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Dr. Caroline Ahlers, MD

Dr. Caroline Ahlers, MD

Psychiatry*
15+ years of experience

Dr. Caroline Ahlers, MD is a psychiatrist in Falls Church, VA and has over 15 years of experience in the medical field. She graduated from Ross University School of Medicine in 2006. She is affiliated with Inova Fairfax Hospital. She is accepting new patients.

2.7 Star Rating
Based on 41 reviews 2.7 Star Rating (41 reviews)

Practice

105 N Virginia Ave Ste 200 Falls Church, VA 22046

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Dr. Ahlers' Reviews

Likelihood to recommend Dr. Ahlers

2.7
41 ratings, 16 with a written review
5 star
39%
39%
4 star
0%
0%
3 star
2%
2%
2 star
10%
10%
1 star
49%
49%

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The worst excuse for a Dr and human being!
She was perfectly sane in the first session but prescribed a large dose of med that was a little shocking. I had reaction to med and tried repeatedly to contact her thru email and phone to no avail. She is the worst excuse of a Dr ever!!!
What went well
No results
What could be improved
  • I didn't feel respected
  • Difficult to schedule appointment
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Staff wasn't friendly
  • Appointment was rushed
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
  • Long wait times
2 others found this helpful
Helpful
Oct 30, 2023
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Abandoned me for no reason
I had been seeing Dr Ahlers for about 2 years. She was often difficult to reach by email and could not be reached by phone at all. She has no staff—she is her own staff. I needed an appointment with her to get my meds renewed, but I had to cancel due to an emergency. (She had canceled an appointment on me just the previous month.) I tried to reschedule to no avail. The only time she responded to me was to suggest a day/time I couldn’t do, and then she refused to respond to subsequent emails. Do not go to this doctor. I wish I had seen the negative reviews before I went.
What went well
  • Office environment
  • Explained conditions well
What could be improved
  • Difficult to schedule appointment
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Staff wasn't friendly
  • Appointment was rushed
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
  • Long wait times
3 others found this helpful
Helpful
Mar 28, 2023
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My initial appt. with her was very helpful, as I was looking for a new & younger psychiatrist. Her communication skills are horrible, after 1 week! no email or tel. call for need to change an appt. Now I'm looking elsewhere, not wasting time with a doctor who can't communicate w/pts.
What went well
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
What could be improved
  • Office environment
  • Difficult to schedule appointment
5 others found this helpful
Helpful
Aug 31, 2020
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I hate to write a negative review because I actually like Dr.Ahlers and the medication recommendations she made were great for me, but her communication is terrible. Getting a response from email or phone often requires multiple attempts, and when I had to reschedule my last appointment (more than 5 days in advance) I never received a response. I emailed several times and even phoned but still no response. I even asked her to just let me know if she couldn’t see me anymore so I could begin looking for a new dr. I ended up running out of my meds and had to find a new dr who couldn’t get me in until 2 weeks from when my meds ran out. I feel a bit betrayed and disappointed.
What went well
  • Office environment
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
What could be improved
  • Difficult to schedule appointment
8 others found this helpful
Helpful
Mar 06, 2020
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If you want a trustworthy Dr., look elsewhere. Dr. Ahlers employs a staff of incompetents (who don't know the difference between "There" and "Their" or "To" and "Too"). imo the staff needed more therapy than the patients - One staff member was married for a little over 3 months before separating from her husband. If that doesn't raise an alarm then you must have been cited for being "Drunk In Public" on November 09, 2018. The inmates run the asylum here. BEWARE!
What went well
No results
What could be improved
  • Difficult to schedule appointment
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Staff wasn't friendly
  • Appointment was rushed
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
1 other person found this helpful
Helpful
J. P. Layhee – Oct 11, 2019
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Dr. Ahlers has helped me out tremendously to say the least. She is very professional and fully invested in her patients. She also is very kind and I’m so thankful to have found her and I strongly recommend her.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
No results
3 others found this helpful
Helpful
Apr 09, 2019
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I saw doctor Ahlers for first time about three months ago it has been wonderful she helped me get my life back together.. always caring and passionate about her patient
What went well
No results
What could be improved
No results
3 others found this helpful
Helpful
Apr 09, 2019
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Horrible doctor that's in the wrong profession. Unreliable and untrustworthy to say the very least.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
  • Office environment
  • Difficult to schedule appointment
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Staff wasn't friendly
  • Appointment was rushed
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
  • Long wait times
7 others found this helpful
Helpful
Aug 07, 2018
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if you are considering starting a relationship with this doctor, I highly advise you to look elsewhere. her complete lack of ethics and regard for her patients is truly unforgivable, and will leave you with more problems than you came in with. it was impossible to make an appointment because she doesn't respond to calls, and e-mails are even worse.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
  • Office environment
  • Difficult to schedule appointment
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Staff wasn't friendly
  • Appointment was rushed
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
  • Long wait times
9 others found this helpful
Helpful
May 16, 2018
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My 6 month relationship with this doctor was a disaster - She routinely had “family emergencies” leading to multiple cancellations of our appointments when I was in a dire need of a med change for medications she recklessly prescribed me given the nature of my medical history. You can get better treatment at a free clinic than going to her.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
  • Office environment
  • Difficult to schedule appointment
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Staff wasn't friendly
  • Appointment was rushed
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
  • Long wait times
10 others found this helpful
Helpful
May 01, 2018
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This physician, and I am using the term generously, should not be permitted to prescribe anything to anyone, let alone someone with a psychiatric disorder. She is unreliable, unprofessional, and lacks any sense of empathy for her patients, unless it suits her personal agenda. Please God, do yourself a favor and find another doctor. If you fail to heed these words, I can assure that you will regret it- soon. Worst doctor I’ve ever encountered in my life. Make sure you read other reviews!
What went well
No results
What could be improved
  • Difficult to schedule appointment
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Staff wasn't friendly
  • Appointment was rushed
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
9 others found this helpful
Helpful
Apr 21, 2018
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Dr Alhers is by far the worst psychiatrist I have ever seen. She was invalidating, was constantly looking distracted and struggled to find words while talking to me. Honestly she seemed like SHE was off HER meds. She prescribed me medication that any psychiatrist with sense would not have given me, as it led to my condition exponentially worsening.
What went well
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Wait times
What could be improved
  • Office environment
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Staff wasn't friendly
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
10 others found this helpful
Helpful
Apr 06, 2018
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Doctor is wonderful, and her assistant is super nice. Very helpful.
What went well
  • Office environment
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
  • Wait times
What could be improved
No results
1 other person found this helpful
Helpful
Falls Church, VA – Jul 15, 2017
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I made appointment with Dr. Ahlers and she was very nice. I like her. I am looking forward to seeing her in future appointments.
What went well
  • Office environment
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
  • Wait times
What could be improved
No results
Helpful
Jenny Lynne in Falls Church, VA – Jun 02, 2017
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Great office staff, and super intelligent doctor. Recommend Dr. Caroline Ahlers 100 percent.
What went well
  • Office environment
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
  • Wait times
What could be improved
No results
1 other person found this helpful
Helpful
M. in McLean, VA – Mar 23, 2017
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Horrible experience w/ Dr. Ahlers. Was diagnosed by her w/ bi-polar & ocd; was put on prozac/antidepressant. After having a psychotic break & becoming increasingly angry & out of control, I find out was caused by prozac. After meeting w/ multiple medical professionals, was told that someone w/ bi-polar is never to be on an anti-depressant because it puts them in a manic state; their emotions become uncontrollable, which Ahlers should have known. No follow up & badmouthed me to another patient.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
  • Difficult to schedule appointment
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Staff wasn't friendly
  • Appointment was rushed
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
17 others found this helpful
Helpful
Alexandria, VA – Apr 18, 2016
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About Me

