I have been going to Island Counseling for almost 7 years now and have never had a bad experience. What I read in these reviews sounds like a few people's rare bad experiences, but it is definitely not what I've witnessed or experienced there. The receptionists do seem pretty busy and always doing something, but I think they have a lot to stay on top of and are trying their best. I've seen some pretty interesting people in the office and the receptionists are always very kind and patient with these people. Moreover, I've recently been having issues with post-partum and have had to go in more often. If I can't wait till my next appointment and need to come in sooner, the receptionist takes my name down and calls me as soon as there is a cancellation - this is normally a matter of a day. I've never had that efficient of service in any other doctor's office. A few people commented that they think the staff just hands out pills and sends you on your way, which is a little misleading. There are some staff members who specifically deal in just medication management - not therapy. In fact, most psychiatrists are not therapists. Yes, they listen to see what is going on, but their role is not to counsel you like a therapist would. However, I have found this staff to go above and beyond when need be. II have been seeing Pat Senior since I began and for years I really only needed medication management; what I was doing worked, and we only needed to check in every few months to make sure it was still working. This could easily be done in a 15 minute appointment. However, since having my baby nine months ago, I have struggled a lot to get back on course. Pat meets with me every other week and goes far beyond just throwing pills at me. Yes, she tries to adjust my medication to find something that will work but that's what her job is. Even though her role is not to be a talk therapist, she still listens to me and gives me other ways to handle my issues without resorting to medicine. In terms of advertisements in a doctor's office, this office has no more ads than any other modern medical office. They all have signs and brochures for different products. They don't push any of these products on you; the information is just there for the taking. I'm also not sure what happened with the person who couldn't find seating. They give you papers or the tablet to fill out and you can sit on their numerous couches or chairs in the waiting room. I really think this is an excellent place to receive help. If you call and there is a wait to get in, it's because there are so many people who want to work with this staff. read more

Island Counseling is the Worst place EVER ! They double and triple book people for same doctor starting at 9am, then the doctor ( Tobacco ) will stroll in at 11am if you are lucky ! So at this point for an 11am appointment you already have 6 to 9 people waiting in front of you. Those people have been waiting for hours for a doctor that isn't even in the office hahaha. Needless to say you are stuck in that hell for hours !! You take time from work to go to a doctor's appointment and you return to work 4 hours later if ya lucky! This place does not give two flying F***** about you or your time! To make matters worse, once you are called ( hours later ) Tobacco will do one of two things, if he is really backed up ( usually always ) he will call you and a few other off to the side and say, I sent ya meds to the pharmacy-make ya next apt bub-bye... Or he will take you in his office and talk politics with you. With NO regard for the others waiting out in the waiting room for hours and sit there to tell you how much he loves the president for a good 30 to 45 min!!!Nothing about you, all about politics! Never in my years have I seen such a blatant disregard for people that need proper counseling and their time! Stay far away from this place, BAD BUSINESS !!! read more

started going to Island counseling about 12 years ago. The worst place you could possibly go. I use to see Dr. Tobacco, the first thing that was a red flag was you would show up for a 9am appointment and there would be 3 other people there with a 9am app as well. Then to make matters worse is Dr Tobacco would not show up until 11am. So at this point they are double to triple scheduling and this guy shows up 2 hours late! So after figuring out not to make an app to early you would think at noon you would be all set, NOPE ! They continued to schedule two to three people at the same time. With this doctor and I use the term doctor lightly and him showing up two to three hours late every time his appointments are so backed up you sit there for hours. Then the joke is after sitting there for no less than an hour but usually more this quack would call you over to the side with a few others and just tell you he sent ya script in and bye. Wow !!!!! STAY FAR AWAY for this joke of a treatment center and Dr Quack Tobacco! read more

Worst place, pill pushers and lazy therapists. The only good thing I can say are there receptionists are very patient and empathetic. That's it read more

NEVER GO HERE! EVER!!! I had been going here for years and seeing a clinician who retired recently. My first issue is that you never get a human being on the phone and making appointments was impossible. Nobody answers the phones or gets back to you. When you try to make another appointment and you're there at 7 AM, nobody is available to make a follow up for you. Second issue: If you have a copay, hold onto every sing receipt you get for at least a year or longer. Why? Because they will try to bill you over and over again for copays you paid for months later. If you paid cash and didn't hold onto your receipt for months, they will continue to bill you. I had a clinician that retired and when when left, I wasn't informed and I tried to get an appointment with another person in the practice they said they can't take me because I'm a new patient even though I have been with the practice for years. I can't get help with my scripts and nobody will answer phones or help you and guide you to get the care you need. If yo are about yourself, don't go here. They were also under investigation for some sort of fraud. Do your research. They suck. read more

