Complaint Review: Diane M. Van Ness and Dr. Katalin Eckstein - Miami Florida

These responses regarding foil hats and other hurled insults, rather than sticking to the facts, are pathetic at best.

Of course there was extortion in these cases! Can attorneys, doctors, forensic psychologists, parents and court officers in multiple cases of Diane Van Ness's all be wrong? When we see her downtown, we literally look the other way. Her deceipt, falsified status reports, threats, bank statements, monetary demands, ransom techniques, starve-out techniques and other hard core evidence are fully available for litigation through this website.

If YOU don't like it, don't want to admit it, or are incapable of believing that which is common knowledge in Miami-Dade County, then don't work with her.

But do not dare accuse lauded professionals and innocent parents of somehow being nuts or sore losers, while Diane, either known or unbeknownst to you, destroyed professional practices as well as family after family in which no abuse took place.

The above writer makes a good case in point that therapy is a marriage of sorts, and I am heartened to hear that Dr. Eckstein understood and was able to get along with her.

What is paramount however, is a professional's ability to remain ethical and appropriate at all times, or to recuse oneself from a client or case, neither of which she ever did in all my experiences with her.

I am not a parent or client, who "did not get their way in court." On the contrary, in all my families' experiences, there was never so much as one evidentiary hearing in these cases. What court? Eckstein's guardian ad litem blocked virtually all evidentiary hearings. Now, if Dr. Eckstein made a court appearance, she will recall that neither parent was there, and neither attorney for either side. In fact, she appeared telephonically more than once, and I can only wonder if she even realized this glaring absence of anybody to defend anybody. No Notice of Appearance... nothing. Kids just swiped away. Now, as I near retirement, I can only wonder how many children grew up never knowing that one or both parents were never even informed or defended, before false accusations went flying, hurled toward tired and overworked judges, by some powerful and narcissistic persons. We've all seen this scenario.

I have reviewed the above posts and can only speak from my personal experience, although I am happy for the above patient for whom things worked out as they could relate a great deal apparently. My personal experience had me watching her scream on speaker phone while I watched one or the other parent cry in despair over her unprofessional demeanor while she self-righteously demanded that her opinions were correct. She and her guardian ad litem led two of my parents nearly to the point of bullycide in my opinion, with their screaming accusations of child abuse. I was horrified. Simultaneously, however, she refused to meet with my parents, or prior or current treating professionals.

I watched parents emphatically attempting to raise special needs, thought-disordered, or other children since birth, which in the best of families is no easy task. To refuse to listen to, or meet with, or allow in a court room, these well-meaning parents was an abomination of my field, in which we are supposed to heal.

While this young woman speaks of a parent who was drug-addicted, and I do not know her personal case and don't pretend to, I must add that it is not uncommon for even the most loving and well-meaning parent of a special needs or otherwise mentally challenged child to end up in NA or AA. Accusations go flying in a divorce, and it is rarely if ever about blame, or about the chicken vs. the egg, but rather the solution. The bottom line is this: Judges love parents who are in twelve-step programs. Period. If she were properly trained, she would have known NA and AA are filled with judges, attorneys, therapists, doctors, nurses, and other wonderful caretakers who are themselves in the same programs. You don't play with people's, especially children's, lives, like that. You make temporary shifts and move forward with the family in therapeutic, win-win settings. In fact, most therapists I have worked with repeat to me like a mantra: I will not make any custody decisions or even suggestions. I will only help the family therapeutically.

But this was not my experience with Dr. Eckstein over the years. I personally experienced even Eckstein's own guardian ad litem tell my clients that she is very aggressive so some people cannot tolerate her. If she has mellowed out, then God bless her. But I experienced needless suffering, kids begging for both parents, kids doing eerily poorly under her care while she reported that, though near death, they were doing well.

Before I retire, I will execute my constitutionally protected right to express my opinion and add my vote to this sad blog about both Eckstein and Diane Van Ness. I have seen and lived it all and there's nothing perposterous about it.

Thank you.

As a longtime client of Dr. Katalin Eckstein, I am both appalled and personally offended by the negative reviews that have been submitted to this site.  I have been a patient of Dr. Katalin Eckstein for nearly eleven years and, based on my personal experiences, I feel an ethical obligation to submit a rebuttal to these preposterous accusations.  It is inconceivable to me how these reviews could have been written about the very same person who, for all intents and purposes, saved my life by providing unconditional support and guidance in a therapeutic setting.

