Jacob Gutierrez
I'm a psychiatrist with addiction training who works with young professionals stuck in that anxious, burned-out, "I'm doing fine on paper but not really okay" place. I got into this field because I wanted real conversations with my patients, not rushed appointments — so I look at the whole picture of your life, not just a symptom list. I'll always be straight with you about what's going on and what I think will help. And honestly, my favorite part of the job is watching people go from just getting by to actually building a life they like.
First session
Your first session is about getting to know you — I'll ask about your day-to-day life, trauma history, mental health and medical history, substance use, and psychosocial background (family, relationships, work, education), plus do a mental status exam to check in on your mood and functioning. I may also ask to speak with collateral sources, like family or previous providers, if it helps with diagnosis and treatment. I'll walk you through confidentiality too — what we discuss stays private, with the standard mandated-reporter exceptions around risk of harm or suspected abuse/neglect. There's no judgment and no rush; by the end, we'll usually have a clear sense of what's going on and start talking through next steps.
Strengths
What sets my approach apart is the combination of addiction-trained insight into stress and behavior change, genuine holistic care (not just a checklist), and straightforward, clear communication about diagnoses and treatment. I focus specifically on young professionals navigating work-life balance, and I'm not just competent in this work — I'm genuinely invested in watching people move from surviving to thriving.
Ideal clients
I work best with adults managing anxiety or depression who are already in therapy and want a psychiatrist to handle medication management collaboratively. I especially enjoy working with new parents navigating postpartum changes and professionals balancing demanding careers with their mental health. My ideal client values clear explanations, ongoing check-ins, and being an active partner in their treatment plan, rather than someone looking for a quick, one-time prescription visit.
Treatment methods
Psychodynamic
For clients with personality pathology, I draw on psychodynamic principles to understand how history, defenses, and relational patterns show up in treatment — including reactions to medication itself. This isn’t formal psychodynamic therapy, which I leave to their outside therapist, but it shapes how I communicate and collaborate with clients who have more complex character structure.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Serves
Doesn't specialize in
Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense A 163989