I am not one that reviews often; I save my energy, usually, for happy and positive stuff. I was…read morejust reading some of the nasty reviews on her page, and I feel terrible for how it seems that the internet can be a tough place. People review when they are MAD, more than when they're satisfied. I would imagine that it's even tougher when your clientele is, by nature, in need of mental health advice. I feel compelled to tell MY truth! I've been really frustrated with myself, secretly, about my lack of focus and constantly being distracted for years now. It seemed to get worse "cuz COVID". Dr. B and I met and she went through some testing, and from the data received, she was very cautious about how to treat what I was seeking help for. She discussed carefully her initial diagnosis, and talked about the ways to treat. She made it clear that some medications have risks of addiction, etc. and wasn't trying to do anything other than inform me and provide caution. She asked me how I felt about prescription treatments, and what my history was with things like this. She was digging deep to ensure that we were doing the right thing and that I was comfortable - that's what it felt like to me. She started me with very low doses of the chosen med. She was careful. Concerned about the result with my day-to-day life as her main goal. She felt conservative to me with the medications, frankly, and I really like how concerned she seems about not only treating things appropriately, but also counseling me on "normal" day-to-day, non-medication practices to help me focus. So, I'm sorry that some felt poorly handled, treated etc., but I'd hope that people would see through that and talk to Dr. B before throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Dr. B is a good egg. She has changed my life and I find her to be a very, very careful and thoughtful practitioner, and I'm grateful that I'm working with her. I'm a big fan.

Dr Catherine Borchart for me is a mixed bag - because she's not a bad psychiatrist by any means…read more She was the one who initially suspected I might have ADHD which went under the radar for years due to the fact I also likely have Autism as well (as of right now I am still undiagnosed but I am working with a different doctor to get this done!). But...as the other reviews here have indicated she is extremely honest, very blunt, and doesn't sugar coat anything. And I do mean anything. Not only is she an extremely just woman but she tells it exactly like it is. Which makes it extremely nerve wracking to be upfront with her due to her direct nature which often times comes across as extremely passive aggressive or sometimes even demeaning. She means well but I haven't seen her in about four years mostly for this reason. Nor do I particularly want to. I do recall one review suggesting having a therapist in addition to her if you decide to see her as a psychiatrist and I do recommend this as well. Because while she is excellent with medication and getting to the heart of what might be the problem - far more than the previous psychiatrist I once had. Talking to her about yourself is a major undertaking. Don't go to her expecting someone who will offer you much sympathy in regard to what problems you have - particularly when they are your problems to deal with because she doesn't have a lot it. I don't want to go so far as to claim she has none of it but handling what you put forth gently is just not something she does. Her main defining quality is her honesty. A good example of this that isn't too personal is when she told me "you will never be a professional screenwriter if you can't handle multiple pressures at once". (Screenwriting is not my primary long term goal anymore but something in film which I won't share here certainly still is and I still have a few prominent tv show ideas that may still get made...or not if what she said is actually true). And while again I didn't want to be too personal with this review I did also want to say - partially because I know she reads these that I tend to ruminate a lot and her harsh criticisms have stayed with me. I replay them a lot in my head. Whether or not this is for better of worse is up for you to decide. But again I would strongly consider you think over this and the other critical reviews of her before booking an appointment.