I write this as a 24 year old woman who began seeing Dr. Eckstein at the young age of 13.  I came from a home of divorced and fundamentally estranged parents. When I first walked into Dr. Ecksteins office, I was struggling with a severe depression which manifested itself through destructive behaviors such as self-mutilation, drug use, and food-related problems.  Although I was at a very tender age, I felt a deep hopelessness that far surpassed my years.  My mother was opposed to my seeing Dr. Eckstein my father was the one who insisted on my being in therapy.  For the following two years, Dr. Eckstein saw me on a weekly basis. I clearly remember feeling as though my weekly hour with her was the only time that I could feel like myself, the only time I felt understood, accepted, and appreciated as a human being. Dr. Katalin Eckstein has an incredibly warm, inviting demeanor that impelled me to share my experiences with her in an honest and open manner. Because of her receptiveness, I was able to transcend my initial fear of therapy and began to work on my issues.

I feel that I must emphasize how pivotal this was to my growth; Dr. Katalin Eckstein is one of the most nurturing individuals I have ever met in my life. She seems to have a natural gift for compassion, for empathy. She listens intently and diligently; she has not once given her opinion without first carefully measuring the facts and listening to my perception of the issues at hand. Ultimately, this is exactly what makes Dr. Eckstein such a remarkable doctor. She listens, she empathizes, and she is able to deliver her professional opinion in a warm, insightful manner.

At the age of 15, I stopped seeing Dr. Eckstein due to a custodial battle that was being waged between my parents. Based on the reviews that I have read on this site, I assume they were written by disgruntled parents who were unhappy with an unfavorable custody outcome. Precisely because of this, I would like to attest to the fact that Dr. Eckstein never behaved as anything other than my doctor. She testified on my behalf and her testimony was based only on the things that were discussed in therapy. My mother was addicted to drugs and I had divulged this information to Dr. Eckstein. My mother was an inept and flawed parent but Dr. Eckstein never imposed her own opinion on my mother. Instead, she had multiple sessions with both of my parents and carefully evaluated what was best for me.  My mother ended up winning the custodial battle and I consequently stopped seeing Dr. Eckstein. I would also like to add that, despite the drug addiction, I was in favor of staying with my mother. I was very young and did not quite know what was best for me; as my doctor, Katalin advised the court that I would be best suited with my father. Although I may not have seen it then, her judgment was sound and she was ultimately right in her opinion.

I reached out and called Dr. Eckstein again at the age of 17.  At the time, my home situation had escalated into an unbearable atmosphere and I was, quite literally, at the end of my line. My mother had become even more addicted to drugs, as her dependent, I did not what to do or who to call for help. Instinctively, I found Dr. Ecksteins phone number and called her. She never hesitated or asked questions as to how she could possibly help me she simply made the appointment and we met later that week. I explained my circumstances and Dr. Eckstein immediately took charge of my situation. She saw me every week from then on despite the fact that I could not financially reimburse her (being that I was only 17 at the time).

I would not have made it through those tumultuous years without the steady, unwavering guidance of Dr. Katalin Eckstein. She was the person to facilitate the acquirement of my first job, my first apartment, and she saw me through my college years. Without the help of Dr. Eckstein, I often wonder if I would have ever made it out of high school with even a remote semblance of mental health.  Dr. Katalin Eckstein fostered my growth; she gave me the support and nurturing that I so desperately needed as a trouble young woman.  What I find most amazing about Dr. Eckstein is that she did all of this selflessly, because she genuinely cared about my wellbeing as her patient. This selflessness has never been exclusive to me; Dr. Eckstein authentically cares about people and provides the same level of commitment to all of her patients.  

I have seen firsthand what an extraordinarily gifted therapist Dr. Eckstein has proven herself to be. After reading the reviews that have been posted on this site, I am forced to believe that they were written by parents who have had negative experiences with her in court. I cannot fathom how they would ever be written by an actual patient of Dr. Katalin Eckstein.  I know what it means to have Dr. Eckstein as a doctor. Ive been fortunate enough to experience the transformative power of therapy alongside a skilled, patient doctor who has deftly guided me through life experiences that I would have, otherwise, been unable to navigate given my own set of coping skills.

 I can say with the utmost conviction that Dr. Katalin Eckstein is an exceptionally gifted therapist. I have recommended her to various people throughout my life and will continue to do so. I regard her professionalism and her intelligence very highly, and I feel blessed to have had her as my doctor. Contrary to what the prior reviews have stated, I know from firsthand experience that Dr. Katalin Eckstein epitomizes what it means to be a good doctor and I am quite certain that any child, or adult, would be lucky to have her as a therapist. She has an immense capacity for kindness and has a keen sense of empathy that is tremendously rewarding for a patient. I vehemently, and enthusiastically, recommend Dr. Eckstein to anyone seeking therapy, especially to children or young adults who are struggling to deal with life issues.

