Cathy Chao, PMHNP

Cathy Chao, PMHNP

Adult Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
CA
5.00
“I had a wonderful experience working with Cathy as my mental health psychiatric nurse practitioner. She's compassionate, attentive, and genuinely takes the time to listen and understand my concerns. I always feel heard, respected, and supported during my appointments. Her professionalism, knowledge, and caring approach make a meaningful difference. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a provider who truly cares about their patients!”
SK
Highly recommended
100% of patients gave this doctor 5 stars
Excellent wait time
100% of patients waited less than 30 minutes
New patient appointments
Appointments available for new patients on Zocdoc

Book an appointment on Zocdoc

The office partners with Zocdoc to schedule appointments
External video visit

Scheduling details

  1. See if they are in network

What patients are saying

Overall rating

5.00

Average wait time

4.87

Bedside manner

4.93
“I had a wonderful experience working with Cathy as my mental health psychiatric nurse practitioner. She's compassionate, attentive, and genuinely takes the time to listen and understand my concerns. I always feel heard, respected, and supported during my appointments. Her professionalism, knowledge, and caring approach make a meaningful difference. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a provider who truly cares about their patients!”
SKLess than 1 month ago
“Great quick services available on zocdoc if needing to see someone as soon as possible. Finding the right care is important and I’m a huge advocate to that and it was easy to get that here. ”
Sannha T.October 29, 2026Video visit

About Cathy Chao

Focus areas

Anxiety
Mood Disorders
Depression
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Medication Management
Stress Management

Clientele seen

Young adults (18-24)
Individuals
Adults (25-64)
Seniors (65+)

Treatment approaches

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Person-Centered
Integrative
Mindfulness-Based (MBCT)

Identity

Gender

Female

Ethnicity

Asian

Languages spoken

English

Getting to know Cathy Chao

Cathy Chao is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner at Solivera Integrative Clinic who helps adults find real relief from anxiety, depression, trauma and mood swings that make everyday life feel harder than it should. Many of the people Cathy works with are high-functioning on the outside. They’re showing up to work, caring for others and keeping it together, while feeling exhausted, on edge or stuck on the inside. Cathy’s integrative approach looks at the whole person, including sleep, stress, relationships and physical health, alongside thoughtful medication management when it’s the right fit. She blends evidence-based tools such as CBT and mindfulness-based therapy with a warm, person-centered style, so care feels collaborative rather than clinical. Clients often describe Cathy as calm, kind and easy to talk to. She takes time to listen, explains her thinking clearly, and moves at a pace that feels comfortable. Her goal isn’t just fewer symptoms. It’s helping you feel like yourself again. Cathy earned her Master’s in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing from West Coast University. She sees adults across California by secure video visit and accepts most major insurance plans.

What should a new client know about working with you?

If you’re here, you might be carrying anxiety that won’t switch off, a low mood that has lasted longer than it should, or the weight of something that happened a long time ago. You don’t need to have it all figured out before our first visit. That’s what we’ll do together. I’m a psychiatric nurse practitioner with a holistic approach. I look at the whole picture, including your sleep, stress, relationships, work, body and history, not just a list of symptoms. Medication can be one helpful tool, and when it makes sense we’ll talk it through openly, questions and doubts included. It’s never the only tool, and you always have a say. I see adults over video, so you can meet me from your couch or wherever you feel most at ease. This is a no-judgment space. You can show up tired, skeptical or unsure what to say. Asking for help takes courage, and I’ll meet you with warmth, honesty and a plan that fits your real life.

What is your typical process for working with clients?

Our first visit is about getting to know you. We’ll talk about what’s been going on, what you’ve already tried, your health history, and what feeling better would actually look like for you. You’ll leave with a clear plan we build together, which might include medication, skills from therapy, lifestyle changes, or a mix. Follow-up visits are shorter check-ins where we look at what’s working, adjust what isn’t, and add tools along the way. Depending on what you need, that might be CBT or mindfulness strategies for anxious thoughts, support with sleep and stress, grounding tools for when past trauma gets stirred up, or fine-tuning medication so you feel like yourself again, not numbed out. You set the pace, and you can always ask questions or change direction. All visits are virtual, and we accept most major insurance plans.