Never answer the phones, they constantly call in my husbands prescriptions wrong. We need a 90 day supply so insurance will cover it. They never seem to call you back, they have a terrible 3 missed appointments policy. Regardless of what happened (a death in the family) they won't budge from it. This is a horrible practice I will be spending my day off finding him a new psychiatrist and psychologist. Update: We're going to file a complaint with the state board on Mike Pizza. If you rely on psychiatric drugs do NOT go to this place or trust them to get you your medicine on time. This place does not answer phone calls and doesn't give the pharmacy authorization for something he's been on as a maintenance drug for years at this point. He called 3 days ago. I had to call his PCP earlier and beg them to fill a month supply so we can find him a new provider. This is the most unprofessional place I've ever had the displeasure of dealing with. They're rude, lazy and don't care. Do not rely on them for anything, ever. read more

I had been going to this place for years because my doctor of choice moved there. She has since left, so I ended up trying Pat Senior, one of the co-owners. After trying and failing to find a good counselor there (one left the office before I got there for my appointment, so I dismissed her, another kept leaving office and taking phone calls DURING my appointment with her), I started seeing Pat exclusively. Big mistake. This office messed up one of my recent medical and issued only half a dose. The final straw was today: I showed up for my appointment.......and she wasn't even there! The staff insisted that they tried to call me at home, but that my phone wouldn't accept their call. What a liar! NO ONE called me to tell me this, so I told them that I'd be finding a new place. Edit: Did I mention that the other owner (Dr. Och) was being investigated by the FBI and that agents were there collecting evidence against him one day? Avoid like the plague! :( read more

I have been seeing Dr. Crawford-Grey here for several years and she's great, a very compassionate and educated healthcare provider. I will say that it can be hard to get ahold of reception here -- I've been running slightly late for appointments before and haven't been able to call in and let them know that I'm running late, which isn't ideal. Otherwise, I have had no issues with this practice and would recommend it to anyone looking for a psychiatrist. read more

I will say this is the best establishment I have been to. I have a great prescriber and an amazing therapist. I had become homeless for a bit and missed appointments so they dropped me from the practice and flagged me. I spoke with one of the office managers, Zach, and he was able to get me back in with my prescriber and my therapist who both chose to take me back as their patients. read more

This center got too big too quickly and need to rethink their strategy. They refuse to utilize insurance carriers that their doctors used to use, causing the insured to incur high out-of-pocket expenses for each visit. It's rare to receive a callback from either the doctor or the billing department. Appointments in the early afternoon regularly run an hour or two late. No longer impressed, we're now looking elsewhere. It's too bad, too, because this was a first-class operation. read more

