

get to know
Mikiko Thelwell, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
.webp)
Get matched with a clinician like this one
Ready to book your first appointment? Take our 10-minute assessment. We’ll match you with a clinician who meets your needs, has availability, and takes your insurance.
Biography
Dr. Mikiko Thelwell earned her BA from Barnard College, Columbia University, her MD from the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science/David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and her MPH from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. She completed her psychiatry residency at the University of Pennsylvania in 2026. Since 2017, she has worked with UCLA's Commercial Sexual Exploitation Research Group and has received the APA's 2024 SAMHSA Minority Fellowship and the 2021 Point Foundation Scholarship. Her research has been widely published.
Dr. Thelwell believes patients are active partners in their care through shared decision-making and open communication. She listens closely to each person's story and provides compassionate, individualized care informed by an intersectional, evidence-based approach. She also emphasizes psychoeducation so patients understand their symptoms and treatment options and can make informed decisions.
Dr. Thelwell begins by learning each patient's history, concerns, and goals. Together, they develop a personalized treatment plan that is reviewed and adjusted over time. She explains diagnoses and treatment options in clear language and incorporates therapy-based skills alongside medication management when appropriate. For patients with complex trauma, she integrates trauma-focused DBT skills at a manageable pace.
Expertise and specialties
Education and training
- Doctor of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine