Been with them for a lot of years. Together we've experienced Joy in recovery and heartbreak in relapse. This place has both saved my life and changed it forever. This recovering addict's opinion is these men and women are both professional and extremely caring. They offer group therapy with a licensed counselor, multiple amazing psychiatrists and individualized counseling with a variety of counselors with endless certifications. If not here I pray you find it somewhere. I believe in you read more

Great staff and Dr. A is the best. So helpful and caring. It's like a spa for your soul.

My experience with Barrier Island Psychiatry has been enhanced by Jennifer Hays. Ms. Hays' subtle approach is intelligent, well studied, funny, and filled with compassion. I felt so comfortable as she was my first impression of the kind of service to expect. I have had tons of therapy, yes, tons and she is capable of standing her own with any age or status in the community. My road is hard I have circled the sun many times trust is imperative. Not a very easy task especially in treatment. Barrier Island has been a lifesaver I recommend to anyone suffering any myriad of issues. read more

I have suffered from depression since childhood and have been through about 2 decades of an attempt to find proper treatment. Coming to Barrier Island Psychiatry was about the best decision I ever made. For the first time in my life, I found both a nurse practitioner and therapist who made my life a little bit more manageable. Julia was great - she talked through things with me in order to figure out which medications worked and which ones didn't. Claire was a god-send. I don't think I will ever find anyone who listened as well as she does. She worked with a variety of issues and treatment options, and gave many different helpful suggestions (books, phone apps, movies even!) She introduced me to DBT, and I don't think I'll ever want to do CBT again! Overall, I'm sad that I'm no longer working with the people at Barrier Island. I moved across the country and have had a hard time finding people with the availability, techniques, and ability that the people at Barrier Island Psychiatry. read more

Okay, so while I do have a few issues of my own, I did not exactly visit for myself but went with my good friend P. The office was very nice and well run, extremely friendly staff, friend was taken on time and he came out with a much improved outlook. He had recently been through a divorce and his ex is a total "i will not even say what she is" and my friend is the nicest person, knowing his ex i can totally relate to the crap she has put him through. Anyway, no meds for him (good thing), just a happier P with no hatred or malice, just kindness and understanding... WOW! I did meet his Dr., Dr Connie Alexander and she is such a good person! Kind, well balanced and very attractive!!! No wonder P sees her! hahaha Before I left I seriously considered making an appt for me but I'm OK, are you OK? read more

Dr. Alexander, in my opinion, is as good as it gets in the world of psychiatry!! She's straight forward and no nonsense and, I believe, truly cares about her patients in a big way. Best, Eric W. read more

I thought long and hard about writing this review, however after much consideration, felt it needed to be written. I mean, hey, who wants to write a review regarding psychiatric care - I didn't for a long time because of the stigma still attached to mental illnesses in general. Being one that was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, PTSD from severe trauma, and anxiety, for many years I thought 'broken' and hopeless best described me - no light at the end of my tunnel. I was 100% surrounded by darkness although great at putting on a smile for others to hide my sadness and pain. I wore many masks. After struggling many years I decided to seek help. Again, knowing the nasty stigma attached to mental illnesses my goal was to find someone knowledgeable, empathetic, caring, understanding, and real (down to earth - not stiff around the collar). I found these characteristics and more on June 2014 with Julia Rodriguez at Barrier Islands Psychiatry. Asking for help is a difficult thing for most - especially for one with trust issues, like myself. I can honestly say I felt safe during my initial session with her. Yes, I felt like throwing up prior to meeting her, but remember I struggle with anxiety. ;) With time (approximately after 3 sessions) that trust developed and I felt I was with the perfect healthcare provider regarding my mental health. I wasn't used to a pdoc actually listening. In the past I had pdocs that had the prescription pad ready as soon as I walked in. Unfortunately, that was my 'norm' regarding mental health treatment and care until I met Julia. She doesn't rush one in and out and ALWAYS ends each session with "is there anything else you want to discuss today". I was SHOCKED at first when she asked this because my experience with pdocs was they see a patient for 15 minutes with a prescription pad in hand and quickly rush them out the door for the next patient. What I'm reiterating is Julia Rodriguez REALLY cares about her patients/clients. My life is not perfect by far, but I've come a long way since the day I initially walked in Julia's office. I have faith, hope, and can see a small light at the end of the tunnel today - dim, but there is a light, and for that I'm truly grateful. With that small light there is hope for tomorrow. I've remained in darkness for far too long. I had no hope, which isn't a good place to be. What gave me hope, strength and courage to continue my fight were these two sentences from Julia - "I know things feel awful right now, but there is hope. I have hope for you". These two sentences still resonate with me today. POWERFUL WORDS!!!! Today I have hope thanks to Julia!!!! And that's enough for me. I KNOW I will one day be dancing, competing in pageants, and doing all those wonderful things that I used to enjoy. My mental illness will NOT win or define me. Julia, I can't thank you enough for helping me reclaim my life. I'm forever grateful. For all those reading this review contemplating seeking mental health care, please trust me when I say Julia Rodriguez is an excellent provider. The stigma regarding mental health needs to end. People should not be embarrass to seek help. It is my goal by writing this review to share that Julia is above the rest in regards to treating the whole person. She will not just push pills - she will listen. I've grown so much since being in treatment with her and am now excited about my life. It was truly one of the best decision I've made for myself. Thank you, Julia Rodriguez. I'm now living and not just existing. Today I have a life with meaning and purpose thanks to Julia Rodriguez at Barrier Island Psychiatry. read more

