Re-New Psychological Services - Washington, District of Columbia

Hannah B.

If I could give this practice 0 stars, I would. I'm not sure that would even begin to encompass the lack of compassion, organization, or efficiency I've experienced in the past 6 months. Communication is painfully inconsistent with both front office staff and clinicians.

My current clinician left the practice a month ago and I haven't been able to get the medications they refilled for me (when I saw them a week prior to their departure). I understand that it's hard to plan for the unexpected, but being without medications for various mental health conditions for weeks at a time is dangerous. It is clear that medication management is not a priority for this office.

I will never recommend this practice to anyone. Ever.

Gregory S.

I am truly shocked with how this medical office runs. I have been with them now for a year and the structure of this organization is horrendous. I’ve never had any problems with my specialist (Samuel Koroma) and the Renew as a whole up until the past couple of months.

I needed a letter of support explaining my mental health and my medical needs for a position that involved me working in another country. He assured me that I would have the letter, which his scheduling assistant Ashley Bishop would write according to him. Weeks went by and the deadline I originally gave them past. During that time I tried contacting Samuel and Ashley, but I received little contact from them with no information.

The organization I applied to graciously extended the deadline for the letter. But, Ashley informed me that it was Samuel who was supposed to write the letter. But, I cannot get in direct contact with Samuel, only through Ashley, or an answering service at the office. I have tried every single way to get ahold of this doctor, but no one will provide me any information and I cannot talk to anyone with this organization about how I’ve been mistreated.

This letter could mean the difference of me working abroad and advancing my career or me having to start a new career in a different field. The lack of communication and accountability I have seen from this organization is truly dismal. I do not suggest anyone become a new patient. You’ll have no way of directly contacting your doctor if you need help, and you must rely on email from a scheduler (my scheduler Ashley reaches out a week or even two after receiving an email). And all the answering service will do is take a message which will then be ignored.

Sheba468 D.

TL;DR: DO NOT USE THIS PRACTICE. the therapist was kind. the scheduler is incompetent and should NEVER work anywhere close to people with psych issues. it took 6 weeks to get the initial consult, then the scheduler screwed me over and told _me_ I wasn't fit to be seen by them.

I called for an appointment because a coworker sees a therapist in this group and really likes the person she sees. I was told by the scheduler when I initially called that there were no available therapists covered by my insurance, but that there was a therapist who should get an opening in about a week, and that I could go on a waitlist, and that they would call me back in a week. So I agreed.

SIX weeks later, I get an email saying that someone was available. I go in for the consult, I like the therapist, I schedule my first full session for the following week (today) at the same time. I then get an email telling me - No, that therapist isn't actually covered by my insurance, but that they "actively working to get her in network". I can either try to reschedule with another therapist, or pay out of pocket. I did not get this email until the weekend, and when I replied on the following Monday stating my disappointment and asking for more information, I get and email simply saying "Can you call me please".

When I finally get through on Tuesday morning (today, the day of my appointment), I listen to the scheduler's excuses for how this got screwed up and that they were in the process of getting the therapist covered. In the meantime, I should just wait for the scheduler to call me when this was worked out. I said... "Okay, but I have an appointment this afternoon, I'll see her today and pay out of pocket for now, and we can play it by ear a bit as we move forward." The scheduler then informs me that SHE CANCELLED my appointment WITHOUT consulting me. To be clear: The SCHEDULER took it upon herself to tell my therapist I would not see her. I got upset, told her this was completely unacceptable practice, she blamed me for not responding to her email immediately and things escalated to me telling her "you can't just cancel my damn appointment without talking to me" to which she told me I was out of line (because I swore at her) and that I was not a good fit for the group and that I would not be able to be seen.

Fine. I will spend my time and money somewhere else. And so should everyone else.

Anonymous

My review is not of the practice as a whole, but of a particular therapist working here (Tracy B.) I had an extremely negative experience with this therapist. She was unprofessional, untrustworthy, egotistical, and disorganized. I was seeing her for general anxiety and her behavior contributed to my anxiety rather than helped it. This was not an issue with therapy style or personal preference. She was rude and disrespectful to me. I am astonished a mental health professional would behave in the way that she does. I would strongly discourage anyone to select her as a therapist.

Additional Details: I asked Tracy to fill in some paperwork on my behalf and she seemed very odd, unprofessional, and unreliable throughout this process. Tracy continuously promised that she would complete paperwork. I gave her 2 weeks to complete it (before our next session). Instead, we spent my next session filling out some of the paperwork (and her complaining and whining about it the entire time). She then promised to have it complete by the next day, and again postponed the delivery of that paperwork 3-4 times (one time, the reason was because she wanted to go out to dinner with friends). The paperwork was filled out inadequately so I couldn't even use it...and it was too late to do anything about it given the strict deadline. Prior to filling out the paperwork, she also made me promise to not stop seeing her if she did (which is very unusual, and ethically questionable).

After this situation, I lost confidence in Tracy as a therapist, so I emailed the receptionist asking if any other therapists were available (unfortunately none worked with my schedule). I weighed my options, and figured going to a therapist was better than having none at all, so I decided to give Tracy another chance. I communicated with Tracy asking to cancel two of my sessions (so I could focus on an upcoming exam) asking to resume therapy with her on a specific date. Tracy confirmed my appointment on this date.

I arrived to my next confirmed appointment. As usual, I texted Tracy informing her I had arrived. She didn't respond. I waited for 5 minutes, then inquired with another therapist, who said she thought Tracy was with a client, and briefly listened by the door to confirm this. I was a little annoyed, but assumed it was an honest mistake.

24 hours later, I received no acknowledgement to my "I'm here" text, from Tracy, so I sent her another message confirming I would like to discontinue services with her due to her behavior. She responded immediately with an unapologetic and rude tone. She said she "didn't know why" I showed up to my appointment, and she also accused me of lying to her (apparently the receptionist told her that I had inquired about other therapists). At this point, it was apparent that Tracy double-booked me out of spite. I asked the receptionist about other therapists almost two weeks before I confirmed this appointment with Tracy. Tracy never communicated to me that she cancelled my confirmed appointment.

It seemed like Tracy let her ego go before my mental wellness; she repeatedly put me in situations of stress and anxiety. She acted out of spite and had me show up to an appointment she intentionally double-booked because her ego was hurt when I asked for a new therapist. Even though I ultimately decided to give her a second chance, she didn't allow me to do this, and instead lied to me, inconvenienced me, and condemned me for simply considering my options.

I cannot emphasize strongly enough how much I recommend against her as therapist.

M S.

Hopeless. Their front desk manager is a useless, disorganized nightmare who makes it impossible to book appointments. After 2 months of trying to coordinate with him, I still have no idea what their opening hours or availability is like. Would not recommend.

Sarah S.

This place is wonderful! I'm not sure why there are 1-star reviews...therapy here has changed my life. I highly recommend them!

Stani M.