
Justin Trop, MD, MSc
Adult Psychiatrist, Board Certified
San Diego
✅ Accepting New Patients
💼 5 Years Experience
⭐ Highly Recommended
🕰️ Excellent Wait Time
WEBMD PREFERRED PROVIDER
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Getting to know Justin Trop, M.D.
I was first drawn to psychiatry as a healing practice—one centered not only on understanding distress, but on helping people move toward a fuller, more meaningful life. In my practice, I bring a deep curiosity about your story and how your experiences, relationships, and environment have shaped who you are. I hold that curiosity alongside a genuine belief in your capacity for growth, change, and self-realization.
My approach is holistic and integrative. Together, we look beyond symptoms to understand the broader picture—your identity, relationships, emotional patterns, internal narratives, and the ways your past may continue to live in the present. I place strong emphasis on the mind–body connection, exploring how factors like sleep, movement, nutrition, stress, and physical health interact with your mental and emotional well-being.
Many of the people I work with are not just trying to feel “less anxious” or “less depressed,” but are asking deeper questions: Who am I? What actually matters to me? Why do I keep getting stuck in the same patterns? What do I want for myself and my life? You may find yourself asking some of these same questions—or you may simply want relief and a clearer path forward. Ultimately, my goal is to meet you where you are, help you better understand yourself, strengthen your sense of agency, and move toward a life that feels more aligned, intentional, and fulfilling.
Treatment is collaborative and may include psychotherapy, lifestyle interventions, and, when appropriate, medication. My work is informed by existential-humanistic, psychodynamic, acceptance and commitment (ACT), cognitive behavioral (CBT), and emotion-focused perspectives. I have an interest in complementary and alternative approaches to mental health as well. While my experience in these areas is still evolving, I’m open to thoughtfully exploring them with you when appropriate, in a way that is safe. I’ve also worked as a facilitator in trials examining psychedelic compounds as treatments for depression and anxiety, and I have an interest in the accumulating research in this area.
Throughout my time in practice, I have worked with diverse patient populations. I bring that experience with me, alongside past studies and engagement in the realm of global mental health as well as time living abroad. Lastly, I’ve co-led physician peer support groups, which has deepened my appreciation for the importance of shared experience, vulnerability, and connection in the healing process.
Qualifications & Education:
- General Psychiatry Residency: Emory University
- Doctor of Medicine: Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
- Master’s in Public Health: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences and Global Health: Northwestern University
Focus Areas
Depression
Chronic Illness Adjustment
Stress Management
Life Transitions
ADHD
Anxiety
Bereavement/Grief
Confidence Issues
Self-Esteem Issues, Relationship Concerns
Lifestyle Change
Coaching, Meaning and Purpose
Clientele
Young Adults
Neurodivergent
LGBTQ+
Immigrants/ Refugees
Adults
People with chronic illness
Treatment Approaches
Psychotherapy
Identity
Gender Male | Languages English Spanish (beginner) |
Insurance Providers
UMR
PHCS MultiPlan
Medicare
Carelon Health
VHP
ComPsych
Kaiser Permanente
Aetna
Cigna
BlueCross BlueShield
Magellan Health
TriWest
MHN
5.0
Dr. Trop is amazing, best doctor I have had for medication management by far - understanding, validating, and willing to meet you where you are at.
FAQs
1. What is your approach to working with patients?
I see our work as a collaborative, active process—we’re not just treating symptoms, we’re trying to understand you. That means exploring your patterns, your relationships, your internal narratives, and the ways you’ve learned to cope and adapt over time.
Many of the people I work with are thoughtful and self-aware, but feel stuck in recurring loops—overthinking, self-criticism, difficulty accessing or trusting their emotions, or feeling like they have to present a certain version of themselves to others. Others come in with a quieter sense that something just feels “off,” even if they can’t fully explain why. You might notice a harsh inner critic, a lack of confidence, or feel like you understand things intellectually but can’t quite shift how you feel.
Part of what we do is bring more clarity to those experiences—helping you better understand what’s driving your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, while also getting more in touch with your authentic self. We explore questions like: What actually matters to you? What’s been shaping the way you show up in your life and relationships? What’s been getting in the way? At the same time, we work on building self-esteem and confidence—not just by thinking differently, but by relating to yourself in a more compassionate and grounded way.
In our work, we begin to make those patterns more visible. Through therapy, we might explore how early experiences shaped your expectations of yourself and others, how you relate to your thoughts and internal experiences, how you process and access emotion, and what it means to live authentically and in alignment with your values. Part of this process often involves bringing what has been outside of awareness into clearer focus—and then deciding what you want to do with that awareness.
