tl:dr; I feel very comfortable recommending Therapist El-Bardai with the highest rating…read more Personable, helpful, intelligent, and reasonable.
I have been to therapists a few times in my life. When my mom became ill, during a particularly bad relationship, when my mom passed. I have been lucky to have seen good people, but I did have a few bad experiences that made the good therapists stand out more. (Ask me about the therapist that told my mom that I was clearly a gang member. Me, the nerdy, foureyed blonde in the front of the Calculus class raising her hand...)
So, here I am again, life has thrown a few curve balls my way and I realized I could use some help getting through this tough time. I did some research and called several numbers. I left a message for Therapist El-Bardai then called some others. The first one told me the initial charge was a larger number than the website. They said the high price for the first meeting was because the first time they had to get to know me. They were charging extra to talk to me? I mean... isn't that the point? I asked if I could come by and meet the therapist before hand, to be sure I got along with her. No, they said. There was a charge for the first meeting.
The next two were very similar. They literally asked for my credit card number before I even had the name of the therapist I would see. The fourth one refused to answer any questions, as in at all, without payment information. I hung up and resigned myself to the reality that I wasn't going to be getting therapy. I had finally gotten up the strength to call for help, and instead of reaching out a hand, they reached for my wallet. I was already in such a low place feeling rejected, sad, alone, and that just shook me to my core. All I was was a dollar sign to them. Not a human. I don't care if my gynecologist asks how my day was, but therapy is about just that. Humanity.
Then Robyn herself called. She is a small operation, not a huge patient mill like the other places appeared to be. She told me the first visit was complimentary so we could be sure we had a good personality fit and so I could be confident that she could help me. She cared. It was obvious.
I have since been working with her for some time. My life has completely turned around, in no small part thanks to her guidance. She is obviously very knowledgeable and keeps herself abreast of current tools and research. She cares very much about her patients. She remembers what I have said previously and invests in my success. She's like a fantastic mother and sister all in one. A close friend, but one that lets you talk about yourself for an hour at a time!
I now have a bag full of tools she has given me to work through the hard moments. And the hard moments are becoming fewer every day. I feel as if I am becoming the person I wanted to be, and surrounding myself with people that compliment that reality. Life will always have hard moments, but I'm better prepared to handle them.
What you can expect: A safe and comfortable space. A thoughtful and caring therapist. A well educated therapist. Reasonable pricing. The tools you need to help you through whatever you are going through. Easy scheduling. A brighter future.
And easy free parking, though it is a bit of a walk from the other side of Telegraph. Exercise will help, too! :)