I have recently finished treatment with Dr. Kassir and would recommend him unreservedly. He is an extremely gifted physician and a compassionate human being.
I have battled with clinical depression, and struggled with other self-defeating behaviors for most of my life. Over the last 25 years, I have been treated by a number of different physicians and been on several different medications with no lasting or significant improvement. I was beginning to think that this was the best I could hope for when I was referred to Dr. Kassir by someone whose opinion I trusted.
Dr. Kassir’s approach was different from what I had previously experienced. My treatment consisted mainly of ISTDP, an innovative type of psychotherapy, combined with medication management and traditional Cognitive-Behavioral therapy. (ISTDP or Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy, is a technique in which Dr. Kassir has had extensive training.). Unlike prior treatments which tended to deal only with the symptoms of the underlying problem (and offering only temporary relief), Dr. Kassir’s use of ISTDP addressed the root cause of my problems and depression.
I have to say that the work was at times difficult and very painful. It required maximum effort on my part and I was not always willing. However, Dr. Kassir was always patient and focused. Therapy was not a magic cure-all; my life is not perfect, but I feel that now I can deal with whatever comes up in a positive, healthy way.
I found Dr. Kassir to be intelligent, professional, caring, encouraging and non-judgmental. (He is also an excellent diagnostician. After seeing me for only a few weeks, he suggested I be tested for sleep apnea, something no other doctor had even considered. I was tested and found to have significant sleep apnea and am now being treated for it.) Additionally, Dr. Kassir was always available if I had a question, and accommodating if I needed to reschedule an appointment. I trust his judgment and value his medical opinion. I recommend him wholeheartedly!
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