Dr. James A. Halikas, MD 5445 Park Central Court, Naples, FL 34109

"I don’t know what’s up but I am struggling because dr. H is under investigation and the prescriptions o paid for at my visit will not be filled. In recovery with severe depression o have been with the for years hope they have advise then will update"

"Hostile, ignored purpose of visit, used personal attacks against me. I was referred to Dr. Halikas by a well-recognized forensic psychologist for an evaluation of my sluggishness and lack of initiative. I am a difficult patient, not because of a tendency to disagree arbitrarily, but because I am on the autistic spectrum with an islet of superior function in analytical problem-solving. My social skills, at first poor, have been improved with years of therapy and instruction. Whatever deficits I have regarding social interaction have been well compensated. However, I do not tolerate say-so opinions from those who claim high credentials and status if I disagree with those opinions; I insist on fair debate and am willing to learn. Dr. Halikas talked down to me about the fact that intelligence per IQ tests does not prove social competence, ignoring the records that I personally sent him that mentioned the years of therapy and my having entered medical school and later run a practice and ignoring my obvious awareness of that fact. He also yelled "You're a fool!" at me when (August 2021) I explained that I decline the vaccine now offered because I have reviewed the facts and consider my immune system strong enough. His challenging my ability to make my own decisions when he has a 20-page report from a forensic psychologist that corroborates my ability to make my own decisions is ludicrous. He berated me for my challenging authority, ignoring my verified ability to work well in a subordinate position when there is no issue of incompetence or bad will among my superiors. I mentioned in writing and in person that I had observed some symptoms that suggested a particular imbalance with my autonomic nervous system. (For the lay person, that system handles such things as heart rate, digestion, sweating, blood pressure, etc.) He disparaged my observations as unimportant even though the neurologist I had seen accepted them as significant. He asked me if I had any of several mental-health prescription drugs, a fair question; but I had provided my background and my concern about my autonomic nervous system and my hope was that he would have an idea of a suitable drug that would compensate for the imbalance. Trial and error seemed juvenile when an expert would have seen the symptoms and the autonomic issues and been able to identify a drug from them. He wanted to prescribe methylphenidate and another drug. Methylphenidate is a stimulant. I had already told him symptoms that suggest that my brain is overactive and that a depressant would be more helpful. First, I need oxygen at night despite no heart or lung issues and think better with oxygen than without it, a dependence that suggests a high oxygen demand in my brain, in turn suggesting that it is metabolically overactive. Second, I feel better having drunk ethanol (a central nervous system depressant) and also my blood sugar is less when I do than when I don't (I am diabetic) thereby corroborating the theory that my brain metabolism is higher than it should be. Third, I have PTSD and am troubled by flashbacks in which my thoughts get forced into an anxiety-driven loop (panic), which is best managed by reducing not increasing neural activity. Also, drugs such as methylphenidate increase irritability, which contraindicates it when (in his opinion) I have an anger management problem. Finally, methylphenidate is a Schedule Two drug and cannot be prescribed with renewals--and followup visits would cost $250 per month no insurance coverage available. "Do you want treatment, or not‽" he bellowed, ignoring the purpose of the visit, which was for a one-time evaluation to determine whether there was a drug regimen that could treat my sluggishness and my autonomic issues. The answer is no. End of relationship."

"This office is amazing. The lady at the front desk (I don't know her name yet) is an amazing receptionist. I see Lisa Hofschulz, and she is great and very knowledgeable. She's a practical practitioner, meaning she listens out to what you have to say entirely before forming your treatment plan rather than just treating everybody with the same medications that the local drug rep is pushing. I've placed full confidence in her. She also does counseling and that really helps continuity in care. She's rather young, so I believe our practitioner/patient relationship will be long lived."

"Dr. Halikas and his staff are amazing. He's currently one of the only psychiatrist in Naples other than David Lawrence Center who is taking insurance. I was in a bind when my former doctor went into private practice without any notice. His staff was very accommodating, and I enjoy how open and honest Dr. Halikas is with me, and in return I feel I can be the same with him. So, thank you to Dr. Halikas and his staff. Also, what doctor's office is ever running on time?"

"I saw Dr. Halikas for almost 4 years, and our average appointment lasted about 10 minutes. I used him purely to renew the prescription anti- depressants I was already taking when I began seeing him. I would never have considered using him for a talk therapist, due to his arrogant nature. On the visit before my last, I saw a family member in the waiting room and realized we were using the same Dr. (no big deal I thought). On my next appointment I was immediately asked questions about my relationship with that family member. I was then admonished for my lack of relationship with this person, and told that I needed to start communicating with them immediately whether that was good for me or not. He had no idea what my actual relationship with them was or the history behind it. I have never felt so inappropriately and unprofessionally attacked by a “CARE GIVER”. I would never recommend Dr Halikas. I thought that I was safe because I was just getting my anti-depressants from him. BEWARE! If you are seeing him for script refills you may end up with some highly unsolicited and abusive “therapy”."