UW Health Psychiatry

“Dismissive, Psychiatrist assumed too much about me without asking enough questions to come to their conclusion in the short time in one appt. The visit was completely dysregulating and made me feel really anxious and upset because he was not responding to my trigger cues, or my indicating I was not able to recall and i am getting triggered. He really wanted to complete that checklist and pushed for my answers despite my trauma reaction to his disregard and lack of kindness. I told him I have memory challenges. Makes me feel really jangled when I can't answer. I was trying. I did not feel seen at all. I felt sized up, not collaborated with. I felt frozen. My lived experience and self knowledge felt disregarded and overridden. Not sure he was trauma or ADHD informed. He did not seem to know you can have both. Or maybe that ADHD is real. Not sure. Wow. I want my time back. I was not anxious prior to the appt. I did get anxious after all that pressure, assuming about me, and the way I was treated in the appt. I really did not need or deserve that. I have enough trauma, I do not need to add to it willingly while seeking to relieve it. It takes a lot for people to go in and seek help. This kind of experience is the opposite.”

“If you've had bad experiences in the past, RUN! This will likely not be any better in the long run. You likely won't be able to see a Psychologist and will more likely be seeing a resident. This clinic uses you as a guinea pig for students, rather than placing you with a long-term doctor. In January of 2023 I was told there were no providers available, but there was a new Psychologist starting in July of 2023 that would be a good fit. After waiting months, I started seeing that psychologist in July 2023. I did know she was a resident but didn't know and wasn't informed that the residents were temporary. I was under the impression she was just new to the clinic. After 10 months of appointments, I'm told, less than a month before, that the appointments are going to end and I have to start seeing a new provider. This experience was damaging. That's not to say the residents are the problem per say, they are fairly nice, but the patients should be better informed. If I wasn't blindsided and was still able to see the resident I started with from 2023 this review would be a lot different and would be 5 stars, she was great. I just don't look forward to showing up anymore, and don't think this is helping anymore. Fast forward to today, I overslept for an early appointment, so I called the clinic. A girl named Adrian answered, she was very rude and got an attitude for absolutely no reason. I do get that she's not a therapist by any means but you'd think they'd have someone a bit nicer and more understanding working the psychology/psychiatry phones. I've never had such a bad experience calling here, they are usually so understanding.”

“They screen new patients to find out if they’re worthy of treatment, it seems. Was told that they are scheduling far out initially, I said I’m okay with it. I received a voicemail saying they are refusing care to me due to volume of patients. It feels awful to not make the cut, essentially. Seems contradictory to offer care initially then to be denied later. UW Health needs to figure their stuff out, you would think they would be better run for such a well rated healthcare organization. Just don’t bother with them. Trying to get out of the system to a different to get the care I deserve.”

“Dr. Erin Cheers is an amazing doctor that I got the privilege of having for a few year at this clinic. When she went on maternity leave I started with a new doctor. Recently, I called 2-3 separate times during a mental health crisis looking to speak with my doctor and address meds urgently and I was shushed away with an appointment time 2 1/2 months away. This among many other things is why I chose to seek out other help and ended up finding that Dr. Cheers is now working at a new facility! She promptly fit me in because she understood the urgency and now am on her regular schedule. Cheers to that! Don’t accept mediocre care, always advocate for your health!”