Substance Use Psychiatrists in Berkeley, CA
I have strong clinical experience supporting individuals with a range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and eating disorders, and I also work with clients affected by substance use disorders.
I welcome clients interested in non-medical approaches as well as those who are curious about or ready to start or continue medication. I take time to ensure clients understand their symptoms and the potential benefits of lifestyle changes, healthy coping strategies, and medication options.
I have strong clinical experience supporting individuals with a range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and eating disorders, and I also work with clients affected by substance use disorders.
I welcome clients interested in non-medical approaches as well as those who are curious about or ready to start or continue medication. I take time to ensure clients understand their symptoms and the potential benefits of lifestyle changes, healthy coping strategies, and medication options.
Do you Over-Think things? Over-Experience your emotions? Do you struggle to focus or complete tasks? Difficulty sleeping? Putting off your mental health is no longer an option! With over 75 clinical experts, WellPsyche and MediPsych providers provide Empathetic Psychotherapy and Personalized Medication Management services for Children, Adolescents, and Adults. 100% of our visits are conducted via Zoom, and we are available mornings, afternoons, and evenings. Meet with your psychiatrist from the privacy and convenience of home or work. We are simplifying the mental health experience so you can become the best version of you!
Do you Over-Think things? Over-Experience your emotions? Do you struggle to focus or complete tasks? Difficulty sleeping? Putting off your mental health is no longer an option! With over 75 clinical experts, WellPsyche and MediPsych providers provide Empathetic Psychotherapy and Personalized Medication Management services for Children, Adolescents, and Adults. 100% of our visits are conducted via Zoom, and we are available mornings, afternoons, and evenings. Meet with your psychiatrist from the privacy and convenience of home or work. We are simplifying the mental health experience so you can become the best version of you!
Combining Science with Kindness is what drew me to psychiatry and is the cornerstone of my practice. After graduating from Brown Medical School, I completed my psychiatry training at UCSF. I have been practicing psychiatry for over 30 years. I currently have a hybrid career. I take care of Veterans at the Oakland Behavioral Health Clinic and I teach students as Associate Clinical Professor at UCSF. I also have a busy private practice. I am proficient at treating Anxiety/Panic Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Major Depression, ADHD, Addiction, and PTSD. The primary focus of my practice is on providing pharmacologic treatment.
Combining Science with Kindness is what drew me to psychiatry and is the cornerstone of my practice. After graduating from Brown Medical School, I completed my psychiatry training at UCSF. I have been practicing psychiatry for over 30 years. I currently have a hybrid career. I take care of Veterans at the Oakland Behavioral Health Clinic and I teach students as Associate Clinical Professor at UCSF. I also have a busy private practice. I am proficient at treating Anxiety/Panic Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Major Depression, ADHD, Addiction, and PTSD. The primary focus of my practice is on providing pharmacologic treatment.
Samir Hamed | ADHD, Anxiety &
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, MSN, PHMNP
1 Endorsed
Berkeley, CA 94709
You may be feeling anxious, depressed, overwhelmed, or unsure where to turn. Maybe your child is struggling to focus in school, your teen feels withdrawn, or you’re finding it harder to manage daily responsibilities. Whatever your situation, let’s work together to build a foundation for mental wellness and a more fulfilling life.
You may be feeling anxious, depressed, overwhelmed, or unsure where to turn. Maybe your child is struggling to focus in school, your teen feels withdrawn, or you’re finding it harder to manage daily responsibilities. Whatever your situation, let’s work together to build a foundation for mental wellness and a more fulfilling life.
Do you Over-Think things? Over-Experience your emotions? Do you struggle to focus or complete tasks? Difficulty sleeping? Putting off your mental health is no longer an option! With over 75 clinical experts, WellPsyche and MediPsych providers provide Empathetic Psychotherapy and Personalized Medication Management services for Children, Adolescents, and Adults. 100% of our visits are conducted via Zoom, and we are available mornings, afternoons, and evenings. Meet with your psychiatrist from the privacy and convenience of home or work. We are simplifying the mental health experience so you can become the best version of you!
Do you Over-Think things? Over-Experience your emotions? Do you struggle to focus or complete tasks? Difficulty sleeping? Putting off your mental health is no longer an option! With over 75 clinical experts, WellPsyche and MediPsych providers provide Empathetic Psychotherapy and Personalized Medication Management services for Children, Adolescents, and Adults. 100% of our visits are conducted via Zoom, and we are available mornings, afternoons, and evenings. Meet with your psychiatrist from the privacy and convenience of home or work. We are simplifying the mental health experience so you can become the best version of you!