care philosophy

I specialize in treating challenging psychiatric conditions and aim for remission of symptoms and maximal quality of life for my patients. I feel that open and free communication between doctor and patient is essential and treat my patients as equal partners in our therapeutic alliance.
  • Psychiatry

*Healthgrades does not verify qualifications for medical specialties. Please verify your provider's specialty and qualifications directly with your provider and applicable medical board.

  • Georgetown University

    Internship Hospital, 2008
  • Ross University School Of Medicine

    Medical School, 2006
  • National Institutes Of Health, National Library Of Medicine

    Fellowship Hospital, 2006
  • University Of California At San Diego

    1998
American Board of Medical Specialties®
American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology®
Psychiatry
For detailed information about any of the below board actions, please search for the provider's records on the linked state licensing board or the Federation of State Medical Boards. To learn more about the difference between these sources, please refer to our FAQs.
Healthgrades has not received any data indicating a board action exists for this provider.

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Locations

Practice

Office105 N Virginia Ave Ste 200 Falls Church, VA 22046
1
Thrive Psychology PLLC405 N Washington St Ste 102 Falls Church, VA 22046
2

Affiliated Hospitals

  • Inova Fairfax Hospital

    3300 Gallows Rd
    Falls Church, VA 22042
    Recipient of 42
    hospital awards

    America's 250 Best Hospitals Award™ (2025, 2024)

    Top in the nation for overall patient experience based on nine measures related to doctor and nurse communication, hospital cleanliness and noise levels, and medication and post-discharge care instructions

    Outstanding Patient Experience Award™ (2024, 2023)

    Top in the nation for overall patient experience based on nine measures related to doctor and nurse communication, hospital cleanliness and noise levels, and medication and post-discharge care instructions

    View all awards

    How patients felt about the care they received at this hospital.

    88%
    Patients said they were given information about recovering at home

    4% higher than the national average

    83%
    Patients would recommend the hospital to friends and family

    18% higher than the national average

    View all patient feedback
Learn more about how Healthgrades measures Hospital Quality