I'm writing this review to warn others about my deeply harmful experience at Riverside Community Care - Somerville Outpatient Center. The care I received here was unethical, invalidating, and, at times, felt more like being trapped than being helped. I was assigned to Fernanda Greco Quentel (LMHC) as my therapist, and instead of being met with understanding, I was quickly labeled with "psychosis" -- a label she repeated every session, no matter what I said or how I was feeling. She didn't listen, didn't engage with my actual concerns, and made me feel like my voice didn't matter at all. Even after my symptoms improved, Fernanda insisted I remain on psychiatric medication -- which would be a prescriber's decision. However, Fernanda is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, not a prescriber, and she has no legal or ethical authority to make those decisions. Her pushing of medication recommendations was not only inappropriate, it was a serious boundary violation that made me feel coerced and unsafe. As for prescribers, I initially worked with Lexi, who was wonderful -- compassionate, honest, and told me that I wouldn't be on medication forever. But once she went on maternity leave, it was like a revolving door. I was assigned three different prescribers in a row, each one more rushed and detached than the last. They would come in, do a five-minute check-in, change meds, and disappear. It felt like being passed around, not treated. Under Fernanda's care, I attempted suicide twice. That's how invalidated, unheard, and unsafe I felt during this time. I needed care, support, and understanding -- not judgment and control. Instead of therapy being a space to heal, it became a source of distress. When I finally built up the courage to advocate for myself and ask to switch therapists, I was met with more gatekeeping. The front desk employee, Amy Alther, told me that I would have to speak to Fernanda directly before switching. Excuse me? That's not how trauma-informed care works. It felt like I was being forced into an uncomfortable, guilt-ridden confrontation -- like someone saying, "You need to tell us why you're leaving," as if I was breaking up with a partner or exiting an immigration office. Therapy is supposed to be a personal choice, not a loyalty test. At that point, I realized I had no safe avenue to be heard. So I took my care elsewhere -- and I'm so glad I did. If you're looking for respectful, ethical, and truly client-centered mental health care, I strongly urge you to look somewhere else. This place made my mental health worse, not better. read more

While my psychiatrist was fine, I have to say that the practices here are awful. Every year to 6 months, they force you to switch therapists, and while consideration is given to who you get, the constant switching prevents you from building any rapport or history with them, which I've found is horrible for the client. Before I went here, I had a therapist/psychiatrist since I was 7, and that history helped me so much. Now, to what made me write this review. I've been on a certain prescription medication for years and before I switched, I never had a problem getting it in person. When my old psychiatrist retired and I ended up here, I began having problems getting one particular medication. This all came to a head today, when I walked into the CVS pharmacy in Medway, I was told that my prescription had, in fact, not been ordered. I had called twice before this week, once to order the meds, the second to make sure the meds were insurance safe (another can of worms -- in essence, the doctor did not send in a letter that allowed me to get my pills under masshealth and forced me to pay $68-69 for 10 pills and the pharmacy had to walk me through getting the letter...). I walked into the pharmacy to get my pills and lo and behold, they were not there. I had run out of pills this morning, and this medication is one that I cannot go without, so when I heard this, I called this company. The response? "Oh, the dr must have forgot to send it out." For crying out loud! You're a doctor, you can't just forget these things! To make a long story short, I went back at 8:30 and they STILL HADN'T SENT THE PRESCRIPTION IN! HOW???? and since it's a controlled substance, the pharmacy can't give me some without a prescription. HOW DOES A COMPANY IN CHARGE OF SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT FAIL SOMETHING SO SIMPLE????? IMAGINE IF IT WERE SOMETHING THAT A PERSON NEEDED TO LIVE? They would probably say, "Oops, sorry," to the family if the person died. In essence, don't go here. They will treat you with a nonchalance that is frightening. read more

I just called to speak with someone. A gentlemen answered, and I wanted him to know that releasing this patent to a shelter because they do not have a bed at a facility to regulate meds is unsafe. I said I wanted my opinion documented in the chart. He said he can't do that. I asked if he cared if he went out into the streets and died? He said "no, no I don't." At that point I was speechless that this is who we have working with crisis patients. I have left a message for corporate, but this ia unacceptable. read more

Staff was very unprofessional, rude mean , there was no professionalism my family member was killed at the hands of staff who was not certified in any medical aide, so he let my family choke to death, I would not recommend anyone to is program read more