Dr. Tara Valenzuela DNP, PMHNP-BC. is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She treats mental health across the lifespan. Her treatments are healing-centered, education-forward, person-focused. This involves customized strategies that may begin with therapy and medication, and can involve holistic planning including nutrition and activity to treat the whole person. She aligns with the idea that Nursing is the facilitation of healing, and works to provide intervention, education, and advocacy. Dr. Tara Valenzuela believes psychiatric treatment allows a life worth living to be lived.
Dr. Tara Valenzuela DNP, PMHNP-BC. is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She treats mental health across the lifespan. Her treatments are healing-centered, education-forward, person-focused. This involves customized strategies that may begin with therapy and medication, and can involve holistic planning including nutrition and activity to treat the whole person. She aligns with the idea that Nursing is the facilitation of healing, and works to provide intervention, education, and advocacy. Dr. Tara Valenzuela believes psychiatric treatment allows a life worth living to be lived.
As a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, I provide compassionate and competent care to everyone who comes into my office. My belief is that mental and emotional wellness is a nonlinear process, often characterized by periods of stability, growth, and occasional setbacks- and I am here to support clients in whatever stage they are in with compassion and non-judgment.
As a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, I provide compassionate and competent care to everyone who comes into my office. My belief is that mental and emotional wellness is a nonlinear process, often characterized by periods of stability, growth, and occasional setbacks- and I am here to support clients in whatever stage they are in with compassion and non-judgment.
"Listen….Are you breathing just a little and calling it a life?” -Mary Oliver
To be human is to be incredibly vulnerable. At the same time, to get through our day-to-day life, often we need to push away those parts of us that feel vulnerable.
Join me in a healing exploration of these tender parts. The ones that may hold great fear. Those that hold grief. Those that worry if they are good enough.
These are the parts that visit in the middle of the night.
Consider bringing these parts of yourself to a space where we can bring them understanding and deep healing. That space is what I offer if the connection feels right.
"Listen….Are you breathing just a little and calling it a life?” -Mary Oliver
To be human is to be incredibly vulnerable. At the same time, to get through our day-to-day life, often we need to push away those parts of us that feel vulnerable.
Join me in a healing exploration of these tender parts. The ones that may hold great fear. Those that hold grief. Those that worry if they are good enough.
These are the parts that visit in the middle of the night.
Consider bringing these parts of yourself to a space where we can bring them understanding and deep healing. That space is what I offer if the connection feels right.
I help children, teens, and adults who feel stuck in anxiety, ADHD, depression, and other mental health challenges. Rooted in my Christian faith, I partner with patients who are ready to get to the root, not just manage symptoms.
While medication can be a helpful tool, it’s never my only approach. I take a holistic view of healing—addressing mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being to support lasting change. I'm intentional about who I work with because I care deeply about results and long-term transformation.
If you're ready to do the work, I’m ready to walk with you.
I help children, teens, and adults who feel stuck in anxiety, ADHD, depression, and other mental health challenges. Rooted in my Christian faith, I partner with patients who are ready to get to the root, not just manage symptoms.
While medication can be a helpful tool, it’s never my only approach. I take a holistic view of healing—addressing mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being to support lasting change. I'm intentional about who I work with because I care deeply about results and long-term transformation.
If you're ready to do the work, I’m ready to walk with you.
I’m a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with experience supporting adults and adolescents with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and ADHD. My goal is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care that helps you feel understood, supported, and empowered in your mental health journey.
I’m a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with experience supporting adults and adolescents with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and ADHD. My goal is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care that helps you feel understood, supported, and empowered in your mental health journey.
Struggling with ADHD, anxiety, depression, or mood disorders? I am a board-certified psychiatric NP specializing in personalized treatment that goes beyond medication to truly address root causes. Rushed visits often miss the full picture. I've personally helped many thousands of patients successfully find lasting relief when past care left them with prescriptions but no real answers. Want to fully overcome your symptoms that are holding you back from a better life? ⇒ Appointments typically available within 4 days.
Struggling with ADHD, anxiety, depression, or mood disorders? I am a board-certified psychiatric NP specializing in personalized treatment that goes beyond medication to truly address root causes. Rushed visits often miss the full picture. I've personally helped many thousands of patients successfully find lasting relief when past care left them with prescriptions but no real answers. Want to fully overcome your symptoms that are holding you back from a better life? ⇒ Appointments typically available within 4 days.
