Dr. Shirin Golkar

I grew up in Miami, Florida, went to college at Stanford University, and graduated with a medical degree (MD) from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). I completed my psychiatry residency training at Harvard Medical School's Cambridge Health Alliance, where I saw a broad diversity of patients for both medication management and psychotherapy. After residency, I worked as a psychiatrist for Teladoc and for Harvard University Health Services, treating students, faculty, and staff.

Starting treatment with a new mental health provider can be daunting: it involves opening up and being vulnerable with the hope that you will learn and grow from the experience. I have tremendous respect and admiration for my patients, as they work through challenging histories, emotions, and conflicts. It is such a privilege to help them on their journeys. Growing up in an immigrant family and having worked in multiple clinics internationally, I highly value providing culturally competent care.

In building a therapeutic alliance, it is very important to me that my patients feel seen and heard. I use a collaborative approach to care, in which I work alongside clients to define and set goals. I'm transparent about the extent of what is and isn't well-known in psychiatry with the goal of helping people make informed decisions that they feel comfortable implementing. When there are hiccups along the way, I strive to be curious and creative with clients rather than admonishing or judging.