I reached out for support due to the extreme anxiety I was confronting in anticipation of…read moreaccompanying my husband to Seattle for a bone marrow transplant. The plan was for us to find a house sitter in CA, put my private practice on hold (for an indefinite number of months), and then become Henry's full time caregiver, protector, and lifeline while he was slowly recovering within a scrupulously sanitized, sterile environment after his immune system had been completely wiped out. I was terrified of watching him go through this process, and I was especially feeling ill-equipped to succeed in such a perilous "life and death" situation/assignment. I pictured that, under duress, in a medical crisis when we were living all alone, 8 miles away from the nearest hospital, my own "red alert" reactions would cause me to exponentially exacerbate the problem instead of being a calm, steady, effectively caring presence. Just thinking about this possibility triggered a flood of flight and freeze signals associated with severe anticipatory PTSD. So, I tried several of the biofeedback options offered by Santa Cruz Neurofeedback Center after an initial individualized brain mapping session. I discovered that a technique which involves working to subtly control the volume and clarity of a piece of music, while holding the corresponding intent to modify my paralyzing reactions in anticipation of specific situations, actually did allow me to gradually "reset and self-regulate" even when focusing upon the most dreadful possibilities. My biofeedback assignment was to experiment with feeling into "finding" a center point inside which was a combination of "calm", "intentional", "highly focused and aware", but "lacking any sense of effort". As I managed to stumble upon an internal approximation of that designated combination, this, then, naturally lit up certain parts of my brain which were correlated with those attributes. In turn, when the necessary parts of my brain lit up (painlessly connected to electrode sensors), this somehow caused the music I was hearing through headphones to become less discordant. Rather than stopping and starting, or becoming almost inaudible, the musical soundtrack played smoothly and optimally, subliminally training my brain to progressively "dial in" a desired set point - something which I don't think I would have ever fine-tuned this well, or this easily, in a simply rational or a more willful way. These results gave me a lot of comfort and encouragement, and also, as a bonus side effect, I was able to achieve much deeper, more visceral benefits from my lifelong meditation and mindfulness practices - even though I had been pretty successfully working with these methods for many decades - just with less dramatic progress. Throughout this biofeedback treatment process, I recurrently observed how reimagining and then experientially implementing some familiar, lifelong spiritual approaches and concepts assisted me very practically in achieving our targeted treatment goals while also opening new doors and windows into some other positive, but entirely unanticipated insights and breakthroughs. Henry had a brain tumor removed which neurologically impacted regions related to balance, impulse control, executive function, and judgment as well as something like the breakdown of his Wake/Dream barrier. However, he was still able to tap into an observer self - and sometimes capable of acknowledging these kinds of deficits, not just experiencing the consequences. One benefit he gained from regular Neurofeedback sessions included an empowering sense of exercising clear intent and agency during a time when he was terrified of losing these capacities. He set a goal of actively working toward "shifting his relationship with" increasingly intrusive altered states that caused him to see, hear, and sense non-consensual phenomena as if they were physically present. Henry described a reduction in his anxiety whenever the Neurofeedback process mirrored his capacity to identify this type of intention and then offered measurable evidence of progress (i.e. when what happened on the training screen during a session visibly responded to his intent). His mood responded positively to the musical component of his customized protocols as well which utilized a long list of his all time favorite songs. As an LMFT, I have also referred many clients to Santa Cruz Neurofeedback to facilitate everything from more effective management of chronic anxiety to better addressing ADHD symptoms or otherwise enhancing variants of intentional self-regulation which significantly benefit mood stabilization, better focus, or concentration. There are numerous other potential benefits - plus Langdon, Aimee, and their whole treatment team are highly skilled, delightful people with whom to collaborate.

Compassionate place where I learned a great deal. I also learned about compassion meditation which…read morehas been wonderful!

I have been a patient of Dr. Tallman's for many years. I find him to be knowledgeable about the…read moremedications, trustworthy, helpful, caring, reliable & dependable, easy to work with, prompt and responsive when prescriptions are needed. He has a great staff that is very helpful. I am glad I found him, and I would highly recommend Dr. Tallman! Julia M.

Saw him for three weeks, then patient abandoned me. He pretends to care, but does not do a good job…read moreat that. Got me on medication that made me throw up for weeks even after I stopped seeing him and refused to switch it. Cancelled a very needed appointment less than 24hrs with no notice. Did not offer a referral, or to refill medications, and basically left me to suffer saying I needed more "serious" help despite me explaining why hospitals don't help me. Which is illegal to do by the way! I met a new psychiatrist and she got me on new meds that worked asap and she was far more helpful, knowledgeable, and caring than Tallman ever was. Not to mention, she promised me I would never see a hospital BECAUSE SHE DOES HER JOB. Tallman is lazy and picks and chooses who he wants to actually care for. He is not a good person, let alone a good doctor. Leaves all scheduling and communication between patients and doctor up to poor staff who are overwhelmed. Do not recommend whatsoever unless you are looking to be absolutely miserable. Tallman does not deserve to be a doctor, let alone should not be caring for people who need actual help. So many better options out there!

I've spent over a decade in talk therapy. CBT, DBT, I've done it all, and with many different…read morepsychologists. Dr. Dufford has helped me make more progress in one month more than I made those ten years in talk therapy. When I started seeing him, I had been through so many failed therapists-- I didn't think this would work either. He proved me very wrong. He helped me get "unstuck." Now I am more in control of my emotions. They no longer control me. I don't write a lot of reviews, but I felt compelled to write this one because I've seen how much he has to offer. He has literally changed my life. This may sound strange, but I feel like I'm a different (and better) version of myself. I can't recommend Dr Dufford enough.

Words cannot truly express how grateful I am to have found Dr. Dufford. When I first started with…read morehim, I had a goal in mind to fly for the very first time at 38 years old, even though I had little confidence I'd actually achieve that goal. I'm very happy to say that as of today, I have taken 4 flights with no end in sight! I hadn't flown in my entire life before I started with Dr. Dufford! He helped make the impossible possible. Thank you, Dr. Dufford.

