Cheektowaga Clinic

“I have been a client at Catholic Charities for over a year, and my experience has been nothing short of devastating. If you or a loved one struggle with mental health, please stay far away from this place. They take advantage of people in their most vulnerable moments, and the counselors here do not care about you. At the Humboldt location, the office manager Tammy treated me with the most absolute disrespect and lack of compassion I have ever experienced. She is discriminatory, rude, and inhumane - the last kind of person who should ever be working in mental health. My counselor Allison (Cheektowaga location) and my prescriber Deb (Seen mostly at the Humboldt location) constantly brought up my husband’s name in sessions, even though he was not their patient and not present to defend himself. Deb even asked how he was doing while at the same time this organization completely denied him services and dismissed him as a patient. This was probably due to fear and guilt over the way they treated him knowing full well that a lawsuit could be filed against them for their actions, and still can be, especially after the way they just treated me. At the Cheektowaga location, my husband was sent on a complete goose chase. He was told to get prior diagnosis records, promised that once he provided them he would be taken care of, and he did exactly what they asked. Yet when he came back with all the documentation, Pam denied him service. She even went as far as to tell him he had been “misdiagnosed” as a child when in fact, he had been on medication back then and his history was well documented. They tried to use him like a guinea pig, and because he did not agree to what they pushed, they disregarded everything and still labeled him as drug-seeking. This could not be further from the truth. He was simply a man trying to find help and they turned him away. The hypocrisy and cruelty are sickening. As for me, after being a consistent patient for over a year, I was dismissed because of one bad day, a single misunderstanding that was never properly addressed. I was running late by 10 minutes after driving 30 minutes to get there. Instead of understanding, they pushed my appointment out extremely far, leaving me without the medication I depend on. When I became upset (understandably, after trying my hardest to make it), Tammy treated me with hostility and disrespect. The very next day, I was told I was dismissed because of my “behavior” when in reality, it was my reaction to their negligence and mistreatment. I am not a drug addict that’s why I came to Catholic Charities instead of Horizons. But if you react to their negligence or express that you’re having a bad day, they immediately label you as “drug-seeking.” If you cannot make an appointment or are late, they punish you by pushing your appointments out extremely far, leaving you without proper care, or they simply dismiss you as a patient altogether. To make matters worse, I was left with no bridge script whatsoever. I am prescribed a controlled substance, and by dismissing me without any proper medical plan, they have put me at serious risk of withdrawal and becoming physically sick. This is dangerous, irresponsible, and a complete failure in duty of care. This place is unorganized, corrupt, and lacks any morals in how a mental health practice should be run. They play with people’s lives, dismiss those in need, and label innocent people unfairly. They are not here to help, they are here to judge. I am a firm believer in standing up for what’s right, and if I have to be the one to put this all over the internet to save somebody else from the terrible experience I had, then I will do it. My hope is that one day this place will be shut down, because they are not providing the care they claim to offer. Places like this are one of the very reasons why people fall deeper into addiction and abuse because instead of being helped, they are dismissed, judged, and left with nowhere to go. Catholic Charities is corrupt and unsafe for anyone truly seeking help.”

“All they had to do is be honest. Showed up for an appointment and was told I didn't have one, accusing me of making my own appointment reminder that they gave me and dropped me as a patient. Catholic Charities for me aided any mental health disorders I had with their lying and egos and left me untreated. When I needed help, they're were not there for me and blamed me for their mistakes. Luckily I was able to handle it. I pray for the next patient at Catholic Charities who isn't as strong.”

“They have really good Counselors. My Counselor there is an example of the best of the best when it comes to providing great Counseling services.”

“Open to help individuals with personal problems. We all need help from time to time. They help.”