Dr. Rena Goodfriend-Leve, MD
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry•Female•Age 65
Accepting new patients
Northshore University Health System
2650 Ridge Ave Evanston, IL 60201Dr. Rena Goodfriend-Leve, MD is a Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Specialist in Evanston, IL and has over 31 years of experience in the medical field. She graduated from Rush Medical College Of Rush University medical school in 1990. She is affiliated with Evanston Hospital. She is accepting new patients and has indicated that she accepts telehealth appointments. Be sure to call ahead with Dr. Goodfriend-Leve to book an appointment.
Dr. Goodfriend-Leve's Reviews
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What went well
- Wait times (23)
- Trusted the provider's decisions (10)
- Appointment wasn't rushed (8)
What could be improved
- Didn't listen or answer questions (29)
- Appointment was rushed (27)
- Didn't explain conditions well (27)
Reply Flag
I saw Dr. Goodfriend over the course of 7 years and built a strong and trusting relationship with her. Other reviews mention short sessions, which is true, but for me, if I ever needed a longer session she would happily talk however long I needed. Dr. Goodfriend has always been very easy to work with while trying to find the correct medications and dosages. I trust her medical diagnosis, and I never felt like the short appointments limited her ability to manage my medications. I would say Dr. Goodfreind would be a perfect match for any patient who values their time not being wasted and wants a psychiatrist who they can see long term over many stages in life. She was the perfect psychiatrist for me throughout all of high school and college.
What went well
- Appointment scheduling
- Trusted the provider's decisions
What could be improved
No results
Jul 22, 2020
Reply Flag
15 minutes late. Spent literally 3 minutes with me after telling her I had a pretty big set back. Added another med. Hospital location is a joke. Barely says anything or asks questions.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
No results
Booooo – May 18, 2020
Reply Flag
Blamed and interrogated me for wanting a transfer of care, then said "you look like ur about to cry" in the most demeaning tone. Given the fact that many of the people I know in Evanston see her (she sees tons of patients) and have all been also misdiagnosed or made to feel horrible about themselves ( or in the case of one of my friends, wound up dead?), it is pretty clear that she has very little respect for her patients.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
No results
Apr 18, 2020
Reply Flag
We had wonderful experience with Dr. Goodfriend-Leve. She is very warm and caring. I found her to be extremely competent in dealing with my 15-year-old daughter!
What went well
No results
What could be improved
No results
M. Guerrero – Mar 07, 2020
Reply Flag
(If I could give 0 stars I would) Pretty much echoing all the other reviews. First experience with a psychiatrist so I didn’t know what was normal. How Dr. Goodfriend treats her patients is not normal or is it ethical. All my appts would last no longer than 3 minutes and somehow she had me on the strongest dose of three medications. I felt worse and worse due to all the unnecessary drugs in my system but instead of acknowledging that she kept making up different disorders to try and Medicate as well. After experiencing switching to a new psychiatrist that treats his patients with respect and compassion and does not try to prescribe every medication I realized how truly awful this lady is.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
No results
Nov 08, 2019
Reply Flag
We have seen her three times it takes longer to walk to her office from the parking lot then the time she takes to speak with us. I’m looking for a new psychiatrist as I am writing this.
What went well
- Wait times
What could be improved
- Difficult to schedule appointment
- Office environment
- Staff wasn't friendly
- Appointment was rushed
- Didn't listen or answer questions
- Didn't explain conditions well
- Didn't trust the provider's decisions
Nov 06, 2019
Reply Flag
She is the wrong field with her dry and uncompassionate attitude. I would never ever see her again or recommend her to anyone
What went well
No results
What could be improved
- Didn't trust the provider's decisions
Sep 10, 2019
Reply Flag
I've been seeing her for a while now, the only reason I've stayed with her is due to sheer laziness and having a busy schedule. I'm here to echo everything else that's been said about her. She's cold, defensive, and has been pushing larger doses on me for no reason. Our meetings take literally 3 minutes and somehow in that time she comes to the conclusion that I need a higher dose. I'm baffled as to why she became a doctor in the first place because this chick literally has no empathy or people skills. If you're thinking about booking her - don't do it homie.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
No results
Anxiety/Depression Patient – Jul 25, 2019
Reply Flag
Dr. Goodfriend-Leve was astonishlingly bad at listening to, working with, and following up with me to ensure the proper medications were prescribed for my mental health concerns. I felt she lacked any real interest in understanding me and working through pharmacologically my concerns, and my takeaway was she was neither sufficiently genuine, empathetic, or knowledgeable to be a provider for me.
What went well
- Office environment
- Wait times
What could be improved
- Appointment was rushed
- Didn't listen or answer questions
- Didn't explain conditions well
- Didn't trust the provider's decisions
ADR – Jul 20, 2019
Reply Flag
I’ve been seeing her for a couple years and I haven’t had a single good experience with her. Every time I see her I feel worse. I don’t feel like she really listens and she barely looks at me. Each appointment lasts for no longer than 5 minutes which is ridiculous. Definitely not worth the money or effort. Even when I was doing poorly she just told me to come back in a month and didn’t change a thing. Also, they make it difficult to get refills on your medication when you need it. The only reason I stayed with her for so long was because I didn’t want to go through the trouble of finding a new psychiatrist. When I finally tried to see another doctor in the practice I was turned down and forced to continue seeing the same bad doctor. I’m going to see a new doctor at a new practice now. Hopefully I have a better experience. Overall Dr. Goodfriend-Leve is a terrible psychiatrist and I wouldn’t recommend her to my worst enemy.
