Katherine Watkins, Medical Doctor

Psychiatrist in West Los Angeles, California, providing psychopharmacology and psychotherapy in a private practice setting for adults and older adolescents. I graduated with honors from Swarthmore College. I attended medical school at the University of Pennsylvania, where I won the Kenneth E. Appel Award for excellence in psychiatry and the Robert M. Toll Prize for research in the field of mental health. During medical school, I completed a research fellowship sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health, studying HIV and addiction issues. Originally from the East Coast, I moved to California to complete a medical internship at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). I then completed a psychiatric residency at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute. I became board certified in general adult psychiatry in 1997. From 1998 through 2003, I served as a volunteer clinical instructor in the womens mental health clinic at the University of California, Los Angeles. In 1999, I completed a two-year fellowship sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in health services and quality of care. I have maintained a private practice in psychiatry since 1996. I see adults and older adolescents individually for psychopharmacology and/or psychotherapy. I love making a difference in peoples lives. I find my work both satisfying and rewarding. I believe people can best realize their potential to grow in supportive relationships; a strong relationship with a therapist can change your life. I also believe that mental illness is a disease of the brain and that medication, when used judiciously, can be enormously helpful in relieving suffering. While I individualize treatment based on your needs and preferences, I stay abreast of the research literature to offer state-of-the-art care that is supported by the most current evidence. I believe in shared decision-making. I strive to make sure that you understand the choices you have, including the risks and benefits of each treatment option.

In addition to my private practice, I am also a senior scientist at the RAND Corporation, where I conduct mental health policy research and write about how our country can improve the quality of mental health and substance abuse treatment. I am a member of the American Psychiatric Association, the Southern California Psychiatric Society, and the American Association of Community Psychiatrists.