Too Good to be True?*
(Also watch Erin and husband still cured 5 years later)
If you haven’t yet read the testimonials of previous patients, I recommend that you do so before reading any further.
Now that you’ve read through the testimonials, you’re probably feeling validated that your condition is real (and has a name!), and relieved to know you’re not alone. And if you’re anything like me, you might also be thinking… this just sounds too good to be true. Whatever you’re thinking— if you’re considering making the Women’s Therapy Center your solution, read this.
In this day and age, when anyone can post anything on the World Wide Web, it is perfectly normal to be cautious and somewhat skeptical. As a former patient myself, (with no motive to write this other than the desire to let you know that you’re not the first to have doubts) I’d like to offer you, as a prospective patient, some ideas/advice that might help allay some of your concerns/fears.
My first recommendation: Read the entire website. (I read it 3 times — every link.) There is a lot of information to take in, but it’s all relevant and reassuring.
Here’s what was going through my mind in the time between my initial contact with Women’s Therapy Center and the time I actually arrived in New York:
Is this a scam?
Short answer: No.
But, here’s what I did: I did a search for the Women’s Therapy Center on the Better Business Bureau website. (You will not find them there because they are a medical facility, but at the time, I did not know this.)
Next, I did a Google search for the Women’s Therapy Center. Every link to their website appeared. So, I added keywords such as “fraud,” “scam” and “lawsuit.” I was looking for any negative publicity I could find. If you have similar concerns, try this.
Are they real professionals?
My husband did a Google search of both of their names separately, to verify the degrees, training, and expertise that they claimed to have on their site. A list of professional biographies, journal articles, conventions, and other verifiable information came up. Click on any or all of it. Read it. Their qualifications are many.
He also went to the websites of the universities they have their degrees from, to verify that they are real institutions. Whenever he found references (colleges, women’s health groups, conferences) to either Dr. Katz or Dr. Tabisel, he cross-referenced this information to find out more about the group itself.
I watched the video links (to the Canadian TV segment) and saw what they both looked like. Then, when I called to speak directly with them, I listened to make sure their voices matched up.
My mom gave me some great advice. She told me that if you have doubts about people and whether or not they (or their businesses) are legitimate, ask them who their critics are. She said people who claim not to have any critics are either 1. liars, or 2. hiding something. So, when I called and spoke to Dr. Katz, I did just that. So, if you have similar concerns, ask. They’ll tell you who their critics are, and what they are criticized for.
When you call and speak to them directly, you can ask about professional organizations of which they are members. Take that information to your current physician — s/he can “check them out,” adding to their credibility. They welcome you to do this!
Is the 95% cure rate real?
Call and ask about their treatment program. One of the first things they’ll do for you is giving you names and phone numbers of former patients who have agreed to speak about their experiences. Some of their former patients are medical professionals themselves!
Am I actually speaking to a former patient when I call these people?
My first thought when I was given 3 names and phone numbers were “I bet these people are either paid to talk to me or relatives of these doctors.” (Was I skeptical, or what?!) Since you will only be given the first name, if you want to verify that these people are who they say they are, do what I did. Go to the Internet, and do a reverse phone number search. Go to Yellowpages.com — click on White pages — and enter the phone number. The full name of the person will come up, along with their home state. I matched that against what I was told by Dr. Katz on the phone—she’d just given me a first name and a region of the country — i.e. Midwest. Once I verified that these were, in fact, real people, I called and talked to them. This is your chance to ask anything you want about the program. Use it!!!
If and when you decide to make the trip…
Call the hotels that are on their recommended list. Many of them offer discounted rates for patients of the Women’s Therapy Center. It is your choice where you stay — but you can use these places to verify that there is a place called the Women’s Therapy Center and that other patients have stayed in that very hotel.
So, IS IT too good to be true?
Short answer: NO!
But I know what you’re thinking…
How can these 2 women claim to solve a problem in 2 weeks that NO other doctor I have ever seen could in any length of time?
Nothing that I could put in writing can answer this adequately, except that they can, and they do! So, if you are ready to put this chapter of your life behind you, I encourage you to contact them. You will get all of the answers you need, you will not be pressured at all, and you will not offend them by asking questions — that’s part of being an educated consumer.
This is an investment in your life and your happiness — and it merits thorough research and consideration. I wish you the very best*.
~Erin C. (cured of vaginismus July 2006)
* Results may vary from person to person