Stepping Stones of Rockford Outpatient Counseling Center

“The policies of Stepping Stones are incompatible with people who rely upon an emotional support dog. Not a dog friendly environment, unfortunately. The staff has been largely positive, but upper management seems resistant to helping people steer through difficulties and life's crises and trials. Many excellent employees have recently left largely due to what management was imposing upon them. It's sad when programs work, and they are changed because of management's inability to see accomplishment from a client's perspective, or even from a case-worker's perspective. Why turn high quality programs and services into something much less because you are not willing to do your homework to pursue available grants to make the business more cost effective. Stepping Stones is good. I just happen to know it could be do much better if they didn't chase away some of their best employees. And, in the 21st century, agencies such as Stepping Stones should be able to understand the psychological benefits of coupling psychiatry with an openness to supportive Canine therapy to helping clients move forward. Grounding their policies in outdated models that discriminate against clients who benefit from emotional support dogs is backwards, and demonstrates that ultimately their business is all about the policies and red tape of yesteryear, not on what will help their clients pull through difficulties and challenges. Stepping Stones needs to reflect upon their history, consider their usefulness to the surrounding community in the future, and re-think their policies to truly reflect what's best for their clients, offering opportunities filled with hope and new possibilities, not stagnating in seeing their business and clients with blinders on. It's inter-connected. Rigid, outdated policies make this business a mere Two Stars, in my opinion. I remain hopeful that one day that will change.”

“My daughter has been with the same therapist at this location for about two years. She has seen massive improvement. The staff is always friendly and courteous. Between other therapists both my daughter and wife have used in the door area they are definitely the best.”

“Save yourself your time and grief. I had my documentation screwed up so badly and had that sent to social security multiple times resulting in denials. I sent medical records in from my dr to have this corrected and reported all of the inaccuracies which were ignored by the director. I asked him to speak to the telepsychiatrist I see there for meds who can easily verify what I’ve been reporting. He could also talk to the nurse who’s always present.I asked him to call my PCP to correct the wrong severity on major depressive disorder and nothing. Primary dr has been treating this since 2016 and says everything I have is severe.. I’ve been reporting a decline in mental health with suicidal ideations and had my counselor report improvement. One statement they sent to the government quotes me as saying I’m really getting a lot out of counseling and it’s reducing anxiety. Complete opposite. It’s actually made me not trust anyone now. They couldn’t even be bothered to list all of my conditions, some predating my counseling at steppingstones. I have 10 mental health conditions. Steppingstones lists 4 and one is wrong.. Awful experience and it’s sad because I’m the one suffering for it. There’s some nice and well intentioned people there but don’t expect help or accountability. There is none. I have been completely failed. The documents they sent in don’t even match up. One says I have single episode MDD, another says it’s reoccurring and both say moderate when it’s severe. I should have known better when the first words out of my counselors mouth was “I normally work with children.” This place destroyed my life. You guys think this is no big deal when it’s the most important thing in my life. All I ever asked was for accuracy. You can explain all the jacked up paperwork if the judge asks on my appeal. Can’t sweep a review under a rug. With all of the errors you’ve kind of already shown you have no credibility. Don’t bother contacting me. I don’t need anything anymore. To the OWNERS: For the record, this was not the north main location. This is the 4317 Maray Dr location. The director is Luke S. The counselor is Samantha G. The psychiatrist who handled meds is Layne S. There was more than this single nurse present (Sara T) when I reported my mental decline monthly to Layne. Look at what they sent into the government. Compare the documentation. You don’t know me. Could these claims be baseless? If they aren’t: We have friends protecting friends here and inaccurate entries coupled with serious incompetence. I was gracious enough to provide a chance to do the right thing and it was willfully ignored. Audit all notes. Your job is oversight. I’m publicly calling on you to act. UPDATE: not a single person did anything after months of this being posted. Do not go here.”

“The staff and counselors here truly care about their patients. There is good communication and making an appointment is easy (after you get off the wait list). Please note that you must have Medicaid to use the services here.”