Dr. Jill Kristin Smith, MD

I just found this site searching information for my husband, and out of curiosity I looked up my Dr. I thought hey if was easy I'd give her a quick 5-star, why not? I only decided to write something out when I read one review of "her" ... I 100% do not believe is her. It upset me to see someone write something so bizarre. I've known Dr. Smith over 7 years and nothing could be further from the kind of Dr. she's been, always no change. Dr. Smith (I call her Jill) is careful, calm, and thoughtful. I find her giving sensitive attention to the smallest clue from me, she picks up things that I can't imagine another doctor being able to do. Sure, I believe other good doctors are out there, but I've not met one before who is able to help me as much as Jill has, or even close. I've seen a lot of doctors. My life was sort of upside down since from before I can remember continuing into my adult life. Too much confusion, trauma, "gaslighting." She has done a lot to help me move through… some very complex problems and I sometimes can't believe how my life used to be before therapy with her. I was so stuck, destructive, distorted, not connected to anyone in a way that was based in reality that was ever good enough, and I couldn't really feel anything except some things in a really disconnected, confusing, distant way. It's still hard, we're still working on things, but I'm "on the other side" of more than I could/would speak to here. Basically, I trust Jill, I appreciate and need her skill and calm compassion, which is always present. I don't always "enjoy" therapy, learning, realizing, experiencing instead of avoiding difficult things, and feeling things I haven't before, but my life has changed for the better and I trust it will further. It can be scary to grow and change things that have been with you your whole life but I know I have to do it, and with Jill's help, like I've been trying to say, I have come a long way.

Please please read the reviews about this woman. I wish I had. After searching for a doctor I can trust with my PTSD and medicine management, I was not only disappointed in Jill Smith, I actually suffered a nervous breakdown. My already, painful trauma, and lack of trust in doctors made me a very sensitive patient. After I opened up to Jill Smith, I had to sit, painfully, while she berated me, blamed me for the abuse I endured, accused me of seeing too many doctors, and yelled at me because I couldn't afford to see her more than once a week. She costs around 300 dollars per visit and does not accept insurance. I would ask for a bill to submit, yet she kept saying, "next meeting". So, I made another appointment, and another, and one more. She never talked about anything important and has a history of interrupting while you speak. She is incapable of following a story and stresses out each time you discuss your life. She is very unorganized and appears so frazzled that I am in shock this… lady passed medical school. I spent over 2000 dollars discussing why I needed to see her. Each session was a follow up from the previous conversation. Nothing was gained from seeing this woman. NOTHING. Instead, I left with promises of "next time we have a lot to discuss". Each time I left, I felt like I should just end my life. She blamed me for being a victim of child abuse, for suffering and surviving gun violence and for seeking her for help. To this day, she has yet to assist me and has denied me medication and a therapist. She will not return my calls. I called a lawyer and spoke with the CA Board of medicine and her behavior is classic abandonment which is a form of medical malpractice. She is someone who needs to be in therapy and is not someone who should be treating others. In fact, her job is NOT in therapy and she doesn't have the training to deal with those who are suffering. I have decided to pull what is left from my 401k to get a laywr and sue this woman. If anyone else reads this, and has similar issues, please please reach out to me. You dont deserve to suffer either.

I've found Dr. Smith to be the most thoughtful, respectful, knowledgable, and helpful psychiatrist I've ever seen. She's on a par with my primary care physician, in terms of how much I trust and depend on her to help me manage and improve my life. I've been through a lot, but with Dr. Smith on my team, I feel I'm getting to a place where I'm stronger than ever, even stronger than I was before I experienced things I don't think anyone should have to go through.

When I first met Dr. Smith, I wanted to say all kind things about her because her demeanor was very welcoming. However, my experience proved to be drastically different. Unfortunately, Dr. Smith was very disorganized and, after 3+ years of being her patient, she not only took me through every medication in the book, she also misdiagnosed me and set a completely skewed perception of my so-called-symptoms. She seemed present in our appointments... but her medication guesses and over exaggerations caused a lot of issues (more than I could claim were truly my own). Psychiatric medicine is definitely a guessing game, but after seeing another doctor only three times, I was able to stop all unnecessary medicines (seroquel, geodon, prozac, lithium, and artane was the cocktail at the time) and was told I had PTSD, which could be treated with simply listening and an occasional anti-anxiety medication. It was a lot of hassle for nothing and, quite honestly, hazardous to my health. Dr. Smith… is intelligent, but doesn't have the understanding and compassion many would look for in a doctor. Pros: She is very intelligent. Cons: Her personal emotions get too involved with treatments. Dr. Smith isn't receptive to what patient(s) are sharing with her. She over exaggerates to a point that is damaging to her patients. After three other individuals shared the same information/opinions with me and several other physicians, I felt it was important to write a review.

Ive known Dr. Smith to raise the standard in the quality of the patient-physician relationship as exhibited in the patients confidence in her competence. We had worked with the same mental health clinic years ago so this is a review based on hundreds of visits. I think there is no shame in being educated, especially in showcasing her skills to proposed treatment and nurturing the patients knowledge about disease. All things tend to be subjective but Dr. Smith contributes integrity to the patient doctor experience and she doesnt do things that arent useful, yet is thorough to a fault. I base her contributions not on intentions, rather on how the patients valued her for her effectiveness in real circumstances and treatment.

It would be rare to meet someone with more reverence and dedication serving the field of psychiatry. She is a tremendous force in helping to treat one ...

GOOD; If you are going to see this doctor for psychological issues this doctor is excellent GOOD; This doctor is excellent at prescribing drugs tactic ...

This doctor has some serious issues of her own. I went in for a med eval............ After two visits, she said she needed to see me another time be ...

Her diagnostic accuracy leaves much to be desired.

Dr.Smith has been wonderful. I had seen 4 other psychiatrists before I met Dr. Smith. I found her to be caring, understanding and constantly going above and beyond what I expected. She helped me understand what was going on with me, recommending books, articles and other material that she had researched. She has office hours in the evening which is also a bonus as I wouldn't have to miss work. I am greatly indebted to her.