William L Holcomb Jr, MD

You know what? So many haters who call Dr. Holcomb a «drug pusher» and think he’s rude are a bunch of cry babies.
Psychology is a «trial and error» method when it comes to effective medication to treat bipolar, depression and other mental illness.
2^nd, medication alone does not provide the best results. Some type of psycho therapy, CBT, mindfulness, or whatever type of trauma or behavioral intervention to develop coping skills is essential to managing symptoms of mental illness.
Dr. Holcomb was there for me and listened to me when I told him I had severe anxiety due to a stressful job and past trauma and prescribed me conservative amounts of benzodiazepines to relieve those symptoms after multiple other doctors in Austin did NOT listen to what I was saying or asking because they are too damn uptight and think everybody who walks through their door is a drug seeker.
When I see Dr. Holcomb he asks the appropriate questions to gage where or how I am in managing my mental illness.
He is not there to listen to your sob story he’s there to prescribe medication to manage symptoms of mental illness. If you want to talk coping skills or exploring trauma, that is why he has groups and that is why there are counselors and social workers.
If I had a problem with my medication, I’m confident Dr. Holcomb would listen and make a recommendation. His schedule is flexible and he has a new office on Bee Caves. His staff and the atmosphere of his clinic is comfortable and I’ve never waited longer than 5 – 10 min from my scheduled visit.
Anyway, those who have a different opinion I strongly feel have a misconstrued understanding of what a Psychiatrist does and quite honestly is completely overlooking the fact that medical science is «trial and error», when it comes to pharmaceutical intervention. There is no miracle drug that is going to «cure your ills» and when you find a doctor like Bud who listens without providing bullshit arrogant opinions about who you are, I think you should consider yourself damn lucky.
By the way, I’ve been a patient for over a year and his dogs are comforting and only add to the charm of his practice.

This guy is nothing more than a scam artist. It is really too bad Unilocal won’t allow for 0 stars. Asking 1 – 10 questions about how you are feeling just to do what he does with exerybody else and give a prescription of Effexor (albeit a very powerful drug with many side effects that is very difficult to get off of) does not address anything. Anyone can do that. How about asking more relevant questions that address the issue at hand? He should have his license removed. RUN AWAY AS FAST AS YOU CAN FROM THIS FRAUDSTER!

I’ll sum up your appointment with Dr. Holcomb:
«How do you rate your scale of loneliness over the past week on a scale of 1 – 10?»
[you answer]
«Yeah, I hear ya, I hear ya. How do you rate your scale of depression over the past week on a scale of 1 – 10?»
[You answer]
‘Yeah, I hear ya, I hear ya. How do you rate…“
This continues for 5 – 6 questions, he ignores all of your questions and concerns, prescribes you Effexor and chases you out of his office. This is, of course, after seeing you almost a hour late for a half hour appointment. He does not listen to his patients’ concerns, he does not answer questions, and then will try to diagnose you with worse things if you try to argue with him.
Not worth the fact that he takes insurance. Pay out the nose for a non-​insurance shrink and go that route. This guy cares more about his dog than his patients.

I went to see Dr. Holcomb on the recommendation of a friend, and am glad I did. If you really want to process your *core* issues and be rid of the baggage that has been weighing you down for years, I highly recommend him. His approach works. I have done much healing through group therapy… have been with him and the group for a little over 2 years now. My medications are right on track, too. They are the perfect combination for me, a person who has lived with fear/​anger/​anxiety most of my life. I am slowly but surely becoming whole again. Best psychiatrist in town!

As others reported, his «exam» consists of 5 questions on a 1 – 10 scale. He does not listen to the patient. After spending $ 700 for a USELESS group therapy session, he suggested more therapy which I explained I did not have money for at this time. He said he wouldn’t treat me anymore since all I wanted was pills and was not serious about getting better and listening to his recommendations. I left crying, and he made NO attempt to stop me and talk to me about my feelings. In addition, I was charged $ 25 so that he could talk to one of my other doctors. To me, this is part of patient care. To him, just another way to make a buck. He has no real concern for his patients, and it’s blatantly obvious. This has completely soured me against the psych community in general.

He is the worst Psychiatrist I have ever seen. He literally uses the same treatment he learned 40 yrs ago. I am now in the process of getting his license removed. I am, go figure, friends with George W. Bush and Dr Phillip McGrraw. through my grandfather. Please do no see this man. He is a quack. Best of Luck.

Please do not see this DR. The reviews are all so accurate to my own experience, I have no need to add anything that I personally experienced while under his care. Someone who has the energy ought to report him to the Board. Avoid avoid avoid!

The worst «doctor» I have ever encountered. This person took me off all my effective medications and told me all I needed was «good group therapy» for my issues. I literally begged him for medicine because I had deteriorated so badly. He just smirked and declined my request. Please beware of him. He really is that bad.