This business is v. image conscious & financially focused - it resembles an investment firm more than a counciling center. *) After filling out a (required) Web intake survey, expect a three business day wait for a call back and a four to six week wait for services, and much longer to see an actual psychiatrist. The latter requires several sessions with a counselor before ICC will even schedule an appointment. *) I stepped off the elevator to find an Island Counciling office, which I entered & found no administration staff. Five minutes later, upon explaining to a passing staff member that I had arrived to sign in, I was exasperatedly informed that I had the wrong office; the correct one was at the other end of the corridor. There is no signage to indicate that there are actually two ICC offices, & the second is not visible from the elevator. In a shared office setting where a second business clearly has an office next door, it is not at all clear where a new patient is to go. *) It is likely a good thing that the agency does not have signs directing foot traffic, though, because a clearly marked door indicates to ring the doorbell for entry. I did so. This was neither required nor pleasant for the staff. *) Once I found a distracted member of the administration staff (of whom there were easily ten, if not twenty) willing to interact with me, I succinctly informed that person of my name, appointment, and appointment time. I then offered my credentials as requested. It took several minutes for the staff member to continue her conversation with her coworker; I am honestly not certain what was done with my credentials, but at least they were eventually returned. *) In time, I was given a WACOM tablet & asked if I would like to join the patient portal. I indicated that I would, as I had also done on the (required) Web intake survey. While the WACOM glared an advertisement for the device's company that declared, "paperwork is so 20th century", I was handed two sheets of paper and a pen to fill out the patient portal paperwork, & asked to attend to it before I sat to fill out my intake datawork. As this was a duplication of labor & my leg throbbed in its cast from the standing, I found this part of my experience the second most upsetting. *) Once the patient portal paperwork was done, I sat down to once again duplicate labor from the (required) online intake form, filling out an intrusive set of questions on the tablet regarding history & present complaints, which is fairly normal for medical intake paperwork. What was not normal was the notice that the company that produces the software for the tablet - a third party - would have unfettered access to this data, subject only to federal HIPAA restrictions. *) I was then treated to a commercial for one of the partner company's products, an anti-insomnia drug. Once that was finished (and only once the tablet was done shilling drugs), my datawork was complete, though there were at least fifty helpful, commercial filled articles on a variety of indications. *) As "my" staff member was busily on the telephone, one of the many others took the tablet and left me to my own devices with no further instructions. *) I was asked, despite an obvious leg cast, to wait outside with nowhere to sit. The person asking refused to listen to or reason with me, then refused to give me their name or look me in the eye while I politely asked who was making the request, I was variously told, "the management" and Island Counciling. To my eye, they were fleeing for the elevator to avoid dealing with me at all. I left, received my food perhaps five minutes later, and went back upstairs to cancel an appointment I waited six weeks to get and was still an hour early for. *) A pair of staff followed me to my car to find out what happened. One seemed genuinely concerned and sincere - but offered nothing more than incredulity at my situation. The other was apparently just there to watch - no questions, no apologies. At least neither laughed in front of me. The annoying thing is, this was the most stressful and depressing situation of my month. Being essentially rejected by those I had waited for more than a month to help me was a close second. On top of that, I now need to find some other agency while in a less stable state than before. TL;DR: Rude, profit focused, will sell your personal info for their profit, constant surveillance. AVOID. read more

Very poor at returning calls in a timely manner regardless of your needs. This shows a lack of respect and apathy towards a client considering it deals with counseling and mental health issues and medications. read more

Everyone there is so pleasant!! Cindy, who is in charge of medication is so helpful. She understands people are financially burden and will try whatever she can. Bernie the psychiatrist is so nice and understanding. He is very calm and listens so well. He really tries to relate to you and treats you like a normal person. read more

I was a patient of Michael Pizza. He is THE WORST mental health "professional" I have ever met in my life. When you're talking to him he doesn't even look at you, he just stares at his computer and says nothing when you're finished talking. He thinks everyone is a drug addict. He gives you your scripts and sends you on your way. He forgets he has patients waiting for him in the waiting room. I waited 2 hours once. And this happened multiple times. When you leave his office, you will feel SO much worse about yourself. I recommend if you have any psychological problems, you SHOULD NOT see this "man". He should be fired for the way he is towards patients. If I could give him 0 stars, I would! read more

I am still waiting for a response from anyone from here. I filled out my intake form online last Thursday(you can't actually call and talk to someone). It is now Tuesday late afternoon. I need a doctor. I think they believe they are dentists or something. People who contact them are usually desperate I imagine. There is no reason why I can't get a hold of anyone. I mean ANYONE read more

I have been coming here for years but the past two years it's been horrible . It's feels like a warehouse for mental illness . The staff is uncaring and unsympathetic. My Dr Bernie . Had been having health problems . It is understandable however they cancel appointments constantly .They don't have another Dr on call like normal Dr offices .And when u need ur medication (especially for depression , insomnia and anxiety. ) it's hell. And then you have to call medical refill line and leave a message and wait 72 hrs . So I finally got someone on the phone ( med refill line) and the woman was extremely rude . She acted like I had a problem calling after 48 hr to wonder what's going on . She was sarcastic saying "you only left me 2 messages on Mon" . Then she told me I have wait for Dr to come in the office . Which who knows how long that can take , because he barley works anymore . They don't have another DR that can help . They can't call my Dr. It's extremely frustrating . . And to even make an appointment it's almost impossible to get someone (reception)to even answer the phone to even make an appointment . Or you are on hold waiting for someone to answer for 45 mins . They really don't care if you are ok or not . It's kind of a vibe what do you expect me to do . I would not reccomand this place to my worst enemy . Run as fast you can. . I'm looking for a new Dr myself . read more

My Moher was a long term client of this Center until recently. Her Counselor retired and they DID NOT REFER MY MOTHER TO ANOTHER COUNSELOR!!!!! She is now in depression and she feels abandoned. No one returns calls or emails. I sent 2 emails stressing how difficult my Mothers situation was, and no response. I would sue these people for negligence if I knew how. read more

