I am currently working with Dr. Bronzo at The Ross Center, and she is FANTASTIC. She is informed, amiable, and super supportive. And she's asked me to call her by her first name, which I love! I really feel I am being supported as I face challenges. And, I'm feeling optimistic. The office staff are very welcoming and informed. I couldn't recommend this practice more! read more

Beware of this practice. Outrageous $600+ for an initial consult with Dr Tanwar. Who was late, no greeting no apology as she open the locked door. We waited another 10 minutes. When I walked back to her office, she said she was logging into her computer. I knew we should have left then and just lost the $150 deposit. I wish we had. She meet with our 18 y.o. And advised doubling a medication that has already been prescribed by a virtual RN visit months prior. After 2 weeks and serious side effects occurred. We tried reaching Tanwar with no response. Not even a voicemail that said if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or actions call 911. The negligence and inefficiency of this practice is unreal. . read more

I suffer from anxiety and the Ross Center only compounds it. There are so few mental health providers than can prescribe medication that The Ross Center is a monopoly/duopoly/etc. I have to beg in order to have my prescriptions renewed. Having to do so only adds to my mental stress. My "doctor's" stance is "To live more fully, I practice slow email: I will get back to you within 48 business hours. Thank you." Yeah, I just paid hundreds of dollars to meet with you and you are not obligated to do anything. Hmm. read more

I wanted to get second opinion for my daughter about medications for her depression and anxiety. It was relatively easy to get an appointment. She saw Dr Tanwar and at the end of the appointment, Dr Tanwar said she would get back to my daughter in a week with recommendations. Eight weeks later there were no communication or recommendations so I called. The office manager was very helpful but it took another 4 weeks to get her recommendations to my daughter ( who had already left for school) and to say it was unhelpful in any way is an understatement. It did not offer any specific recommendations or changes- was a very generic and broad review of all medications that 'could be used'. This is a cash service and it took 3 months for a useless evaluation. I am a physician who used to refer to The Ross Center- NEVER again! read more

Avoid at all costs! I can't speak to the therapeutic aspects and doctors and counselors because we never got that far. The office staff was horrendous and the intake process absurd. There was a tremendous amount or background paperwork I completed, but it had to be put on their "portal" to keep the appt, which I wasn't informed of until they cancelled the appt because it wasn't there even though I had already filled out all the forms and submitted them. I tried to put them on the portal but the technology is horrible and I couldn't get it to work right. So, I got someone on the phone finally after getting bounced around, and when they ran out of time, they made an appt for the next morning to go through getting it uploaded on the portal because apparently just sending the forms back isn't enough. I called at 8:30 and the person I was supposed to talk to wasn't there. Enough...it was causing more stress getting the appt than what was ailing me. I just cancelled...not worth the trouble and not a good sign seeing how screwed up they are. Doctors and therapist at Ross Center, be aware...your front office is a disaster. Most unprofessional place I've ever dealt with. UPDATE: Posting this in response to owner's comments. The owner apparently finds their process and staff blameless and doesn't acknowledge that maybe, just maybe, there is some basis to the complaints I voiced. I suggest she the read the several "1" ratings and note they most all of them concern the admin processes and front office help. They may try, but it's not working. So maybe training, reexamine the processes, something? But apparently they do everything right and don't view comments as a chance to reflect on of perhaps there is some basis to them. Whatever "vast majority" she it talking about, they apparently aren't writing reviews on Yelp or Google or other medical websites...not ratings above the 3's and 2.5 on Yelp. All the more reason to avoid the place...unwillingness to entertain that maybe something isn't working. She may mean well and as I said, I can't comment on the therapeutic aspects as I didn't experience them, but the administration is lacking and ownership seems unwilling to entertain that maybe there is a basis to the complaints. Not the sort of operation I want to do business with. read more

A TERRIBLE experience. The Ross Center is dismissive, incompetent, and outrageously expensive. My daughter was -- and still is -- having a devastating time with dark thoughts and emotions. After thousands of dollars and less than two hours, we were told she is fine. We got a template follow-up email that referenced attachments that weren't on the email. It took me two months of calling and email to get the attachment: a directory of other therapists. We are still wrestling with very hard issues. The Ross Center's lack of interest in the parent's stories, as well as the super brief attention to our family made it an upsetting, defeating, and infuriating experience. We all felt they were disdainful and arrogant. Look elsewhere for help. read more

Excellent initial experience with Dr Everett, helping us address anxiety and depressive episodes with our child.

