Dr. Steven M Hirsch, PhD

Thanks to the previous reviewer, whose courage inspires me to share my experience as well, and to warn others about Dr. Hirsch: I saw a great therapist in Dr. Hirsch's practice many years ago. After my health insurance was so slow to reimburse the practice, I felt badly and therefore paid them out-of-pocket (with inflation, an amount equivalent to about $800 today) with the agreement they'd reimburse me once the insurance came through. However, they didn't reimburse me once they were paid by insurance, and his front office told me Dr. Hirsch was choosing to not pay me back. I contacted Dr. Hirsch directly about this, and found him to be irritable and stern, with behavior like that of a bully. He said "my attorney says I don't have to" (reimburse me for the double-payment). I'd made all my checks out to the practice that he owned, so of course that wasn't correct. But even if his attorney misadvised him, I think it was selfish and questionable that Dr. Hirsch would choose to… follow that advice. Clearly the money was owed me. And that this occurred within a mental health practice, where trust is paramount, made his decision more concerning and its impact on me more painful. I went to small claims court, and it was decided Dr. Hirsch must reimburse me. When the check hadn't arrived a few weeks after the office said they'd mailed it (we both were in San Diego), I called and let them know I'd take further legal action if I don't receive it soon. I also requested to be reimbursed the small claims court fee, to which Dr. Hirsch snapped impatiently at me that he wasn't about to pay it, complaining that he now had to pay a stop-check fee. Dr. Hirsch didn't seem to feel at all responsible for the problem he created. Since he's been in practice this long, I'm sure he has many important skills and strengths that benefit patients. However, I would never want to work with a therapist with this in their background, unless I knew they dealt with and overcame whatever provoked such behavior.

Unprofessional, conniving and is extremely cruel and heartless. He himself is severely mentally unstable and needs to be evaluated. He pretends to be nice and smile in your face, and then turns around behind your back to write FALSE LIES about his patients. His license should be revoked for his Unethical and illegal, and frankly disturbing practices.

Unprofessional, conniving and is extremely cruel and heartless. He himself is severely mentally unstable and needs to be evaluated. He pretends to be nice and smile in your face, and then turns around behind your back to write FALSE LIES about his patients. His license should be revoked for his Unethical and illegal, and frankly disturbing practices. My conscience is clear but he is the one who has to face a higher source for his wrongdoings, so I will leave it at that and have forgiven and forgotten. Just want to warn those who may have to encounter him and save another person from experiencing what I went through with Steven.