Joann Lemaistre, PhD

I’ve worked with Dr. LeMaistre for over 30 years and referred scores of individuals to her as well as friends and family. In addition, I have worked with her on problems some of her clients have had in which they needed the expertise of a psychiatrist. All of the folks I have referred to her have been extremely pleased with the quality of her clinical skills, her caring approach, depth of knowledge and, most importantly, how much they got from their work with her. Jeffrey Jones, M. D.

Everything was lovely for the first few visits, until one day this doctor said that she had talked to me on the phone (she had not) and I had told her that I had stopped taking my medications. I gently corrected her — no, I have not stopped taking the medications, and we did not have that phone conversation… she might be referring to someone else (she is an old woman, so I allowed for some memory lapses on her part).
She was aggressively insistent: «Oh, I am sorry that you do not remember that conversation.»
This was rude and condescending on her part and completely erased the good impressions I originally had.
Note that I do not dispute her professional acumen in the past; I have not read her books, but did review their descriptions on Amazon. It sounds like she was quite a smart cookie in her day and age.
Note the operative terms — «in her day and age».
In no way am I suggesting that she retire from practice. I think that people who can work well into their old age should do so, because nothing — really, nothing — improves longevity and the quality of life as much as cognitive stimulation provided by work as well as the continuous responsibility that is also provided by work. So there is a lot of benefit to the old practitioners themselves from working, and, of course, there can be benefit to us as clients because old practitioners offer a wealth of experience and wisdom.
What I do suggest is that Ms LeMaistre take note of her forgetfulness and treat such incidents with the requisite doses of the following trifecta:
— self-​deprecation
— self-​effacing
— a sense of humor.
That she lacks of those qualities is kinda depressing.
Note that her fee is on the high end of the spectrum, which is commensurate with experience, of course, but… explore your options, pricewise.