I have sought help multiple times over the past 20 years and have been let down by therapists in…read morebig and small ways. My first appointment with Michelle convinced me that this time it was going to be different and it has been. As the other reviewer said, she is present, relevant and challenging. Her wide range of knowledge, personal and professional experiences and the Enneagram approach to self awareness has been such a blessing and encouragement. She can reach the unreachable. It's not a quick journey, and there have been some detours, but with Michelle's patient and trustworthy guidance, I know I will continue to identify and dismantle the self defeating attitudes, perceptions and habits and learn to live in the present, appreciating each day to the fullest. And to the previous reviewer: Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing your experience with Michelle. It was your review that prompted me to take one more chance on seeking help. I owe you a debt of thanks.

If you are looking for a therapist that "gets it" look no further. I have seen Dr. Franklin for 15…read moreyears both on an individual basis and in a group setting. She is nothing short of AMAZING. Talking with her is as comfortable as talking to your best friend. She has a way of helping you feel normal no matter what the issue. She is warm, engaging, supportive and doesn't hesitate to "slap you upside the head" when you need it. She is truly a gifted therapist and you ALWAYS feel as though you have her full attention. She can remember things I told her 10 years ago and uses it to show patterns of behavior of which I was unaware. Her advice has been invaluable in my life and I have experienced great personal growth while working with her. Her commitment to continuing education allows her to continually bring new modalities into her practice and offer more to clients. Dr. Franklin is by far the best therapist in Northern California. I wish I could give her more that 5 stars !!!!!

So far so good. After just a few visits, I already know that…read moreI am glad I chose Allison from a crowded field. She is a good listener, has a wonderful and soothing office and is patient and flexible about the process. She is also very affordable for those on Blue Shield HMO insurance. I will update this rating after I gain more experience, which is the only reason why it is not a 5 star rating.

I have been seeing licensed counselors for most of my adult life, as I am an advocate of mental…read morehealth tune-ups. I have been seeing Allison for over four years, when I first started I was seeing her weekly and have now moved to every two weeks. She likes to use modern technology which is great for us busy people. She uses psychselect.com services which is HIPAA compliant; so I can send her electronic messages as well as schedule/cancel appointments without having to play phone tag. So nice! Also, she uses an electronic debit service so that I can process my co-pays in those cases where I don't have cash and on the flip side she doesn't have to deposit checks. As a therapist, she is extremely effective and provides constructive feedback pushing me to think through my emotional/psychological barriers. Also, Allison has a unique counseling philosophy where she blends cognitive, behavioral and spiritual. It continues to be the best fit for me and my strong spiritual beliefs. I also love how she maintains her space. She makes it very cozy, warm and inviting. She many times likes to burn aromatherapy oils which calms my mind down and actually helps for me to be more open.

My daughter is a student in Santa Cruz area and was looking for a Therapist…read more Dr. Hemmen, even though we are not patients, went out of her way to help us with referrals and even check who may have worked with our insurance. Most Therapists never called back or took several days to get back to us but Dr. Hemmen got back quickly and is extremely professional and showed she cares for her practice and clients.

Dr. Lucie Hemmen has a gift for working with teens. We began consulting with her when our children…read morewere young adolescents, and she provided excellent advice - both to us and to our kids - as we addressed common issues such as school choice, stress, peer issues, and family dynamics. She facilitated better communication for us all and helped smooth the way for a relatively conflict-free teenage period in our household. For a family seeking a wise and approachable therapist to work with during the teen years, Lucie can't be beat. Much more important, however, she can also be counted on in a crisis. When our daughter fell into a sudden, unexpected, and severe depressive episode, we were able to turn to Lucie on an emergency basis and count on her support and advice every step of the way. She made herself available so that we could consult with her - via text, phone, and in person - as we navigated what is every parent's worst nightmare. She helped us keep the channels of communication open with our child, advised us about when and where to seek additional help, and nurtured a close and trusting relationship with our child that continues to this day. I am not given to hyperbole, but I must say that Lucie's support and wisdom were invaluable. I cannot imagine how we would have weathered this crisis without her.

After seeing many doctors through our the years .. they could never give me a response for what my…read morebody was doing . I was actually living in Las Vegas and traveled to see Dr. Aimee, The first appointment she already knew what was going on.. gave me bloodwork exam and I had A lot of food allergies .. my only regret is not coming back to her.. regularly as the distance was a challenge for me.. but know that I'm having some health concerns. I have already made another appointment with her!

Dr. Aimee Shunney is amazing! She is extremely knowledgeable on the latest hormone balancing…read moretreatments and women's health. She spent plenty of time with my initial evaluation was very thorough. She ordered lab tests specific to my needs and was able to address my concerns. I had gone through a few other naturopaths and I feel their treatments were based on generalizations. Dr. Shunney was also quick to respond to my emails and seemed to be much more available. Dr. Shunney also presents stimulating and informative lectures to the community; most recent was on hormone balancing. I also appreciate Santa Cruz Integrative Health as a wonderful resource for referring complementary treatments such as chiropractic, acupuncture , massage, etc. They truly are integrative! I feel well taken care-of. I have finally found the right naturopath, you are greatly appreciated. Thank you Dr. Shunney!!