What went well
- Wait times
What could be improved
- Difficult to schedule appointment
- Appointment was rushed
- Didn't listen or answer questions
- Didn't explain conditions well
- Didn't trust the provider's decisions
Jun 12, 2019
Reply Flag
She is cold, uncaring, and incompetent. She prescribed the same medication to my son twice even though my son had a horrible reaction the first time he took it. She tried to do this again, but I caught the error the second time because I took to checking up on every prescription after the first disaster. I don't think she ever looks at her notes and has no bedside manner, which is pretty bad if you deal with kids who are already stressed and depressed. We showed up at a confirmed appointment and after waiting for a half hour were told she wasn't even in the building. Stay far, far away.
What went well
- Appointment scheduling
What could be improved
- Didn't listen or answer questions
- Didn't explain conditions well
Jun 06, 2019
Reply Flag
I normally don't leave reviews, but felt I needed to after seeing all of these negative ones. Dr Goodfriend-Leve isn't effusive or dynamic, but she IS effective and efficient. I've found her to be remarkably caring and interested, and never felt pressured for time. I think she's conservative with medications, but I think that's what you want with children and adolescents.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
No results
North Shore Mom – Jan 05, 2019
Reply Flag
The doctor is cold but competent. Her nurse Ann Marie actively tries to block patients from receiving the medications the doctor prescribes. Avoid.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
No results
Dec 09, 2018
Reply Flag
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I’ve been on antidepressants for around 10 years and would like to go off them at some point. I told her & she said “if you want to go off medications then find a new doctor.” Tried to switch me to probably the most expensive antidepressant, $1200 for 90 day supply. When I told her I couldn’t afford it, switched me to the second highest priced medication and increased the dosages of my other meds. Pill pusher, made me feel like I was wasting her time. Shouldn’t be in this field.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
No results
Freyja in Evanston, IL – Oct 20, 2018
Reply Flag
uncompassionate, selfish, and distant psychiatrist. Doesn't care about the patients at all, she only cares about the money she receives. Constantly denying refills because of an overdue check up, even though I'm 2000 miles away at college. Had to fight for a month just to get my prescription refilled. The nurse is also rude and generally distant. Horrible communication. Don't see her it will not turn out well.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
- Difficult to schedule appointment
- Office environment
- Staff wasn't friendly
- Appointment was rushed
- Didn't listen or answer questions
- Didn't explain conditions well
- Didn't trust the provider's decisions
Logan in Richmond, OR – Oct 06, 2018
Reply Flag
If giving 0 stars was an option I would select 0 stars over the 1 star I am giving Dr. Goodfriend Leve and her nurse Ann Marie. I recommend selecting another physician unless you want to fight for your controlled substance refills even after you have taken your child for an office visit. All you will get are excuses and a lack of bed-side manner. Moreover, you even have to fight for her to call you back if you page. Do your job Dr. and fill your patient refills timely, not a high expectation.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
- Difficult to schedule appointment
- Office environment
- Staff wasn't friendly
- Long wait times
- Appointment was rushed
- Didn't listen or answer questions
- Didn't explain conditions well
- Didn't trust the provider's decisions
Glenview, IL – Apr 30, 2018
Reply Flag
I hold NorthShore University HealthSystem in high regard overall, yet I am very disappointed with this individual. Rena is not professional and has no bedside manner. My child is currently being treated by her yet their conditions are worsening. The unfortunate thing is that she has repeatedly dismissed my concerns. I truly wish there was better recourse than having to post comments. Do not see this doctor even as a last resort.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
No results
Feb 15, 2018
Reply Flag
I? took my 15 year old daughter Dr Goodfriend-Leve for her depression and anxiety. The doctor was cold, quick, and only offered to increase her anti-depressant medication despite multiple other cues my daughter offered about nightmares, etc. She made my daughter defensive and hopeless. My daughter was hospitalized for her depression; this doctor was on call that weekend for the unit. When she saw my daughter she said dryly “What are YOU doing here?” Needless to say, we switched psychiatrist.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
No results
Skokie, IL – Nov 08, 2017
Reply Flag
Came to her at a very vulnerable place in my life, have just been dealing with the lost of a parent and found myself depressed. The second med we tried didn't work out, she just told me to stop taking it.. Which led me to have suicidal thoughts and spiral out of control. It is not safe to go cold turkey off of a depression med. When I told her what happened she didn't seem to care. Her nurse was also very rude and condescending.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
No results
Stephanie in Chicago, IL – Oct 11, 2017
Reply Flag
My daughter saw this doctor for depression. Despite a history of seizures in the past (she was seizure free for four years), she was given a medication with seizures as a prominent side effect. This medication was prescribed in an amount far beyond FDA recommended dosing. My daughter had multiple seizures, called the doctor, did not get an answer for over 48 hours. She had a seizure in the street, almost got hit by a bus and was hospitalized. Don't go to this doctor if you have a choice.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
No results
Evanston, IL – Apr 21, 2017