Shaista Khan
Psychiatrist, MD (she, her)
Verified by Psychology TodayBoard-certified psychiatrist with 20+ years of experience. Compassionate, evidence-based care for anxiety, depression, and mental health conditions. Medication management and psychotherapy available. Menlo Park, CA • (650) 910-2505
Trusted By Leading Healthcare Institutions
Specialties & Expertise
Comprehensive care for a wide range of mental health needs.
Let Me Introduce Myself
I'm Dr. Shaista Khan – Board-Certified Psychiatrist
- Board-certified adult psychiatrist with 20+ years of experience across the U.S.
- Collaborative, patient-centered approach: medication, therapy, and lifestyle support.
- Trained at top U.S. programs: UPMC and Western Psychiatric Institute, with research at Stanford.
- 12 years caring for geriatric veterans at VA Palo Alto; expert in PTSD, dementia, and mood disorders.
- Graduated from Dow Medical College, one of the highly respected medical schools in Karachi, Pakistan.
- Hands-on experience in inpatient, ER, substance abuse, child, and geriatric psychiatry.
- Led interdisciplinary teams as sole consultant psychiatrist at VA; thrive in complex settings.
- Served diverse communities at Santa Clara County Emergency Psychiatry and Kaiser Outpatient Clinic.
- Driven by a passion for mental health, lifelong learning, and supporting underserved populations.
"Making sure you live your life to the fullest."Shaista Khan, MD
🌟 When I'm Not Working
My Journey in Psychiatry
Learning from My Patients
I learned from my patients and I believe each one of them helped me grow as a psychiatrist. It gives me genuine inner satisfaction to see patients grow through psychiatric treatment that they themselves work for.
Continuous Learning & Growth
I continue to increase my knowledge in the growing field of mental health by attending conferences, taking board exams and by studying updated materials. My passion for psychiatry, along with my work for underserved populations, and dealing with my own family member's health issues, allows me to connect deeper with the field of psychiatry entirely.
Psychiatric Services & Mental Health Care
Psychiatric Evaluation & Assessment
I conduct a detailed clinical evaluation and assessment for each patient, incorporating different measuring tools, getting detailed past psychiatric and social history plus gathering as much collateral information as possible.
At the conclusion of the intake process, I deliver a comprehensive assessment summarizing my findings and recommendations.
Psychiatric Medication Management
I carefully initiate and titrate psychiatric medications to treat a variety of conditions. I prefer to use the least number of medications and the lowest possible doses to effectively treat the symptoms especially in geriatric patient population.
I work with my patient as a team to make changes in medications/doses based on their response to particular medication. This individualized approach can reduce the trial-and-error process, minimizing side effects and optimizing therapeutic outcomes.
Psychotherapy & Mental Health Therapy
I do provide psychotherapy for my patients. Through psychotherapy, I help my patients further understand the reasons underlying their symptoms.
I can facilitate open communication and encourage self awareness by providing support in a calm and encouraging environment. I use various therapeutic techniques to help patients address their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
Ready to Begin Your Mental Health Journey?
Whether you're seeking medication management, psychotherapy, or a comprehensive psychiatric assessment, I'm here to provide personalized, compassionate care tailored to your unique needs.
Book Free 15 Minute ConsultationSpecialties & Expertise
Anxiety
Personalized care for anxiety disorders with medication management and supportive therapy.
Medication Management
Evidence-based medication plans tailored to your needs and lifestyle.
Depression
Support for depression, mood disorders, and related challenges.
Supportive Therapy
Compassionate psychotherapy to help you understand and work through your challenges.
Call or Email for a Free 15-Minute Consultation
Currently accepting new patients for both virtual and in-person appointments.
What Patients Say
"Dr. Shaista truly listened to my struggles and made me feel understood. Her advice was always practical and based on years of experience."
Case Studies
Click a case study to read more about the story and treatment approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Important: We do not provide legal evaluations, certifications, or emotional support animal letters.
Conditions Requiring Higher Level of Care
Some conditions require a higher level of care and are not suitable for this practice:
- Actively having thoughts or urges to self-harm or attempt suicide
- Actively having thoughts or urges to harm someone else
- Eating disorders (anorexia, binging/purging)
- Alcohol or drug addiction/abuse
- Recent psychiatric hospitalization or any other condition or set of symptoms that are severe enough to need a higher level of care