Agreed. It does not take a rocket scientist:

Withholding children's visits with their parent while you are awaiting payment is extortion. Period. That's illegal. That's unethical. That's harmful to families and children of divorce. And, that's nauseating.

It is irrelevant whether the payment amount due was $160, as with one of my clients who was broke, or $50,000 per quarter, as with another of my clients who was wealthy. The end result is the principle we have to stand by, or not.

Children cannot be held for ransom. Period.

I am shocked that Diane Van Ness has not yet been disbarred. I agree she is keenly manipulative, in my opinion.

If you're not an extortionist, then simply don't work with Diane Van Ness. But do not, and I repeat, do not, make fun of the parents who suffer so, raising children born with neurological/mental illnesses. The ethical goal here is to heal, and to do no harm.  Accusing the loving parent of a neurologically/mentally ill child, or making fun of them, even worse, is illegal and grounds for a huge law suit, on a variety of levels, which I do not believe either of my clients would be interested in given the years they have already lost suffering.

To me, the larger question is, besides what the writer above wrote: Who would risk their degree, license, and freedom to post pure and honest statements here? Those professionals involved who know that their reports and opinions were perjured and falsified, at the cost of their own practices, their clients' lives, and innocent children's lives. Those who have exhausted all other avenues of grievance. Those who ran up against connections, threats to reputations and practices, financial exhaustion, personal threats, and the like.

The system does not work. Period. I've been in it 26 years. It's unfortunately all about the game. Every lawyer knows it.

The public has the right under statute to be informed of opinions so they can do their own research. I can back all of my statements with explicit documentation. I have no problem "risking" any degree or license for the truth. Do you?

I find this blog feed and it's response to be sad at best.

Last time I checked the research, extortion is not committed for monetary gain, any more than rape is committed for sexual gratification. Extiortion is committed for purposes of power and control by a person who either currently allegedly believes, or in the past has allegedly believed, that they have no power and control.

I have personally prosecuted (successfully) a case in which a fairly successful businessman extorted a mere $60 from a mentally handicapped person. The case then went on, successfully, to civil court. It's not about the monetary amount.

While I am not familiar with the above mentioned doctor, Katalin Eckstein, I am fully familiar with attorney Diane M. Van Ness, and have first-hand knowledge of what is commonly known in Miami as her extortion tactics for purposes of intimidation and control. The saddest part, to me, is that she uses it in child custody cases, in which innocent families and children are hurt. If it were a business deal, it would be equally as horrendous, but children and families?

I can speak about that which I have first-hand knowlege. Diane Van Ness, Guardian Ad Litem, resorted to extortion tactics against at least three families whom I represented. All three families were of different financial strata. It is clearly not about the money, as any trained psychologist would tell you, but rather about the underlying pathology of control, in my opinion.

This woman must be stopped. As far as the psychologist mentioned above, I can only express this personal opinion:  I believe that any mental health professional should be exceedingly careful before being willing to engage in a case along with Diane Van Ness, Esq.  If she extorts and you don't, you will be intimately intertwined. If she files false reports and you follow them even innocently, you will be intimately intertwined. If she perjures, and she is known for this, you will be intimately intertwined. If she files false child abuse cases for the purposes of power and control and you fall for it, you will be intimately intertwined.

So, the larger picture, then, is, do not be connected in any way with any case with Diane Van Ness.

Perhaps this Dr. Katalin Eckstein knew... Perhaps she did not... I can only speak about the facts which I am firm about: Diane Van Ness is an extortionist, and it has nothing to do with the parent "putting on a foil hat" (?) as bizarrely stated above.

This is a sick paradigm in the 11th Circuit Court, and it must be stopped.

Did a psychologist really write this rebuttal? Wow.

So why exactly would a Psychologist who probably sent 10 years and $200,000 to become a Psychologist put their entire career (and even their freedom) at risk to take part in some evil plan?  Do you really believe that they need to extort anything from YOU?  If you spent $200k and 10 years of your life to obtain a license that allowed you to make..lets say...$100k per year..how much would you value that license?  How much money would you have to "extort" inorder to be willing to engage in activities that could result in the loss of your license?  I'm thinking at least $1-$2 million. 

So you expect people to believe that a Psychologist, who probably spent about $200,000 and 10 years on education to become a Psychologist, is going to jepordize their license and reputation?  Do you really think that a Psychologist would need to extort anything from YOU?  I'm pretty sure they can make enough money without putting their entire careers and even their freedom at risk.  I think that you should probably find a Psychologist of your own..... or might I suggest a high quality foil hat - proven to block out 98% of psychic communications from aliens and demons who tell you that every problem you cause is really caused by someone else.