Firefly Institute

"Didn't get a chance to write a review for this place 4 years ago but here I am now. Hope the place has change but I'll give this review from my prior experience, just know this is 4 years ago and it rubbed me hard enough to still hold a bit of a grudge. For a better recommendation; Look up Sunstone Psychiatric LLC., I don't know if they do group therapy but I have gotten SO much more help there than here with less time. First Issue: I was in DBT group therapy and things were going well for about a month. Then we get a text from the office about a change in time from around 5:30pm to 4:30pm (Could be slightly off). This is a problem because most of the people there got out of work around 5pm. Half the group was gone because of that. Further more they didn't relay this to the therapist in charge of the group until the day we went there. She wanted to break the news to us but the office (or manager) couldn't care less. Second Issues: Around a week later we get news from the therapist that she's being moved and replaced with someone brand new in the middle of the module. She was also told this last minute and the change was gonna start the next session. So no wrap up, warm up, or anything. Third Issue: The therapist I was seeing at the time wasn't that engaging and more often than not would seem to nod off during the session. Even after I get done saying something she wouldn't respond. They seemed so disinterested in what I had to say. The whole company seems to treat everything under this Micro-Managed lens, with this business first-help-second management. They makes needless changes that impact people trying to get better. Also, as people say the turn over rate is high so don't expect your therapist to be there for longer than half a year or more. If they do? then I guess they're lucky to work with a crappy company."

"We've been going here for a few months. Our counselor is newer to the field with a social work background. I find her sessions to be professional and therapeutic. I have noticed progress in my child's behavior and thinking (counseling is but one aspect of a multiprong approach, so improvement is likely due to a combination of interventions). I am glad my child has a neutral adult to talk with, and that a professional is helping her learn coping tools for life. The office staff is competent and pleasant. I recently scheduled a large number of appointments and they printed out a list for me. I receive text message reminders of upcoming appointments. I wouldn't let the negative reviews here dissuade you from seeking help from Firefly. Previously, we went to The Childrens Program in Beaverton, which is also a good place, but Firefly is much closer to where we live, and that makes it much easier to access care. Good luck to you!"

"Thoroughly read through the policies! I thought I had finally found some help, but I feel their policies are written in such a way to take advantage financially of those that are at their most vulnerable. For instance, a credit card is required to be on file and will be charged for any reason ("fee") they see fit. Another example: the providers are allowed to be late, but the patient would be assessed a fee for arriving late to a session. Another: the patient is required to cover the cost of any "materials" used in the course of a therapy session. These cannot be charged to the insurance. Sessions are also not even guaranteed to be a full hour (but the patient would be charged for the hour). It's disgusting. I wanted no part of it and cancelled all appointments before they occurred."

"We did not have a good experience with this counseling group. My main issue is that we were abruptly discharged for no-show appointments - they say we missed 4 appointments. I disagree. I don't even understand why we were on the schedule for one of the missed appointments. I believe the appointment was made in error on their end. And I told that to the front desk. The therapist says the front desk informed me of their discharge/no show policy- they absolutely did not. We were dropped with no notice and our appointment slot was given away. It's extremely difficult to find a child therapist right now and I am shocked to have been discharged this way. The cost of service increased with no notice. My child was being seen weekly and this became a significant expense as her therapist was one in the building that doesn't accept insurance. I saw no progress in my child's symptoms. I was continuing the appointments believing that perhaps my child felt some benefit from at least having someone other than her parents to talk to about issues. I'm realizing being discharged was actually to our benefit since the service was ineffective, expensive and poor at scheduling. I know it's desperate out there right now for those of us needing a therapist. If you're considering Firefly, beware."

"I would give this place zero stars if I could. If you are looking for a therapist for your child that is nothing more than a cheerleader going along with whatever self diagnosis your teen has come up with and totally disregarding any past events influence on your child - go ahead and take your kids here. If you have a child that has experienced actual trauma that you are hoping a skilled therapist can help them work through - look elsewhere. I had two of my children here with different therapists, and while they were both nice people - they were of NO HELP at all, and my daughter may be irreversibly harmed. Folks, there is a REASON this clinic has openings where others don't."