Inspiring Conversations with Sofia Khan of Urgent Psych

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sofia Khan.

Hi Sofia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Our story began when Dr. Asad Mehdi and Dr. Sofia Khan recognized a significant clinical gap in how mental health illnesses were being addressed. At the time, individuals experiencing mental health challenges often had limited options for care — the emergency department or their primary care provider. Unfortunately, neither setting was designed to meet the complex emotional and psychiatric needs of these patients.

The emergency department, while critical for medical crises, was a chaotic and overwhelming environment for individuals in mental distress. This realization inspired the creation of Urgent Psych, a facility dedicated to transforming how mental health care is delivered. Our mission was clear — to revolutionize the world of mental health through early intervention and early recognition, ensuring that patients receive timely, compassionate, and effective care.

The synergy between a leading psychiatrist and a seasoned emergency medicine physician laid the foundation for Urgent Psych. This partnership brought together two distinct but complementary perspectives — psychiatry and emergency medicine — to create a new model of care. At Urgent Psych, our team is dedicated to being a beacon of hope, fostering recovery, and empowering our community with the tools, education, and support necessary for lasting mental well-being.

Through innovation, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to patient-centered care, Urgent Psych continues to redefine mental health services. We strive to be a trusted partner on every individual’s journey toward healing, ensuring that no one faces their darkest moments alone.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not always been a smooth road. Like many pioneering efforts in healthcare, the journey to establish Urgent Psych came with its share of challenges. One of the biggest obstacles was breaking the traditional mold of how and where mental health care is delivered. Many healthcare systems were not designed to accommodate urgent psychiatric care outside of hospital settings, so introducing this new model required navigating complex regulations, building partnerships, and gaining community trust.

Another challenge was addressing the stigma surrounding mental health. Early on, we encountered hesitation from both patients and providers who were unfamiliar with seeking or referring to a specialized mental health urgent care. It took time, education, and advocacy to help others understand that early intervention can prevent crises and improve long-term outcomes.

Operationally, staffing and training posed additional hurdles. We wanted to ensure that every member of our team not only had clinical expertise but also shared our vision for compassionate, patient-centered care. Building a cohesive team that embodies our mission took dedication and time.

Despite these challenges, every obstacle strengthened our purpose. Today, those early struggles serve as reminders of why Urgent Psych exists — to fill a gap in care, reduce barriers, and make mental health support accessible when it’s needed most.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Urgent Psych?
Urgent Psych is a mental health urgent care clinic in Atlanta dedicated to providing timely, compassionate, and specialized care for individuals experiencing psychiatric crises. We offer a full range of services including immediate evaluation and diagnosis, medication management, crisis intervention, safety monitoring, and connection to ongoing outpatient care. Our approach also includes family and community involvement, medical clearance, and medication-assisted treatment for substance use when needed. What sets us apart is our focus on early, specialized intervention outside of the traditional emergency room, a multidisciplinary and evidence-based approach, and a supportive, non-judgmental environment where patients feel heard and safe. We are proud of creating a trusted space where individuals can access care quickly, coordinate follow-up services, and begin a path to sustained recovery. At Urgent Psych, we believe mental health care is health care, and we strive to ensure that no one faces their crisis alone while empowering patients with the resources and support they need for long-term well-being.

How do you define success?
At Urgent Psych, we define success not just by the number of patients we see, but by the impact we have on their lives. Success means helping individuals stabilize during a crisis, guiding them toward recovery, and equipping them with the tools and support they need for lasting mental wellness. It’s measured by the confidence and trust patients feel in our care, the connections we help them build with ongoing therapy or community resources, and the peace of mind their families gain knowing their loved ones are safe and supported. On a broader scale, success is also creating a systemic shift in how mental health care is accessed—making specialized, timely, and compassionate care the standard rather than the exception. Ultimately, if a patient leaves Urgent Psych feeling understood, empowered, and hopeful about their future, we consider that a true success.

Pricing:

• Self-Pay $300
• Accept all major insurances

Contact Info:

• Website: https://urgentpsych.org/