Zipora Herzberg INTIMIDATE THREATEN ABANDON SUPPORT Lawrence New York

I initially entered therapy with Dr. Herzberg while experiencing a relapse into anorexia. I told her explicitly that I was seeking help to prevent further decline. She accepted me under Fidelis Medicaid, presenting herself as competent to handle the condition. Later in treatment, she admitted that she had no training or experience treating eating disorders.
 
My condition worsened significantly under her care. I developed severe symptoms of anorexia, orthorexia, and bulimia, to the point where I could barely function or sit for more than a few minutes. I was never referred to an eating disorder specialist, and her approach showed no clinical understanding of how to treat my symptoms. I eventually began recovering only through my own efforts—outside of her care—when I realized she could not or would not help me.

 
2. Forced High-Frequency Sessions After Educational Breakdown
 
After experiencing an educational failure tied to a learning disability, I returned to therapy in a highly vulnerable state. Rather than help stabilize me, Dr. Herzberg escalated the intensity of therapy, eventually pressuring me into five sessions per week.
 
I expressed to her multiple times that I was uncomfortable with that frequency and afraid of becoming dependent. She specifically assured me that she would let me wean off when I was ready, and that she would not withdraw support. I trusted that promise and leaned on the therapy structure she pushed for.
 
Later, she abruptly withdrew Friday and Sunday sessions—which she had originally insisted on—without any preparation or clinical transition. That sudden loss of support was devastating. The following day, I attempted suicide. I was hospitalized in a stage 3 coma, placed on life support, and nearly died.
 
While I was still in the hospital, Dr. Herzberg called to reiterate the cancellation of those sessions. I believe this action was cruel and controlling, taken while I was in an extremely vulnerable state and unable to advocate for myself.
 
3. Postpartum Trust Violated
 
After giving birth, I informed Dr. Herzberg that I needed to step back from Tuesday sessions to care for my newborn. She reassured me multiple times that Tuesdays would still be available if I ever needed them again, and that she would work around my needs.
 
When I later reached out during a stressful period to request a Tuesday session, she told me in session, “We can’t keep doing Tuesdays,” and shamed me for asking for help. I broke down crying. That moment mirrored the earlier betrayal and made me feel emotionally unsafe and abandoned once again.
 
4. Billing Fraud and Financial Coercion
 
Dr. Herzberg told me that Fidelis paid her less for virtual sessions, and in order to avoid that, she instructed me to call her ahead of time if I needed a virtual session, so that she could bill it as an in-person session. This appeared to be an intentional effort to avoid tracking and increase reimbursement by misrepresenting the format of services.
 
She also admitted to billing Fidelis for sessions I did not attend, particularly on Tuesdays. Later, when I requested support on those days, she expressed frustration at seeing me because she was trying to "back-bill" for them. This made me feel as though her financial concerns were more important than my care. I have filed a separate complaint with Fidelis SIU regarding this behavior.

5. Retraumatization and Diagnostic Mismanagement
 
While in therapy, I disclosed past abuse, but I made it clear that I was not seeking trauma work. Despite this, she initiated trauma-focused interventions that I did not consent to and was unprepared for. I became highly destabilized and eventually received a diagnosis of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).
 
Although I believe this diagnosis is valid, Dr. Herzberg admitted she had no training or experience in treating DID, yet continued to treat me. Her failure to refer me to a specialist or acknowledge her limitations resulted in further emotional harm and regression.

6. HIPAA Violation: Coercive Waiver Document
 
Dr. Herzberg gave me a waiver form stating that if I ever posted anything negative about her—even under a pseudonym—she would have the right to “respond however she deems fit, including by revealing HIPAA-protected information.”
 
This document was deeply disturbing and clearly designed to silence, intimidate, and threaten me. It violates basic confidentiality and professional ethics. I have filed a HIPAA complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding this violation.