Dr. John Richard Cooke, MD

I have been Dr. Cooke’s patient for more than four years. In that time, he has distinguished himself as a physician who is learned in his craft and generous with his time and knowledge. When I started to see him, I had difficulty articulating my problems beyond generic terms like “depression” and “anxiety.” Through detailed and compassionate sessions, he identified with great precision and accuracy the genesis of my “depression” and “anxiety,” and he equipped me with effective coping tools that tremendously improved my life. Dr. Cooke simplifies complex psychiatric conditions into laymen’s terms and journeys alongside his patients step by step until they reach a place of wellness and wholeness. This process is done incrementally so that patients do not feel overwhelmed, yet are comforted by the progress made and hopeful about the future. When patients finally reach that hopeful future, Dr. Cooke continues to journey with them, affirming their progress and steering them ahead on… that course of success. His memory for details is impressive and establishes continuity in treatment that is both reassuring and personalized. Dr. Cooke is my most accessible physician. He returns all e-mails and phone calls, and he is diligent in following up with patients in between sessions. Patients’ first several sessions last at least an hour, and follow-up sessions are never shorter than 30 minutes. This timing allows patients to receive both psychopharmalogical and psychotherapeutic treatment at the same time. He does not make hasty diagnoses and write prescriptions willy-nilly; he is careful to reach the right diagnosis and to prescribe the correct course of treatment. I take comfort knowing that I am in such capable and caring hands. I drive 45 minutes each way to see Dr. Cooke once a month. It is time well spent, and I have absolutely no regrets. I would not even consider going to see another psychiatrist.

I went to see Doctor Cooke after a great deal of procrastination. I had seen other doctors before who had given me a prescription with no discussion. This led to a nightmare scenario of dependency, frustration, weight gain and a distrust of doctors when it came to my mental health. When my anxiety (and related issues) got to the point where they just could not be ignored, I went in to see Doctor Cooke skeptically. It has now been more than 3 years that I have been a patient of his. He took the time to understand what was going on, gained my trust and worked with me on a combination approach to treatment. I can now do things with ease that I once thought impossible. Going here has definitely changed my life for the better. I can’t even believe the person that walked into that office a few years ago was me.

I don't want to get into too many personal details here, but I'm an accomplished professional who found himself in crisis, depression, anxiety and attempts to self-medicate with alcohol. It had gone as far as suicidal ideation. Dr. Cooke is a serious person, not a "touchy-feely" or "new-age healer." He showed (and continues to show me) how I have control over my feelings and destructive thoughts. He's not a pill-pusher and we approached medication with a very measured and careful approach. If you are looking for a hippy to sing "Kumbaya" he is not your guy. If you are looking to be honest, find a non-judgmental professional who can help you if you're sincere about feeling better, I cannot recommend him enough.

I struggle with anxiety and a fair amount of related afflictions. The struggle to find viable psychiatrist is as you know significant, The prevalent method of therapists I have seen has been to discretely agree with you to make sure you come back, and essentially fail to address anything, and from what I understand, most psychiatrist just want to write prescriptions and be done. Dr John Cooke does neither but prescribes to the disciplined view that you don't prescribe unless you understand, and hence engages i constructive therapy to understand, and as crucial , help you see yourself and your actions, the cause and effect of behavioral patterns that are unhelpful to you, and how you might self correct. Over time he will include medication when and if the confidence is there that the root cause warrants medication, and your situation is served by the same. I am fearful of my condition, but grateful for the help in navigating this challenge by Dr. Cooke.

Dr. John Cooke is one of the few Psychiatrists who combines therapy with medication management of mental illness. Studies show thatrhis approach, as opposed to medication alone, has a far greater chance of success! This is the primary reason I began my therapy with Dr. Cooke. Now, four years later I can say he has done wonders for my mental health. Unlike many practitioners. Dr. Cooke truly listens to his clients, lets them speak. He shows excellent judgment when it comes to responding to crisis, neither over nor under reacting. His approach to healing is exceedingly gentle, as is his bedside manner. All clients will feel safe and protected within his office--and oasis of empathy and compassion for the human condition. I cannot imagine why anyone would chose another doctor. With luck I will not have to be doing so in the future. Dr. Cooke is the kind of practitioner to whom you can commit and trust over time, he will not let you down like so many do. His door is always open for those… in need!

Finding an excellent mental health professional can be an incredibly daunting and tedious endeavor. I was/am going through a very rough period in my life. The loss of both of my parents, a divorce involving 3 small children, while battling years of anxiety and depression. I went to a half dozen doctors before FINALLY finding Doctor Cooke. Dr. Cooke is a game-changer and the real deal. He’s compassionate, empathetic, but also tough and proactive. He has and is continuing to help me enormously with all my various issues through a combination of medicine and cognitive behavioral therapy. I still have a LONG way to go, but I see light at the end of the tunnel. Because of Dr. Cooke, I find myself incredibly more self-aware, open-minded and most importantly - I feel the NEED to strive to be a better man. You need to step into his office with at least a semblance of that vulnerability and I promise you - he WILL help you. If you’re shopping around, make an appointment - I promise… you won’t regret it. In fact, I live quite far from his office in Montclair, but I’d rather even double the distance to get the service that this gifted Doctor provides to me.

Great and caring doc

Dr. Cooke is an amazing Dr. He listens and knows how to help. I appreciate the staff as well, everyone is so nice:-) thanks Dr. Cooke for helping me with my issues. Job well done