I've been seeing Dr. Sorel for over a year. I find him to be clear and to the point. He's given me sound advice and an empathetic ear. He doesn't fuck around though, so if that's not your cup of tea, look elsewhere. He is a wise advisor. read more

It's a shame to see such poor reviews of Dr. Sorel, because he has been nothing but a massive help for me. I found him through my insurance company, and I am happy with the care I've received. He is a well-accomplished provider who has done significant work to improve mental healthcare internationally. Dr. Sorel is a "tell it like it is" kind of provider; he speaks with direction and precision. If you get off track and give him what he deems as unnecessary details, he will ask you the question again, which may come off as "cold," "short," or "rude, as I've seen described in other reviews. Honestly, I felt bad for myself in my illness for a long time. I felt helpless and accepted my fate as a victim. In my initial evaluation, Dr. Sorel showed me compassion by recognizing I had been suffering for a long time. I hadn't received that recognition from providers in the past. He asked me to write down his plan of care on a note in my phone so I could review it. He made me feel empowered to enact positive change in my life. In summary: Dr. Sorel is a 70+ year old Eastern European man with something like 50 years of experience in medicine. If you're looking for someone to coddle you, he's not your guy. If you're looking for someone who can develop an evidence-based plan of care with objectives and regular re-evaluation, I highly recommend him. read more

I had a different experience than everyone else. I'm not going to discredit the reviews of others, because I believe that it might have really been their experience. Mine, however, was different. I made an appointment with him from my insurance's website not having read any reviews. I'm glad I did because I would have passed on him if I had read them. My first appointment with him was about an hour. Most people say that they only spent 15 minutes with him. I spent about an hour. My follow ups have been about 15 minutes each after my initial session. Pros: The main reason I'm giving him 4 stars instead of 1 or 2 is because he saved me hundreds, if not thousands of dollars by getting me appointments with an endocrinologist and a primary care physician, when everyone was booked when I tried on my own. This allowed me to see someone while I was under my met deductible year, so I didn't have to pay out of pocket like I would have if I kept the far-out appointment I secured on my own. (to be clear, endocrinologists in dc are all booked for at least 4 months at a time, he called a doctor who "wasn't accepting new patients" and got me in in about 3 weeks.) This brings me to my next point. He a holistic approach to my issue. I think from his assessment, it was clear that the medical issues I have lent itself to the psychological issues I faced. He wanted to be sure that we manage all of the issues. Cons: He was quick to prescribe medicine, but I truly needed it. The medicine he prescribed really helps me with little side effects. He's a medical doctor, not a counselor. It's nice to have a psych who does both, but he's not the one. If you need counseling, see someone else. He counseled with me during our first appointment, but all of the follow ups are really quick (15 minutes) where he asks how I'm adjusting to the medicine and he adjusts the dosage. The takeaway: He's great in taking a holistic approach and making sure to take care of how the body effects the mind. He puts little to no effort into fixing the mind as a separate entity. I'm glad I saw him, but I will be adding a counselor to the team to pick up the slack. I hope this helps and is clear. read more

Helping a friend in need, I called around a few different offices listed by their insurance provider to see what their wait time was for new patients to get an appointment to save the friend that step since the person is already overwhelmed with life. I gave him my full name when asked and explained. He was very short with me, asked how I got his number (told him the insurance website) and asked what I needed curtly after I had just explained. I get that this might not be a typical call a psychiatrist receives but I explained a couple times that I simply wanted to know how far out a friend who have to wait for an appointment (as wait times can be tremendous and this was not sharing anything personal) so that my friend could pick up the phone to call someone who could help quickly. I ended the call telling him not to worry about it and that I wouldn't be recommending him. read more

I have a few choice words for this "psychiatrist:" unprofessional. obsolete. inconsiderate. rude. obnoxious. arrogant. To sum up my experience - he arrived to his office 20 minutes late for my appointment (located in a really dodgy apartment complex in foggy bottom that has definitely seen far better days), ridiculed me for insisting I wasn't depressed, referred me to a WEB SITE to diagnose said "depression," and then gave me a ten minute lecture about not telling others about my "problems" because it's "intensely personal and nobody needs to know but you what's wrong with you." He talked to me for maybe 10 minutes, then decided I was depressed and unable to concentrate because of a lack of sleep, even though I told him probably 3 or 4 times that I sleep really well and have never been happier and more content personally and professionally. I needed help with a very specific issue, and he kept snapping at me that I wasn't answering the specific question he asked when I would tell him what was actually wrong. I'm not sure about profanity protocol on Yelp!, but this guy is a TOTAL jackass, and I hope at least 1/4th of my anger and abhorrence of Sorel is communicated through this post. read more