Regularly cancels appointments with little to no notice leaving you to suffer without meds. Office staff does not return phone calls either. GO ELSEWHERE! read more

I was seen a couple of times at this office. Dr. Magro is great, but some of his staff seems incompetent. I was prescribed a medicine that gave me insomnia and was ignored by his medical assistant after making several attempts to get help. I was left hanging to the point where I had go to the ER to get a resolution on Sunday after a weekend of no sleep. I ended up going back to Dr. Magro on the following Monday to get prescribed Ambian (the medicine the ER gave me). I was relocating to another state so I saw the dr one final time and dropped off new scripts at my pharmacy (which apparently will not transfer across state lines). I was told by the dr to call if there were any issues in filling my prescription. I called numerous times early in the week and, unable to get anyone on the phone, left a message for their medical assistant to get a script called in. I gave them three days like they ask. It was not called in and I never heard from the office. On Friday I called first thing in the morning and then again throughout the day. I was finally able to get the office girl on the phone at 3:30 - she said the medical assistant would call me back within an hour. I ended up having to call again at 4:45. I told the staff that I was worried they would leave me hanging again. I was told THEY WOULD NOT LEAVE THE OFFICE UNTIL MY PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. I was also lied to by their medical assisant saying the CVS pharmacy in my new home state had a law that prevented them from calling in Ambien for me. I contacted CVS directly and was told what she said was false then I never got the call back from Barrier island that I was told. I told them I was worried that they would leave me hanging again I was reassured they would take care of the problem before they closed Friday at five. Well I did not get a call back and ran out of ambian and the only thing I was able to do is pay $50.00 to next day ship a presciption across state lines from my orginal cvs so I can get my medicine(which was the only thing slack medical assistant could think of). I ran out of medicine once again without sleep until i received the meds. in the mail. Don't waste your time with this practice, they were only practice that would get me in and I see why now! They don't care about u after you have left the office! I still haven't got my follow up call, go to someone that cares about you. read more

Rude receptionist. Fees to get refills and for missed appointments. Do they even care about the patients? We're not talking a simple check up or a boo boo. My husband has some serious mental health issues, which are treatable, yet instead of helping him, they continue to jerk him around. Unbelievable! read more

I have been a patient at Barrier Island Psychiatry for 3 years. Recently, I had to move out of state to start a new job. I had 30 days to pack up and move my entire life out of state. I had to cancel my last appointment with my physician at BIP because it conflicted with my moving dates. When I moved to my new state I called around to find a primary care provider that would accept my insurance and was accepting new patients. In the meantime, I ran out of a common anti-depressant the physician at Barrier Island Psychiatry has been treating me with for several years. My pharmacy called my doctor at Barrier Island to see if she would authorize a refill. Their call was not returned. I called Barrier Island multiple times. My call was not returned. Finally, I was able to get an appointment with a primary care physician in my new home state, but it would not be for another month. So I called Barrier Island again hoping I could explain my situation. They finally answered the phone. They told me since it had been so long since I had seen the physician they could not authorize a refill. I asked the reception if she would just explain to the doctor that I was establishing primary care at my new location and only needed one refill. She said no, that she would not even ask the physician. She said that the physician could not accept the liability. I said what about the liability of having her patient of 3 years experiencing side effects, anxiety, depression, and withdrawals. She said I should have kept my last appointment and there was nothing she could do for me unless I was able to come in for another appointment, and she had nothing available before January 29th. This seems really uncaring to me. The medication I was asking her to call in is not a controlled substance, but a safe,commonly used anti-depressant. Further, the reception said the doctor would typically call in medications within a 3 month grace period. My missed appointment was in October, the multiple requests for a refill were in the first week of December. That is within 3 months. This is the reason I would not recommend this facility. They are slow to return calls if they return them at all. And you will not have a chance to speak with the physician personally. Also, the reception is not truthful. She told me that she had returned my calls, but she did not return any of my calls. They apparently reviewed my chart in December and made the decision not to call in the refill, but I was never called back. read more