I also tend to think in metaphors and broader frameworks—this often helps people see themselves and their lives from a new angle. Alongside insight, I incorporate a coaching-oriented approach when helpful, supporting you in building routines, making behavioral changes, and taking concrete steps toward the life you want. In other words, our work is not only about understanding the “why,” but also developing the “how.”
I place strong emphasis on the mind–body connection and the role of lifestyle—sleep, movement, nutrition, social connection, and even your relationship with technology all matter. I am intent on not over-pathologizing; often, your responses make sense in the context of your experiences and environment. Part of our work is understanding that, while also helping you reclaim a sense of agency moving forward.
2. How do you integrate medication management?
I view medication as one tool within a broader, integrative approach. For some people, it can be very helpful; for others, it may play a smaller role. We’ll explore together whether it makes sense for you, in a thoughtful and collaborative way.
I also want to acknowledge that some people are primarily looking for medication management. If that’s the case, we can focus on that while still making space, when relevant, to consider the broader context of what you’re experiencing.
I aim to be transparent about benefits, risks, and alternatives, and I take your preferences seriously. I also consider potential medical or physiological contributors to what you’re experiencing as part of a comprehensive evaluation.
If we use medication, it’s typically in the context of a larger plan—one that includes therapy, lifestyle, and deeper work around patterns, meaning, and values—rather than as a standalone solution, unless that’s what best fits your needs.
3. What types of concerns do you specialize in treating?
I work with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma- and stressor-related disorders, OCD, and ADHD, amongst other mental health conditions. Beyond diagnoses, many of the people I work with are navigating feeling stuck, seeking to feel more “alive”, going through life transitions, coping with grief, struggling with self-criticism, building confidence and self-esteem, dealing with burnout, or trying to better understand how they show up in relationships. You may find yourself wanting to make sense of patterns that keep repeating, bring more awareness to parts of yourself that feel out of reach, or live in a way that feels more aligned with your values.
My work often involves helping bring unconscious patterns into awareness, understanding how past experiences shape the present, and supporting you in creating new ways of relating—to yourself, to others, and to your life more broadly.
I have experience working with trauma-related symptoms and approach this work in a trauma-informed way, while also collaborating with or referring to specialized providers when that would be most helpful.
4. What's something you want your patients to know about you?
I’m genuinely interested in you as a whole person—not just a set of symptoms or diagnoses. I bring curiosity, openness, and a nonjudgmental stance, and I don’t expect you to have everything figured out when you come in.
I also see this work as something we do together. At times we may be exploring deeply; at other times, we may be focusing on concrete changes in your day-to-day life. I value both insight and action.
I tend to balance compassion with growth—I want to help you understand why you are the way you are, while also supporting you in becoming who you want to be.
5. What do you believe is the most important part of the healing process?
A strong, trusting therapeutic relationship is foundational—feeling safe enough to be honest, explore, and reflect.
Beyond that, healing often involves developing a different relationship with yourself. Many people find that this includes greater self-compassion, deeper emotional awareness and processing, insight into long-standing patterns and how the past shapes the present, increased psychological flexibility in relating to thoughts, and a clearer sense of meaning and values to guide life choices.
As these pieces come together, you may begin to feel more grounded, more free, and more able to move through life with intention rather than feeling stuck or reactive.
6. What kinds of clients do you work with best?
I tend to work best with individuals who are reflective, curious about themselves, and open to growth—even if things feel uncertain or difficult right now.
Many of the people I work with are trying to better understand how their mind works, get unstuck from recurring patterns, and move toward a life that feels more aligned with their values. If you’re someone who appreciates a collaborative, thoughtful approach and are willing to engage actively in the process over time, we’ll likely work well together.
You don’t need to have everything figured out—but a willingness to reflect, explore, and take steps (even small ones) toward change tends to make our work especially meaningful.
7. Do you have experience with trauma or PTSD?
Yes, I have experience working with individuals who have experienced trauma or PTSD, and I incorporate trauma-informed principles into my care. This includes understanding how past experiences can shape emotional patterns, relationships, and ways of coping in the present.
At the same time, I recognize the importance of specialized trauma-focused psychotherapies and may recommend or collaborate with therapists in the community when that would best support your healing.
8. What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy staying active and spending time outdoors—long walks, hiking, fitness, and skateboarding are some of my favorite ways to reset and reconnect.
I really value meaningful connection and conversation—whether that’s over coffee, cooking with friends, or sharing experiences that help us reflect on what it means to be human. I enjoy dancing, writing and reading poetry, and learning through podcasts and audiobooks that explore psychology, philosophy, and personal growth.
I also love planning travel, exploring new places, trying new foods, and finding ways to stay present in everyday moments.
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