Barnes Holistic Counseling Institute, LLC 2510 1st Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33712

"Dr. Barnes wasted a month of my time to finally say he couldn't do a psychological evaluation since he didn't have the qualification to do so. He promised a refund, but it has never been issued. He didn't have any consideration for what was at stake for me and my family."

"Please bear with me as this will be a long post, but I believe it is important in explaining the AWFUL experience I had at this facility. I am completely disgusted by the interaction I had with the owner, Dr. Barnes. I understand everyone has their own experiences and some may not have had the experience I had the displeasure of having, but I feel it is important for me to share this to bring light to the horrible customer service, condescending tone and disrespectful attitude I endured from Dr. Barnes himself. Upon checking in one day Dr. Barnes verbally accosted me and was extremely condescending in the way he talked to me in front of his two receptionists and a client. I could not believe how he proceeded to verbally attack me in front of his own client. That showed a complete and utter disrespect toward his clients. He got very verbal with me and very condescending. He starts to argue with me and I remain completely calm and then he asks me in a very condescending way if I “know how insurance works?”. That kind of attitude is completely uncalled for and extremely disrespectful. I was utterly humiliated and embarrassed by him and the fact that he decided to verbally attack me in front of his work staff and a client of his. Apparently this has happened before to another client who has walked out. Every time I showed up for one of my appointments there was a new receptionist. The first time I called to set up an apt the receptionist said she was just “filling in” and had “no idea what was going on” I laughed and assumed they were having a transition of staff. But this kept happening. Every time I showed up someone New was there who didn’t know what was going on. My first indication of an unorganized office and an unprofessional one at that. But I loved my therapist so I stayed. I hope nobody else has to experience what I did with Dr. Barnes and I hope at the very least this review will deter people from patronizing his establishment."

"This place does not accept insurance. They will tell you they do, but then they’ll charge you full price ($770 for 5 appointments for me), and then give any number of excuses on why they won’t bill your insurance or let you pay only your copay. My copay is $70, and I’m owed $420, but they refuse to bill insurance or provide an itemized bill that I can send into insurance because “they don’t know how,” (they’ve been going through staff changes and literally have not had a staff member that knows how to do this for the last 3 months), or “the internet will be down for the next two weeks,” (that would be fixed in two days in my house) or “we don’t have your insurance information” (I gave it to them 3 times, including on the very first visit). AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS."

"Multiple locations, this one more conveniently serves Pinellas County and SW Tampa. The other location is closer for East Hillsborough as well as east Tampa. Excellent service received here since I started and i refer him business all the time"

"My first session with Dr Barnes was great. He walked about treating my stuff holistically and I'm feeling really hopeful! He's a kind, intelligent man. Looking forward to my next session."