I wish I had listened to the negative comments here. I needed a sleep aid for occasional sleepless nights. I wanted what had helped me in the past with no side effects, like Ambien or Xanax. But Dr. Sorel stated that he does not prescribe addictive medications under any circumstances. Instead he prescribed 200 mg of amitriptyline before bed, claiming it was a very low dose to start with. Instead I was knocked out asleep for most of 18 hours, when I finally could get up I was confused, walking into walls, and dropping things. I didn't remember standing up but the family told me later. 48 hours later I am still woozy and shaking. I encourage you to avoid this doctor. read more

I really wanted to like Dr. Sorel. I thought from my first visit that he was professional and that I had found a trustworthy doctor. But it was apparent on my second visit that he's out-of-touch and apathetic towards his patients. I agree with a previous reviewer--he's WAY too reliant on an online diagnostic scale. I found him to be condescending and pushy, so after two visits I've decided to go elsewhere. Bottom line: I think he's more interested in getting paid for office visits than he is in helping people. read more

I wish I read these reviews before wasting months of my time on him. I saw him monthly for almost a year and he made me cry 3 times. He's rude and likes to make patients feel like they're in the wrong and he's always right. He would not work with me to get my medications from the pharmacy I wanted and overall he's just horrible and did nothing but make my mental health worse. read more

Terrible psychiatrist who was brusque, answered his phone in session in his apartment office and referred me to three other psychiatrists that his credentials stated he treated read more

I concur with Angela and wish I had read these earlier. Dr. Sorel is interested in being paid for frequent 15 minute visits. He has expressed no interest in me, in what I have to say, in how I'm feeling. He frequently cuts me off and berates me for not answering his questions with yes or no answers. He's very unprofessional and uninterested in his clients. I regret coming back after the first time. Also, I would like to say his "consultation" is a $100 session where he tells you to take an online quiz. That quiz yields 3 results, either you're depressed, anxious or have PTSD. Perhaps this is accommodating if you are the poster child for anxiety, or depression or PTSD, but it is not accommodating for those of us who may have something else completely different. read more

Dr. Sorel's office walls are covered with photos of him doing "important" things with "important people" - and he knows it. I saw him several times because I kept expecting some sort of brilliance to shine through. While he was not outright rude, he was rather distant and condescending and his recommendations were not at all helpful. He doesn't seem to have a staff and at one point missed our appointment because he had left the country for a couple of weeks and hadn't bothered to let me know (I found out from his answering machine.) His office is in a big apartment building but I didn't find it any more dodgy than one or two other therapist apartment-offices I've been to in the city. Can not recommend. read more

I wish I took these reviews for face value before seeing Dr. Sorel. My previous psychiatrist stopped taking my insurance, so I needed someone new, and I had also switched jobs and moved, so Dr Sorel was my option at the time. First of all his 'office' is in a rundown apartment building downtown, with no other businesses...just residences. He has to buzz you into the residential apartment building. It's not very professional at all. Neither is he, so perhaps it is fitting. He is not a welcoming or warm doctor by any means. He yelled at me multiple times, until I had to stand up for myself and yell back. I wasn't trying to be rude, but I could only take so much of being talked to like I'm a misbehaved toddler. I'm a 31 year old professional trying to get her prescription refilled. I've seen him twice, I thought MAYBE the first appt was a fluke. Nope. He yelled at me again during our second appt. He also refused to refill my prescription and said I must see him monthly, to obtain it. I've never heard of this in my life. The only thing I'm thankful for is his referral for a psychologist that was lovely. If you're headed to a psychiatrist - most likely it's for something that is internally sensitive and emotional for you - don't go to Dr. Sorel. He will not give you the treatment or kind words of someone who actually cares about their patients. read more

Dr. Sorel is more thorough than your run-of-the-mill psychiatrist, who would just throw drugs at you without trying to find the root of the problem. My issue with him was the way he went about my consultation. He was rude, spoke over me, wouldn't let me explain my situation, and almost terrifyingly denied my current medication because they have addictive properties (klonopin, and I'm well aware, as I told him, and know how to taper). The reason that it's terrifying is that withdrawal symptoms that would prevent me from being able to do MY JOB mattered less than his personal vendetta. He wouldn't even look at me for the first 20 minutes while he asked me many questions (which would be fine, if) that were not relevant, ie who were my past doctors. I think he means well, but needs to adjust his attitude and approach to his practice. It was far too hostile and uncomfortable when my main issue is tremendous anxiety. Also - he doesn't take credit cards. In this day and age, that is unacceptable. read more