I can't speak to any of the psychotherapists as I see a psychologist at my university for weekly therapy. However, my psychiatrist is AWESOME! I have meet with and worked with several psychiatrists in DC but never in my three years of seeing one, have I used the word "awesome." Until I met Dr. Melissa Monson, that is. Dr. Monson is warm, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, easy to talk to, and even funny (when appropriate, of course!). I've seen her twice now and both times I've felt like I'm talking to a friend rather than a psychiatrist. She's definitely not the quiet, sit back and listen type, which isn't my style in a mental health care provider. She's old enough to have more life experience than I do, yet young enough to relate to my issues. In fact, young adults is one of her specialties! She even is excited about my journey to apply to medical school, which was the complete opposite with my last psychiatrist. Before my first appointment ended, I knew she was the psychiatrist I wanted to work with--and I had met with another one the day before. Usually, I would say "let me get back to you as I'm meeting with some other psychiatrists." Not the case for me with Dr. Monson! She returns calls promptly and always encourages me to call if I have issues with my medications. Also, she's good about making sure we meet regularly as I've been on a lot of medication changes. On a side note, Dr. Monson is the first psychiatrist I've seen with office staff. Everyone I've communicated with by phone, email or in person has been super nice and professional. Like most psychiatrists, she doesn't take insurance but she gives me a receipt to submit to my insurance company. Also, her fees are less expensive compared to my last psychiatrist, which is a plus. My only complaint is that I did not find her when I first moved to DC. DC really needs more amazing psychiatrists like her! read more

My family is unfortunate enough to have had two separate encounters with the Ross Center. I have no doubt that the practitioners are highly qualified. The administrative process, however, as so many other reviewers have noted, is a nightmare -- and has a direct impact on patient care. It conveys extreme rigidity, a lack of respect, and a real deficit of empathy. It also raises real questions about the dedication to healing (rather than money-making) of the practice generally, and above all, of Dr. Salcedo, the medical director, who sets the policies and appears to monitor this Yelp thread. Her responses to other negative reviews might lead you to believe that all other mental health practices in the greater Washington, DC area that don't participate in health insurance (as most, in Upper Northwest DC, Chevy Chase and Bethesda, at least, do not) operate in very similar ways. This is not true. No other practice makes direct contact with practitioners so difficult (if not impossible), as the Ross Center does. Few, if any, have such stringent and punitive cancellation policies. None that I have ever encountered have such a difficult-to-navigate communication system with such an unpleasant and dismissive front office staff. Even a prominent area child psychiatrist once told us that calling the Ross Center consistently made her feel "like sh--t." One has to wonder why a practice that's ostensibly all about helping families at a highly vulnerable time in their lives would interact with them in such an alienating and even destructive way. And one has to notice too that every negative review here is immediately followed by a five-star review. Coincidence? Not likely from an establishment so obsessed with control. read more

