Dr. Esther Jean Dechant, MD

I was a patient of Dr. D’s for about 11 years. I was treated by her in the eating disorder program at McLean and as an outpatient for psychotherapy for several more years. She has a wealth of experience and knowledge. She is more of a “tough love” provider, who will shoot it straight with you and won’t tolerate manipulation from patients in the outpatient or residential setting. This approach is not for everyone, but she certainly has great capacity for empathy and compassion. She knows what she’s doing. If I have anything negative to say it was probably bc she said something that was true that I did not want to hear. People don’t like accountability and she will hold you accountable.

This physician is a blight on an otherwise excellent eating disorders program. She is extraordinarily controlling in her interactions with patients and family members; she talks and we are expected to listen and not ask questions. She seems completely lacking in empathy and has no ability to pick up on social cues. She should be working in a lab; far, far away from patients and clinical work.