Hermitage Clinic - Calgary

I went in expecting to be treated for my mental health needs. To get assistance in becoming stable and well. Instead I was treated with zero respect. I was belittled. She had zero empathy. Did not take my past into consideration. Told me I was not mentally ill despite having being diagnosed as Bipolar I 12 years ago and being on medication that entire time. She told me I had avoidance issues and refused to consider adjusting my medications. There was not an instance of her trying to actually investigate or help me. Her ignorance and lack of compassion was worrisome. I have never left a doctor's appointment that frustrated or emotionally scarred. Felt me feel even worse than I already do. This is not suitable conduct for someone who I believe job it is to help and assist in someone's day to day well-being. I wish it were an option to leave a review with zero stars.

For clients who've had hurtful or damaging experiences with Dr. Anike Aitigari, there's an option to report it to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (the Complaints Process), and AHS Patient Concerns & Feedback. I had an appointment with Dr. Anike Atigari on a total of three occasions. Each time I gave the benefit of the doubt and kept an open mind. Oddly, she discharged me from her care almost immediately, and if I were to take a careful guess, she accepts and discharges patients so quickly because she is aware of her unethical practices. There aren't many psychiatric clinics in Alberta, and ones accepting new patients are even harder to find, so there is almost always a high need for them. I'll also state that what she wrote to my family doctor was entirely different than how our appointments went. ---- • The time management or time etiquette of this psychiatrist seems disarray, because each time I had to wait 20~30 minutes before talking to her. • I did not get to talk about the possible mental illness or even have a professional, structured appointment. She said I was not mentally ill because I did not harm anyone, which to her standards, that would be to the point where she'd have to press a button under her desk and call the police. • Instead of listening or genuinely trying to form a doctor-patient relationship (of trust and open communication), she often turned to her own accomplishments, such as the time when she visited Havard to give a speech, how she studied in the U.K. for her degree, and growing up and working hard by babysitting to earn money while managing other life responsibilities. She seemed to enjoy talking about herself as much as she could during our appointments. • She got visibly upset and frustrated when I asked questions regarding my already diagnosed disorders or the potential diagnosis of a particular disorder (the assessment). She did not like being asked any questions (either for clarification or to ask why that may be), and commented that people should, "just listen to their doctors without asking so many questions." She mentioned how she was a good doctor, with a prestigious educational background, and that many people mistake her for being abrasive or mean, when in reality, she's doing her job very well and simply, "telling the truth." • She was not in favour of giving medication or discussing my current medication. She strongly suggested me to ask my family doctor or past psychiatrist about my questions instead of her. • She does not appear to understand mental illness because she looked for stereotypical symptoms(like the mainstream medias' understanding of it), because for OCD, she only tied it to cleanliness and being organized. This psychiatrist seems to be an individual who is unprofessional and unethical in her practice. As a psychiatrist, she possesses many of the prejudices and myths about mental illness and speaks of it during her appointments, further hindering the conversation around mental health and the process of de-stigmatizing mental illnesses. It is is very saddening yet ironic to see this reality, and unfortunate for the future clients that will have to experience this. She is a trained individual in the position/authority of a doctor who does further damage to the clients who've come to them for help in times of significant distress and vulnerability.

I'm reading the reviews and half smiling because Dr. Atigari is EXACTLY as people describe. She doesn't sugar-coat things. She doesn't want to listen to your problem of the day. She wants to hear the problems affecting your life, so she can give you strategies to deal with your BIG issues, so you can solve your daily problems on your own. I saw her for maybe 4-5 sessions, my last one was maybe 20 minutes...and she helped me more in 4 hours than years of counselling did. She even met with my husband and gave him some tough love, so he could stop enabling me and help me get better. She helped me with my rodent phobia, what I thought was anxiety (which turned out to be just poor life coping strategies and negative self-talk) and social anxiety (which basically amounted to oversharing when I feel uncomfortable with silence/feeling like I always need to be the one to answer). I feel more calm and relaxed in my own body and even with some pretty heavy stuff happening in my life recently, I'm mentally stronger than I've ever been. My husband is super happy with the results and often comments that he also sees that I've changed for the better. Thank you Dr. Atigari for helping me realize that I didn't have anxiety, I just didn't know how to deal with the regular stress life...and now I do :)

Wish I could give zero stars. Worst experience i've ever had with a doctor. Extremely dismissive, rude and unprofessional. I am appalled at the things she said to me. If you are seriously struggling with mental heath do not go here. I was dismissed almost immediately, and told I could not possibly have anything wrong with me because I was able to be on time for my appointment. Do not go here.

Like another reviewer has said, report. I'm surprised this place hasn't shut down. Clearly AHS or the Albertan College of Physicians and Surgeons don't care about mental health. If they did, would seeing a psychiatrist or any kind of mental health professional require so many hurdles and steps to go through? Get the letter this doctor wrote or any other form of evidence and report. They're doing more harm than any good.

I went to see Dr. A.T. Atigari today for depression and was told i dont have depression because you cannot have depression for over 10 years and was also told i dont have depression because i am able to mask it and you cant mask depression so it must be something else, so because i appeared relaxed and happy ish i couldnt possible have depression. if you are getting serious about your mental health and are finally in a place where you feel like you can seek the help you need PLEASE do not go here, the doctor is living in the 60's and will only make things worse for you, please seek out a more professional doctor who genuinely wants to help you. whoever is reading this you can do it, and you will be better off for it, just not if you go here.

Dismissive made her decision that I already didn’t have ADHD within 5 minutes, Judged why someone would diagnose my child claiming children cannot be diagnosed with ADHD til older. Told me I just needed to “try harder”

Dr Atigari asked a few basic family/employment history questions and made her decision within 10 minutes. She did not listen to what I was struggling with and told me to just not look at my phone until my work was done which is not one of the problems I have. She said "you have had the same job for 13 years, have a highschool diploma and CPS hasnt taken away your kids you don't have ADHD. People with ADHD fail at life." It's already so hard reaching out for help and to have a "professional" dismiss your struggles makes it even harder to reach out again. You should be able to get help BEFORE things get so bad that you lose your kids, job or home. I read these reviews prior to my appointment so expected to have to fight for myself but she doesn't care and just shuts you down. I recorded my appointment to have proof and I have submitted a complaint with the CPSA.