Our Practice

Whole-Person, Relationship-Centered Psychiatric Care

At Seaside Psychiatry, exceptional psychiatric care begins with genuine connection.

Psychiatry Designed Around a Relationship That Lasts

At Seaside Psychiatry, we believe exceptional psychiatric care begins with something simple: having the time to know the person sitting across from you.
 

Psychiatric care should not feel rushed, transactional, or interchangeable. It should be a relationship that develops over time—one in which your physician understands your history, recognizes patterns, knows what matters to you, and can make thoughtful decisions with the full picture in mind.
 

Founded by Dr. Nadia Nassar Kuhn, Seaside Psychiatry was intentionally created as a small, physician-led private practice where depth, continuity, and personal attention come before volume.
 

We care for adults, children, adolescents, and families in Encinitas and throughout North County San Diego, with secure telehealth available throughout California.
 

A Different Kind of Psychiatric Practice

Many people come to Seaside Psychiatry after realizing that traditional psychiatric care does not give them the time or continuity they are looking for.
 

They may have experienced brief appointments, changing providers, long waits, or treatment that focused primarily on symptoms without considering the larger context of their lives.
 

We take a different approach.
 

Our practice is intentionally small so that each physician can maintain meaningful relationships with the patients they serve. That means:
 

Your physician knows you.
You work directly with your psychiatrist rather than moving between providers.
 

Your appointments have room to breathe.
Initial evaluations are typically 60–120 minutes, allowing enough time to understand your history, concerns, and goals.
 

Your treatment is individualized.
Recommendations are based on your symptoms, history, preferences, circumstances, and priorities—not simply on a diagnosis.
 

Your care develops over time.
Psychiatric treatment is not always about finding one answer at one appointment. We pay attention to how things evolve and adjust your care accordingly.

Your Physician. Every Visit.

One of the most important differences at Seaside is continuity. 

You see the same physician at every appointment. Your psychiatrist gets to know your history, your personality, your patterns, your strengths, and the realities of your life. Over time, that familiarity becomes clinically meaningful. You don't have to repeatedly explain your story to a new provider.
 

You don't have to start over.
 

And your treatment decisions can be informed by an understanding of how you have been doing over time—not simply how you happen to feel on a particular day.
 

For us, continuity isn't an added feature. It is part of the care itself.

A Small Patient Panel, By Design

Seaside Psychiatry intentionally maintains a limited patient panel.  This is a deliberate choice.
 

We do not aim to see the greatest possible number of patients. Instead, we protect the time and attention necessary to provide thoughtful psychiatric care.
 

A smaller panel allows us to focus on:

• Longer, more meaningful appointments
• Physician continuity
• Individualized treatment planning
• Thoughtful follow-up
• Direct communication
• Better understanding of each patient's history
• Coordination with therapists, physicians, schools, or other members of a care team when appropriate

It also means that we may have limited availability for new patients. We believe that is an important tradeoff.

We would rather provide deeper care to fewer patients than create a high-volume practice where meaningful relationships become difficult to maintain.

What Does a First Visit Look Like?

Your first appointment is an opportunity to slow down and understand the whole picture.
 

Initial psychiatric evaluations typically last 60–120 minutes, depending on the individual and the complexity of the concerns being addressed. Rather than beginning with a checklist of symptoms, your physician takes time to understand what brought you to Seaside and what you hope will be different.
 

During your first visit, we may discuss:

• Your current concerns
• Psychiatric and medical history
• Previous treatment and medications
• Family history
• Sleep and daily routines
• Relationships and family life
• Work, school, or professional demands
• Stressors and major life changes
• Attention and executive functioning
• Mood and anxiety
• Lifestyle factors
• Strengths and protective factors
• Your goals and priorities

For children and adolescents, the evaluation also considers developmental history, school environment, family dynamics, academic demands, extracurricular activities, and age-appropriate input from parents and the young person.
 

The goal is not simply to collect information. It is to understand the person behind the symptoms.

What Happens After the First Appointment?

At the end of the initial evaluation, we discuss our clinical impressions and recommendations.
 

