Dr. Chelsea Shih, MD

This doctor single handedly destroyed my mental health by taking access to my medication I had been on for 14 years. She is not a patient advocate and she does not support your autonomy. I would recommend you do everything in your power to be re-assigned if Kaiser assigns you this doctor, unless you wan to become absolutely powerless in your own care. She is the worst psychiatrist I have ever been with in my 35 years on this Earth.

I've been a patient of Dr. Shih for at least 5 years now and, as a sufferer of the terrible cycle of ADHD/Anxiety/Depression, I can say I've never felt as safe as I have with Dr. Shih. She truly takes time to consider the problem writ large, not just the symptoms, and encourages healthy coping strategies in conjunction with therapeutic medications. She answers all questions as thoroughly as she can in the moment, but will always follow-up promptly if the issue takes more time to research. I never struggle to get a hold of her if I am having an adverse reaction to any medications, and she values my input on what seems to be working and what isn't. My insurance changed recently and I was more than willing to pay out-of-pocket costs to continue seeing her as my mental health professional. She's top-notch.

I saw Dr. Shih for approximately 6 months. Initially she was good with me and listened. However, she was very strict and would not let me have one alcoholic beverage or smoke weed while on my meds. After every session she would ask me if I had anything to drink or ingested recreation drugs. I was always afraid she was going to test me so I abstained. However, this forced me to find other coping strategies to include taking large quantities of my meds and hoping not to wake up. I also began cutting myself more often and became more promiscuous. I no longer felt my body belongs to me and felt as if I could quit my job and start turning tricks. Once my temporary therapist found out she immediately ratted me out to Dr. Shih about my prescription abuse. I came clean with Dr. Shih but this temporary therapist from Insight ruined my relationship Dr. Shih who eventually terminated me. I agree I was not taking my meds as prescribed b/c I did not know who to cope and had no therapist… at the time. I ended up returning to my male psychiatric ARNP but it's not working out. I am now in a downward spiral. Drinking, smoking weed, taking klonopin again and whatever street drugs I can find. I plead one last time for Dr. Shih to take me back and she had her nurse respond to my email by saying "no." I get it but now I have nowhere to go. I can no longer see my male psychiatric ARNP. I have too much trauma in my background involving men. And he also reminds me of the man who would often visit me in my bedroom late at night when I was 9. I do not think I am capable of going on and Dr. Shih will not refer me out. She says I need to contact my insurance company. Yep, wonderful, compassionate care. NOT! Karma!

I have discussed the use of the CBD cannabis with seven other medical professionals since 2011. I have never received negative feedback Dr. Shihâ??s response has taken me by complete surprise. I asked two of my prior mental health providers what the issue could be they both said she is young, inexperienced and improperly influenced by the war on marijuana. That does not excuse the emotional and physical pain she has inflicted on me. She should not be in a room unsupervised with a person suffering from mental health issues. And she should not be practicing on the west coast or New England.

dr. shih is a very kind and compassionate doctor that cares very much about the welfare of her patients.