Dr. Steven Elynn French, PhD

To the post about Dr. French not being able to see the “real” problem in the child. 1) he wasn’t even doing therapy in October of 2024, but was working for the states of NC, GA and TN, and hadn’t been doing therapy for almost a year at that time…..so is that a real review/post? 2) Dr. French has seen literally thousands of children and adolescents in this area for over 20 years, and the community loves him! When he was in private practice his schedule was always full and it was hard to get in to see him. SO many parents have raved about the positive changes he helped bring to their kids’ lives. And, more importantly, the kids love him and look forward to coming to see him. It is sad that this person didn’t have the same experience (and Dr. French would be the first to say that one therapist can’t meet the need of all people, and that he might not be the best fit for them), but that person might want to look other places for the problem (because her “diagnosis” of this situation… obviously hasn’t been working - not being mean, just pointing out that sometimes we think we know, but it’s easy to lock into your own conclusions instead of considering that an expert might see things you can’t see). It’s very exciting that Dr. French is back doing therapy again, only this time he’s working for Appalachian Mountain Health instead of private practice. Very excited that he is back! Great for the community!!

His solution to everything is to do things, even when you do don’t feel like it. That is sometimes good, but when you can’t pick up that a child is obviously not wanting to do anything they need to do and is depressed and angry all the time then maybe try to investigate why that is besides assuming that their grandfather was the head of the house and the main authority figure and when he died the child just was struggling with not having that one authority figure/head of the house. He never thought to ask if someone else could have also been an authority figure after, and if that new authority figure was mistreating or abusing the child. That child was done with their feelings being invalidated, that child was tired of never being enough after their grandfather died. That child was tired of being yelled at even when they tried so hard to do what they were told. That child needed to have that parent OUT of that house and to have someone see the frustration and fear behind why they… didn’t do what they needed to do. That child did not need to be told that if they went to school everyday and picked a college that Dr. French would pay for it. They already felt like they had to earn any bit of care or concern or anything. Therapists need to see the signs that something deeper is happening and just try to figure out what’s wrong without automatically thinking that child doesn’t want to do what they’re told just because their grandfather died many years before.

Steven French has already been sanctioned by the NC Psych Board for claiming he was a doctor when he hadn't completed his training, so we know he's unethical. He also failed to report child abuse of one of his clients. He told the mother the father was "either a pedophile or he hates you enough to hurt your child", but he refused to testify to protect the child in court. He never reported the (proven) child abuse to any officials, which means he BROKE THE LAW. A child was brutally sexually assaulted as a direct result of 'Dr.' Steven French refusing to protect him, as he was professionally & legally bound to do. He should not be allowed to practice. Please stay away from him.