Drake Institute of Behavioral Medicine: David Velkoff, MD

Life-changing. The staff are all very professional and responsive. Excellent place to address many issues. 10/10!!

As my dad said one of the best investments he ever made.

The Drake Institute changed my daughter's and my family's life forever.

My daughter had struggled with school since she started Kindergarten. Early on teachers said she'd grow out of it, but we always felt something was off. She was fidgety, couldn't focus, and her emotions would run the gamut of angry to sad any time she had to read, write, or do any school work for that matter. Top that with severe sensory issues and anxiety and school and going out into public were oftentimes a nightmare.

Fast forward to the third grade and school psychologists finally determined she suffered from ADHD and shared some of the traits of children on the autistic spectrum. It was suggested we get a further diagnosis and we instantly feared that doctors would try and medicate her. We started researching alternatives and our daughter's pediatrician casually suggested the Drake Institute. After researching it, I was skeptical. They study brainwaves, make your kid play on a computer and somehow this magically helps them? Despite reservations we contacted the institute and started the process.

What I loved about the Drake Institute is that you can tell from day one that they a) really care about their patients and b) want to make sure patients and their families know exactly what to expect. Before even stepping foot into the office my wife had a nearly 30 minute call with Dr. Velkoff discussing my daughter's issues, the program, and the process. We were then invited to the office to do an orientation where we would spend a few hours learning about the institute, the techniques they use, and the research behind it. We then met with Dr. Volkoff to discuss my daughter's situation further, answer questions, and discuss next steps. This amount of detail and insight turned my skepticism into optimism as I looked forward to what this might do for our daughter.

After the initial brain mapping my daughter completed a total of 36 sessions at The Drake Institute with the emphasis primarily on attention, while also touching on anxiety/emotional regulation. And while it didn't "cure" my daughter, this, along with the breathing exercises she was taught, have made drastic improvements to her life. We have seen improvement in her school work, behavior and emotional stability. She willingly reads and writes and is able to focus better on tasks. Her anxiety, while still a problem, is much more manageable allowing her to function better under pressure or in situations where she might become fearful.

We have already recommended the Institute to other family members and friends who have children suffering from ADHD or autism based on our daughter's improvement. The only reason I didn't give this a five star review was because we had some minor inconsistencies and issues with the front office staff in regards to scheduling, but overall we are extremely pleased with everyone at the Institute and the care my daughter received.

The cost is substantial. I Will have a behavorial update in a few weeks. We shall see.