Reviews of Parry Sound Family Service (Psychologist)

Shawn Robert

It takes a lot for most people to reach out when they need help and are struggling. It took me 6 months the finally send an email to get information and set up an initial appointment for a session through this establishment. Firstly they told me that cost was on a sliding scale, however I was never told how that was determined as they never received information about my income. Secondly, the lack of communication and under communication prior to my first appointment that's a lot of questions, however it had taken me so long to get to this point that I didn't want to backslide and end up not following through so I overlooked that. I paid $75 for a one hour session in which the woman who was to be counseling me was giving me her personal opinions on current hot topics of society and what's real and what's not. This did not particularly bother me at the time as they were similar if not the same as my points of view, however with what happened following it really bothers me. I was sent home with a questionnaire to do before my next appointment and an appointment date had been scheduled for 2 weeks out. The morning of my next appointment I woke up in pure panic mode, as one of the reasons that I was seeking help was extreme anxiety.. I had no color and did not feel well enough to drive the half hour to the appointment. I sent a text to the therapist letting her know what was going on, offered to pay for the appointment, and asked to schedule another appointment as soon as possible. Not only did I never receive a text or call or any form of communication back from my therapist that day, I never heard from her again. For an organization that offers therapy and counseling services to treat a patient in that disgusting manner is beyond dehumanizing and I was strongly advise against wasting your time and potentially making whatever it is that you're going to see them about worse by being rejected and treated like less than nothing after voicing to the therapist how hard it was to make that first step. I find myself in the same position that I was in for the previous 6 months before the appointment, which was a couple months ago, give or take a week or two. Not only that but being in a very very rural area there aren't very many options available without driving hundreds of kilometers which is not feasible. I feel used and disrespected and wouldn't wish the way I was treated on my worst enemy. Again, by professionals that are being hired and paid for help regarding mental health. It feels as if harm was purposely and intentionally being done to a patient by the therapist. I also paid cash in the office so I have no idea if it's actually on record, and with it starting 10 mins into my hour as well as listening to the therapists commentary and opinions for another chunk of time, feel that a full refund, at the very least, is warrented. I am emailing and requesting this as well as we speak.