1 Star - A Disappointing and Demeaning Experience for a Child Who Deserves Better…read more
What happened to my daughter and me at SpeakEasy Therapy demands to be addressed--not just as a parent, but as a professional who understands how healthcare systems should work.
Let's start with the facts: My daughter was removed from the OT schedule due to attendance. Fair enough--we missed sessions. But the way this was communicated was profoundly unprofessional and downright disrespectful. I mistakenly mixed up our appointment time by an hour and showed up late. As I stood at the front counter, the scheduler texted me that we had been removed from the schedule--while I was literally standing right there. That's how they chose to deliver the news: through a passive-aggressive text message instead of a face-to-face conversation or even a private call.
To make it worse, the front desk assistant casually stated that "even her therapist said attendance had been an issue," making it very clear there were internal discussions happening about my daughter without including me--the parent responsible for her care. If there were concerns, why not reach out sooner? Why wasn't I looped in to collaborate on a solution?
Then came the whiplash: I was offered a spot the very next day, but no one told me the therapist had changed. Nova, my daughter, excitedly walked in and was completely ignored by the new therapist--who walked right by us like we didn't exist. That's not just poor communication--that's harmful for a 6-year-old child who needs connection, routine, and support to thrive.
At this point, I requested a copy of our attendance records and asked for the corporate contact info. Suddenly, the manager, Quintana, got on the phone--a bit late to "manage," if you ask me. I made it clear I hadn't asked to speak with her, told her I'd follow up on my own, and ended the call politely. Those records never came. When I followed up through the main records office, I learned they didn't even have my correct email on file. How are families supposed to access care when your systems are this sloppy?
I asked multiple times for a copy of the attendance policy. I was told to call the clinic. I did. They told me to call the scheduler. So, which is it? At that point, it felt like everyone was dodging accountability. Two weeks later, I finally received the original policy--which we had agreed to. I accept that we violated the policy--but there are a million more professional and compassionate ways to address it, especially when the child in question is neurodivergent and trying to access critical therapy services.
After a month of being bounced around, I found a voicemail from a man named Michael--maybe a regional director or owner? I called him back and cried on the phone explaining the trauma and hardship we've endured over the past year, only to be met with a few sympathetic words and...nothing. No follow-up. No support. No restoration of services. Just radio silence. Entire summer: wasted. No therapy, no resolution, no accountability.
My daughter was punished for my scheduling mistake, and our entire family paid the price.
SpeakEasy, if you truly value children and families, then treat them like partners--not problems. If you're going to make administrative decisions that affect a child's therapy, you must communicate them in a human, respectful, and compassionate way. You failed my daughter. You failed me. And your system failed itself.
Parents: be cautious. If your child needs consistency, empathy, and professional care, this is not the place.
