Spectrum

"After seeking out many treatments and therapies for many years, I came across Spectrum. I was sceptical at first given my history, however I cannot thank the team enough as its literally changed my life. They have invested time in me, given me the tools and resources for me to continue living a life worth living and I am beyond grateful. Thank you so very much."

"For some reason, I was paired with an "intern" because I wasn't important enough to be serviced by an actual Psychologist. His name is Rachid and he kept preaching islam and would rant the entire session about crimes committed by Israel. Not bloody professional if you ask me and a complete waste of my hard earned money."

"Initially I believed that the support that I received from this organization was the best in the field. However they are not certified, they maybe now. They have been trying to help people for 2 decades but when I entered the program about 5 years ago they were not certified, they requested that I and all members under treatment at that time help them become certified by being videotaped, etc. They were polite and upfront with their intentions, however it would of been ideal if they were upfront about not having being certified when I first went for an assessment, not nearly a year after I started working with them. My assessment process was far from helpful. The initial assessment was conducted over about 10 hours via a social worker (not a psychiatrist). This is important because they are heavily reliant on diagnosis from the DSM5 manual written by psychiatrists. The DSM5 manual also has many controversies, lack of transparency, no clinical research, non disclosure agreements, pharmaceutical company ties, etc. More people than ever before now have some sort of mental health disorder because this manual lowered many qualifiers, especially surrounding personally disorders. The social worker stated that at the end of my assessment with her that I did not have BPD however I had multiple other mental health issues that this organization could help me with. In her report she put down that I had BPD so I could access those services. That should of been a major red flag to run away as fast as possible, however I was very unwell and did not understand. I also had a lot of pressure from family, etc to seek their assistance. The assessment continued with 2 psychiatrist consultations lasting no longer than 5 minutes. I kid you not. They rubber stamped that I had BPD. I tried to bring this issue up later in my “treatment”. It was meet with refusal. I must add that some of the best psychologists, social workers, other therapists, etc in the country have worked for spectrum, they try their hardest, but again they are not certified to treat this disorder. I was than placed into their mentalization based therapy sessions, twice a week, consisting of group therapy and one on one therapy. They are also extremely reliable to contact at other times outside of the set timetable sessions for crisis situations for a patient. There was a heavy push that this illness was not our fault on the first day. It was the fault of our parents, they are to blame as they never taught us to “mentalize”. From reflection I believe it was stated more harshly. Several patients protested this theory, the therapists would not back down and several patients left and never returned. Very strange, especially as mentalization is the act of being able to learn to question. I continued with the organization and also was receiving other treatments from psychiatrists and therapists who had different opinions on my diagnosis and treatments. I was very lost, confused, and evidently became very unwell, a new treatment and multiple swift changes in my medications. I started missing my spectrum appointments due to other appointments and becoming unwell. Very unstable mentally and psychically. Spectrum demands that a patient be engaged in their program, it is important for a patient to be fully engaged to help make themselves better. I have given this organization such a low rating because when I became extremely unwell, they stated that it was my anxiety that was hindering me from engaging. That was party true however the physical illnesses I was experiencing had more of an impact on why I could not attend. Spectrum also is the place of “last resort”. They know it, other reviewers have mentioned it, when they stop treating you there is no where else to seek any help, all other services cut ties. I was informed that I was booted out of their services via letter “spectrum is not buying into your anxiety for justification of not attending”. To this day I still can not access services. I still have no idea what my mental health diagnosis are. ."

"Pchyoloist told me to give myself a hug when telling her that needed help to be pulled away from the cliff edge, that was my second Pchyoloist had bad experience with at this poor clinic the FIRST put words into my mouth told her never said these words and she looked at us blankly ask the dr. L in the room if he heard us say such word sat gave no reponse like the the time we asked him if should go to ED BEFORE OR AFTER TAKEN THE OD WAS PLANNING HE JUST SAT ON THE FENCE AND I GOT TIRED OF WAITING FOR HIM TO SPEAK AND JUST HANG UP, NEVER GOT A FOLLOW-UP CALL TO SEE IF WAS ALRIGHT, WHERE YOUR DUTY OF CARE NO YOU NOT HAVE A BACK BONE ALL TALK,... HE SAID "I FEEL YOUR PAIN "" AND JUST PUSHED THE KNIFE IN DEEPER , YOU ARE A JOKE OF A SERVICE THAT IS TRIGGERING AND MENT TO BE THE TOP SITE FOE BPD TREATMENT, ALL YOU ARE LIKE THE REST BLINDED BY ENFORCING STIGMATIZATION OF US!!!!!!!!!!! GO TO H%$$"

"Awful practice who are more than happy to label you with a diagnosis and send you away with no access to further help or treatment, leaving you to become just another suicide statistic. I was diagnosed BPD by Spectrum in late 2015 and since then have been unable to access any treatment for my condition, and Spectrum are well aware that this is not an unusual experience for those with complex mental health diagnoses who cannot afford private health insurance or upwards of $200 an hour for a private psychologist."