Horrible experience. If someone you know is having a mental health crisis please do not send them here. This doctor is inpatient, asks the same questions over and over in different forms, and tells you to stay on topic if you have something to express.
When it came to asking him about medications and dosage he said the patient must make that decision which medication is best and which dosage. He said that there are different types of medications and he couldn't tell the patient which one was best.
He didn't have any resources to go for counseling or know of any additions and mental health programs to refer the patient to. He didn't explain what his service was and only at the end of the session did he tell the patient that his job was to just write a report for the family doctor and he didn't know where the patient could find a consistent psychiatrist. He got upset when the patient asked about what he should do regarding taking medication and told the patient that it's up to him. He couldn't hear well and kept asking the patient to repeat themselves. I believe it may be time to retire. He may be in his 80s. The state of mental health and health care in Canada especially in Ontario is broken. Where are all the good doctors? Where are all the mental health clinics with Psychiatrists? At the end of the session the patient asked for counseling and he was instructed by the doctor to go on the Canadian mental health association website to find out.
Can you imagine a heart doctor telling a heart patient to go find where best to find a hospital for tests?
Horrendous. No empathy when describing the trauma patient was describing assault and asked patient if they caused the assault.

Submitted April 24, 2024

Absolutely useless. So quiet I had to get him to repeat everything. Just reread what I already told him and didn't help at all. Jumped to conclusions about my life and when I mentioned that's not what happened he didn't listen. Overall, wasted my time and my Doctors time. Waited months for this appointment and it was pointless.

Submitted Jan. 25, 2022

First telephone visit today. Great experience. Dr.Pallen has excellent knowledge and recommendations, is a good listener, and I look forward to my next appointment.

Submitted Jan. 14, 2021

According to this doctor, electric shock therapy is back and legal in Canada from the 1960s to 2015 it was illegal, and as of 2016 it is back. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Submitted July 30, 2020

I was a patient of his in 2002 to 2005. In July 2018 I had a full on breakdown at work and was told I need to go for a mental health evaluation. I went to my family doctor and then saw Dr. Pallen within a month. We went over my past history that he had already known and then I told him what was going on recently he put me on some new medication and counselling group counselling one on one counselling and it’s been eight months now things are starting to get better and I still continue to see him at once every six weeks he took the time to find out what was actually wrong with me and not just go based off of the different things that were happening at that time.

Submitted March 21, 2019

Dr.Pallen was very knowledgeable, listened to my concerns and truly wanted to help. He made sure none of medications interacted with each other and that the medication he was prescribing wouldn't negatively effect my health conditions. His receptionist is wonderful!

Submitted Aug. 16, 2018

I'm surprised at the comments here... He may come off as rude and cold but he is a sweet man. Everyone shows emotion differently. I try to see the good in everyone... and I have had some downright horrible doctors. Ever since he diagnosed me and put me on medication, my life has changed completely. I'm still going through the struggles but not even close to how I was before. I was at the point that I was contemplating suicide before I went to Dr. Pallen. He got me on the right path to getting help and the medication I need to be stable and chemically balanced. Thanks Dr. Pallen! -Your Patient, Sophie :)

Submitted May 3, 2018

I'm surprised that he has such high ratings. He tends to use Google... A lot. He does not write down many notes. Every visit with him seems like a first time visit - never have I experienced that with anyone else. I think it's unfair that people complain about his accent. How many of you know more than one language? He is patient when you can't understand his accent. He is, however, very detached. I've asked for new psychiatrists but can't because there's so few. I've left his office many times so frustrated and in tears. He simply does not listen.

I'm fine with the medications - that's not really the issue. An irritant, however, is when he gives me a list of meds and asks me which ones I want to be on, or when he doesn't make any suggestions for my course of treatment. He gives me options, but does not tell me what he recommends.

Overall I get the impression that this is "just a job" for him now. He does not seem like he has the heart in it. I go in expected to be disappointed and yet I still, for some reason , am surprised about let down I get.

His receptionist is lovely. She is wonderful to talk to and chat with. She does a great job and always seems organised. I can't imagine how much of a hard job she has.

Overall, Dr. Pallen seems to know his medications, but he has become a bit of a detriment to my overall health.

Submitted Aug. 10, 2017

Found him to be to quiet diagnoses you with a bunch of stuff without explaining what it is but does not document everything he says u have I messed up appointment dates and they gave me a new one I walked in winter to be told I was dropped as a patient not impressed now have to see a new one and really explain myself wad hard enough the first time

Submitted April 16, 2016

Pretty good. Maybe a tad detached, but that might have some purpose to it. It's important to understand what you can expect your psychiatrist to do for you. In my case, Dr. Pallen comes to my town to see patients on behalf of the region. So, he diagnoses problems, prescribes meds, etc. Pretty good experience with him.

Submitted Aug. 4, 2015