INSIST that he disclose your diagnosis to you and explore whether a different approach is needed. Dr. Schaffer withheld my diagnosis from me for over a year and watched as his incompetent unlicensed trainee provoked and aggravated my condition to the point where I could barely function. After they danced around releasing my records for months, I raised the issue of a HIPAA violation - he finally had his trainee sit down with me (and the version of the DSM published in 1994) to tell me he had concealed the diagnosis because he "wasn't sure how I would receive it." My next psych revealed her suspicions at the VERY FIRST SESSION and suggested that I would benefit most from a different therapeutic approach that SHE, a PSYD, doesn't specialize in. Now Dr. Schaffer wants to shrug his shoulders while I struggle to put my life back together - I'm still in therapy a year later trying to repair the damage. Calling Dr. Schaffer was the single worst mistake I've ever made.
Desired outcome: My goal is to ensure that all of Dr. Schaffer’s clients properly give their informed consent to treatment, so they don’t have to go through what I continue to go through to this day.
My therapy with Dr. Schaffer lacked focus and he offered very little insight. I’m sharing this here because comments have been disabled on Healthgrades.
It's amazing that the other "review" site took down all the negative comments. That doesn't seem like good 'health' and up to 'grade' if you know what I mean. Doesn't seem fair the public won't be aware of Dr. Schaffer's actual reviews by his patients.
Was relieved to see others sharing their experiences about this Dr. as I also has a bad experience which I voiced on a different platform and the review was deleted.
Edit for grammar: HAD a bad experience with this psychologist ( not has).
Dr. Schaffer had a curious number of complaints posted to his Healthgrades account, but those comments have been removed and the review section disabled.
I had a different issue with this particular doctor and would take caution before booking appointment.