Depending on your needs, the next step may include:

• Medication management
• Psychotherapy
• Parent coaching
• Executive functioning support
• Lifestyle and sleep strategies
• Continued evaluation or monitoring
• Coordination with an existing therapist or physician
• A combination of approaches

Medication is not automatically recommended.

Sometimes the most appropriate next step is medication. Sometimes it is therapy. Sometimes it is a combination. And sometimes additional time and observation are appropriate before making a treatment decision.

Our goal is not to add treatment simply because treatment is available.

Our goal is to determine what is most appropriate for you.

Care That Evolves With You

Psychiatric care is rarely static. Your needs can change as your circumstances change. 

A treatment plan that made sense six months ago may need to be reconsidered after a career transition, a new relationship, a change in family responsibilities, improved sleep, a stressful season, or a new set of goals. Because your physician knows your history, these changes can be understood in context.
 

Follow-up appointments are individualized rather than one-size-fits-all. Some visits may focus on medication. Others may center on therapy, stress, relationships, sleep, executive functioning, parenting, or a major life transition.
 

The goal is always the same: to provide care that remains relevant to the life you are actually living.

More Than Symptom Management

We take symptoms seriously. But symptoms rarely tell the entire story. Difficulty concentrating may be related to ADHD, anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, stress, or several factors at once.  Burnout may be connected to professional demands, perfectionism, family responsibilities, or a deeper change in what feels sustainable. A teenager's irritability may reflect anxiety, depression, academic pressure, sleep deprivation, developmental changes, or difficulties that are not immediately visible.

Understanding context matters. That is why we consider emotional health alongside relationships, sleep, work, school, family, lifestyle, stress, values, and goals.

Thoughtful Treatment. Evidence-Based Care.

Our approach is grounded in psychiatric medicine while recognizing that good treatment must be individualized.
 

Depending on the person, care may incorporate:

• Medication management
• Psychotherapy
• Behavioral strategies
• Sleep optimization
• Lifestyle strategies
• Executive functioning support
• Parent coaching
• Collaboration with other healthcare professionals
• School or occupational considerations

We believe evidence-based care and individualized care are not competing ideas. The best treatment plan is one that is clinically sound and appropriate for the individual sitting in front of us.

A Practice for Individuals and Families

Seaside Psychiatry serves a broad range of patients, including children, adolescents, adults, professionals, executives, physicians, entrepreneurs, athletes, and high-achieving families.

Some patients come to us because they are struggling with anxiety, ADHD, depression, insomnia, burnout, or mood concerns. Others are functioning well but recognize that something has become harder to manage. Some are navigating a major transition. Others simply want a more thoughtful psychiatric evaluation or a second perspective before making a treatment decision.

You do not need to wait until things become unmanageable to seek psychiatric care.

What You Can Expect From Seaside

A Physician Who Knows Your Story

Your care is provided by the same psychiatrist over time, creating continuity and a deeper understanding of your history.

Time to Think

Appointments are structured to allow meaningful conversation rather than rushing through a predetermined checklist.
 

Individualized Recommendations

Your treatment plan is developed around your symptoms, history, preferences, goals, and circumstances.
 

Direct Communication

We value clear, respectful communication and continuity between appointments.
 

Discretion

As a private-pay practice with a deliberately small patient panel, we are able to create a more personal and discreet experience.
 

Care That Considers the Whole Picture

We look beyond symptoms to understand the factors influencing your mental health and functioning.

Our Physicians

Seaside Psychiatry is led by Dr. Nadia Nassar Kuhn, M.D., Founder & CEO, and Dr. Nisha Patel, M.D., both Child, Adolescent & Adult Psychiatrists.
 

Each physician maintains her own patient relationships and provides continuity of care to the patients she serves. You work with your physician—not a rotating team of providers.

Serving Encinitas & North County San Diego

Our office is located in Encinitas and serves patients throughout North County San Diego, including Carlsbad, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Carmel Valley, Rancho Santa Fe, La Jolla, and surrounding communities.
 

Secure telehealth is available throughout California.

Ready to Begin?

Starting psychiatric care can feel like a significant step. Our goal is to make the process straightforward, thoughtful, and personal from the beginning.
 

The first step is a brief conversation to understand what you are looking for and determine whether Seaside Psychiatry may be the right fit.