MICHAEL QUACH, MD

Board-Certified Psychiatrist

WELCOME

A Collaborative Approach to Men's Mental Health

For men, making the first step toward mental health support is a significant decision. My goal is to provide a professional, welcoming, and highly confidential space where you feel heard, respected, and understood.

I believe that effective psychiatric treatment is an active partnership, one where we work collaboratively to understand your unique challenges, peel back the layers of daily pressure, and develop a clear, evidence-based path forward.

Diverse Backgrounds

I work with adult men from diverse backgrounds, with a specialized focus on depression, anxiety, untreated stress, career-related burnout, anger and irritability, aggression, loneliness, poor self-esteem, emotional numbness, trauma and PTSD, avoidance, intimacy issues, escapist behaviors, problematic drinking, panic and restlessness, self-medication, unexplained physical symptoms, existential crisis, life transitions, adjustment disorders, aging, grief and loss, and retirement isolation. 

Our Shared Mission

Helping you navigate life’s immediate hurdles is only the beginning. My ultimate mission is to empower you to build lasting self-esteem, foster deeper and more meaningful relationships, and cultivate the emotional strength required to live a life that feels truly, authentically yours.

WHY MEN?

The Silent Burdens Men Carry

From an early age, men are often conditioned to face challenges in silence. We are taught that strength means being an unyielding pillar, whether that looks like providing for a family, grinding through a demanding career, or constantly projecting absolute certainty.

The result is a widespread, quiet isolation. Many men feel they have no safe harbor where they can take off the armor, drop the expectations of the outside world, and speak the unvarnished truth about their internal lives.

In my practice, vulnerability is never viewed as a weakness or a liability. It is the definitive starting point for genuine growth, clarity, and sustainable strength. You do not have to carry the weight alone.

PHILOSOPHY & SERVICES

Patient-Centered Model

I understand that mental health is never just about biology; it is intimately shaped by our history, our environment, and the unique pressures of the worlds we operate in.

I combine rigorous clinical expertise with a thoughtful, holistic, and solution-oriented approach. Every patient is treated with the individual clinical rigor and human respect they deserve.

Comprehensive Treatment 

To ensure our work together is grounded in trust and evidence-based care, I offer an integrated combination of psychiatric services:

• Diagnostic Evaluations: Comprehensive initial psychiatric assessments to understand the full picture of your mental health.

• Medication Management: Thoughtful, ongoing evaluation and prescribing when biological support is indicated.

• Psychotherapy: Tailored psychological modalities designed for practical, real-world impact: Short-term, solution-focused therapy & cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness practices & supportive therapy, and insight-oriented & existential therapy.

CONDITIONS TREATED

Men often experience and express psychological distress differently, sometimes masking internal pain, depression, or anxiety with irritability, physical exhaustion, or overworking. I provide specialized diagnostic evaluation and evidence-based treatment for:

Mood & Affect: Major depressive disorder, persistent low mood (dysthymia), mood swings and bipolar disorder, seasonal affective disorder, loss of motivation and interest. 

Anxiety & Trauma: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), chronic worry, social anxiety, panic attacks disrupting daily peace, past trauma or acute stress.

Focus & Executive Function: Targeted strategies and medication management to improve focus, organization, impulse control, and executive functioning in professional and personal lives.

Behavior & Compulsions: Anger management & irritability, identifying triggers, processing root causes of chronic frustration, developing emotional regulation strategies, and replacing destructive reactive patterns with constructive communication tools. Specialized management to break the cycle of intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors in OCD.  Treatment for impulse control disorders such as intermittent explosive disorder and gambling disorder.

Addictions: Behavioral management for compulsive technology addiction, social media use, internet gaming, online gambling, pornography, online shopping, and smartphone addiction. Treatment of other addictions such as alcohol, street drugs, casino gambling, and sexual addiction.

Life Stressors & Transitions: Professional & personal burnout, managing cumulative daily stressors, work demands, work insecurity, and work-life balance issues. Societal & identity pressures such as navigating masculinity norms, expectations, emotional suppression, mid-life crises, identity shifts, aging, and retirement. Relationship issues including marital/family responsibilities, communication breakdowns, intimacy concerns, jealousy, infidelity, and divorce/separation. Physical health worries, grief and loss, financial/debt stress, loss of libido, and insomnia/sleep-wake disorders.

BIO

I am Michael Quach, MD, a board-certified and licensed psychiatrist dedicated to serving the community for over 20 years. Throughout my career across academic medicine, public health systems, and private practice, I have remained committed to a singular idea: clinical excellence must be paired with genuine human connection.

Academic Training

• Stanford University School of Medicine: Doctor of Medicine (MD). Psychiatry Residency Training, Stanford Hospital and Clinics. I was selected as Chief Resident to lead and mentor fellow physicians, overseeing clinical operations and residency education.

• University of California, Davis: Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. Graduated as a UC Regents Scholar, the university's highest undergraduate academic honor.

Professional Honors 

• The George Gulevich Humanistic Medicine Award: Awarded at Stanford; recognizes a deep commitment to treating patients with profound humanity, compassion, and cultural sensitivity.

• Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (FAPA): An honor bestowed by the APA recognizing significant contributions, leadership, and dedication to the profession.

• Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN): Board-certified, representing the highest standard of clinical competence in the field.

• Congressional Recognition: Honored with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from U.S. Representative Ro Khanna for civic contribution, professional leadership, and community dedication as President of the Physician Association of Northern California.

Academic Appointments & Leadership

• Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine (Faculty member since 2008; recipient of the Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award).

• Behavioral Health Medical Director, Sonoma County: Chief clinical leader for the Department of Health Services, Behavioral Health Division. Oversight of county-wide psychiatric services, medical ethics, and clinical contract integrity.

• Executive Leadership in Custodial Health: Extensive experience directing psychiatric care systems inside jail facilities and navigating complex court-ordered treatment protocols for high-acuity populations.

• Published Author: Writer of three clinical and philosophical books: The Observer, The Concrete Mirror, and Your Years Will Teach You What Your Days Do Not Know.

FEES

My practice operates exclusively on a private-pay basis.

• Session Fee (60 minutes): $600

• I do not participate in or accept any insurance networks.

• At your request, I will provide you with a comprehensive Superbill that you may submit to your insurance carrier for potential out-of-network mental health reimbursement.

• Payment Methods: All major credit cards are securely accepted.

CONTACT & LOCATION

Free Phone Consultation

To help us determine if my practice is the correct match for your clinical needs and goals, I offer a 15-minute free phone consultation.

Please fill out the contact form below to initiate this phone consultation. I will reach out to you directly after receiving your information.

Practice Location

My office is located in the Willow Glen neighborhood of San Jose, situated roughly 1 mile from Downtown Willow Glen, near the cross streets of Willow Street and Meridian Avenue.

• Office Address: 1685 Westwood Drive, Suite 11 - San Jose, CA 95125

• Confidential Voicemail: (669) 210-7466

Geographic Areas Served

Accessible for individuals throughout the Silicon Valley, South Bay, and Peninsula regions: Willow Glen • San Jose • Los Gatos • Campbell • Saratoga • Cupertino • Santa Clara • Sunnyvale • Mountain View • Palo Alto • Menlo Park • Foster City • Morgan Hill • Milpitas • Los Altos • Fremont • Oakland • Berkeley 

CURRENT & FORMER AFFILIATIONS