M.C.L.A. Psychiatric Medical Group

I urge you not to go to Dr. Karina Shulman. I had a single appointment with her and will never go back. She was by far the least compassionate of any therapist I’ve ever seen. I’m appalled.
After taking me 20 minutes late, Dr. Shulman gave me 5 minutes to tell her why I was there to see her, then asked if I was willing to take medication. (How she could diagnose me and know I needed medication within 5 minutes is beyond me.) I told her no, not right now, because I’m trying to get pregnant. She said, «Then why are you here?» Apparently, she’s only willing to offer pills, not therapy. After a total of 20 minutes, she told me I’d have to think more about medication since I clearly wasn’t ready to take it and then dismissed me. She said my only option was pills even though she knows almost nothing about me.
So completely rude. I left feeling 100x worse than when I arrived. Horrendous doctor. I can’t believe I paid money to be treated that way.

Wow garbage place ever DO NOT GO HERE… First time I had appointment was at 6 PM I talked to receptionist Mary she gave me appointment to go there. I go there nobody there everyone gone r u serious so I just left. Next day I called them talked to them she goes u had to wait someone will come out. Like lady u should worn people when they go there how am I suppose to know this if its my first time. So she gave me another appointment after couple months with Catherine Schifrin therapist. So I went in sat there I see someone opens the door after little after 6PM it was catherine Schifrin she goes who are you I don’t have appointment with you lolllllll I was laughing I go you guys are fool of crap this place needs to shut down seriously. So lovely Mary told me to go in while she made a fake schedule that I had no appointment what so ever. She needs to get fired she doesnt even know what she doing. And I got a bill charged for missing a session lollllllll. So need to call the billing department hope they could do something about this no way I’m paying for this crap. Thanks to you guys I have more anxiety then before. Instead of helping people you will kill them instead.

Beware!!!
This is an awful place, filled with horrible people who have no right to be in the Wellness business. My personal Dr. And all of my family think I should file a report against them.
My father has been very ill due to complications from diabetes for the past two years. My Mother doesn’t drive, he has been bedridden while getting numerous surgeries. He is currently having his left leg removed at the knee. In addition to being sick, he has also been very very verbally abusive to everyone around him. Most of our business staff have quit.
I fell into the deepest depression of my life during this time, filled with feeling hopeless and helpless and became a shell of my former self. I stopped enjoying anything and everything I use to. The normal confident assertive me no longer existed.
Then about 6 weeks ago some half drunk guy in line at a Mobil gas station in Pasadena decided to go on a racial rant at me, while three other men were in the store and not one of them defended me. This guy was screaming how much he hates white people and he hopes we all die off. I had been at the hospital for 9 hours with my Dad and was so exhausted and it really affected me.
A few days later my Dad decided to verbally attack me while I was driving in traffic on the 210… But my Dad is sick and is body is full of infection… he didn’t mean it, he’s just sometimes off. but in this time I had developed panic disorder.
The results of all of this were I had a Nervous Breakdown (yes I am aware it isn’t a medically recognized term, but anyone who has survived one will tell you it is very real) I went to my Dr. within two days and he recommended I visit a Psychiatrist, hypnosis, and other steps I could take. I was really terrified but it got worse a few days later when my speech began to slur and I developed a Stutter.
Then my 17 and half year old Chihuahua, who was the love of my life had a massive seizure and died in my arms. I had been on the way to my regular Dr. when that happened as I was out of my thyroid pills and Xanax.
I was referred here, I still can’t believe what happened next!
My 1^st Psychiatrist visit ever, which I told the Dr. Upon meeting him. I would have expected him to go over what happens etc. Instead he accused me of being late, which I wasn’t, but I had gone back to my car to get a note from my Dr. after telling the receptionist. Within ten minutes this man accused me of being an uneducated drug addict who Dr. Shops. I’m still in complete shock. I walked across the hall with tears in my eyes and told the pharmacist, who also couldn’t believe it. I then had a panic attack in the parking garage and wondered what I had done to deserve to be treated less than human… then I opened up my Unilocal and saw that this place has a pattern of treating people like shit.
I drink about 5 times a year. I tried acid when I was 16. The only thing I’ve ever been addicted to was Diet Coke and when my therapist said please stop because the chemicals could be affecting my brain, I stopped!!! No relapses. This Dr. is an evil heartless Bastard, and I hope he goes to Hell where he belongs.
After that day I stopped eating or sleeping, and when my family finally got me to my regular Dr., he said my life was in jeopardy and that I’m a very sick woman. Visiting this As-​hole sure didn’t help me! All he did was insult the Hell out of a vulnerable woman and steal $ 350 for the privilege.

