Horizons Behavioral Health

“I normally never leave a negative review because I know that everyone has their opinions and sometimes it’s just someone taking out their frustrations on a business, but I wanted to leave this review as a warning for anyone looking for psychiatric care because mental health is not something to be taken lightly. I had been seeing Dr. Talwar for about a year and in that time was very saddened by my experience. I think as a human being, she can be very kind, but as a provider, she was very dismissive. I would get very short periods of time with her to ask questions and always felt rushed and she regularly brushed off what I had to say. I was put on the wrong medication and was treated for anxiety when it turns out, after receiving a thorough diagnosis from a different psychiatrist, that what I had was ocd which I told her I had. I just had my first child and reached out to her because my ocd was worsening from the hormones during the early stages of pregnancy and she wanted to put me on an antipsychotic medication which was for people with schizophrenia and also not the safest for pregnant women to take, because she said I shouldn’t be having certain thoughts. The whole premise of ocd is not that you believe the thoughts but that you know your thoughts are intrusive and just struggle to get rid of them. That is basic psychiatric knowledge. I also asked her if it was an okay time to get tested for adhd which I suspected I had for years as did everyone around me, because I wasn’t sure if being pregnant would tamper with the results of the test and she told me verbatim “you just think too much” and “you need to go with the flow”. I was shocked to hear that and felt so dismissed, especially because I was trying to get a better understanding of how my brain worked to make sure I was in good shape when my child came. There were other instances that were unsettling, but I write all of this to warn people because having the wrong diagnosis or medication can be extremely dangerous and I would hate for someone who is struggling to not have proper care and end up in a worse condition because of it. I also want to make sure someone who is struggling, receives a patient provider who is willing to take the time to listen to them and also make them feel heard instead of giving them 5-10 minutes of their time every so often.”

“I was referred to Horizons by our Pediatrician originally for my son as they were in our network. I saw Dr. Madamala as a child although she had since retired. That said, while I likely would have gone somewhere else based on reviews and had I had other options, I persevered because we needed help. I think the staff here do a nice job. Both the doctors and office, are doing a job that is very, very hard and we forget they are also human beings. Mental Healthcare can be very difficult to find and access and get coverage for and those who seek it, can be hard to work with and satisfy because they are frustrated and greatly suffering. It doesn't excuse rude or unprofessional behavior on either side but I don't think this provider office deserves such harsh criticism. The physical facility is in an older sort of rundown building so that's my only critique, it's not warm and fuzzy. I think they get a lot of traffic from referrals and due to there being a lack of other providers and so they are overworked and overscheduled but so is every mental health office at present. 3-6 months to get in is standard although it shouldn't be. My son was evaluated by Linda Kramer originally and although we decided against medication for him, I became her patient instead and I can tell you personally, she cares about her patients and setting them up for success. She is not a therapist, she is a psychiatric nurse practitioner and therefore her job is to diagnose, prescribe and manage medication. She is very structured and by the book and after some initial misunderstanding with my son she was very kind and determined to make it right and we've maintained a fantastic patient/provider relationship now for the past 2.5 years and I've been very, very satisfied. She was very thorough and listened to my concerns through my initial assessments and understood my issues to the fullest extent. She is rigid and by the book, because she is responsible for dispensing medication that is very powerful and oftentimes, controlled. Linda has helped me improve my life, by being on the correct medication for my issues. I have also never had an issue getting a refill. The voicemail box for refills is very convenient and Melinda does a great job keeping up with those requests within the 48hr timeframe stated. They do not process refills on the weekends. Plan ahead. I also never have had a problem making an appointment or getting someone on the phone during office hours. The office staff has always been kind and efficient. I think in many cases, you get back what you put out into the universe and I would not shy away from this office if you are in need of mental healthcare and are a decent human. If you can't be a decent human then I'd say that's probably a part of your problem. Xoxo, Rachel”

“I HAVE SEEN DR. TALWAR FOR YEARS AND SHE IS WONDERFUL AND IS CARING. SHE LISTENS AND SHE HATES TO GIVE OUT TO MANY PILLS. SHE TRIES TO HELP YOU WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MEDS AND I THINK THAT IS A GOOD THING. YES THE BUIDLING COULD USE SOME HELP BUT TALWAR MAKES IT WORTH IT, IT IS HARD TO FIND GOOD PSYCHIATRISTS, SO I FEEL PRETTY LUCKY HAVING SUCH A GOOD ONE. THANKS DR. TALWAR...”

“Office manager needs to stop hiring front staff because she’s known them for 20 years. She also needs to stop calling patients and calling them a liar. She called me to say that I called her employee stupid. I NEVER called her employee stupid. I told her employee that I find it difficult to believe that she can’t get a hold of a doctor. I called and spoke to another employee and said asked why hasn’t anyone called me back since last week and she hung up on me. This office needs a serious cleanup.”