Dr. Kirstin Barrow Kirschner, MD

This story is a doozy. When your psychiatrist needs a therapist. I was her patient for a few years. I was losing weight under advisement of my pcp, a wonderful doctor. Think my starting weight was over 300 pounds. Lol she was convinced I was losing weight unhealthy ways and too fast by the time I reached 240. Big people lose weight more rapidly than thin people, such as herself ?????she called my doctor and then told me my doctor was also concerned about the weight loss. Odd, I had seen my doctor earlier that week, doctor didn't say anything. I call my doctors office and ask a nurse to ask doctor what I could be doing differently. Nurse called back, excited, she told me my PCP and Dr K had gotten into an argument, pcp kept telling her I was fine, Dr K insisted I wasn't. Next appointment, I tell dr k about the conversation, her face contorted, "why did you look into it?" "Why did you lie?" "Because I'm right!" LOL, things only became weirder after that. Next appointment she then… insisted I was manic and needed to be hospitalized. Why? Because I became Christian. Weight loss+religion =mania in dr k's mind. I lived in the hood and the neighborhood was getting scarier to be in, heard g*nshots every night, we decided that we needed to move, unsafe for us with our disabilities as well. MANIC! MANIC, need to be hospitalized. Really? How is trying to escape a dangerous situation mania? She claimed that she spoke to her supervisor and the supervisor agreed (without ever speaking to me or even seeing me) that I needed to be hospitalized for mania. Really doubt that any supervisor actually said that. The weirdness continued for a couple months. Last appointment, she said either I check myself in, or she wouldn't see me again. I said I was fine and im not checking myself in. She walked away, left me in the room by myself. She made no referrals. No medication refills. She didn't get her way and the lie I caught her in changed everything. Reading therapist horror stories tonight reminded me that I haven't left a negative review for her. I never had bipolar. She was having me take medication for a diagnosis I never had. The very first appointment, she suggested changing medication dosages, and this is the red flag I shouldn't have ignored. You shouldn't tweak dosages on someone you literally just met. I'm off the meds for a few years now. I have looked at these things on where I was working on improving my life with weight loss, spirituality, and my environment and these positive things were considered negative and hospital worthy in her warped mind. I have PMDD and PME. These conditions require a different treatment. Bipolar medications had a slim chance on actually helping me. My mental health and physical health is more stable thanks to Mediterranean diet and herbal medicine. I am working, in school and driving. Wonder how these positives will be twisted by her? She is more focused on trying to be right than doing what is right. Her poor kids...imagine how hard it is for them. She is too arrogant. I wouldn't recommend her. She is the worst psychiatrist I had, and I've been seeing them for 20 years. Don't ignore red flags. If you're feeling worse and she just increases your dosages, find someone else. And it's always okay to question your diagnoses. Go to a psychologist for diagnostic testing, psychiatrists speak to you for 5 minutes and slap a label on you. Psychologists are thorough. If her kids read this, I'm sorry for what you go through.

Dr Kirschner has been working with our grandson for over a year now & has made such positive changes in his life. We are thankful for her guidance in bringing him out of crisis mode & stabilizing him, so he can have positive interactions with his piers & family. We will never be able to thank her enough for all she has done for us. She has been a gift to our family & we would highly recommend her to families in need.

My child has been working with Dr. Kirschner for about six months now. She has a very gentle way with my child. Even during crisis times Dr. Kirschner has been supportive of not only my child but our family. This is a doctor that really shows she cares.

We saw her for nearly two years - if your child has Autism, TBI or memory issues she'll think you are putting words in their mouth, as if she's never learned about verbal communication challenges that go along with these issues. She actually twice prevented my son getting the hospitalization and then later residential care that he desperately needed (and he requested). Instead we were stuck with Catholic Community Services, who have a rolling turnover, young, untrained staff, which added onto the PTSD, mistrust of medical 'professionals ' and adults that Dr. Kirshner help instill. There are other excellent psychiatrists in Tacoma, try Rainier Behavioral Health, where we originally found her.