Unilocal took it upon themselves to remove my review due to violation of terms and posting my review to both location sites. I will have you (and Unilocal) know that I am posting this on BOTH locations because I saw these professionals at BOTH locations. Therefore, it is appropriate to post this review to BOTH locations since it applies to BOTH locations:
Since 2009 I’ve been through 2 psychiatrists & 2 therapists here at MCLA & all have been anything but caring & patient. Let me share some of my experiences:
Psychiatrist #1: treated me for a few years & never discussed my diagnosis with me. When he did & I expressed concerns over it, highlighting how I do not meet the «classic» criteria, he essentially told me he is the professional, not me. He did work with me when it came to medication, but he always made me feel ashamed & embarrassed to speak up about displeasure with medication side effects. He went so far as to tell me that the side effects were in my head, imaginary, & that I made them up & it was my fault because I was never satisfied with my medication. Surely I know my body after 28 years living in it & can tell when a medication is not agreeing with my body. He will over medicate you & mis medicate you & should only see patients who will zip their lips & take whatever is prescribed even at the expense of side effects. In a nut shell, he was very cold, short, & pompous.
Which brought me to psychiatrist #2 who immediately ruled out #1’s diagnosis saying that although she had an idea of why he would give me that diagnosis, it was a very serious diagnosis to «throw out there.» She didn’t agree with the medication he had put me on as his «last resort» for me & said it was way too drastic & risky to put me on being that I was not in the type of condition to warrant that medication. I initially thought I’d be happy because of this & that she would really listen & work with me. No such luck. She gave me an even more bogus diagnosis– a PERSONALITY DISORDER diagnosis which I am most certain I do not have & no mental health professional has ever even mentioned anything of that sort. If #1’s diagnosis was «too serious,» why on earth would she give me her bogus diagnosis. I instantly called my therapist (whom I’ve been seeing since before she began working with MCLA & I highly recommend. MCLA is slim pickings for quality professionals) & she confirmed that it was a bogus & a «cop out» of a diagnosis– after working with me for 8 months at once a week, she said nothing about me jumps out as what psychiatrist #2 had MISdiagnosed me with. More troubling is that when I asked psychiatrist #2 to tell me why SHE gave me my diagnosis, she instead said that reading me the criteria would better explain. Although I’m aware you don’t need ALL of the criteria to fit, I’m educated enough to know that you must fit within at least half of the symptom criteria, which I most certainly did not. Pointing this out she began asking questions about the «markers» of my «diagnosis” — when I told her none applied to me she said nothing. So now this woman whom I’ve only seen 4 times has labeled me on a professional document, as a bogus MISdiagnosis. Furthermore– she refused to listen to me about my medication concerns. She definitely will not over medicate you, but she definitely will not work with you & will leave you to be under and poorly medicated. She’s one of those «shoot for the stars» diagnose-​happy people. Plus, I always wait a minimum of 30 minutes to be seen– even when I show up early for my appointment.
Now on to therapists!
Therapist #1– only saw her a few times & was not fond of her. She was not warm or welcoming. I did not feel comfortable talking to her. I felt judged & burdensome.
Therapist #2– I started off liking her until one session she told me that I had to grow up & stop acting childish. Quite literally, she told me that. I guess my real life problems & things I’ve struggled with in the past are/​were just the result of me acting like a child– right? It came out of nowhere as she had always been very warm, inviting, nurturing, & seemed very genuine with my best interest at hand. Maybe she had a bad day? Either way, that’s no excuse to tell a fragile patient to grow up & stop being childish. I fought back tears. Then when I couldn’t fight them anymore she showed me pictures of her dogs. That lady was crazy. Most people cry in therapy because of something troubling in their life– not because their therapist decided to be an asshole & decide that rather than help work things out in their head & provide them with tools to cope better, they’d just tell them to grow up. I could have gotten that «advice» for free from a family member who has no background or education in helping people. Better yet, I could have paid a homeless person on the street to give me that «advice.» At least they’d have a reason to tell me that being that their problems with living on the street are more troubling than mine.

Avoid at all costs. The one therapist I saw here wanted to use my session as a gossip fest about the celebrities I work with, and the psych I saw was always late, saw me for 5 – 10 minutes at most in exchange for a whopper bill, and was constantly trying to add medications I did not need. Not to mention he belittled me when I asked about adjusting my diet and exercise regimen to supplement and/​or replace pharmaceuticals — apparently he only believes in synthetic treatment. Finally, they require a $ 20 minimum for credit card co-​pay charges, which is ILLEGAL in the state of California. Seriously… this place is the worst.

I was seeing dr. Essaian and she had me on meds that were working for me. She told me to see a therapist of my choice and that really helped. She was attentive, made me feel comfortable. Crystal is nice. They are sticklers about charging if you do not give advance notice of appointment cancellation. I was unable to make it to one of my appointments, gave same day notice and they told me I would have to pay. When I complained about it, crystal suggested a phone consultation and I was fine with that. I had to stop seeing her because they didn’t accept my new insurance.

