Reviews of Guelph CBT (Psychiatrist)

Kyla Ferguson

Dr. Kelleher is an amazing doctor!

PGP

During my assessment with Stephanie, a social worker, I was told that CBT could help with anxiety, emotional control and other problems associated with trauma. This sounded good to me because I am unemployed and need emotional stability and control of anxiety to get and keep a job. My next session was cancelled by Stephanie 6 hours before our appointment time. This was unfortunate as it happened at the end of the year and I am only covered for 11 appointments per calendar year through my wife’s insurance. So 12 sessions became 11. I asked them to make up the session for free and they refused, even though if I cancel with less than 48 hours notice I have to pay. After four sessions I had been given a thought record and a small handful of coping mechanisms. These things have merit, but in my situation they weren’t quite applicable. Stephanie seemed unable to adapt to my situation. After four sessions I felt like we weren’t making the progress that was implied in the initial assessment. The fourth session in particular left me feeling hopeless, and Stephanie did not propose any new coping mechanisms or activities. She also seemed out of touch with the realities of searching for a job while poor and uneducated. I voiced my concerns to Heather and Stephanie in an email. Heather wrote back explaining that CBT wasn’t a “program” but more of an “experiment.” I sent another email saying that I have a limited number of sessions, that I can’t afford an experiment that may not work. I asked if I could talk briefly to Stephanie for free about where she saw our sessions going and what tactics or activities she might employ, so I could decide if I wanted to continue with her. This email was ignored. I sent another email saying I wished to discontinue our sessions. I expected a polite response saying something like, “We’re sorry it didn’t work out, thank you for your patronage,” or something like that, but it was ignored as well. I guess there are many people behind me with more money. Throughout my time with Guelph CBT, I felt like Stephanie was just going through the motions. I didn’t feel like she cared. I felt like the treatment implied in my initial assessment didn’t materialize in the one-on-one counseling sessions. And when my last email was ignored, I felt like they were saying that I didn’t matter, that there are plenty more people behind me who have more money. I felt dismissed, like I was a nuisance, like I was more trouble than I was worth. This was my experience with Guelph CBT. I hope yours is different.