Dr. Maria Antonia Valena, MD

Does NOT fill medications that are needed when you phone them in. Waiting for over a week. Rescheduled appointment without my knowledge. Poor listening skills. Never on time.

I have read some truly heartbreaking reviews about this woman, and I want to offer my condolences to those who have suffered under her "care." I really, really wanted to like this woman, and I did at first. However, she and her staff are unfriendly and seemed miserable to be working there. More to the point, she is dishonest and unethical. It looks like the building has been renovated, but when I was there, her office was a mess to the point that there were tripping hazards, and her entire clinic was filthy and actually smelled. Still, I stuck with her (my mistake). Later, she threatened to drop me from her practice because a pharmacist refused to fill a prescription, and my wife went in to ask politely why. She and her "CEO" lied about my wife's behavior, saying she barged in and made demands -- after her staff invited her to sit and wait, which she did. I know this because my wife was visibly talking on the phone with me during this interchange, and I overheard the conversation. She… must have known this, but she still lied. What kind of physician/psychiatrist does that? She likes to push medications that are way too strong. That medication that was prescribed is a perfect example, thus validating the pharmacist's concerns. I found out later from a competent psychiatrist that she had prescribed the medication at anticonvulsant levels (I was on it for anxiety)! My new psychiatrist was shocked and deeply concerned about the prescription, and asked me if I had reported her. I had realized at that point that she and her whole outfit weren;t worth my time or energy. I am writing this after several years because I have had to warn several peple away from her, and the bad reviews continue. My best friend is a psychologist, and after I explained my difficulties with her, he encouraged me to report her to the APA for violations of their Code of Ethics. Maybe I should have, but by then I had had enough and didn't want to deal with her in any way again. I believe she could have done me real harm had I not dropped her. My friend called her a disgrace to her profession. I agree. I do not believe she should not be practicing anywhere. It may be hard to get in elsewhere quickly, but consider this: If a person has to lie to cover up her mistakes, she is not deserving of your time or money, and I highly doubt she is capable or cares enough to provide you with effective treatment in an honest, safe, and professional manner. I truly believe her to be dangerous and irresponsible. Look up reviews on other sites and you will see what I mean. I recommend you avoid her at all costs!

Uses physical and verbal punishments, ignores symptoms, ignores medication side effects, refuses to answer questions, and never listens to voicemails. After she prescribed a medication to my brother, she ignored his sudden onset hallucinations and paranoia. During the same appointment she was informed of the sudden symptoms, she called him a spoiled brat. He was painfully quiet and shy before, but never really said anything after that day. Less than a week later he committed suicide on his 17th birthday. She never allowed him private sessions and refused to share the symptoms of suicide even after my mother specifically asked for them. She then charged for a missed appointment and called my father to scold him about it- a week after a voicemail was left to inform her office of my brother’s passing. My family endured this tragedy but we absolutely didn’t have to. I had the misfortune of witnessing the physical punishments of children under her care during my own inpatient stay after my… brother’s passing (not under her care ofc). Kids as young as 9 had to constantly carry 35-45 pounds of books around in pillowcases that were never allowed to touch the ground and some of those kids had to stay seated, staring at a wall, not allowed bathroom breaks for hours. This so called doctor shouldn’t be allowed to watch bagels, let alone care for children.

VALENA IS A SOCIOPATH. She was treating my brother (16), negligently misdiagnosed him, and called him a spoiled brat to his face. He hung himself on his 17th birthday. My dad called her office and left a voicemail that my brother had committed suicide and wouldn’t ever be showing up again. A few days later she called my dad to remind him of the missed appointment fee (she charged my dad despite the vm!) and to lecture him on the importance of my brother not missing appointments. After being informed, again, that my brother had committed suicide, she hung up on my dad. Shortly before his funeral I found out that she refused to speak to my bro one-on-one and that his treatment included my mother’s presence in the supposedly “safe space” of his therapy sessions. This “doctor” also REFUSED to share the warning signs of suicidal behavior with my mother AFFER MY MOTHER ASKED FOR THEM SPECIFICALLY. Later I was inpatient at the same behavioral health hospital that my brother was in before his… suicide (NOT under her care ofc). Valena had patients there as well and her patients’ treatments included physical punishments- they were sometimes as young as 9 years old too. She’s not right in the head and should not be treating anyone, let alone CHILDREN. She neglected to ask simple questions that would have revealed her diagnosis of clinical depression to be wrong and that my brother most likely had bipolar disorder. His unusual and agitated behavior spiked after being prescribed antidepressants (he stopped sleeping entirely and thought that shadow people were watching him); THAT ALONE should of told this “doctor” the same thing but she ignored his side effects to the medication. That was the same day she called him a spoiled brat during what turned out to be his last therapy session. He came home quieter than usual and never really said anything ever again. Less than a week later he was dead.

My experience with Dr. Valena has been consistently frustrating. Whether she's running up to an hour late with appointments, writing incorrect refill prescriptions, or re-scheduling appointments altogether with only a couple hours' notice, she has made it clear that she does not value her patients or their time. I will be looking for a new doctor who has a better sense of organization and professionalism.

Agree with other review about over prescribing meds. Office staff is rude and not helpful.

We would give Dr. V a 5/5 star rating. We have used multiple doctors in the Indy area (tried one on the northside, and had a complete disaster with one on the westside) for our child's mental health treatment. She is by far the most compassionate of the three we have used. She made daily hospital visits and provided excellent follow through after treatment. She treats the patient first not just the diagnosis. I would highly recommend Dr. V for any childhood mental health issue. The only negative would be the difficulty of getting an appointment. She is very popular and sometimes you have to wait for the next opening.

Please never see this lady.

Great with patients, unfortunately she overprescribes medications. Please be cautious. I have spent almost 16 months so far trying to taper off a high dose of a medication I was prescribed 5 years ago

Helped us identify which behaviors were medically based and when he was just being a rebellious teenager.