sorry; it's a long one…read more
i am an autistic adult lady in NE Ohio. recently diagnosed, so i was seeking a counselor who was knowledgeable about autism in adults, so i could make sense of my diagnosis. i was told they have counselors available for someone like me, so i came in for my intake appointment, which they said was necessary; i had to go in person. i've been spoiled with counselors willing to work with me, and do counseling by phone. not this place. but... i never made it to a counselor, or even the intake nurse/doctor/whatever.
too much paperwork. and i'm not saying that there were too many forms to fill out. what i mean is there were too many completely unnecessary forms that did not pertain at all to my health, or my reason for seeking treatment. and as i was reading their like, terms of service thing, it specifically says "No initial in person or face to face audiovisual visit is necessary to initiate services using teletherapy modality." at that point, i am upset and frustrated, because they said it was necessary to come in person.
i left several frivolous forms blank. when the receptionist called me up to explain why i didn't fill out the forms, i told her that i didn't understand how this pertains to me trying to get into counseling. she was nice, to start, but she was getting huffy, and called her supervisor in. the supervisor started shoving forms at me and basically demanding i sign them, without explaining why, and when i refused, she would snatch the paper back and quickly scratched the word "refused" on the line that i was supposed to sign. then i brought up the thing that said i didn't have to come in person -- i even underlined it, because i wanted to ask about it. but then she couldn't even find my page. "nothing here is underlined." then my mom steps up to the desk to help me, because she's one of my advocates, when i can't clearly communicate in a stressful situation. she stepped up because she saw that my autistic brain was close to a meltdown. they snapped at her to sit back down, because i am the client, not her. so i snapped at them, "this is my mom, and as the client, i say she stays."
by then they were all fed up with me, and i was fed up with them. i asked them to shred my forms, and cancel my appointment. and i left... and i had a meltdown in the car. but at least i mad it to the car before it started.
i can't speak about their services, but obviously, no one has trained the front desk people to have compassion and kindness for neurodiverse or mentally ill people; very rude and unprofessional. and so, the search for a counselor continues. but i will never go back to Travco.