This place is a money making operations. They do not care about mental health. I have an anxiety disorder. I do not have depression, maniac depression or bipolar disorder, yet as soon as you talk about anxiety they automatically think you are depressed. I've been on SSRI's and they don't work. They do NOTHING for my anxiety and they shouldn't because they are meant to work for people with depression. I've been on every type of SSRI including the one that Dr. Koby gave me a prescription for. The only thing that works are drugs that are for anxiety. I had such a bad panic attack two weeks ago, I had to go to the emergency room. I was prescribed Ativan, which immediately took the panic and anxiety away so that I could be normal again. I went into see a psychiatrist thinking I would be prescribed something that WORKS. The doctor talked for most of the 45 minutes that I was paying her for. She wasn't even listen to me. I told her several times that I have been on SSRI's and they DON'T WORK!!!! Why do they prescribe an SSRI when they don't work for my condition? Because they don't care. This way, I have to come back in two weeks later and tell the doctor it doesn't work. She will do this several times over several months with SSRI's until finally she prescribes a benzo that will just knock out my anxiety/panic. Meanwhile, I will have to pay 1000s of dollars in medical bills. If she prescribes a medicine that is KNOWN to work then I don't have to have so many checkups. Meaning she doesn't make as much money if they start you on a medication that already works. I went through this regiment with several doctors where the prescribe drugs that either don't work or give me adverse side effects such as suicidal thoughts only to be prescribed anti-anxiety medication months later. It's a money making operation. It's 500 just to see a doctor and then 300 every two weeks. If I am prescribed the 4 main SSRI's and told to come back every two weeks that's around 2000 that I have to pay. Here's the other thing. I was ON an SSRI when I had a major panic attack, broke down and had to go to the emergency room. Why would ANY good doctor prescribe a medication that I had ALREADY been on and that FAILED to work?!?! SSRI's are addicting. You cannot just stop taking one, you have to taper off. If I was prescribed a benzo to take ONLY when I started to panic, then I wouldn't develop a habit. The only thing a benzo does to a person with anxiety is take away the anxiety. There's another reason for getting patients on SSRIs. They are aware that the patient can't just stop taking SSRI's without withdrawal symptoms. I've never had an adverse side effects from any of the main 4 benzos nor have I become addicted and had to taper off. I have experienced withdrawal symptoms on SSRI's though and had to be under a psychiatrist in order to withdrawal. How is that not a money making operation? I've already spent 1000 dollars this past month dealing with my anxiety disorder. I simply could not afford to go back in two weeks later only to tell Dr. Koby that the lexapro didn't work. For 500 dollars for 45 minutes, the doctor should have been able to diagnosis me correctly. If she was listening, she probably would have. This place will give you more anxiety than anything else. I feel condemned to live this way without help, compassion, or resources to help me. Even if she had just listened to me would have been better than her talking about how much she "knew." I literally told her, "I don't want to be a guinea pig." Meaning, I don't want to take drugs, so that she can see how they work on me. I've already done all that! Even their policy of cancellation should have been enough for me to question their motives. You don't have some policy like that for people with anxiety disorders. Please avoid this place if you have an actual anxiety disorder. They will take advantage of your mental health issues. read more

So I won't be using this center. Even though I work and I currently have employer paid health insurance they will not take direct coverage. They want me to pay for out of pocket first, then take my receipt and have my insurance pay for it that way. It's 2016. I will be taking my services elsewhere read more

Unfortunately I'm not even able to share a review of an actual psychiatrist due to the horrific onboarding process and the insensitive treatment by one of the office employees, Sarah. I had an appointment scheduled for a Friday and on Wednesday, Sarah called to let me know that I needed to finish completing the onboarding forms and to let them know if I needed any help. On Thursday, I checked to make sure the forms were all completed and noticed that I couldn't find the forms or details of my appointment. When I then called and spoke to Sarah, she informed me that when she called on Wednesday, she told me that the forms needed to be completed 48 hours prior to the appointment or the appointment would be cancelled. This was not included in her message at any point (I have the voicemail) and no one even contacted me to notify me that the appointment was cancelled. I had already had my therapist contact the psychiatrist earlier in the week which was a complete waste of both their time considering they cancelled my appointment. This is a horrific experience considering that this is a mental health organization. I had been desperately waiting for this appointment for a month and it was cancelled due to the neglect of this employee named Sarah. The Ross Center should be ashamed of themselves and if this experience is any indication of how they treat their patients, I am relieved that now I am able to go elsewhere. read more

This place is amazing! Woman run and owned. Their staff is super professional, flexible, and delightful to schedule with. Would 100% recommend. read more

I called to schedule an appointment with the Ross Center. I was told they do not accept any insurance, and they do not help anyone with submitting requests to their insurance for out of network coverage. Now, I know this is NW DC, the bastion of elite, privileged white people, so I shouldn't have been surprised. But I was. If you're able to pay $350 for an therapy session, great, congratulations. You made it. If you're like most people who rely on insurance coverage to help make therapy accessible, avoid this place. read more

I also cannot say enough positive things about Dr. Monson. I could go on for paragraphs here about how great she is. If you need help - genuine help - she is the person to see. The reason for three stars and not five are threefold: first, the costs are astronomical. Astronomical. They are definitely designed for "the one percent." Second, as a person of color (although I "pass") I have always noticed that there are no people of color - *none* (it's 2020 and I have been going since 2013) in the waiting room. Most of the people are parents who are obviously of means with their kids. The third is the reception. The only dependable person is Sarah Bello so I would not even attempt to interact with anyone with her. read more

