Dr. Melvin P Roy, PhD

I was a patient for almost 10 years and had a mix of experiences with him. He taught me the importance of personal accountability and understanding the impact of my actions on the world. He emphasized that struggling with mental health or being hurt by others does not justify poor behavior. However, there were significant issues. He frequently arrived late to sessions, including one instance where he was 45 minutes late and only spent 15 minutes in the session, taking no responsibility for his tardiness. As someone who is multiracial, I often felt mischaracterized. He referred to me primarily as a Black man and made comments like, “You can do more than being another Black man going to jail,” which reflected a problematic mindset. Additionally, some of his comments were hurtful. He diagnosed me with antisocial disorder and mentioned that he lost respect for me once he made that diagnosis. He described me as "weird and quirky" and once said I sounded like a "crazy man" on the… phone. He often overlooked serious issues I faced, such as overcoming racism, experiencing inappropriate behavior, and struggling with suicidal thoughts. While he focused on my behavior, he seemed less concerned about how others treated me, which felt one-sided. When I expressed a desire to embrace a more destructive path due to workplace bullying, he did not intervene in a meaningful way. His approach to trauma often felt dismissive; he encouraged me to move on without adequately addressing my experiences. Despite these challenges, I did learn valuable lessons about accountability from our time together. I realized that even when others mistreated me, I needed to grow and learn from those experiences. Ultimately, I found my own path after applying what I learned, focusing on environments that uplift me rather than bring out the worst in me. It’s important for him to acknowledge areas where he can improve. While he has a strong background in psychology, his tendency to arrive late and his comments about my diagnosis have caused me lasting hurt. I hope he can recognize the diversity of experiences among his patients and provide more thoughtful interventions, especially for those dealing with trauma.