Psychologist - New Haven, CT

"“Thank you, Mr. Derian, for helping me overcome my panic attacks. They’re completely gone, and I’m now back in grad school with zero anxiety. "

"Treated by the PTSC for five years and my care was abruptly terminated as an administrative decision by Dr. David Read Johnson over a misunderstanding of what he claimed was a threat of legal action. It absolutely was not. The manner in which this man with 40 years of trauma experience handled the termination and subsequent attempt at dialog was traumatizing and unethical. First, it was done via email 12 hours after I arrived on vacation across this country. It was Christmas morning. He stood as a barrier to all contact with my doctor with whom I had worked closely for five years with multiple contacts each week throughout the duration. These contacts included emails which on multiple occasions assured me that she "Would not abandon me. " Furthermore, even if Dr. Johnson refused to even consider the truth of the situation, he/the PTSC did not follow ethical guidelines for termination. The referrals that were provided would require I move to another part of the state or to another state altogether. No interim care was offered. Again, no communication with my doctor - all calls, emails, texts were banned despite these being usual forms of communication over the past five years. During the five years I was allowed to send daily emails. My doctor would email me back at regularly scheduled intervals. My doctor came to my graduation and bought be a graduation gift. My doctor met me outside in the freezing cold when the pandemic caused the office to shut down. Then, without any understanding on my part, my doctor was just gone. Five years of working with someone down the drain. You might wonder why he would act so harshly? Because I had an issue with one aspect of my doctor's care and raised that issue as medical error. My doctor is his wife and I feel he acted from that perspective in this rather than as a professional. I was attempting to work through it with her. He got involved, but refused, despite many requests, to have a conversation with me. I tried to engage his way ie via email, but it was difficult, not productive, and immensely frustrating. It went on like this for 8 months. Dr. David Read Johnson teaches educators through the Miss Kendra program the people need to be "Seen, heard, and held." And that when these needs are not met, an "Explosion" is "Almost predictable." Yet, for 8 months he continually denied me just that. This manner of treating a client of the practice of five years was manipulative and emotionally abusive. He knew what he was doing. This was and will forever be the most traumatic experience of my life. I leave in far worse condition than when I arrived at The Center. I invested a lot of time and a large sum of money here. The first two years were paid by someone else and amounted to over $50K. I am devastated."