My mom was referred to the Ross Center by her internist since she's been having some health issues which have been emotionally difficult to handle. Today she'd finally worked up the courage to call, so I sat with her on the couch to support her while she was on the phone. The first thing we heard on the phone was an extension to dial to reach the New York office, even though we'd called the 202 number. Then a long phone menu with no clear option for what we should press. Finally after waiting through the whole thing, someone picked up the phone. My mom was obviously pretty shaky on the phone, but the person on the other end was brusk. The first thing she said was that nothing will be covered by insurance, everything will be out of pocket. The first appointment would be just an assessment. It would cost $350 for 60 minutes, and if she was accepted as a patient, everything else would also be out of pocket. So, to summarize, in order for the privilege of having someone judge if you are a worthy patient, you will pay $350. If they don't take you, or you don't like them, sucks for you. If you don't have the money, clearly you don't deserve the Ross Center. We immediately called back her internist, suggested she not refer people to the Ross Center anymore, and requested other referrals. I wouldn't even bother calling this place unless you're loaded with time and money. read more

I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Melissa Monson. She is extremely reliable and is the only psychiatrist I have ever felt like I got very comprehensive care from consistently. Ross Center is very expensive. I have been a patient off and on for many years, but I have never felt like I didn't get what I paid for here. read more

As someone in the mental health field it is important to stay on top of my own mental health in order to best serve my clients. I chose the Ross Center to accomplish just that. I have been going to The Ross Center and Dr. Salcedo for the last 15 years. As a patient, I can rely on her to return my calls, spend actual time with me (which is a rarity in the psychiatry field), and provide me with genuine and reliable care. I wholeheartedly trust her. As a mental health professional myself, I can sing her praises for her ethical and knowledgeable professionalism. I have seen a handful of other clinicians as well at The Ross Center throughout the years and have never been disappointed. I can not recommend The Ross Center enough whether it's for assessment, medication, psychotherapy, etc . They do not take insurance but they do give you what you need to submit to insurance. While they may be expensive, you get what you pay for. And how can you honestly put a price on your mental health and wellbeing? If you're looking for a practice that you can trust and rely on, who is up on all of the latest research, and who truly cares about your well being- The Ross Center is your place. read more

This center needs a better staff. Every time I called to make an appointment I got an unfriendly condescending attitude which is quite strange given the fact that doctors at this place charge $400 and up just for a consultation. Maybe they think that if you have anxiety or whatever issues, you can be treated as a punk. Well, I lost interest in even trying to set up an appointment with any doctor there thanks to their idiotic staff. read more

My daughter was treated there about 7 years ago for a specific needle phobia. She had seen at least 3 providers prior to this with no luck. She would have major panic attacks, break out in a sweat, faint, could not get medical tests and immunizations done. The wonderful Nurse Judy Barth cured her in 1 WEEK of intensive therapy. This cure has stuck and she has never needed to return for this phobia. She doesn't like needles, but does not hesitate to get a flu shot every year now. read more

Awful experience and I spent $525 . Find a dr who cares at a reasonable price. Not worth it!!!!

The doctors are incredible. The receptionists on the other hand are terrible. Working with people with serve anxiety disorders is a delicate matter, and they seem to have little empathy/are unable to even do so little as to greet guests. I wish their doctors and receptionists would be held to similar standards. read more

