatment plans. Additionally at follow-ups, his evaluation process is by-the-book, and the meetings can feel rushed where conversation is not as open as you want it to be. *People-Pleasing Tendencies: If under pressure, his approach can prioritize patient preferences over clinical necessity, leading to ineffective treatment strategies. *Lack of Organization in His Practice: Unfortunately, Dr. Bloch does not have a good medical records system by which to keep track of information. He could benefit from having staff working for him or at least use a digital system by which to keep track of medical records and at least make them more visible for patients upon request. Perhaps having a website that includes a Patient Portal option for patients would help. While Dr. Bloch has solid credentials, his lack of true collaboration makes it difficult for me to see how he is effective as a psychiatrist. Patients seeking an involving, collaborative approach may need to look elsewhere for a psychiatrist who can better manage their expectations.

There are not enough good words to say about Dr. Bloch and his standard of care. He has made the…read moredifference in life or death situations for my loved one countless times. His expertise, knowledge and persistence has given my loved one a much better quality of life than his prognosis might otherwise suggest possible. He is professional, impeccable with his time management, caring and competent. We've been bringing our loved one to him regularly for close to a decade and he's never had an "off" day. I hold him in the highest esteem and gratitude.

I'm discouraged to write this because I was genuinely excited after reading so many positive…read morereviews and how thoughtfully this doctor describes his approach. Unfortunately, my experience mirrors another reviewer's: I first reached out over a week and a half ago, left multiple voicemails, and followed up asking to briefly learn more about his approach, but never received a response. I understand he likely has a full practice and other priorities. That said, it would be helpful if his voicemail or profile set clearer expectations around response times or availability, or noted if he's not taking new clients. Silence after multiple follow-ups is disappointing. I personally rely heavily on reviews when making decisions about providers, and I'm leaving this for others who do the same. He sounded great based on reviews and his profile, but based on my experience, he does not seem very communicative. Bummer. :(

You'll find no one else even close to Dr. Steve Balt, in terms of his expert skill, sincere empathy…read morefor his patients, and uniquely effective approach to mental health treatment.  If you've grown exasperated or etiolated with other providers who just won't *listen* to you; if you're looking for someone to selectively challenge your thoughts to inform your "gestalt" to you and others, as appropriate; or, if you just need someone you can trust to have your best interest at heart, I can personally attest to the fact that you should see Dr. Balt now, while you can. The rough can only obscure a gem like Dr. Balt for so long.  Dr. Balt's style precludes traditional "paper" diagnoses, which, at least to me, makes the most sense because no one can maintain with any level of confidence that their thinking and psyche can be wholly and correctly labeled in a box. Let's face it: our thinking is fluid, as our issues may be of mercurial function. Dr. Balt not only fully understands this truth but clearly relates to it in his treatment, which I would describe as medication-assisted psychotherapy.  Seeing Dr. Balt every other week since Summer 2018 has been perhaps the most rewarding experience I've accrued in that same timespan. I had seen other providers, but only Dr. Balt recognized my issues as specific to only me, as a person.  Dr. Balt's "collective" approach assures that you won't be stuck scarfing down tablets for reasons you don't fully understand or agree with, and compromise is the name of the game when loggerheads nears broaching.  Without delving into my personal issues, suffice it to say that complexities have been manifold, and I've honestly actually come to eagerly await each and every meeting with Dr. Balt!

Nothing but quality care at this place! The office staff was helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly…read more I recommend this to anyone needing treatment for severe depression.

This past year, I experienced an extremely traumatic family crisis that completely upended my…read moreworld. For months, I struggled with severe anxiety, depression, and debilitating PTSD symptoms. Medication was only helping a little bit, and I didn't want to rely solely on it. I was looking for something that could provide more immediate and lasting relief, which led me to the Brain Wellness Center in San Ramon for TMS treatment. Before beginning treatment, I was in profound distress. I experienced intense visceral emotional reactions and PTSD symptoms that felt overwhelming. My trigger responses were debilitating and sometimes turned violent--I was throwing things, breaking things, and unable to control my rage. The emotional flooding was extreme, often leaving me gasping for air and doubled over in pain. I had strong urges to self-harm and uncontrollable impulses toward physical aggression, which I sometimes acted on. I couldn't engage in any therapeutic work--I couldn't even look at books about my type of trauma without becoming dysregulated. My mind was trapped in constant rumination and obsessive thoughts. The anxiety was so severe that I felt like I was losing myself. After completing 50 sessions of TMS, the transformation has been remarkable. I developed motivation for basic self-care like going to sleep early and taking vitamins--things that felt impossible before. When triggered now, I still feel anger surge through me, but I no longer have the urge to be physically aggressive. I can now engage in therapeutic work, reading books about my trauma and participating in therapy discussions. I still feel discomfort, but it's manageable--not the dysregulating panic I experienced before. I've learned to disengage and down-regulate when triggered. I'm calmer and better able to care for myself instead of drowning in obsessive thoughts. The compulsion toward physical aggression has dramatically decreased. My anxiety is much less intense--I can redirect my attention to self-care, and the upset no longer overwhelms me. Most importantly, I'm no longer on my knees or doubled over in emotional pain. I am able to walk toward healing. The doctors at Brain Wellness Center are truly exceptional. Both Dr. Hashemian and Dr. Palmer are deeply compassionate, excellent listeners, and incredibly knowledgeable--they've been doing this work for decades and are true experts. I felt confident I was in capable hands. What I appreciated most was their honest approach with no sales pressure. They truly want you to make the best choice for you, whether that means working with them or another TMS specialist. They were thorough in their assessments and committed to tracking progress systematically. Week by week, I could literally see the steady decline in my anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms through their comprehensive measurements. The most dramatic improvement was in my anxiety symptoms. I would say that I started feeling really noticeable relief from my symptoms after about 6 sessions. Next to the treatment's effectiveness, I was most impressed with the staff. Mayra, Angelica, Autumn, and Olivia work seamlessly as the techs and coordination team. They are incredibly kind, consistently professional while genuinely warm and caring, and highly skilled. You can tell they're happy in their work environment. They were efficient with scheduling, accommodating with changes, and excellent at follow-through and communication. Appointments always started on time, and the facility was meticulously clean. I felt genuinely taken care of throughout all 50 sessions. TMS at Brain Wellness Center gave me my life back. I went from being unable to function, violent in my reactions, and contemplating self-harm to being able to engage in healing work, regulate my emotions, and move forward with my life. The relief I sought--something more immediate and lasting than medication alone--is exactly what I found. If you're struggling with depression, anxiety, or PTSD, I cannot recommend Brain Wellness Center highly enough. Thank you to Dr. Hashemian, Dr. Palmer, Mayra, Angelica, Autumn, and Olivia for helping me find my way back to myself. The healing journey continues.

Caring and brilliant- saved my life! Personal-able and spends a lot of time getting to know you…read moreand understand your symptoms and medical history. I adore him and Nan!

Dr. Michael Kron is a wonderful, smart, caring, astute psychiatrist. He spent a really long time…read morewith me for the initial assessment. Before seeing him I filled out some questionnaires and even with that his personal touches somehow made me feel like if I disclosed to him truthfully that he was trustworthy. I immediately liked him..he has a nice trustworthy face and earnest demeanor and really worked hard to come up with an extremely accurate picture of me...with his questions unearthing things that I had forgotten. Dr Kron is an excellent diagnostician. I feel very comfortable recommending clients to him and going to him myself. His invisible but invaluable assistant Nan is super nice and helpful as well. I feel very lucky to have found him.