Dr. Mary Eugenia Theodore, MD

For years, I struggled with undiagnosed ADHD and depression, which led to frustration, self-destructive behaviors, and hopelessness. After many failed attempts with other mental health professionals, I had almost given up hope. But Dr. Mary Theodore completely changed my life. Dr. Theodore didn't just provide expert care; she also showed extraordinary compassion. She took on my case pro bono, without charging me, because she understood the financial barriers I faced. This kindness made a huge difference, and it’s a testament to her genuine commitment to helping those in need. From the moment I shared my challenges, I felt heard and understood. Dr. Theodore’s compassionate approach, combined with her deep knowledge of ADHD treatment and mental health care, helped me uncover the root causes of my struggles. She diagnosed my ADHD and depression, explaining the neurological factors in a way that finally made sense. With her expert guidance, I’ve significantly improved my mental health.… Through a combination of effective therapy (including cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT) and medication management, the constant mental "noise" in my head quieted. I’ve been able to focus better, manage anxiety, and rediscover joy in my daily life. Dr. Theodore’s empathetic and supportive nature was key in my recovery. She adjusted my treatment when necessary, and when I made the mistake of stopping treatment too early, she helped me get back on track without judgment. If you’re struggling with ADHD, depression, anxiety, or any mental health challenge, I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Theodore. Her expertise, compassion, and dedication to mental health healing have made a profound impact on my life.

My son worked with her and was over-billed several times. Went through American Express to get our money back. Fortunately we had written email documentation.

I saw her nearly a decade ago in NY. She prescribed several medications for me. After a time, I developed very odd symptoms - loss of balance, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, shaking. I was in my 20s and thought I was dying, no one could figure out what was wrong with me. It was extremely scary. I called her to ask if any of the medications she had prescribed me could cause these symptoms and she automatically said no. No pause or hesitation, she did not bother to look up their side effects. I took her word for it. Guess what, my GP found the side effects of a pill she'd prescribed me for sleeping and asked if they sounded familiar, then said to stop taking that pill. The side effects immediately stopped. I think the above story illustrates the kind of doctor she is.

I visited Mary a few years ago when I had first moved to Portland and was looking at a psychiatrist. In our very first meeting, 3/4 of the questions she asked me were about how I was paying, where the money was coming from, what type of job the person supporting me worked and how much money they made, etc. Very little of it was spent on me and asking questions about me and how I feel. After I told her a brief overview of my story she tried to diagnose me with Borderline Personality Disorder and rope me into expensive therapy. Not only have other psychiatrists have told me that diagnosing a personality disorder on day one is malpractice, but I do not have any of the hallmarks of BPD (ie splitting, unstable relationships, mood swings etc). When I pointed this out, Mary smugly cited my history with self harm as "proof" I had BPD, despite the fact that anything from depression to OCD to autism can be a factor in self harm. If you're in Portland, Bridgetown Recovery is a much better… bet if you need mental help.

I visited Mary a few years ago when I had first moved to Portland and was looking at a psychiatrist. In our very first meeting, 3/4 of the questions she asked me were about how I was paying, where the money was coming from, what type of job the person supporting me worked and how much money they made, etc. Very little of it was spent on me and asking questions about me and how I feel. After I told her a brief overview of my story she tried to diagnose me with Borderline Personality Disorder and rope me into expensive therapy. Not only have other psychiatrists have told me that diagnosing a personality disorder on day one is malpractice, but I do not have any of the hallmarks of BPD (ie splitting, unstable relationships, mood swings etc). When I pointed this out, Mary smugly cited my history with self harm as "proof" I had BPD, despite the fact that anything from depression to OCD to autism can be a factor in self harm. If you're in Portland, Bridgetown Recovery is a much better… bet if you need mental help.

I visited Mary a few years ago when I had first moved to Portland and was looking at a psychiatrist. In our very first meeting, 3/4 of the questions she asked me were about how I was paying, where the money was coming from, what type of job the person supporting me worked and how much money they made, etc. Very little of it was spent on me and asking questions about me and how I feel. After I told her a brief overview of my story she tried to diagnose me with Borderline Personality Disorder and rope me into expensive therapy. Not only have other psychiatrists have told me that diagnosing a personality disorder on day one is malpractice, but I do not have any of the hallmarks of BPD (ie splitting, unstable relationships, mood swings etc). When I pointed this out, Mary smugly cited my history with self harm as "proof" I had BPD, despite the fact that anything from depression to OCD to autism can be a factor in self harm. If you're in Portland, Bridgetown Recovery is a much better… bet if you need mental help.