I have been a client of ICC for 4 years and have seen the service steadily improving. I had two different prescribers and counselors. I still was not satisfied, then I met with Patricia Senior and have been with her since. She has always provided me with the most compressive information and care. After several sessions I knew that Kelly Hendricken was the best fit to my therapist. Without giving advise or opinion she has always provided me with an insight that is always correct. I need to mention at least 2 of the receptionist; they Irene and Ashley. They are to smiling faces that greet you when you arrive at the counter. Both these young ladies are great. When I walk up to the counter I am greeted with a pleasant greeting and addressed by name. Both of these young ladies go out of their way to help me every time I go see them. They are more than accommodating even when I show up late for an appointment. They do their best to get in to see my therapist or prescriber. I cannot say to many positive things about my experiences with ICC, and it's only getting better. read more

Psychiatry in general has become a shame. This business contributed to and exacerbated a deep work related trauma. I initially saw one of the owners. She was always, always running 40 minutes late. The appointments were 15 minutes sharp, regardless of your state of mind. I was impressed that she gave me her e- mail. I used it prudently, but when I did use it, the response was, we would talk at our next session. I am extremely sensitive you medications. She once tried Naltrexone, but if you look it up, Naltrexone for depression is only ever given in the low dose form. She prescribed the amount for opiate withdrawal, which was not my issue, and made me severely sick for 24 hours. After several failed attempts, she passive aggressive insinuated blame towards me and unilaterally transferred me to another psychiatrist. He was a kindly old Grandpa who seemed mentally ready to retire and was not up for the challenge of someone who was medication sensitive. In the end, it turned out I had MS and Lupus and Sjogrens. Since they are medical Doctors, If the practice had more than 15 minutes sessions, and did not treat clients like widgets on an assembly line, someone might have noticed something was off. Part of the problems is, The insurance companies are squeezing Psychiatrists, forcing them into these,15 minute appointments, but they still have a choice to book a few less patients a day and be a little more careful with the ones they have. read more

I have had nothing but positive experiences with Island Counseling Center. I never have to wait long for my appointments, and I was hooked up with necessary services promptly. I found staff to be very courteous and friendly. I don't know what happened to people to cause them to give negative reviews. All I can say is that my experience has been great. read more

Am I the only patient totally satisfied with Island Counseling? I arrive maybe 5 minutes before my appointment with Bernie, check in, get my parking ticket punched, sit down to find the magazines unappealing or nonexistent, but who cares? I always bring a book. Sometimes Bernie takes me right away; sometimes I wait maybe 40 minutes because someone earlier needed more help than I. It averages out. Bernie asks questions. I tell him what's going on in my life. We are both happy with the results. I get my prescription and leave. When I need a refill, I call it in and it arrives about three days later in the mail, and I fill it. No drama. No wait. No mixed signals. I give Bernie and ICC five stars. read more

So far extremely disappointed in this company. I Am already looking to file a complaint. As mentioned in previous reviews, insurance does not cover a 30 day for our prescriptions, only a 90. So of course our pharmacy tried contacting the Dr. at island to tell him this--two days, still no response and two days so far WITHOUT medication. Whoever is running island needs to get their act together. This is not some nail salon where an automated voice mail is enough and where you can just get back to people whenever you feel like it...these are medical appointments and treatments you are dealing with. And i have yet yo hear anything positive about this place....come on guys! read more

Because of my procession I work with doctors offices almost everyday. I completely understand that it can be a stressful job, especially working a med refill line but every single time I call I receive the worst attitude, I'm interrupted and spoken over the entire phone call. I NEVER receive call backs when I need to reschedule an appointment or have a question. I've never dealt with such a horrible office staff. read more

