TL;DR: This program has excellent group therapy and several outstanding providers, but my…read moreexperience with individual therapy and the handling of consent and billing issues significantly detracted from my overall care.
I am giving this program 3.5 stars, and I want to be clear that I would have given it 5 stars were it not for my experience with individual therapy.
The group therapy component was excellent. The clinicians who facilitated the groups were knowledgeable, compassionate, and created a genuinely supportive environment. I found the group work to be meaningful and beneficial to my treatment, and I am grateful for that part of the program.
I also want to specifically acknowledge Hunter and Juan, who facilitated group therapy. Both were thoughtful, compassionate, and skilled at creating a safe and respectful group space. Their groups were grounding and well-run, and they made a meaningful positive impact on my experience. I would also like to recognize Albert, who was a wonderful provider. He was attentive, compassionate, and supportive, and consistently made me feel heard and respected. My interactions with him reflected the level of professionalism and empathy patients hope for when entering treatment.
Unfortunately, my experience with my assigned individual therapist, Emily Tully, significantly impacted my overall care. I entered this program during a period of significant emotional distress and was actively seeking care, support, and stabilization. In my experience, the individual therapy I received did not provide that. Throughout my sessions, I found her to be emotionally unavailable and dismissive, particularly during moments when I was vulnerable or struggling.
I have participated in several treatment programs over the years, and this was the first time I experienced an individual therapeutic relationship that felt consistently cold and lacking in understanding or care. When I shared openly, I often felt met with a critical or judgmental tone rather than curiosity or support. The approach felt directive rather than collaborative, which made it difficult to engage meaningfully or feel safe expressing myself.
I also want to note an experience that felt particularly discouraging. Emily was aware that I was pursuing additional treatment to supplement my care and that I would need to miss a day in the program for that reason. I was told I would be required to provide a written note for each absence, despite having already signed a release authorizing her to communicate directly with the other treatment provider. While I understand that documentation requirements may be part of program policy, the way this was communicated felt corrective rather than supportive or collaborative. This approach felt unnecessarily rigid and non-collaborative, and left me feeling unsupported in my efforts to responsibly manage my care.
Additionally, I believe it is important for prospective patients to be aware of the program's laboratory practices. The program utilizes an out-of-network laboratory, with individual lab tests billed at approximately $1,500 each. I was not adequately informed of this in advance. When I expressed discomfort and clearly stated multiple times that I did not consent to assuming financial responsibility for these charges, I was repeatedly told by Emily that signing paperwork accepting financial responsibility was required. My concerns were not met with understanding or discussion, but rather with continued pressure to sign despite my objections.
In a therapeutic setting, compassion, collaboration, transparency, and respect for patient consent are essential. While the group component of this program -- and providers like Hunter, Juan, and Albert -- were strong, my experience with individual therapy and the handling of billing and consent issues fell short of those standards and significantly impacted my overall experience.
