Psychiatrist in Carlsbad — adult & child psychiatry
Psychiatric evaluation and treatment for Carlsbad children, teenagers, and adults — from a physician board-certified in both adult and child psychiatry.
Family psychiatric care for Carlsbad and North County
Carlsbad is a family town: larger and more varied than the coastal villages to its south, with life-sciences and technology employers, a substantial commuting population, and military families connected to Camp Pendleton just up the coast. The psychiatric needs that follow are correspondingly broad — ADHD evaluations for elementary-age children, anxiety and depression in high-school students, adults managing demanding careers, and families absorbing the strain of deployment cycles and frequent relocation.
Dr. Leila Hariri is double board-certified in Adult Psychiatry and in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, which means a single physician can care for more than one member of a family and understand how their difficulties intersect rather than treating each in isolation.
Common reasons Carlsbad families reach out
ADHD evaluation done properly
ADHD is the single most common reason parents in North County seek a child psychiatrist — and the condition most often diagnosed too quickly. A real evaluation considers sleep, anxiety, learning differences, hearing and vision, family history, and how the child functions across different settings. Rating scales from both parents and teachers are part of it; a fifteen-minute checklist is not.
Teenagers at Carlsbad, Sage Creek, and La Costa Canyon
Adolescent depression and anxiety frequently surface as irritability, academic decline, or withdrawal rather than sadness. Evaluation accounts for social media, sleep, substance use, and identity — and treats the teenager as a participant in their own care.
Military-connected families
Deployment, reintegration, and repeated relocation place real strain on children and partners. Telehealth means care continues through a move within California rather than starting over with a new clinician and a new intake.
What Dr. Hariri treats
Comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and medication management for children, adolescents, and adults. A fuller list is on the conditions treated page.
Adults in Carlsbad
- Depression and persistent low mood
- Anxiety, panic, and social anxiety
- Adult ADHD evaluation
- Bipolar spectrum disorders
- OCD and related conditions
- Trauma-related symptoms and PTSD
- Insomnia and burnout
Children & Teens in Carlsbad
- ADHD evaluation and treatment
- Childhood and adolescent anxiety
- School refusal and avoidance
- Adolescent depression and irritability
- Mood dysregulation and anger
- Tics and Tourette’s disorder
- Behavioral concerns
How Care Is Delivered
- Extended diagnostic evaluation (60–90 min)
- Psychiatric medication management
- Second-opinion consultations
- Parent guidance sessions
- Collaboration with your therapist
- School and pediatrician coordination
- Secure telehealth statewide
In person or by secure video
Carlsbad, La Costa, Aviara, Oceanside, and Vista patients are seen at the North County San Diego office, with telehealth available statewide. Telehealth appointments are available to any patient physically located in California, which also covers La Costa, Aviara, Oceanside, Vista, and San Marcos.
This is a private, out-of-network practice: payment is due at the time of service, and a monthly superbill is provided so you can pursue reimbursement through your plan’s out-of-network mental health benefits. The fees page explains exactly how to check what your plan will cover before you book.
Nearby communities
Dr. Hariri’s practice serves families throughout coastal North County San Diego.
Request a consultation
A brief, confidential conversation to understand what you’re facing and outline sensible next steps.