Is this doctor in your insurance network?

Enter your insurance carrier and plan
  1. choose insurance

In-network insurances

Aetna
BlueCross BlueShield
Cigna
200+ more in-network plans

Popular visit reasons

Anxiety
Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Behavior Modification
Daytime Sleepiness
Depression
Psychiatry Consultation
Psychology Consultation
Weight Loss Consultation
Anxiety
Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Behavior Modification
Daytime Sleepiness

Education and background

Practice names

Education and training

  • West Coast University, Master's in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing

NPI number

1821930728

Patient reviews

All reviews have been submitted by patients after interacting with the practice.
Overall rating
5.00
Wait time
4.87
Bedside manner
4.93
Trust Banner Shield
Your trust is our top concern, so providers can't pay to alter or remove reviews. We also don't publish reviews that contain any private patient health information. Learn more here
16 reviews
Most relevant
Cathy was very empathetic and gave me space to express what I was feeling and my own story at a pace I was comfortable with.
Cathy is very approachable and knowledgeable. She recommends holistic and mental care.
I had a wonderful experience working with Cathy as my mental health psychiatric nurse practitioner. She's compassionate, attentive, and genuinely takes the time to listen and understand my concerns. I always feel heard, respected, and supported during my appointments. Her professionalism, knowledge, and caring approach make a meaningful difference. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a provider who truly cares about their patients!
Great quick services available on zocdoc if needing to see someone as soon as possible. Finding the right care is important and I’m a huge advocate to that and it was easy to get that here.
Verified patientVideo visit
Cathy is very responsive and will follow up as needed to ensure all my needs are met. I feel reassurance when communicating with her.
Cathy was very sweet and an amazing listener. Very attentive and thorough with notes. So far the nicest and most down to earth psychiatrist I’ve had in almost 6 years. Thank you so much Cathy, I really feel seen and heard!
Verified patientVideo visit
Cathy was so patient and understanding throughout my visit. She made me feel heard and never rushed our conversation. I really appreciated how comfortable and welcoming she made the entire experience. Im excited to continue my journey with her!
I had a great experience with Ms. Chao. She was very attentive, compassionate, and took the time to address my concerns. It's not always easy opening up, but she made the process feel comfortable and judgment-free. I would highly recommend her!
Ms. Chao really made me feel at home and relaxed during our session. I'm usually reluctant to use these types of services but I will be back!
Cathy was very kind and easy to talk to. She listened to my concerns and made me feel comfortable throughout the visit. I would definitely recommend her!
Overall the best experience dealing with someone who took the time to make sure I understood and comprehended my needs. She was empathetic, professional and heartwarming. I appreciate the level of care I received from her I am grateful for her support during my trying time.
She was very professional and very empathetic to my situation. I can’t thank her enough for how she treated me and how wonderful of a person she was to me. I thank her so much for all her grace.
Cathy was an excellent provider! She took the time to listen to my concerns and created a safe, welcoming environment where I felt comfortable being myself. The office staff was also incredibly helpful and made the intake process smooth and easy. Overall, I had a wonderful experience and would highly recommend Cathy!
Video visit
Frequently asked questions

How soon can I make an appointment with Cathy Chao?

Generally, Cathy Chao has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Cathy Chao's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.

Is Cathy Chao accepting new patients?

Cathy Chao generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Cathy Chao's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.

Does Cathy Chao accept my insurance?

Choose your insurance plan to verify if Cathy Chao is in-network.

Can I make an appointment with Cathy Chao online?

Yes, you can make an appointment online with Cathy Chao using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.

What practice does Cathy Chao work with?

What are common reasons for patients to see Cathy Chao?

Cathy Chao frequently sees patients for Anxiety, Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Depression, Psychiatry Consultation, and Weight Loss Consultation. You can see other visit reasons for Cathy Chao on their profile.

What languages does Cathy Chao speak?

Cathy Chao speaks English.

How do patients rate Cathy Chao in reviews?

16 patients have reviewed Cathy Chao. The overall rating for this doctor is 5/5. They have a 4.93/5 rating for bedside manner and a 4.87/5 rating for wait time. You can read individual reviews and ratings on their profile.

Zocdoc›Adult Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse Practitioners›Cathy Chao, PMHNP