If I could give 0 I would. Horrible psych care. All about whatever pill has the biggest $ backing it. Don’t go if you have any self respect.

I spoke to a few staff today about canceling my appointment. They were rude, and still wanting to charge me $ 150 when I called to cancel hours and hours ahead of time. I’m in my first trimester of pregnancy and been on bed rest about a month now. I explain why I won’t be coming in, and my situation. (New doctors, and on different coverage). When they told me I should of called earlier, I was like, «aren’t I’m calling hours ahead now to let you bitches know I’m not making it?» (Sorry for my French but that’s exactly how this pregnant woman is feeling.) I was able to get a hold of the lady who’s in charge of charging me $ 150, and she was also rude. She’s telling me I can’t come back to the medical group anymore. Well like I told her, don’t worry, my ass don’t need them, and won’t be around. You don’t treat people they did and especially to a pregnant woman who’s been so sick, hardly able to get out of bed. So 1 or less star for their customer service skills, attitudes…

BAD EXPERIENCE — The doctor was rude and unprofessional, in addition for being late the 3 times I saw him, he tried to change medication (that had been working fine for years) then he messed up the medication order. The doctor told me to find another doctor — Good idea I thought and I did.

I’ve tried a few doctors here and had bad experiences with each. Patients are in and out every few minutes, I feel like they are always trying to shave a minute or two off of every appointment, and overall am just not a fan. Furthermore and most importantly I do not think I am any better than when I started. It’s unfortunate as I live super close, but I guess I’ll just have to find someone else for the future who can hopefully give me a bit more personal attention and care.

Well, I can certainly understand how people end up killing themselves with a staff like this.
This seems harsh… but Adrina and Tigran, and the receptionist have no idea how to handle the public… especially ones that have mental heath issues.
I was trying to get an intake person to call me back for my father… a week later they told me he was not even on their call back list.
HORRIBLE…INCOMPETANT…AND RUDE…
SO…if this is what you are looking for MCLA on Magnolia is your place!
Have at em!

I have to say, my thoughts over a few years now have been luke warm about this office and their doctors… but this pushed me over the edge. Their staff are some of the rudest, unprofessional, compassionless people I have ever dealt with. I am not asking you to go out of your way to be nice but down right rude is unacceptable. I am not going to out my Dr because she was as luke warm as my thoughts about this place. She seemed over medicated and emotionless. I am not going into their offices for a sob fest of any sort… get my meds and get out but gosh… i just wanted OUT. I am taking my files elsewhere ASAP.

This place is a total scam! I was told my insurance completely covered my visits, then after two visits, I was charged $ 450!!! And each visit was only about 10 minutes long! I have no idea how a mental health services establishment is so shady, that is just so completely wrong! The people who go there already have issues and then they get ripped off?! Unbelievable…
Plus my «therapist», who I will not name out of courtesy, was awful. When I told her the issues I was facing, she acted more horrified than I am! It was like, I had to calm HER down! Ridiculous. Then she wanted to prescribe me a massive dose of antidepressants and I had to insist on lowering the dose. I decided to just go back to my free clinic (literally!) where I can get the same medication, without the drama.
All in all, this place was terrible and will add MORE problems to anyone’s life. Who needs that!

I see Dr. Essaian. I have see her in both the Burbank and Glendale offices. I’ve never had a problem nor a long wait at either one of them. The office staff have been kind, courteous and professional.

I hate doing negative reviews but it’s kind of the worst place ever. I am pretty sure the two therapists I’ve seen ran on gasoline as they showed zero emotion and I found myself facilitating the conversation. The receptionist Crystal is a gem of a person. Too bad she’s not running the place. Don’t waste your time here.

Dr is fine but I’ve been to the one in Glendale and in Burbank. They both are bad. I’ve been waiting 45 minutes so far for my scheduled appointment. And they make you pay if you have to cancel an appointment. They should think about giving money back when you wait for fucking ever.

THE WORST!
First I saw a woman who was very odd — she told me to order some book about depression on the first day I met her. I have several issues — depression is not one of them!
Their 24 hour cancellation policy is A JOKE! My appointments were on Mondays. I found out on a Saturday morning that my sitter for Monday had cancelled due to illness. I called the «machine» and told them I needed to cancel Monday (48 hours in advance — no?). Well, they charged me the $ 75 fee! Saying for Monday appointments you need to call FRIDAY. I have THREE CHILDREN, who get sick, etc. That is not possible.
After calling people like crazy to watch my kids, to save the $ 75, I called them back and said I could make it after all. They said they had ALREADY FILLED THE SPOT (hence, they would be making $$ during that time slot after all) AND they were still charging me. OUTRAGEOUS.
I saw another «therapist» at their office in Glendale for couples therapy. The crazy woman was flirting with my husband! She took his «Side» completely and dismissed everything I said. At first I thought this was her «method,» come to find out — that’s just her! Even my husband was not comfortable with her. She said some mean and crazy things.
Unprofessional and careless — Oh, and heartless. AVOID AT ALL COSTS!