Dr. Jonathan Shaywitz is a board-certified psychiatrist who works with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, OCD, ADHD, schizophrenia, and treatment-resistant mood disorders. He partners with patients to better understand their symptoms, improve daily functioning, and achieve lasting emotional wellness through compassionate, evidence-based psychiatric care tailored to their individual goals.
Dr. Jonathan Shaywitz is a board-certified psychiatrist who works with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, OCD, ADHD, schizophrenia, and treatment-resistant mood disorders. He partners with patients to better understand their symptoms, improve daily functioning, and achieve lasting emotional wellness through compassionate, evidence-based psychiatric care tailored to their individual goals.
I'm Dr. Alex Sahba, double board certified in general psychiatry and forensic psychiatry and trained at UCLA. I conduct legal / forensic / psychiatric evaluations for court, risk assessment (violence / sexual), diagnostic psychiatric evaluations, competency evaluations, drug & alcohol evaluations, fitness-for-duty evaluations, cognitive evaluations, immigration evaluations, workers' compensation (QME/AME) evaluations, and other types of psychiatric evaluations / assessments.
I'm Dr. Alex Sahba, double board certified in general psychiatry and forensic psychiatry and trained at UCLA. I conduct legal / forensic / psychiatric evaluations for court, risk assessment (violence / sexual), diagnostic psychiatric evaluations, competency evaluations, drug & alcohol evaluations, fitness-for-duty evaluations, cognitive evaluations, immigration evaluations, workers' compensation (QME/AME) evaluations, and other types of psychiatric evaluations / assessments.
Struggling with ADHD, anxiety, depression, or mood disorders? I am a board-certified psychiatric NP specializing in personalized treatment that goes beyond medication to truly address root causes. Rushed visits often miss the full picture. I've personally helped many thousands of patients successfully find lasting relief when past care left them with prescriptions but no real answers. Want to fully overcome your symptoms that are holding you back from a better life? ⇒ Appointments typically available within 4 days.
Struggling with ADHD, anxiety, depression, or mood disorders? I am a board-certified psychiatric NP specializing in personalized treatment that goes beyond medication to truly address root causes. Rushed visits often miss the full picture. I've personally helped many thousands of patients successfully find lasting relief when past care left them with prescriptions but no real answers. Want to fully overcome your symptoms that are holding you back from a better life? ⇒ Appointments typically available within 4 days.
Struggling with ADHD, anxiety, depression, or mood changes that make it hard to focus at work or at home? You are not failing. I have helped thousands of adults overcome these challenges and get their focus, mood, and sleep back so work and home feel manageable again. I am a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner. My online schedule shows my next available appointment before you decide, so you know right away what to expect. In your first appointment I slow down, work out what is actually causing your symptoms, and build a psychiatric treatment plan with you that combines medication management with supportive therapy.
Struggling with ADHD, anxiety, depression, or mood changes that make it hard to focus at work or at home? You are not failing. I have helped thousands of adults overcome these challenges and get their focus, mood, and sleep back so work and home feel manageable again. I am a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner. My online schedule shows my next available appointment before you decide, so you know right away what to expect. In your first appointment I slow down, work out what is actually causing your symptoms, and build a psychiatric treatment plan with you that combines medication management with supportive therapy.
Struggling with ADHD, anxiety, depression, or mood changes that make it hard to focus at work or at home? You are not failing. I have helped thousands of adults overcome these challenges and get their focus, mood, and sleep back so work and home feel manageable again. I am a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner. My online schedule shows my next available appointment before you decide, so you know right away what to expect. In your first appointment I slow down, work out what is actually causing your symptoms, and build a psychiatric treatment plan with you that combines medication management with supportive therapy.
Struggling with ADHD, anxiety, depression, or mood changes that make it hard to focus at work or at home? You are not failing. I have helped thousands of adults overcome these challenges and get their focus, mood, and sleep back so work and home feel manageable again. I am a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner. My online schedule shows my next available appointment before you decide, so you know right away what to expect. In your first appointment I slow down, work out what is actually causing your symptoms, and build a psychiatric treatment plan with you that combines medication management with supportive therapy.
Struggling with ADHD, anxiety, depression, or mood disorders? I am a board-certified psychiatric NP specializing in personalized treatment that goes beyond medication to truly address root causes. Rushed visits often miss the full picture. I've personally helped many thousands of patients successfully find lasting relief when past care left them with prescriptions but no real answers. Want to fully overcome your symptoms that are holding you back from a better life? ⇒ Appointments typically available within 4 days.
