Citizen Advocates Watertown Behavioral Health Campus

“I think agencies forget the population of the people they work with, like those with anxiety/depression, and how hard it can be sometimes to ask for help. I have tried the 589 program twice, each time with symptoms worsening there, due to incompetent and lazy staff. I would be in the middle of a severe panic attack, begging to talk to someone, and made to wait for hours just for them to say that the therapist left for the day, being told that they "sent a message" for me to talk to someone and never hearing anything back and getting rude remarks from staff when I'd try to follow up, and when I would try and talk to the peers/PRS staff, they would stand there carrying on with their day, completely ignoring myself and others. April, among some others, needs to be fired. She would intentionally be rude, disrespectful, argumentative, flat out refuse to do her job, and then make you out to be the problem. She enjoys watching people struggle and doesn’t give a damn about people with mental health. She even had the nerve to confront my family (she was agressive, rude, and argumentative), who were waiting for me to pack my bags and come out to leave because staying there and trying to get the desperate help I needed, was being made worse daily by her, and others. The nurses always acted like you were an inconvenience to them, and would always talk shit about patients to their coworkers with the nurse's office door wide open. I directly comfronted a nurse about this and was told that what I heard was a lie, to cover up the fact that she knew they broke HIPAA 1,000 times over. Another nurse flat out refused to give me an as needed medication for anxiety/panic, because she "didn't have time and would be late going to a meeting". Of course my panic attack worsened so bad I was hyperventilating, begging someone to help me through it, with peers/PRS staff again just standing around and not even expressing an ounce of empathy. The place has thin walls, and you can hear everything all the time. I’ve heard the peer/PRS staff laughing and making jokes about someone because they were struggling with life's stress. I had enough of feeling like burden and inconvenience and will never again trust that they have my best intentions in mind, in helping me in a crisis. On an outpatient basis, it's not much better. The front desk staff make you feel like an inconvenience to them just for walking up to the window to check in for an appointment. Even calling them makes you feel like an inconvenience to them, there's one guy that will hang up on you mid sentence or end the call rudely every time. You're lucky if you can see your counselor once or twice a month, even though you have advocated for yourself in that you need more support than that. They cut therapy sessions 10-15 minutes early every time, then turn around and bill your insurance for the full hour. It takes several weeks to get in to see your medication provider, even if you are struggling and know that your medication needs to be looked at sooner than that. Even when my symptoms started to return, I tried advocating for myself and needs, only to be dismissed and made to feel like "What's the point of reaching out for help if no one is genuinely going to be there?" That's where I'm at right now, feeling completely discouraged, unheard, like I'm just another number, insurance to charge.”

“I started going to citizens advocates about 2 years ago. First and foremost, I would like to applaud the head receptionist. She's awesome. She's attentive and really seems to care about the patients. She remembers who I am even. At first, it was a bumpy start with getting actual care. They had providers that would up and disappear. Leaving patients with no treatment. This year it seems they are getting into a groove and things are getting a little better. I see Ruth, as prescribing DR and I have nothing but great things to say about her. She is attentive, she helps find what is going to help and she always goes slow with starting and stopping something. She is amazing and I really have nothing but great things to say about her. I never had a DR actually seem to care about their patients like she does. For therapy, I go to John Randal, he is awesome as well. I feel like I am able to really tell him about traumas, and things happening and he isn't thinking anything but, "how can I help this". A huge negative is having the recept. do the appts instead of the providers. I have been double booked, canceled, and all sorts of issues when the provider isn't doing the appts. It is frustrating to say the least. I have also seen a secretary berate and laugh at a patient and it took everything inside to not going insane at that secretary. People are there seeking care as they are in crisis. How dare somebody taunt or look down at a patient if they are a little flustered or upset. I will add to this review as I remember things but, overall it's a great crisis center. However, I feel there is better out there. They have a lot of improvements to go. Ruth, and John are A+*+*++*++++ providers though.”

“I've been seeking help with problems and they are the only ones who cared enough to take time with me and listen. The staff is very friendly and kind. I've had private mental health Dr and for being public this place is outstanding. It's very clean, quite and you have a safe feeling. I see people that complain but I believe it's ignorance because if you take the time, listen and be patient it will work. Most of the time the laws can make treatment more harder to achieve so take the time to research. Most places think you are crazy, lazy, or going to hurt yourself or others and that's not true with mental health ,mental health issues are more common than people think. It's always important to be honest, good or bad experience because it may be part of the problem. Also communication is a important part of getting better. Mental illness doesn't just go away so you need to learn and it take time to adjust. I highly recommend this place and if you are searching for help try giving this place a chance.”

“I always have such a pleasant experience with Citizen Advocates. I used to dread coming to doctor appointments, but this place makes me feel so welcomed. From the front desk Megan with her fancy nails, to the therapist Lanie to nurse Christina to the provider Kim. I love CA”