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James Van Haren, MD

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Psychiatrists

LifeStance Health

Grand Rapids, MI

LifeStance Health

Grand Rapids, MI

LifeStance Health

Grand Rapids, MI

LifeStance Health

Grand Rapids, MI
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James Van Haren, MD
Mazur Mazur Penning & Pommer
(42 Reviews)
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833 Kenmoor Ave SE Grand Rapids, MI 49546
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Consumer Feedback

(42 Reviews)
Service
3.5 star average for Service
Environment
4 star average for Environment
Expertise
4 star average for Expertise
Staff
3.5 star average for Staff
Recommended
3.5 star average for Recommended
Value
3 star average for Value
Every person has their own individual set of circumstances, issues, situations, and personality styles that they bring to the doctor/patient relationship. I have worked with Dr. Van Haren for almost ten years and would not be alive today if it weren't for his guidance and treatment strategies. Although I had a hard time warming up to him at first, his no-nonsense attitude is probably something I now appreciate the most. He has gone above and beyond the traditional level of care, seeing me from outpatient to inpatient treatment, following me as I moved to a different state, and managing other members of my treatment team. One of the things I learned is that it is a two-way street .... he is not going to put all of the effort into "helping" you if you are content to sit and let things be and his knowledge of multiple diseases/conditions is unprecedented. Dr. Van Haren may not be a good fit for everyone, but for me ... he was just what the Dr. ordered.
by Anonymous
January 10, 2011
Although Dr. Van Haren has expertise in dealing with eating disorders, I would strongly DISCOURAGE seeking his services if you have other mental health issues. He uses a hardcore treatment approach, and demonstrated little if any compassion or positive support. He and the Forest View staff treated me like a diagnosis rather than as a human being. This psychiatrist made it evident that he didn't care for me or my family by comments like: you and your daughter are like oil & water, you're like a bull in a china shop, etc. I always felt very uneasy when I had to speak with him because I never knew if the encounter would be helpful or an emotional beat down. Since I live in a rural area, we don't have many mental health resources or I would have ended the relationship long before. This doctor possessed an attitude that he knew best, having high patient expectations and at times, seemed to forget I was a patient in crisis. He also failed to maintain his verbal contract with my daughter who was also his patient. This psychiatrist dumped me without any discussion or say on my part, and I ended up in the most horrific situation, a state hospital, 5 hours from home, no support, no treatment and patients' primarily being warehoused.

DR. Van Haren lost his objectivity when seeing me, vascillated in moods from session to session, never transferred records to either my daughter's or my psychiatrist or had any contact with them. I believe he was dealing with countertransference issues that he needed to address and that he failed to treat me or other members of my family with respect, dignity or kindness. I wrote to the AMA, filed patient rights complaints, wrote to the JCHAO and will continue to state what happened on any website I can, so that he doesn't hurt another patient or family. This psychiatrist needs to receive a censure, sanction, reprimand or some type of disciplinary action for his behavior. As a result of my involvement with him, it took me awhile to work through the multitude of feelings, but now, with a different psychiatrist, medications and diagnosis, I've been feeling stable and happy for about a year.

I sincerely hope this organization and others' who oversee physician conduct will read what I said and act according.

Lynn Kieliszewski
kielmc@live.com
by Anonymous
August 05, 2010
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833 Kenmoor Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546