Desiree Li, MD (she/her/hers)
General Adult Psychiatrist
San Mateo

I collaborate with patients to provide diagnostic evaluations, medication management, individual psychotherapy, and treatment plans for a broad range of mental health conditions. I have particular interest in the ways culture, systems of belonging, and trauma may impact well-being. Regardless of the nature of your visit, I consider every meeting an opportunity for understanding, connection, and support.

In psychotherapy, I help patients make sense of their feelings and develop a richer understanding of their inner world. I view therapy as a place to safely explore grief, hopes, conflicts, and fears that may be holding us back from living our present lives with greater freedom and vitality. I also aim to provide a reliable and supportive environment for those weathering life’s inevitable stressors and losses.

I am a Chinese American Bay Area native who completed my undergraduate studies at UCLA and medical school at Stanford. I trained in adult psychiatry at Stanford and completed a fellowship year in the Palo Alto Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Training Program. I received the Austen Riggs Excellence in Psychotherapy Award in 2021, as well as the Marnell Award in Psychotherapy through the Stanford Department of Psychiatry in 2022.