Beware of the bait and switch! I can't comment too much on the quality of the therapy. I went to only two sessions before finding another therapist. I did notice, however, that there were mostly young kids and teens in the waiting room. It looks like they specialize in work with children so I may have been in the wrong place, to begin with. Having said that, my issue concerns a deceptive business practice. I made an appointment with Dr. Salcedo, the head of the center who comes highly rated. Once I showed up for appointment, however, Dr. Salcedo said she would be handing me off to another therapist at the center - someone I'd never heard of. I rarely see any type of doctor I haven't previously researched - especially since I wasn't told this would be the case in advance - but Dr. Salcedo sang this other therapist's praises. I made an appointment to return. The second appointment with the new therapist was mediocre, at best, and I knew she wouldn't be a good match for me. I called Dr. Salcedo and said I'd prefer to see her (my original plan anyway) but she informed me that she wouldn't be able to do that. At that point, I asked Dr. Salcedo to refund the $400 she had charged me for the original appointment. I told her I was willing to pay for the second appointment since I had willingly scheduled a session with the second therapist. But I felt I was owed a refund for seeing her since I essentially paid for a service I didnt receive. If the Ross Center is set up so that her role is to do an initial consultation and then hand you off to someone else, then that's fine. And I told her that. But they need to make that clear to their patients. Which they didn't do and probably never do. The phone call ended when she gruffed that she'd spent 20 minutes on the phone (as if this was free therapy) and told me to bring up any additional concerns in an e-mail to the Ross Center's info desk. I did follow up with an e-mail, articulating how frustrating it is to wait a month for an appointment and then to be told I would not continue to see that therapist beyond an initial consultation. I spent a total of $600 for wasted time, I told her. After a week, I received a response from Dr. Salcedo. Too bad, she effectively said. Every once and a while, I come across a business that is so clearly motivated by money - and nothing else. But it's disheartening to see this in a practice where people go to seek help at a vulnerable time in their lives. My recommendation would be to seek out a different practice. read more

Dr. Koby was unprofessional and provided me with a referral and failed to give the contact information for the doctor. I do not recommend Dr. Koby or the Ross Center. It was clear they had not read the paperwork that was required before my appointment and Dr. Koby actually declined to speak with my current prescribing physician. Overall it was a waste of time and money. read more

My daughter has gone here for years. Dr. Monson got her through middle, high school and college. She is now a young professional woman and doing very well. She goes back for occasional "tune-ups". read more

I've been a patient at the Ross Center for many years now and have had a great experience working with several of their providers. I highly recommend Dr. Leslie Rokoske, whose insights and approach to medication have been most effective for me. She is knowledgeable about services in the DC area and over the years has recommended numerous resources, from an adult ADHD group to a couples counselor who was instrumental in saving my marriage. I also highly recommend Dr. Jason Wemmers, whose expertise in work-related stress and burnout I found helpful in navigating career challenges and related issues. The office staff is exceptionally professional and helpful, particularly the office manager, Carina Crump, who has diligently navigated the Byzantine prescription requirements of my insurance carrier. The Ross Center is not inexpensive, but the investment has been well worth it. The team there has earned this five-star rating many times over. read more

My family sought treatment at the Ross Center for my teenage son. We tried in the spring of 2016. We had a doctor return our call. I was under the impression the call would end in an appointment. She asked me to divulge all of our personal information, I did. Then she ended the conversation by saying she couldn't help us. It was very clear she was picking and choosing which patients she wanted to see. In Fall 2016 our name came back up on the Ross Center waitlist for a different doctor. We began to see her. While competent, her availability was hampered by multiple holidays. Additionally we were being asked to have an appointment slot that started before the end of school, putting my son in the position of everyone wondering why he was leaving school early. Next, as we juggled soccer games and school activities it became impossible to reschedule due to the Dr's limited availability. We never ONCE received an email about how our son was feeling. But I received a weekly email asking whether we would be at the appointment - no comments about our son, just were we going to be there. That of course made us feel like the only thing that mattered was payment. Finally, we gave up on the Ross Center and asked them for a referral. The Dr said she sent the referral. I never heard from them, so I called the referral myself. The referral talked to me once, promised me services, and then has never called me back. Overall, we paid the Ross Center over $2000.00 and got nothing out of it. I hope this review helps others. read more

I can't say enough good things about the quality of the the therapy at the Ross Center. I've been going there once a month for about two years and will likely be continuing for many more. What is not so great is the new renovation that's taken place over the last couple of months. An office that was warm, comfortable and inviting has now turned into the Starship Enterprise. The warm colors and comfortable furniture have been replaced with various shades of watered down blue and grey. Classical type music in the waiting area has been replaced with the latest pop hits. I realize it's a doctor's office and now it truly looks like one. The staff and doctors there are fantastic but the environment makes me feel like I've landed on the moon. read more