Dr. Alice Li, MD

I was originally trained and board-certified in General Pediatrics. My passion for youth mental health solidified during residency at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, formerly Oakland Children’s Hospital. I completed further adult and child psychiatric training at the University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, through the Post Pediatrics Portal Program (PPPP). The program is designed specifically for pediatricians to help address the national shortage of child psychiatrists.

I always strive to provide a careful and comprehensive initial evaluation to guide diagnosis and treatment recommendations. I am skilled in managing medication when indicated, and enjoy providing psychotherapy to children, adolescents, young adults, and their parents – both in the context of parenting and individual mental health treatment as well. My clinical interests include depression, anxiety, and ADHD.

What is your approach to working with patients?

Each new patient begins with a …careful and comprehensive evaluation to determine treatment needs. For minors, it typically involves three sessions - meeting with parents then the child to gather information, and a feedback session to review diagnostic impressions and treatment recommendations. For adults, it typically involves two sessions. The feedback session is done so that patients can understand evidence-based treatment options and ask questions, before deciding how best to proceed.

How do you integrate medication management?

Only after careful evaluation and if deemed indicated based on presenting issues and severity. Further information about medication, if applicable, will be provided at the conclusion of the evaluation but medication is typically not prescribed at that time to allow time to understand risks, benefits, side effects, and alternatives. Each subsequent medication visit involves joint decision-making weighing benefits and side effects.

What do you believe is the most important part of the healing process?

Help patients/families feel that they are not alone in their struggles. Provide empathy, nonjudgmental stance, and evidenced-based treatment to relieve distress/suffering and to reduce fight/flight/freeze reactions, so that patients can reclaim their sense of self and creativity, to achieve self-actualization.

What kinds of clients do you work with best?

Children, adolescents, and young adults. I also enjoy working with parents to address their individual mental health needs.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Spending quality time with family (including our cat) and friends. I enjoy nature/outdoors, good food, jogging, yoga, reading, and journaling.

About Us

Comprehensive Psychiatric Services, a medical group was incorporated in 1979 to provide behavioral medicine services for individuals, couples, children and families with a wide variety of problems. Treatment provided by psychiatrists and therapists varies to meet specific need.

PSYCHIATRISTS WHO CARE!

We accept all commercial insurance