Dr. Ellis Michael Schwied, MD

I took my daughter to many children psychologist and psychiatrist and clinics for severe depression and suicide attempts. Honestly I thought they were good until I lost my insurance and met Dr. Schwied through free clinic. Where he volunteered. Dr. Schwied’s methods made day and night difference in my kids livesMy younger daughter saw him once, he give her really good advise and direction in life. Which changed her mind set. My daughter who has depression refused to see any therapist cuz she didn't see any benefits nor took medication. Until she couldn’t tolerated her depression anymore. I suggested she see Dr. Schwied once just to see how she felt about him. She started seeing him for about two months and 6-8 sessions. My daughter told me how wonderful he is. She said, he understands her and can realite to her issues and gives her good advise. He jas given her direction confidence that she desperately needed. She sees him frequently and I have seen the change in her within a short… times. I wish she had seen him earlier but you can’t make them do anything they don’t want. I can openly talk with her. She always thought I am her enemy until she started see Dr. Schwied. He is solid, kids respect and trust him cause he really care and listens comes up with plan that kid logically understand. I couldn’t get through to her no matter what I did. He is definitely knowledgeable and has experience like no other. If you or anyone who has any condition that needs a psychologist should give Dr. Schwied a try. He will change your life.

I was a troubled 16 year old diagnosed with ADD at the time. Although I liked Schwied as a person, he was constantly taking phone calls while I was trying to open up about my life, specifically sexual abuse I had experienced at home. I was also uncomfortable when he mentioned a few times that he found my mother attractive. I continued to see him early adulthood. He told me how much he was making while running the UCI Psychiatric Adolescent ward and his strategy for getting a raise. He also told me he was going to buy a house in Mission Viejo with a pool and the price, then asked me a lot of questions about mortgages as I was working in that industry. I leave this review, having read the other many negative reviews, not out of revenge. But rather is saddens and frankly angers me that he could have done a better job and helped nail my father for pedophilia, had he been paying attention. And I want the other who had a negative experience with this doctor to know that these problems go… way, way back.

My parents made me go see him after I was having some problems, and while I don't think he is a bad person, he wasn't a good doctor. i tried nearly 6 antidepressants in I'd say 4 months of seeing him. Also I dreaded the sessions because I just never felt comfortable opening up and my instinct was right because he would literally talk about himself and his life for nearly all of the appointment.

Dr. Schwied literally saved my life. My son died suddenly and on a moments notice Dr. Schwied was there to treat me and put me in his immediate care. I could not have gotten through the worst time in my life without him. Thank you E.

DR. Schwied is a great Psychiatrist I missed my first appointment, I called him later that day with an emergency due to a very close friend passing. I left a message and was called the next morning and Dr. Schwied made time for me without knowing me or if I would even keep my appointment and was still able to get to know me and do a proper analysis based on his skill and knowledge he is very easy to talk to and can read you and understand right away. There is no way you could say anything bad about this doctor he makes you feel like a human being not just another patient to deal with he really gets to know you and asks the right questions. I plan on going back and would recommend him to anyone that likes a Psychiatrist to actualy listen and get to know you so they may be given experienced Psychiatric care.

Dr. Schwied is a very nice man. I had to stop having him as a doctor though, I feel as he must have narcolepsy or something! He often started dozing off during sessions, I've never had anything like that happen to me, it was odd and I didn't even know what to say. I thought he was great until he started doing that. And I also noticed when coming to talk about my medications I always felt like I was pulling teeth, he would always say well what do you want to do? Well, I don't know, you're the psychiatrist, that's why I come here. I don't know enough about other medications. But honestly have a psychiatrist that is going to fall asleep on me isn't acceptable. He is a very nice man, and at times I felt I had finally found a good psychiatrist here in CA, but then he started falling asleep..

I agree with both the boundary issues comments as well as over prescribing meds -- just keep adding more if what you have isn't working. That is, if his records are organized enough to know that you're actually taking. Even more unnerving is the occasional lapse of patient confidentially. It may be occasional, but creates big problems.

I would never recommend Dr. Schwied. He has boundary issues.

Dr Schwied is a brilliant man. He has a very caring nature. He is a remarkable businessman and medical doctor. I have know him for 13 years. He singlehandedly kept me against my will from several suicide attempts. I highly recommend him to anyone who wishes to make an appointment and walk through his office door. You will not be sorry.

Dr. Schwied is a very outgoing, charming man. However, he has a serious problem with keeping his personal life/problems to himself. He involves his patients in his personal life, even revealing details about his sex life. While he seems to care deeply about his patients, he really uses them for his meet his own needs. I would not recommend getting sucked into such an arrangement.