Dr. Fuertes has been seeing my child for almost 3 years and we think she is wonderful! She takes…read morethe time to talk to you and then listens to what you have to say, which is appreciated as it happens so infrequently with doctors. We can't recommend her enough!

Professionally, I have worked with many child psychiatrists over the years, so the bar was set…read morepretty high when seeking one for my own children. Dr. Fuertes is one the most kindest, compassionate, and supportive doctors I've ever met. She asks all the right questions and actually listens and reflects on not only what the parents have to say but especially what the child has to say. It is a hard decision to medicate a child, and Dr. Fuertes takes parents' concerns very seriously. But the reality is a low dose of a medication can go a long way in helping alleviate the symptoms of a child and greatly improve their lives and those around them. I would follow Dr. Fuertes to the ends of the earth to treat my children, and I recommend her to everyone I know.

Columbia Counseling offers a broad range of services from adolescent, to eating disorders, to…read morepre-marital, and relationship counseling, to personal counseling needs. I have used them to develop strategies to help deal with several scenarios, and have always felt that the counselors there (I've seen three) try their best to understand the situation, and work through several possible goals and paths until you find the one that best suits your needs. With so many professionals on staff, there is a very good chance that you'll find one that "clicks" for you. Don't be afraid to keep trying new ones until you find the right one. They are not one-size-fits-all. Columbia Counseling Center also participates in several insurance providers.

My experience with Alisha Shim at Columbia Counseling was extremely disappointing…read more I felt significant pressure to discontinue controlled medications, and the tapers that were recommended for me did not feel medically safe. During one taper, I was unable to sleep for nearly a week. I emailed the office early in the week asking for help, but I did not receive a response until after 6:30 p.m. on Friday. When Alisha finally replied, I was essentially told I had run out of options. I had requested a non-controlled medication to help with the insomnia, but that request was denied. My primary care physician later prescribed the same type of non-controlled medication I had requested without hesitation, and it worked. On multiple occasions, the taper instructions were written in such unusual doses that my pharmacy was unable to fill them without clarification. As a result, I went several days without my medication while waiting for the prescription issues to be resolved. During a separate taper, I developed significant withdrawal symptoms, including "brain zaps." At my final appointment, I told Alisha I was at my wits' end and explained what I was experiencing. Rather than addressing those withdrawal symptoms, the recommendation was to further reduce my anxiety medication. That was the point at which I lost confidence in my care and decided to leave the practice. I was also told that she could not legally prescribe certain medications. That explanation was confusing to me because I had previously been prescribed one of those same medications in the past. Whether the issue was practice policy rather than a legal restriction was never clearly explained. In my experience, my concerns were not adequately addressed, and I felt there was greater emphasis on reducing or discontinuing controlled medications than on safely managing my symptoms and withdrawal. My experience at Columbia Counseling changed noticeably after Carroll Health took over, and I no longer felt I was receiving the same level of patient-centered care. Based on my personal experience, I cannot recommend Alisha Shim or this practice. I wish I could give a -star rating. I was a patient for over 15 years

Jane is terrific, fair, honest, insightful, knowledgable, there are many adjectives that apply very…read morewell! Having been to other relationship therapists, she was far better than prior Howard County therapists I had come across. I would highly recommend her.