This man is toxic. I don't know what his ideology about practicing medicine is but he apparently believes that people will continue seeing him even when he does absolutely nothing to be of any assistance. I saw him once and despite having seen several doctors in his area of specialty over the past two decades, I can honestly say he is the absolute, rock bottom worst in his field that I've ever encountered. I actually felt somewhat harmed after consulting with him. He attempted to refer me to no less than three different doctors (and I mean concurrently) for three different issues that all fall under his own area of a specialized knowledge as claimed on his profiles. very troubling. He seemed disappointed when I had no problem counting backwards from 100 in increments of 7, or in remembering three words that he uttered several minutes earlier in the consultation. He posesses an odd, rude manner that is characterized by his attempts to restate something said to him in a different way and carrying a different meaning that isn't at all consistent with what was actually stated originally. absolutely a quack, absolutely has a chip on his shoulders and absolutely should be thoroughly examined before being allowed to continue practicing medicine of any kind. read more

I can't believe this guy is still practicing (but not at the address/phone listed). I saw him briefly in the '90s, and it was a terrible experience. He seemed to come from that old psychoanalytic tradition where the doctor doesn't speak, even doing medication management. I would ask him about a drug he was prescribing, and get blank silence back.You should absolutely avoid him. read more

I agree 100% with Angela. I had almost the same exact experience and that's why I felt I should review him as well. If I could get back the time I wasted thinking he was "helping" me I would. He's a worthless doctor. I was experiencing a severe problem and he acted like it was nothing and gave me medication for something completely different than what I needed. It's like going to see a doctor for a headache and you leave with something for your stomache. Go to someone else. Do not waste your hard earned money on this quack. I would like to know who his shrink is because that person should be ashamed. So should anyone else affiliated with him. I think he's outdated just like his shabby smelly office. read more

Rarely do I read reviews that are completely negative or completely positive and say that this must be everything. These reviews truly reflect the incredible unprofessional nature which Eliot Sorel approaches his work. To begin, my first visit was rushed and rude matching many of the other individuals writing these reviews. He promptly prescribed a medicine which is contradictory to my kidney concerns. I noted this to the doctor several times during the first and second visit. He didn't even flinch and brushing aside my medical concerns. The first consultation lasted no more than 20 minutes. After not learning from my first mistake, I went to the doctor for a follow on visit that was just as bizarre with the doctor looking over some results from a psychological assessment that he asked me to take for the follow on visit. The diagnosis of this online "20 questions" assessment was exactly the same as what I told him during the first visit! Well that was a waste. After not learning from my first and second mistake, a third appointment was scheduled. I notified the doctor that my sister was coming from out of town (out of the country) and she needed to set up an appointment with a doctor for some new medicine. Due to the time constraints on my sisters trip, my sister decided to take the next appointment. After several attempted calls to reach the doctor, and only one missed call from him in return, she decided to go take the appointment anyway. Upon her arrival, the doctor flipped out that I wasn't there for the appointment and that she was there for my follow-on. He told her he didn't have time for a full consultation and only had 15 minutes and turned her away. (reminder, my consultation lasted from 15-20 minutes!). My sister left the officer and decided to turn around and at least use his 15 minutes of time. Dr Eliot Sorel continued his rudeness with my sister and told her to go to her old doctor. Well to round this all up, after my sister's appointment I received 4 missed calls from the doctor. When returning these calls he scolded me on how rude it was to have had my sister go in my place. Excuse us for trying to contact the doctor and seek his medical opinion! I told him he was out of line and yet he continued his attack on me. Bottom line: I have never received any service, medical or otherwise, from an individual whose neglect and disregard borders on malpractice. In fact, turning my sister away more than borders on malpractice, it crosses the line. read more

I was a patient of Dr. Sorel for a year. I had a clear case of depression, had some suicidal thoughts, and had never been on antidepressants before. I am so glad I found Dr. Sorel. He is brusk, and doesn't spend much time waffling about with personal questions. Basically, don't expect him to give you a sympathetic shoulder because he is not a therapist. His job is to make you better, he he may recommend therapy, exercise, etc. but mainly he will supply you with antidepressants. For some of us, this is exactly what we need! read more