I just read the review of Joan Boris and am so shocked at what I read because my experience with Joan was just the opposite. She was very empathetic regarding my problems and I feel that seeing her helped me tremendously. I went to see her as I went through divorce, from the initial thinking about it stage, through the post divorce stage.
She listened, offered valuable advice and was generally very, very supportive.
Knowing that I could go to her and she would be non-​judgmental and would just listen and offer constructive ways to deal with my situation made a huge difference to me and got me through years of dealing with: a destructive relationship, losing my full time job, divorce and a very serious surgery on one of my children. I would have no hesitation in recommending her as a marriage and family therapist.
The building was very nice. The offices were clean and well kept. The receptionists were generally pleasant and helpful and Joan was always available via phone if I had an emergency, which thankfully, I did not.

I’ve seen 2 of the practitioners at the Burbank office. Joan Boris, marriage/​family therapist and Robert D. Rosenberg, psychiatrist. I can tell you that neither one gives a ‘F’ about patients. They might as well be working at a factory job, by their attitudes.
I saw Joan Boris for approx 6 months. I was having a troubled relationship with my terminally ill mother and told joan that I really wanted to work on issues in regards to our relationship. She dismissed my requests, saying she wanted to discuss other issues (that SHE considered more important). A few weeks later my mother passed and I was left with unresolved issues and no closure. There are no words to describe the feelings I felt and still feel about this. Well I had to cancel two appointments to go out of town and handle my mother’s affairs. When I came back to see Joan Boris, I expressed my sadness about our unresolved issues. She never acknowledged the issue, let alone apologize for dismissing them. There was no show of empathy about my feelings at all. She appeared to be unable to relate to my grieving and even during that particular appointment, she did not go over even 1 minute. I was interrupted in mid-​sentence that our appointment had come to a close. I knew she had intervals of free time between patients so she didn’t need to be a clock watcher at that moment. This was my last visit, of course. I’ve never had such a bad experience with a, so called, therapist.
Dr. Rosenberg spends an average of 5 — 8 minutes with you. There is no possible way you can understand a human with all their complexity, let alone an «emotionally challenged» one, and then diagnose and prescribe them drugs in that amount of time. It is obvious he’s not paying attention because I’ve been seeing the guy for about 2 years and he still asks me the same simple questions that he should already know or at least have written down in front of him since most of the time you’re in there he’s scribbling on his notepad something and barely lifts his head up. For example, I’ve had to bring my 3 year old son with me to almost all of my appointments last year. He’s sat with me in the office… on my lap and Rosenberg has acknowledged his presence (not really a friendly hi, though: (). This last month appointment I was able to come alone and when I mentioned my son, he commented, «Oh you have a son?»
When I do respond to his, «How are things?» question, with more than a, «fine», he seems to shut down. When I try discussing present issues of depression/​anxiety even with the medication he’s prescribed, he doesn’t offer any alternatives, other solutions, or want to discuss it further. There is no feeling of a «team effort» in getting you to feel well.
Forget getting any REAL UNBIASED answer to complaints or concerns about side effects of medications either. It doesn’t look like he’s studying up on the latest med news after hours.
Another thing that stuck with me was when I told him that I was struggling financially and politely asked whether there was any way he could prescribe me a slightly higher dosage of my medication (only 10 mg higher) so that I might split the pills in half and stretch out my prescription and appointments further. His response to me was, «Well, you shouldn’t have told me and maybe just told me you needed a higher dosage because now I’d be lying to the insurance/​pharmaceutical company.» .REALLY…OH THE POOR CEO’s at the PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES (the highest profiting business… above oil even… last year) and POOR INSURANCE COMPANIES! OH THANKS MR. Rosenberg… good to know! That’s the answer you give a struggling mom? What kind of message are you sending your patients… LIE TO ME??? Are you saying, «Don’t tell me what dosage you’re REALLY taking of your medication because I don’t really give a «F» anyway. And let’s make sure we are clear, my patients are not my priority.
This man is so apathetic and listless, I feel like I need to prescribe HIM something (like a personality). I get the feeling he’s had his spirit smushed out of him after years of listening to people’s problems. He probably should retire because his lack of concern for his patients, is very obvious. The only reason I’m seeing him still is because I’ve not had a chance to search for a better doctor. If anyone has any good referrals, please share. I need more from a psychiatrist than just refills.

Not the best place to go.
Be careful about what your Dr. Prescribes to you.