Michael Semon 2540 Valleydale Road, Birmingham, AL 352442019

"I have contemplated for years on whether or not to post this review as to make it make full sense I have to be more personal than I would like but I ultimately feel it will help someone. I saw Dr. Semon about 3 years ago with my child’s father for coparenting therapy while I was pregnant. I saw him several times one on one before our group session. The relationship with my unborn child’s father was very tumultuous and sticky as he was the owner of the company I worked for. I expressed to Dr. Semon how uneasy it made me feel that I was in this situation and also that I was financially depending on him in a sense as he was my boss and could fire me at any time. Dr. Semon suggested that I sue him for sexual harassment as I would need the money after the baby was born. I am now flabbergasted by this conversation but at the time it almost felt like loyalty and like I should be able to trust him. He even went as far as following up to see if I had spoken with an attorney at the next session while my child’s father was in the restroom. Five or six coparenting sessions went by and we really were not getting anywhere and we decided to go our separate ways and not use therapy anymore- at that time. Several months later I found out that Dr. Semon had told my child’s father that he suspected that I had a specific mental health disorder. Dr. Semon never once mentioned this to me in our private sessions to try and help me or help me understand what may be going on, but rather told the man who was not only my boss, but the man who I would be fighting in court for custody of my child. Please, please think twice before you bring someone here if you do not want Dr. Semon to diagnose you privately and never tell you about it but tell others."

"My wife and I saw Dr Semon for a period of 6 months about 10 years ago. This was during a time of intense trauma and unrest in my parents family, right after my wife and I were married. I’ve learned a lot in counseling and recovery since then, and have become increasingly shocked at his lack of professionalism during that time. -he willingly saw my entire family, and openly discussed sessions with different members of the family despite most members of the family being legal adults, and no permission having been given. -he assessed that our family had a “closed family system” and advised me and my new wife at the time to do whatever necessary to support and uphold the culture of my parents family. I’ve learned since that my family was in the throes of addiction and abusive disfunction, and the “closed family system” he assessed was simply a dysfunctional family. Everybody in the family was held to the “don’t talk, don’t think, don’t feel” standard that is often found in dysfunctional family systems. Dr Semons advice was to uphold that culture. And he proposed it was neutral, not incredibly unhealthy. I tell this story 10 years later in a google review in hopes that someone considering seeing him, who identifies with dynamics I’m describing, would go elsewhere for their assistance, and because even today I am increasingly shocked at the poor counsel and unhealth Dr Semon practiced and upheld with us. Dr Semon broke HIPPA standards by disclosing discussions to other family members, and functionally did not understand or recognize what I have since learned are very standard signs of abusive disfunctional family dynamics. I have personally found much more peace and clarity through trauma counseling and the ACA 12 Step program."

"Very helpful!"

"I was not very pleased with my first visit. He seamed to not be very focused on helping couples working though their issues. I would not recommend his services."