Struggling with ADHD, anxiety, depression, or mood disorders? I am a board-certified psychiatric NP specializing in personalized treatment that goes beyond medication to truly address root causes. Rushed visits often miss the full picture. I've personally helped many thousands of patients successfully find lasting relief when past care left them with prescriptions but no real answers. Want to fully overcome your symptoms that are holding you back from a better life? ⇒ Appointments typically available within 4 days.
I'm Dr. Alex Sahba, double board certified in general psychiatry and forensic psychiatry and trained at UCLA. I conduct legal / forensic / psychiatric evaluations for court, risk assessment (violence / sexual), diagnostic psychiatric evaluations, competency evaluations, drug & alcohol evaluations, fitness-for-duty evaluations, cognitive evaluations, immigration evaluations, workers' compensation (QME/AME) evaluations, and other types of psychiatric evaluations / assessments.
I'm Dr. Alex Sahba, double board certified in general psychiatry and forensic psychiatry and trained at UCLA. I conduct legal / forensic / psychiatric evaluations for court, risk assessment (violence / sexual), diagnostic psychiatric evaluations, competency evaluations, drug & alcohol evaluations, fitness-for-duty evaluations, cognitive evaluations, immigration evaluations, workers' compensation (QME/AME) evaluations, and other types of psychiatric evaluations / assessments.
Struggling with ADHD, anxiety, depression, or mood changes that make it hard to focus at work or at home? You are not failing. I have helped thousands of adults overcome these challenges and get their focus, mood, and sleep back so work and home feel manageable again. I am a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner. My online schedule shows my next available appointment before you decide, so you know right away what to expect. In your first appointment I slow down, work out what is actually causing your symptoms, and build a psychiatric treatment plan with you that combines medication management with supportive therapy.
Struggling with ADHD, anxiety, depression, or mood changes that make it hard to focus at work or at home? You are not failing. I have helped thousands of adults overcome these challenges and get their focus, mood, and sleep back so work and home feel manageable again. I am a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner. My online schedule shows my next available appointment before you decide, so you know right away what to expect. In your first appointment I slow down, work out what is actually causing your symptoms, and build a psychiatric treatment plan with you that combines medication management with supportive therapy.
I am a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with 7 years of nursing experience in various departments, including oncology, stroke, telemetry, medical-surgical, and behavioral health. I earned my Master of Science in Nursing, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from West Coast University. I am committed to providing compassionate, patient-centered, evidence-based psychiatric and mental health care tailored to each individual’s needs.
I am a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with 7 years of nursing experience in various departments, including oncology, stroke, telemetry, medical-surgical, and behavioral health. I earned my Master of Science in Nursing, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from West Coast University. I am committed to providing compassionate, patient-centered, evidence-based psychiatric and mental health care tailored to each individual’s needs.
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FAQ - Substance Use Psychiatrists
Ho can psychiatrists help with substance use disorders?
Substance use disorders are characterized by the use of alcohol, prescription medications, or other drugs in ways that harm a person's health, relationships, or responsibilities at home, work, or school. While not everyone who uses substances meets the criteria for a disorder, substance use that becomes frequent, risky, or disruptive to daily life may indicate the presence of a substance use disorder. In these cases, psychiatric care can be critical to helping clients reach recovery. Psychiatrists who specialize in substance use can help individuals understand the role substances play in their lives and support them in making changes through a combination of therapy and, when appropriate, medication.
How do psychiatrists treat substance use disorders?
At the start of care, psychiatrists typically conduct a thorough evaluation of a client's current substance use and assess for any co-occurring mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression. This assessment helps determine whether outpatient care is appropriate or if a higher level of support—such as a detox program or intensive outpatient program (IOP)—is needed first. Once an appropriate care setting is identified, the psychiatrist and client work together to establish treatment goals and a personalized plan. This plan may include therapy approaches such as motivational interviewing, harm reduction strategies, or relapse prevention. For some individuals, medication-assisted treatment (MAT)—such as buprenorphine for opioid use or naltrexone for alcohol use—may be used to manage cravings, withdrawal, or relapse risk.
How can I find a psychiatrist who specializes in substance use disorders?
The Psychology Today online directory is a useful tool for finding psychiatrists (MDs) and psychiatric nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) who specialize in treating substance use. The directory allows users to search for providers with expertise in specific areas, such as alcohol use, drug use, or dual diagnosis. It also includes filters for insurance coverage, location, session format (in-person or telehealth), and provider identity characteristics, such as gender or cultural background. When evaluating a psychiatrist, it's helpful to ask about their experience treating the specific substance of concern, as not all providers treat all types of substance use. Understanding their approach to therapy and medication can also help ensure the provider is a good fit.