I have to agree that although I like my Doctor very much, the staff that deals with the patients both in person and on the phone are EXTREMELY rude! They very often speak and act as though they have an attitude or disdain for the patients and hate their job. They often appear to be younger and inexperienced but not always. Customer service training would be absolutely mandatory if I was running that office. They can do much better!

Horrible place they will laugh at you, and make you feel worse.

The worst service ever!!! Can never get through to talk to anyone! How are you suppose to help people if you can never get someone to answer the phone!!!!

Do yourself a favor and go to another location and if you have a poor experience with Pamela Valardi, NP file a grievance with your health insurance plan. If you do have an appointment with her make sure to stay organized and professional. She isnt clear about medications and past appointment goals, and lack empathy/hates her job vibe.

I have been going to PCSD over 15 years. They have treated me with professionalism and kindness. I love Dr Paintel.

I am so glad to see I was not the only one who had a terrible experience with Pam. I was seeing my therapist off and on for several years but he cannot prescribe medication. He suggested I see Pam, so I did. I have never felt so awful leaving a therapy session in my entire life. I described what was happening, as I did with my therapist, and all she did was talk down to me. She rolled her eyes several times to my face and told me why what I was doing was wrong. Not only was she unprofessional in her manner, but also prescribing medications. After my visit I called the pharmacy to cancel what she had prescribed and cancelled all my visits I had with my other therapist. (4 months of appointments) I found a psychiatrist instead who advised me that taking the medications I was taking for migraines and the medication she had prescribed could have caused serotonin syndrome. I can’t speak about anyone else in this office, but do not see Pam. She’s an awful person and an even worse medical professional.

This review is about a psychiatrist, Pamela Velardi, not the location. I have never been to this office, only done televisits. She was very cold and dismissive. She did not believe me when I told her about my previous diagnoses and didnt believe I shouldve been on my current Rx...even though I told her it was working. She eventually conceded and refilled it along with something else to try. I have another appt with someone else. Hopefully it will be better 🤞

This La Mesa location is horrible from the front desk staff to the physician. Let me start by saying that I work in the healthcare industry. I know how medical professionals should treat their patients. This location does not. I took my mom to this location for about 3 visits bc the office near me was booked. The front desk staff was not pleasant nor cordial. Very little eye contact given to patients. On the announcements behind the front desk, there were so many typos. May seem irrelevant, but I look at it like they have no guidance or supervision to even help them correct something so small as spelling.Pamela Velardi does not need a position that deals with other human beings. My mother and I were both treated like simpletons. My mother would begin to explain herself and she would cut her off so that she could type. Mom would try asking questions, but was told to wait several times. When she finally finished typing and turned back to my mom, Mom couldn’t even remember what she was going to ask. A majority of the appointment was spent in silence, well Pamela would talk to herself as she typed or looked through paperwork. She called mom’s previous physicians from another state idiots. Even if that is true, mom had been w those docs for decades and trusted them. So, she took it offensive when her docs were called idiots by this nurse who has never even spoken to them. She didn’t listen to what my mom was saying. She didn’t listen to what I was saying. Her mannerisms are rude and dismissive. I don’t work with patients who have psych issues, but if I did I would not send them to this office. They would probably end up worse than before!On to the physician. I don’t even remember her name. She saw us only once for about 3-5 minutes. My mom walked into her office and extended her hand to greet her (this is prior to Covid-19). Instead of extending her hand for the handshake, she pointed at a chair and told mom to have a seat. She addressed only me and pretty much told me that mom is on too much meds and they will be discontinuing them. That was pretty much all she had to say.After leaving I held my tongue and didn’t speak negatively of them, but asked Mom how she liked the office. She did not like it. I told her we would follow up with them and then transfer to a different location. The Chula Vista office is so much better than this place. We will not return to the La Mesa location!!

Came here 1.5 years ago. I needed help with anxiety. I left there feeling more helpless than when I arrived. Everyone I encountered at this office was rude and uncaring. Their office for adolescents is great though. Today I witnessed the office staff showing zero empathy for an elderly woman that believed she had an appointment. The office lady made zero attempts to work with her in any way.

Office staff friendly and proficient. Waiting area a bit cramped, no private conversations. I feel that Dr. Paintel truly cares about my elderly moms health. She is friendly and professional. She personally returns vm messages promptly

Would not recommend treatment at this facility. Staff is rude and unsympathetic. My wife recently began treatment with PCSD La Mesa. She was treated as an outcast and staff did not take her concerns seriously. Immediately pushed prescriptions on her without a proper evaluation. In my opinion, not an ideal way to approach mental disabilities.

One star is far too generous. Negative stars would probably be better.This was my first psychiatrist appointment in my life after having a long battle with anxiety and depression. It took some time for me to build the courage to go and because of this office and their staff I am weary of ever trying again.The nurse practitioner Pamela has some of the worst bedside manners of anyone I’ve been met. She was asking me questions and I was answering the best of my ability and trying remember years back. She would roll her eyes and look upward at several answers I gave about the history of my treatments and medications. She made me feel like I was doing something wrong which sent me into a panic and I started crying. And she looked at me and asked “why are you crying right now” in a very cold hearted tone and I said I’m just feeling overwhelmed and she asked what reason do I have to be overwhelmed. I just cried more. She said nothing about it and gave no reassurance. I had told her I hadn’t been to a psychiatrist till now and in a snappy and demeaning tone said “well you should have come in years ago” while she side eyed me and let out a little snare laugh. Which only made me feel worse again.In the middle of me crying in her office and trying to just breathe and not lose it, the phone rang. She answered and presumed she would tell them she was busy with a client and needed a moment. WRONG. She proceeded stay on the phone for about a minute to give the front desk her Starbucks coffee order!! In the middle of her evaluation of me.She then asked me bring in my boyfriend of one year to ask him questions. So I did. He came in and she asked him to tell her what he’s noticed and he started mention depression and anxiety and cut him off in the middle of talking to tell him not to diagnose because he’s not a doctor. I was absolutely floored. She then accused me of not giving her accurate information about my traumas. I distinctly said at the beginning that a traumatic thing happened to me my senior year of high school (that was the cause of my diagnosis with depression and anxiety). I met with the actual psychiatrist, you know with a doctorate, for maybe 5 minutes. And that’s only because I asked questions. She simply gave me a diagnosis and meds and moved on.I have never in my life felt so demeaned, stupid, and talked down to.And top it off I called to cancel my second appointment. Secretary was nice in the beginning but when I told her no thank you to rescheduling, she said “ok thank you” and hung up the phone.Avoid this place at all costs.