I was a patient here for around nine months. First off, they couldn't schedule my first appointment for until months after I called, which is always a problem because when someone needs mental health care, it's because they need it SOONER rather than later. Second, all this place is is a drug store, as far as I can tell. The place is large, with many receptionists and patients coming and going in fast 15- or 20-minute increments. Go in, be asked a few questions, get your latest script, and get out. When I continually questioned my so-called doctor about this type of treatment, she matter-of-factly told me that's just the way it works. I expressed that mental health and psychology is a science that has thousands of people working in the field every day all over the world, but all that they (Island) could/would do for me is ask a few questions, throw a few pills at me, and walk away? I requested in-depth psychological testing for my condition(s). She actually told me that that's not how it works; that all she could do is try different meds with me and see what happens. I asked for Adult ADD testing; she told me to talk to my therapist about it and set it up with an outside service on my own. What a sham. These people are ripping off the system, taking in as much insurance money as possible by shuffling through as many people as possible. That's it. Disgusting, unethical, and immoral practices. Also, my particular doctor let her ego rule the room. She barely listened, showed no care or interest, and got defensive way too easy. Yo, you're the professional, highly educated in your field, running a business for money that is supposed to help others. Hurting, sick, confused, scared others. I am one of these walking wounded who needs help, who needs to be listened to, who needs care. If YOU are going to be constantly defensive simply because I ask questions about you and your practice, then you are doing something wrong on many levels. Avoid this place unless all you want is pills. read more

Counselor I saw was absolutely horrible in my 3 mths of going there I never even talked she spent the whole time on her computer trying to figure out how to work it. I've had more then a few appointments she canceled at last minute because her appointment before me canceled and she wanted me to come in earlier so she could go home and not have to stay and wait for me who was her last appointment of day. She would also be having private conversations on her cell phone. In my 3 mths of seeing her I never got to speak a word. My last time seeing her I called cuz I was going to be a few minutes late do to a car accident she never told me on phone not to come in instead I was told to get there soon as I could. I was 15 min late and she was walking out the door and told me "sorry I don't see patients who arrive late maybe you can come back tomorrow" yet on the phone I was told to come in still. After my 3 mths experience with this counselor I rate this place 0 stars I only rated 1 star cuz the site made me. I wish my insurance would be reimbursed for not one appointment did she even talk to me in my 3 mths she never even learned why I was going. However I also do see my medication person there and I would rate her 5 stars but the counselor gets 0 stars. read more

i LOVED Julie Hurley, but she left and now I have M. Pizza, he is just ok-I just had Hurley so long I got used to her and adored her.

The previous commenter's remarks about Michael Pizza could not have been more different from my experience I had with him last week. I filled out their online intake form on a Tuesday and got a call on Wednesday and made an appointmernt on Thursday. I was a little hesitant that they were able to make an appointment so soon because it usually takes weeks if not months to get in for an appointment in most practices. My fears were immediately put to rest. Michael listened and asked alot of questions about my symptoms, what had been tried in the past and what options we could try going forward. Yes sometimes it is trial by error. A med that has worked for others may not work for you-that is why there are so many different meds on the market today. I was with him for almost an hour-never felt rushed or felt as though I wasn't being listened to. The meds he suggested have so far worked out great. This may not last forever and I understand that. He also made sure that I had an appointment for a couple of weeks to see him as i was going on new meds. I was very satisifed with the treatment he gave me read more

Suffering from depression & anxiety I was overwhelmed at size & amount of receptionists the first time I went. I've never been late, psychologist & psychiatrist have NEVER been on time. I had bad side effects from new med & left several messages, never got a return call so I stopped the med. I wanted to see him after 2 weeks since I was on totally new med & replacing another but he scheduled me a month out,,,wtf at least call me back! It's very difficult to get a live person on phone or one that has capabilities to give pysch a message that he claimed he never got(I left at least 3). Even my psychologist there said he's got so many clients, he makes me feel like I'm just a number. I was holding back tears just before apt ended & felt extremely sad about holidays but our time was up & we didn't get into it,,even though he was 10 minutes late! I won't be back & won't recommend to anyone looking to better themselves mentally. read more

The city of Worcester is pretty tough,... the population that is served by Island Counseling include a variety of people who require all sorts of mental help, myself included. The counselor's, receptionists, nurses, and all employees ought to be commended for the work they do on a daily basis ... they should be admired for their profession in itself, but especially since it serves the those in this particular location. Patricia Senior made such a difference in my life that after moving miles away, i still continue to travel to the 'wonderful' streets of Worcester. She saw what a lot of other doctor's didn't see and I would recommend her to ANYONE looking for a medical professional to take them seriously. Bijou, the medication desk guy has likely the toughest job in that place. Can you imagine? having to rectify MEDICATION problems daily? He likely gets screamed at daily by unsatisfied patient's for reasons that have nothing to do with him... and yet... when I had a problem I needed fixed ... he was kind and efficient, doing anything he could to help - and he fixed it fast. Having a disability is tough, but these guys have made it bearable and understood - even acceptable. read more