Adult & child psychiatry in North County San Diego
Dr. Leila Hariri is double board-certified in Adult Psychiatry and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry — a rare combination that allows one trusted physician to care for a teenager, a parent, and a grandparent within the same family. Serving La Jolla, Del Mar, Encinitas, and Carlsbad in person, and patients throughout California by secure telehealth.
and child/adolescent
and adults
limited caseload
Dr. Leila Hariri, MDAdd professional photo
A different standard of psychiatric care
Every appointment is unhurried, private, and genuinely tailored — grounded in rigorous clinical training rather than a fifteen-minute template.
Two board certifications, one physician
Most psychiatrists are certified in adult or child psychiatry. Dr. Hariri completed the full training for both, which means continuity of care as a child becomes a teenager and a teenager becomes an adult — without starting over with someone new.
Appointments measured in hours, not minutes
Initial evaluations are long by design. A deliberately limited caseload means there is room to understand history properly, involve parents or partners when it helps, and adjust course as things change.
Discretion, and a physician who answers
A private-pay model exists for a reason: it protects the time and confidentiality that thoughtful psychiatric care requires. Secure telehealth extends that access to patients anywhere in California.
What Dr. Hariri treats
Comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and medication management across the age range. If you are unsure whether your concern fits, it is worth asking.
Adults
- Depression and persistent low mood
- Anxiety, panic, and social anxiety
- Adult ADHD and attention concerns
- Bipolar spectrum disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Trauma-related symptoms and PTSD
- Perinatal and postpartum mood changes
- Insomnia and sleep disruption
- Burnout and major life transitions
Children & Teens
- ADHD evaluation and treatment
- Childhood and adolescent anxiety
- School refusal and academic pressure
- Adolescent depression and irritability
- Mood dysregulation and anger
- Tics and Tourette’s disorder
- Autism spectrum — co-occurring psychiatric care
- Behavioral concerns and oppositionality
- Social media and screen-related distress
How Care Is Delivered
- Extended diagnostic evaluation
- Psychiatric medication management
- Second-opinion consultations
- Collaboration with your therapist
- School and pediatrician coordination
- Parent guidance sessions
- Secure telehealth across California
Care built around the whole person — not the diagnosis alone
Good psychiatric care should feel collaborative. Dr. Hariri combines diagnostic precision with genuine listening — for adults navigating mood, anxiety, attention, or a difficult chapter, and for children and adolescents whose needs require a gentler, developmentally informed lens.
That means explaining the reasoning behind a diagnosis, being candid about what medication can and cannot do, and treating families as informed partners rather than passive recipients of a plan.
Meet Dr. Hariri“Psychiatric care isn’t about managing symptoms on a checklist. It’s about understanding a person well enough to help them build a life that works.”
Leila Hariri, MDA private, guided path to care
Four steps, no ambiguity. You will know what happens next at every point.
Send an inquiry
Share your name and the best way to reach you — no clinical detail needed in writing. The office responds within one business day.
Brief phone conversation
A short, confidential call to understand what you’re facing and confirm that this practice is the right fit. If it isn’t, you’ll get a referral.
Extended evaluation
A thorough diagnostic appointment — in person in North County or by secure video — with time to cover history properly.
A plan, and follow-through
A clear treatment plan with defined follow-up, coordination with your therapist or pediatrician, and adjustments as needed.
Serving North County San Diego
Dr. Hariri’s practice serves families across coastal North County, with secure telehealth available to patients anywhere in California.
La Jolla
In-person and virtual psychiatric care for La Jolla families, professionals, and students.
Learn moreDel Mar
Discreet adult and adolescent psychiatry for Del Mar and the surrounding coast.
Learn moreEncinitas
Child, teen, and adult psychiatry for Encinitas, Leucadia, and Cardiff.
Learn moreCarlsbad
Evaluation and medication management for Carlsbad children, teens, and adults.
Learn morePsychiatric care from anywhere in California
For patients in Los Angeles, Orange County, the Bay Area, or simply across town on a week that won’t allow a drive — secure video appointments carry the same clinical standard as an in-person visit. Telehealth is often especially practical for busy professionals, college students away from home, and parents coordinating care around a school schedule.
How Telehealth Worksappointments
Reading worth your time
Clear, practical writing on questions patients and parents actually ask.
Psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist — who do you actually need?
The titles overlap confusingly, the training does not. A plain-language guide to who prescribes, who does therapy, and how to avoid wasting months with the wrong provider.
What an ADHD evaluation for a child or teen actually involves
Why a fifteen-minute checklist isn’t a diagnosis, what rating scales and school reports contribute, and what parents in San Diego should expect from a proper assessment.
Using out-of-network benefits: how superbills and reimbursement work
What a superbill is, how to check your plan’s out-of-network mental health coverage before your first visit, and how to submit a claim without guesswork.
Request a consultation
A brief, confidential conversation to understand what you’re facing and outline sensible next steps.