Valerie J. Buyse, MD

"I sought care from Dr. Buyse over there years ago for medication consultation and management. From the beginning, Dr. Buyse was responsive and compassionate. She personally returned my initial phone call to her within several hours, and scheduled an appointment for me in the near future. During our first appointment, Dr. Buyse prescribed a new medication for me to augment the one that I was already on, and I quickly felt relief from the intense symptoms I was experiencing. Since then I have been stable, and I currently have biannual consultations with Dr. Buyse. I trust Dr. Buyse completely for my psychiatric care. Her reputation precedes her, and I have always found her to be professional, responsive, attentive and compassionate. I have been to a lot of mental health professionals over the years, and the care I have had, and continue to have, from Dr. Buyse is unsurpassed."

"Virginia and Walter have almost identical reviews... They are the only positive, non-colleague reviews for this woman. I went to see Dr. Buyse once a week for 18 months. We missed a few appointments here or there. I had similar experiences to the reviewers that are not identifying as one of her colleagues. I am sure she is a fine and qualified colleague. She is not however, fit to work with even the most emotionally stable person. Whoever said that her personality was formed in the last ice age was spot on. When she wasn't trying to get me on anti-anxiety (I don't suffer from anxiety), depression (don't suffer from this either), or sleeping medicine, she was simply judging me. Not just in my actions but in my suggestions for modes of therapy. She either wanted to write a prescription or she was yawning and staring out the window. Look, I saw this woman once a week for a year and a half. I get that some days you may be tired and some days you may find it difficult to keep up regular communication, but this was frequent behavior. If you are here and reading this review, there are many more qualified, more caring, and more affordable options out there. I got out and found someone that has actually taken the time to get to know me (and it didn't take 18 months, go figure!) Oh and another thing, if you go see this woman- be prepared for her poor communication or even active miscommunication to end up coming out of your checkbook. This woman doesn't take responsibility for anything. EDIT- in her response below, she still thinks my GP is a female. She sent my medical records to the wrong doctor in a completely different practice. My doctor is a male. Not to mention, 2 weeks ago after she read this review she called my cell phone multiple times and my parents home number. When no one responded to her, she texted me telling me to take my review down. When I offered to edit it in an effort to make it less emotional, she threatened me with legal action. Throughout our time together I did give her negative feedback in our appointments. When she had me come in for what apparently was our last appointment, she essentially conducted an exit interview that made me so uncomfortable that I left before my appointment was even over. Also.. you can read her response and see that she is divulging personal information that I gave her in confidence. The most inappropriate and unprofessional behavior I have ever experienced by someone with years of experience."

"I had a very similar experience to Erin. Valerie Buyse's personality was formed in the last ice age...a very cold person. I felt no empathy at all. All she cared about was getting drugs into me and getting the next appointment scheduled. She did recommend a book that helped me...she does have knowledge in her field. But her personality is just not conducive to counseling. If you display knowledge or interest in psychiatry she will attack you. I couldn't figure out if the attacks came out of a sense of insecurity or supreme arrogance. I suspect the latter. Perhaps working in a lab would be more suitable to her skills. I saw her a few months and finally left. It was the worst experience of my life...sent me into a tailspin that took me years to recover. I found a nice psychologist who finally helped. Stay away from Buyse."

"I've known Valerie as a colleague for over 20 years now and I have always been impressed with her knowledge, maturity and compassion for her patients. I don't hesitate to refer to her and would certainly send my own family members to her. I consult with her regularly when I'm trying to help women cope with breast cancer issues and I have always been impressed with her knowledge and willingness to take the time to talk with me. Her rating as a top psychiatrist in Washingtonian magazine shows the esteem with which other professional colleagues hold her. She is one of Northern Virginia's strongest assets, as her involvement in many professional and community organizations demonstrates. We are fortunate to have her. Eric Steckler MD Distinguished Life Fellow, American Psychiatric Association, former President Northern Virginia Psychiatric Society"

"Doctor Buyse is the only psychiatrist who has diagnosed my anxiety/depression disorder correctly and put me on medications that have saved my life and allowed me to be the active, enthusiastic person that I am. I have been hospitalised twice and she visited me at least twice a day, including on weekends and listened carefully and with great compassion to my issues. I find she is very astute and has incredible insight into the complex factors that lead to anxiety and depression - genetics, life history and current life events, and a very thorough and detailed understanding of the biochemisty of the brain and the cascading effects that chronic stress can have on mental and physical well-being."