I can't express enough how wonderful Dr. Theodore is. Firstly, her waiting room is very professional and peaceful and the wait is not long at all. I have Multiple Personality Disorder and ADHD and she listened to my agony and diagnosed me with both. She let me cry and asked many thorough questions to help diagnose me and get me on the right medications. I also suffer from anxiety and she prescribed the perfect medications. She is always supportive and looking for more ways to help me. Each appointment is about 45 minutes and I enjoy every minute talking to her. She is very empathetic and treats me like she cares. She is always on time with the medications and deals with issues extremely quickly. Her price is very high but it is well worth it. After the second appointment when she diagnosed me she called to check how I was doing and I expressed my gratitude for diagnosing me as I tried numerous local psychiatrists and none of them were qualified to diagnose me with Multiple Personality… Disorder. If a medication is causing me problems she quickly fixes the problem. I really feel like she cares about me and I have told her many stories about the trauma and my alters. She asks many questions about my mental health and how I'm dealing with the medications and trauma and I feel heard. No one else would even hear me out or prescribe anything. I finally feel like I have my life back even though every day is a struggle it's made much better ever since I met Doctor Theordore. If you can afford it or your insurance will reimburse I highly recommend Mrs. Theordore for a caring professional on the dot care. Every time I went to the emergency room for being suicidal she always calls to make sure I'm okay and doesn't take away my medications that are helping me but instead tries to find out what went wrong. Excellent care. Excellent results. These bad reviews confuse me. I think they are just mad that she is so expensive but sometimes you have to be flexible if you want top of the line care. Thank you Mrs. Theodore.

I never write any sort of reviews but I decided that I should share my terrible experience when I saw Dr. Theodore for 2-3 years. I had never seen a psychiatrist before so I wasn’t sure what she would be like. I honestly have extreme anxiety even thinking about the time I spent with her and the medication regimen I was given. First off, she would spend 10 minutes with me and not a minute more. Not once at any given appointment did she smile or show any sort of emotion towards me. She kept pushing medications on me, one after another. I was honestly just a patient to her. She could care less about how I felt or what I needed. When I switched to my current psychiatrist I absolutely couldn’t believe the disgusting amount of time I spent with her. My current psychiatrist treats me like an actual human! He smiles and jokes and doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable. He spends all of the time I need with him. Oh and he got me off of the ridiculous amount and terrible medications. I now only… take two (different than Dr. Theodore prescribed) and my life is so much better. Dr. Theodore is the worst doctor you could ever imagine. Oh and if you need a little more proof, read her snarky “doctor responses”

Even a decade after leaving her terrible care, I am still traumatized and suffering the physical effects of having been overmedicated for the eight years I was her patient. She should be investigated for her billing practices ... she claims to take insurance then comes up with the strangest excuses for why she won't bill directly. It is still unclear if she is or was in-network with BCBS and whether she was paid twice (by me and the insurance company). She also frequently changed diagnostic codes to "receive higher reimbursements". Her fees are also absolutely obscene -- Manhattan psychiatrists can often reach the $350 hourly rate. She offers "45 minute hours" for $600, and even more for intake services. Over the course of our eight years together, my diagnoses was frequently changed, as were the medications. It reached the point where she was prescribing more and more medications, some of which were to overcome the side effects of the other meds. Not once did she suggest any blood… work be performed and never communicated with my primary care physician. In the end, she admitted she misdiagnosed me and REFUSED to release her records to my new psychiatrist and/or me. She looks good on paper, but beware -- she takes advantage of vulnerable people seeking help, especially those with deep pockets.

I thought she was very direct and told it like it is. She is a quick thinker and absorbed all the sorrowful tales I told her about my childhood and my life. She listened actively and when she spoke it was like a light beam was piercing into my head. She spoke the truth about what was ailing me and helped me organize my thinking about how to move forward in my life. She is excellent at pharmacology and is up to date on the latest research and books. She put right on the correct medications. I know it is hard to believe but I started feeling better after the first night. She is really amazing! Highly recommended. She is also trained as an anesthesiologist and knows a lot about HIV, pain management, and general medical conditions. Really great!