Adults seeking diagnostic clarity
A careful second look for those who want a thorough evaluation and a clearer understanding of what's going on.
Tiffany Chao, MD · Adult Psychiatry
Thoughtful, personalized psychiatric care for adults in California.
I believe good psychiatric care starts with careful diagnosis. Treatment decisions are made collaboratively, with attention to both the scientific evidence and your individual goals, values, and circumstances.
Get in touch
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Consultation
To request information about scheduling a consultation, please submit your contact information below. Please do not include sensitive medical details, diagnoses, medication information, safety concerns, or personal health information in this form. This form is not for emergencies and does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you are in crisis, call 988, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room.
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Thank you. Your request has been received. Please do not send clinical information by regular email. If appropriate, you will receive instructions for the secure patient portal.
Our philosophy
“Good psychiatric care is slow work. It asks for room to listen, time to think, and a physician who will remain with you across years, not appointments.”
Tiffany Chao, MD
The practice · By appointment
About Dr. Chao
A physician-led, private practice
Dr. Chao is a board-certified adult psychiatrist who completed her psychiatry residency at Kaiser Permanente, where she also served as Chief Resident. Her training included outpatient, inpatient, county, and integrated healthcare settings, allowing her to work with patients from a wide range of backgrounds and life circumstances.
She chose psychiatry because emotional health affects nearly every part of a person’s life. When people feel more grounded, understand themselves more clearly, and are better able to manage their moods and emotions, they often have greater freedom to pursue their relationships, ambitions, and the life they want to build. Helping patients reach that point is what she finds most meaningful about her work.
Dr. Chao is drawn to the combination of intellectual problem-solving and genuine human connection that psychiatry requires. She enjoys carefully examining how symptoms, medical factors, life experiences, relationships, and environment fit together rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all explanation. She also believes patients deserve to understand the reasoning behind their diagnosis and treatment options.
Her approach is thoughtful, collaborative, and practical. She works with adults experiencing depression, anxiety, ADHD, OCD, burnout, executive-function difficulties, women’s mental health concerns, and complex medication questions. Treatment is tailored to each patient’s circumstances, preferences, and goals, with an emphasis on helping patients feel better while also functioning more fully in their lives.
Who I help
Care shaped around the person.
Most patients come to the practice with more than a diagnosis in mind. These are the circumstances I most often work with — a brief intake is the best way to know whether we are a fit.
Professionals experiencing burnout
High-functioning adults navigating career fatigue, chronic stress, and emotional depletion.
ADHD and executive function
Diagnostic clarification and thoughtful management of focus, planning, and organization in adult life.
Anxiety and OCD
Generalized anxiety, panic, social anxiety, obsessive thoughts, and compulsions.
Depression and mood disorders
Careful evaluation and individualized treatment for depression and related mood concerns.
Women's mental health
Thoughtful care for mental health concerns across life stages and transitions.
What to expect
A slower, clearer path to psychiatric care.
Secure Intake
A brief, secure intake. Dr. Chao reviews each submission personally.
Initial Consultation
A full-length 60-minute appointment to understand history, symptoms, prior care, and context.
Formulation
A considered clinical impression, discussed openly, along with recommendations tailored to you.
Ongoing Care
Follow-up visits at a cadence that suits the work, with direct access to the physician between appointments.
Fees
Transparent from the start.
The practice is out-of-network with all insurers. Patients receive an itemized superbill after each visit, which may be submitted to a PPO plan for potential out-of-network reimbursement. Payment is due at the time of service.
Initial Consultation60 minutes$650
Follow-up · Standard30 minutes$325
Follow-up · Extended50 minutes$500
Records & CorrespondenceProratedBy quote
Frequently asked
Answers to the common questions.
Do you accept insurance?+
The practice is out-of-network with all commercial insurers. Patients receive a detailed superbill that can be submitted to a PPO plan for potential out-of-network reimbursement.
What is a cash-pay practice?+
Patients pay for visits at the time of service. The practice does not contract with insurance plans, which allows longer appointments, direct physician access, and transparent fees.
Do you prescribe controlled medications?+
When clinically appropriate, Dr. Chao prescribes controlled medications with careful evaluation, monitoring, and adherence to all applicable regulations.
How does telehealth work?+
Visits are conducted through a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform. You will receive a link before each appointment and can join from a private, quiet location.
Do I need to be in California?+
Yes. Dr. Chao is licensed in California and provides telehealth care to patients physically located in the state at the time of each visit.
What should I expect at the first visit?+
The initial consultation lasts 60 minutes. Dr. Chao will review your history, symptoms, prior treatments, and goals, then discuss her clinical impression and recommendations.
How often are follow-up appointments?+
Follow-up visits are typically scheduled every two to four weeks at first, then spaced out based on stability and individual needs.
What if I have an emergency?+
This practice does not provide emergency services. If you are in crisis, please call or text 988, go to your nearest emergency department, or dial 911.
Contact
A quiet way to be in touch.
The practice does not use a portal, chat, or public scheduling system. New patient inquiries begin with a brief, secure intake. Current patients should use the secure patient portal for routine communication.
HoursBy appointment only
Response time
Non-urgent messages are typically returned within two business days.
Intake
Secure and HIPAA-compliant. Reviewed personally by Dr. Chao.