Dr. James Ferrel Cunagin, MD

I have a very long history of depression, anxiety, phobias, and various and sundry crap. I have in the past sought professional help and found "professionals" willing to toss meds at my issues, or make wild sweeping assumptions about who I was after 1 or 2 talk sessions. I also have a history of stuffing things deep down in order to keep trudging through. I discovered a decade ago that I actually have a rare genetic brain condition that causes depression/anxiety and various and sundry crap. This past winter proved to be too much. I had isolated and denied myself into serious trouble. I was in a sense foisted upon Dr. Cunagin and I couldn't be happier for it. I've never felt better. I'm certainly not without issue, I just finally have a Doctor who takes his time, learns as much about me as is possible, treats with medication thoughtfully rather than bombarding me with multiple "fixes" at once. This is a doctor worth writing a review this lengthy so he's certainly worth… reading about. Not every doctor fits every patient but I have never met any medical professional with more concern, capacity for listening, or ability to really hear what may be lurking between rambling run on sentences. He has never judged me, he's been a partner in my care instead of a prescriber or a "one line fits all" psychotherapist. I owe a great debt to Dr. Cunagin and my treatment isn't over, it's probably (sadly for poor Dr. C) just beginning. I'm hopeful, I'm feeling worthwhile, I'm "taking up space" for myself and my needs, I'm at a strange peace with some things that will never be peaceful, and I'm really grateful.

I'm not very impressed with this psychiatrist. I spent 30 minutes with him and he asks the same questions over and over again. I understand that he needs some information, but if I'm going to be asked these questions, it's much better to call over the phone and ask these questions instead of wasting time and money to come in just to talk about an increase in medications and to ask the same questions. He also doesn't seem to listen very well. There have been a few times where I had to clarify exactly what I said all over again and I start wondering if he's even listening at all. It's very frustrating and after seeing him for a few months, that he only prescribes medication and doesn't do any type of counseling. I would think that a psychiatrist not only prescribes medication, but can also work with you and talk with you to get you into the right step. All I feel like he's wanting to do is medicate me as much as possible. I'm starting to feel like guinea pig being experimented on to the… point where I don't want to work with him or take the medication. Even after I told him for the 3rd, 4th time that I'm not in counseling, that's when he decided to refer me to someone else. Personally, it looks like this is a huge waste of time, money, and fuel for my car. Especially when he's late getting you into his office to chat and doesn't listen to you much when you explain about things.

He apparently no longer works in Chardon, because this is the psychiatrist that I saw in Beachwood at PsychBC. He seemed nice, but said he doesn't prescribe medicines like Xanax or Adderall, even though I explained to him that these are the only things that have worked for me. He did say that he didn't think that I was an addict, which was nice for a change, but insisted that these were things that he wasn't going to prescribe. I wish I would have known that before I wasted my time and my copay seeing him. I guess I'm taking my business elsewhere.

Unfortunately Dr. Cunagin has recently left his family medicine practice to go into psychiatry at a neighboring hospital. I am very disappointed. He always took the time to study my problems, come to a solution and explain to me exactly what was happening. His office was very efficient and friendly. Dr. Cunagin seemed to truly enjoy the challenge of facing a different set of problems with each new patient that walked in the door. All of that and he was also fun to talk to! I will greatly miss having him as my PCP and doubt that I will ever find another doctor that I like half as much. If you need a psychiatric doctor however, I wouldn't hesitate to make an appointment!