Fourth Street Christian Therapists 1622 4th Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404

"Never has a therapy experience made me feel worse and more helpless. I reached out because my husband started smoking cigarettes behind my back (he was off them 6yrs). We reached out for marriage counseling and got set up with Patrick. We did individual intake forms before our first appointment. In mine I specifically stated my issues and boundaries with smoking. Our session with Patrick began with him telling me in front of my husband “I don’t see what’s so terrible about smoking, the Bible doesn’t say anything about smoking.” I didn’t react I was in shock. Over the course of a few days I told a number of people about this interaction and they all reacted with outrage. He blatantly disrespected my boundaries, is that not the exact opposite objective of therapy? I contacted the owner of the business Joy. I was disappointed with her lack of response. She seemed to not believe that was said. Ultimately she gave me a free session with a different person Jeremy who was lovely. The next day Patrick texted my husband “do you want to have one on one therapy with me?” Are you insane? The blatant disrespect again. So I have called Joy twice and left detailed messages about the continued disrespect from Patrick. NO Response. I’m really hurt. These people are supposed to be a safe place but they have caused me emotional harm and set my relationship back farther. Unfortunately we won’t go back to Jeremy because we cannot support a company that thinks anything that was done in this situation was appropriate. I’m considering filing an official complaint. Update based on owners response: 1. You spoke to me an did not believe your therapist said those things to me and you believe that I miss understood. Shame on you. Why would I lie about that? He said verbatim what I said it which was in direct opposition to my boundaries I made very clear in the intake form. That’s so incredibly invalidating and hurtful. 2. You continue to disregard my wishes via your client portal comment. I ask you please never contact me again and I continued to receive emails for you. Correct response would’ve been: I’m sorry that happened. I do not support my therapists no respecting clients boundaries. I’ll speak with him and make sure he knows that’s not appropriate going forward. Then when he contacted my husband behind my back offering 1 on 1 therapy you should’ve told him that’s not appropriate. People reach out to therapists for help not the other way around."