Dr. Joseph Alton Barrett, MD

I saw Dr. Barrett over a period of many years, he was always attentive and listened to what I had to say. He was my psychiatrist for med management, I saw a therapist at the same time. Gave me back my life.

15 minutes is not enough time for doctor appointments. Care should be about quality and caring for the person not $$$.

Did not like the way he handled my friend. Was not attentive or available especially when needed.

Dr. Barrett functions at the level of a failing 3rd year med student. He does NOT see hospitalized patients. He has never performed a physical exam on me and I doubt that he would know how. Oh yeah, I should also mention if you actually are able to reach him by phone during a time of crisis he will hang up on you.

Engaged in a very disheartening string of interactions with this this doctor, feeling generally unheard for reasons that I was never able to fully rationalize, either superficial and personal reasons or impersonal ones I was never sure only I experienced in my treatment. I encountered Joseph during my stay at a residential treatment program, having been on multiple strong medications for Bipolar I disorder at the time. My disorder once ruled my waking moments, and having experienced psychosis and suicidality I was incredibly cautious to tamper with my effective combination of medications. However, due to the complexity of my medications and their combined power, I mentioned to him that I was suffering from decreased sex drive (at the time, being well, I’d just entered a new relationship for the first time in several years). I expressed curiosity in Wellbutrin, known to not have sexually dampening effects, or other medications I might exchange with my current one. Joseph then said that… my agitations were a small price to pay considering my wellness, and prescribed me “Cobra Sexual Energy” in part a yohimbine-based alkaloid derivative of plant bark that (and I wish I was exaggerating) can be found in most gas stations and has a pictorial representation of a king cobra on the front of the package after taking one tablet I immediately felt sweaty, anxious, and hyperactive, my problem completely unsolved. Returning to Joseph, he then prescribed me what to my recollection was some sort of sleeping aid or drug with a calming effect, intended to “calm me down” so that when the drug’s effects wore off a balance of chemicals would allegedly counteract the sexually inhibiting effects of my antidepressant. I took one tablet, incredibly disillusioned and frustrated, and was immediately rendered asleep to the point that I slept well into the next day and lost a new job due to this. My treatment program at the time inhibited me from seeing another psychiatrist even after multiple requests, but when I finally was able to stop seeing Joseph after leaving the program he still expected me to come in after such an ordeal and see him yet again because he claimed he couldn’t refer me to a replacement psychiatrist over the phone, email, or text. This may be a superfluous conclusion but my issues have since been resolved and I am completely happy with my partner due to communication and engagement with my current psychiatrist, who unlike my experiences with Joseph is always attendant and observant.

Let me relieve you of any naive projections you may have about psychiatry. Psychiatry, as practiced these days, has only to do with drugs, and nothing to do with discovering the root of your psychological challenges. Dr. Joseph Barrett prioritizes biology over psychology. Meaning, if drugs are what you want, and you really do not want to explore personal growth, Joseph is the Doc for you. However, if 30-minute sessions with Joseph, where there will be few, if any questions asked of you, and you end each session feeling unseen, misunderstood, and generally dismissed because of lack of interest on Joseph’s part, then he is the worst choice for you finding resolve to your depression or any other disturbances you may have. In our last session, Joseph ended it by requesting my feedback on a poem he’d written. Apparently, he reasoned, since I was a published poet and author he might gain something, some insight. I’m not paying to fluff Joseph's writing ego. Consequently, I… canceled all my remaining sessions on the books and left a message about my reaction to his prescribed drugs. His staff called to say he would have to see me again if I wanted him to refer me to another therapist. I opted to not schedule another session. Joseph called me to see what was going on. It was a strange and awkward call. I detailed my physiological response to the drugs and in so many words made it clear I had operated under the naive belief that he cared enough to help me with my psychological disposition of depression. He reiterated that I should come in because referring me to another counselor was too complex to handle in a phone call or email. My response was that he should only do what would show his care and concern. He then offered me a referral, clearly motivated by guilt or some other disturbance of his own.

Just awful. Didn't listen to a word I said. Over-billed my insurance and misdiagnosed me. What a waste of time.