I was shocked at the poor level of care I received at this office from their NP, Pamela Velardi. The most basic thing a mental health provider should be able to provide is an empathetic, listening ear -- or at least even a moment of warmth and human connection by way of introducing herself and meeting you. All I received from Velardi was condescension, cruelty and indifference. I cannot imagine the harm that she must cause on a daily basis to the vulnerable, hurting people that come through her door.I know that these poor reviews dont matter much because the people coming through these offices are doing so because it is the only option available to them on their insurance, but truly, if you have the option, avoid her.

Boo, the front office is a mess.

Mission Valley office is so much better. Always called in at least 30 minutes after my appointment was supposed to start. Staff seems very unprofessional. Last time I was there waiting to pay, I stood there for almost 10 minutes while they were talking bad about the patient before me. Extremely disappointed.

Staff is always nice although it seems they’re understaffed they seem to try their best

This was my first visit to this psychiatrists group. I called over a month ago to book this appointment as my insurance had changed.I came in at 10:15 to fill out paperwork as per instructed. I was called twice in the last 3 days to confirm my 10:30 appointment.When I arrived, I was handed paperwork and turned over my insurance card. At 10:30 I was being told my insurance was not verified, though I had to provide it to them when I initially booked the appointment over a month ago. So, again I wait. Then I am told they left me a voicemail yesterday about my insurance. Funny, no voicemail or missed call.At 10:45, 15 minutes past my appointment time, the nurse practitioner called my name. I asked if they were done confirming my insurance, and that I had to be at work by noon. She looked at me and said I dont know Im not involved in that. Um, what?So I sit back down, its now 10:50. Surprise, surprise, my insurance is verified! I verified my insurance when I got it in Feb.Again, the nurse practitioner calls me. So I walk through the door to the hallway, she is behind me now. As I proceed into the hall, she says, you can close the door behind you. Obviously at this point Im confused, so I close it. Turn around and go into the first door on the right. And she just stands there staring at me. So, I walk in. There are 3 chairs and as I go to pick one, Im told I am to sit in a different one.She tells me my appointment was at 11, that I was wrong, and they will need to get my medical history, and after her assessment of my, a board certified psychiatrist would then sit in, and I might be done in an hour. I specifically booked 10:30 as I had work at 12. Was never told they needed my medical record, which they could have asked for a month ago.I asked, do you always talk down to psychiatry patients?She said, you can see someone else and book a new appointment.I said forget it and that I was never going to see anyone there again. Then I got to wait 5 minutes to get my paperwork back.In the elevator, another patient said she couldnt believe how rude the nurse practitioner was to me and that it was uncalled for.Do not make an appointment here. If you already go here, Im sorry. Avoid Pamela Veraldi at all costs. Any place that employees people like this should be avoided.

Terrible... if your insurance is covered by anyone else go there.. not only is the waiting room not peaceful and stress inducing, the psychiatrist has no real interest in helping you and belittles other methods of medicine that can be beneficial to certain types of ailments. They have no interest in asking what medications have or have not worked for you in the past, they have not kept up with the latest medical research and they cannot even remember your history as a patient.

Extremely disappointing visit. To start with with I was seen an hour and a half after my appointment time. When I finally saw Dr. Zeidman he cuts he me off after explaining for two minutes why I’m there and then he proceeds on a questionnaire that is entirely irrelevant to my condition. Please go anywhere except here and see anyone except Dr. Zeidman.

First visit with a recommended Dr. at this location. I was there for a secondary non-psych reason and explained my medical history and situation in great detail along with the specific assistance i required (as instructed by 2 of my other primary doctors.) He proceeded to ignore the vast majority of what i communicated and my needs and concerns, which were very measured and reasonable. He had no interest in even speaking about the conditions that were contributing to depression or the medication my other Dr wanted cleared through him. He lacked curiosity in the patient, let alone any form of compassion or empathy. I needed assistance with my situation and then to progress treatment forward afterwards. After this appt. he told me there was no need for further visits with him, and I agree. I cancelled a secondary appt with another Dr., for a service that is not part of my treatment plan, within the office later and even the staff was rude about that. Its as if they were offended that I didnt want to stay, as the receptionist just hung up on me the instant the appt was cancelled.STAY AWAY from this placeI know it takes forever to find a psych apt in SD, but this was a collosal waste of 3 months and has cost me, indirectly, money and other resources

This place lied to my insurance company and told them I rescheduled an appointment, untrue they tried to reschedule with me for 3 months out. Save your voicemails.

Absolutely the worst office staff ever.

Dr. Paintball is very kind and helpful. You cant expect your mother to be your psychiatrist.

Awful, awful, awful. They are the worst.