I was actually very relieved when I read some of the reviews on here. I also saw Dr. Holcomb and I was very displeased and irritated when I left the office. I felt very much like he wanted to dig into my childhood and discover problems there without even addressing my current situation. He also prescribed Effexor for me and recommended group counseling. When I asked him a question about my medication and counseling, his response was always «see how you’re pointing your anxiety at that?» without answering the actual question.
My general assessment of him would be that he does not take an individualized approach to treatment. When it comes to anxiety and depression, I think this is extremely important. Unless it just happens to be that group counseling and Effexor work for you.

Do not, do not, DO NOT go see Dr. Holcomb. He had me heavily overmedicated and refused to acknowledge the side effects I was having as side effects from the medicine and said I just needed more therapy. I switched doctors and my new psychiatrist and psychologist were apalled at how much medication I was on for the symptoms I had been showing, AND and how he does NOT listen to his patients.
I’ve spent many hours in a variety of therapists offices and his group therapy is a complete joke. The patients who are really struggling get stuck because they don’t have a better option and don’t know what they are missing by having him as their doctor and counselor; and the folks fortunate enough to not be in that position leave!
His staff is unfriendly and unresponsive and he doesn’t care.

I cannot believe any respectable university gave him a license to treat people. He is incredibly rude, rushes the appointments and is way too quick to prescribe incorrect medicines. And as this is a review for the «physician» and not the entire practice in general, I won’t rate the staff… The entire office is a confused, disorganized mess.

I do not recommend this man; William, Bud, Will or any other first name used with the last name Holcomb Jr. MD. I visited him, unwarned, because he had openings and took my insurance.

The most condescending, self-​important human — let alone physician — I’ve ever encountered. I hired (yes, one hires medical doctors) for his expertise. During the initial consultation, Dr. Holcomb was completely unconcerned with the actual reason for my visit and instead focused on my childhood and any possible history of abuse, of which there was none. His continuous eye rolls, smug comments, and sarcastic tone had me absolutely infuriated. I left with a handful of prescriptions, despite my insistence that some of them outright conflicted with each other. Funny enough, as another reviewer mentioned, his top choice was Effexor. Dr. Effexor indeed.
During my follow up visit 2 weeks later, Dr. Effexor asked if I was being treated for my current issues. Really? This is why I employed him in the first place.
If you are looking for a free drug handout, this is your man. He will prescribe anything you ask for and more. If you are looking for a reputable, honest physician, take your business and insurance money else.

He’s alright for a temp if u rly be a psych but they call him dr Effexor for a reason

Does not listen, condescending, pompous, prone to interrupting while the patient is responding to his questions, dismissive of concerns regarding medicine and treatment.
I came in to get a refill of my main medicine, and he told me to my face THREE times that he «didn’t like» that brand and it was «just a patent extender» to get the pharmaceutical companies more money, and I had to explain to him THREE times, that this brand worked, and the other medicines he had suggested have not worked on me, and that I would like to stick with what I know I works, rather than risk getting worse because of trying a different treatment which has not worked with my body in the past.
He did eventually write a prescription for the medicine I requested, but refused to give me prescriptions for the rest of my previous regimen which had worked quite well, citing addiction problems for one of the meds, even though I explained to him that I went through one 30-​count bottle of that medicine over a period of two or three years and have never had problems with addiction, even on traditionally addictive medications.
The office here also makes you leave a deposit over the phone before your first visit, in the amount of $ 60, which is nonrefundable if you miss your initial appointment, but will be counted towards your first appointment with the remainder refunded to you or counting towards subsequent visits if you show up for your first appoint.
Of note, something that is listed nowhere is that this office is located in converted apartment buildings, so the office is compact and crowded, especially the waiting area, and the office is located on the third floor with no elevator access.
The music in the lobby (in June, mind you) went from a techno version of a Christmas song, to Shirley Bassey, to not well done honky tonk while I was waiting.

This man is the worst physician I have ever seen. He refused to answer my questions and repeatedly interrupted me throughout the entire appointment. He shrugs his shoulders constantly to every question or concern I had, and told me that the policy at their clinic is «Be nice or leave.» I was blown away. He also informed me that he «appreciated» me telling him how to do his job. I was trying extremely hard to be polite and do not believe I wasn’t being nice, but when a physician refuses to answer your questions and concerns about medications and treatments and shrugs his shoulders to everything you say one does become upset. However I know I was as polite as possible. At checkout I noticed they actually have a small sign on the desk that says «Be nice or Leave.» I was crying so hard when I left I couldn’t breathe. I had to sit in my car for over half an hour before I was calm enough to drive home.
I have never seen a sign like that before at a physicians office, and it confirms my belief that he must upset so many patients that he had to have a sign made! Pathetic. He should have his license revoked. Also explains why all reviews online are less than 2 stars. I am still disgusted with how horrible my experience was.