Due to covid, I had two therapists quit from the same place. I don't know where they are, nor obviously would the other facility convey that to me. So I decided on this place (against my better judgment) as my husband was seeing a therapist there for issues at his place of employment. He was ready to resign. He went there hoping to get some help so that he didn't resign, and would know how to handle his boss properly, but his therapist did not help him with that, and subsequently a few mos later he did have a breakdown & resigned, (ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL) no thanks to this place...so I should have known better. But she had the nerve to call him after this and say "do you think I helped you?" I don't know captain obvious-if he was going bc he needed help so he wouldn't resign -& then ends up resigning due to a breakdown, I would say NO you didn't help him. But this is how oblivious this place is. I had called for MYSELF, and the woman in intake had an attitude. If you detest your job, quit. First, she argued w/ me that she sent all emails for intake to my email address, & I am sure she is missing the number after it, but she was adamant she knew she sent it. I never received it the multiple times she "so-called" sent it, so I KNOW my own email address, which means she messed up, but GOD FORBID she admit to a mistake. She then hangs up on me asking if I need a dr for medication. I said, I do not. She then says "if you do, then call us in the future, bye now." Um...excuse me? I left a message asking for a therapist not a PSYCHIATRIST...so maybe she needs to learn how to LISTEN & stop being a disparaging, passive aggressive individual. They ask you during intake & on the paperwork you fill out for "preferences". Meaning male, female...etc. It was under special requests. I said a woman, and a younger one. But they toss me w/ an older one, set in her ways. Wasted 25 mins out of a 45 min telehealth about how she expects respect & not to be late to your telehealth appts--yet she was 10-15 mins late for each one. She would not let you get a word in edgewise, asked you if something was bothering you, & the minute you tried to get something out, she cut you off. It seems to me she liked to hear herself talk, because I couldn't. So I call roughly 3 wks ago & inform intake that she isn't a good fit, she is wasting my time, not listening, & if she wants individuals not to be late etc., she should practice what she preaches as well. W/ this remote telehealth seems to me that they can do whatever they desire, bc no one is going to go up to a reception desk (as you can't now) & say why is she late? They knew on intake I had depression/suicide attempts. But yet when you asked for a change you never got a call back. They are listed a few times on other sites/where individuals reviewed duplicates of this same company (location) stating the same thing. Being suicidal & no call back. When my husband called the director Julie she gave him an attitude as he wanted to talk about his own issues w/ the place too, and all she did was say, it's only been a week for me-so he never got to himself. She is obviously not informed OR likes to lie to save face. She had some girl call me, but when I told that girl in a VM I was not happy it took 3 weeks for a call back from this company, she didn't call back. This arrogant Julie tells my husband that she had her reasons? What would that be? Because I told her I had a formal complaint in, and then ALL of a sudden they make this girl call? Maybe they didn't tell her that, but I had already found a new one. I was just curious as to what the THEIR new one had to say, but there was NO way after 3 wks I was waiting around. These are the same therapists that go to Milford Regional if you are suicidal. They are inept imo. You could have taken a bunch of pills and then as they did with me, they will tell my husband "will you watch her and call us if she seems unsafe?" They seemingly don't care if you tried to kill yourself less than 15 hours before. Because here you are going home with your husband acting as a security guard. And this was all before COVID. Their emergency services is hopeless as well. You can be telling them you are wanting to die - as I did and after I told the woman what was going on she was like, I don't know if you should be calling another one of our offices? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? They aren't meeting you at their offices, that's what the PHONE etc. during covid is for. So someone tells you they don't want to live, and your concern is to stay quiet and then say at the end -"I think maybe you need to call elsewhere." Stay away. read more

Called this facility got a call to tell me a certain doctor wasn't there anymore. Called several more times to schedule an appointment left VM never got a call back. I didn't get a good feeling from them not caring to people's needs! read more

It's unfortunate that people have had the experiences they have, but, then again everyone is entitled to their opinion. I attempted suicide last year, was hospitalized, and referred to Riverside in Milford. I have to say, I have and continue to be treated with the utmost of respect for both me and my diagnosis. I have accepted the fact that I have a mental illness, and with med adjustment, counseling (Jane) the best; I want to live again. I am beginning to believe in myself, and find it fun to volunteer in the community, and try new and different things for ME. If you want to blame anyone for your "poor treatment"; start looking at YOUR denial; work hard at getting better. it's not easy, and at times hard to accept things.It's easy to wallow in depression, but, its you who needs to want to get better. read more

Been through multiple therapists here over the past few years. Two different therapists assigned to me ignored all attempts at contact, and I was told by one of the prescribers that their total lack of response even in a three-week period when I left multiple messages was normal, and that I should never expect anything more than the cold, judging, rushed sessions every other week. And if you try to change therapists you have to actually ask permission from the therapist that isn't helping you. I don't feel comfortable opening up in sessions anymore because of it, which is counterproductive. I finally found a therapist that actually cared about my progress, but it's because I was able to advocate for myself.... A lot of people in this situation can't do that. read more

Horrifying, terrible place. The first time I went there I was 17. They held me in a room away from my dad after I begged him not to leave me. I was left alone and other patients began coming into the room and warning me to leave. Later, they sent a woman in who did not identify herself, and she began making threats. She said if I did not calm down and agree to stay in the home she would call child protective services and have me and my two younger siblings removed from the custody of my father. We had lost our mother to cancer, so as you can imagine, hearing this threat come out of the mouth of someone who was supposed to help me was traumatic. I was 20 when I was sent there the second time, against my will. They placed me in an adult home in Norwood that included women and men, all who were over a decade older than me (something I was extremely uncomfortable about.) I was given a roommate who stole my phone and told me she had rubbed her dirty underwear on my mattress (yes, mattress--they did not give me sheets) in order to infect me with her "disease." I sat in my room terrified all day. The bathroom was disgusting, there was human waste in the shower and when I told that to the staff they told me it was my job to clean it. The first night there I finally built up the courage to go get something to eat from the kitchen thinking the other patients were asleep. I was in the kitchen when suddenly a very old man came in through the back door. I was frozen with fear, I had been told that the doors locked at night and nobody was allowed outside, which made me think this was a random stranger breaking in. He smelled like alcohol and appeared to be extremely high. He walked over to me and began groping me and begging me to help him kill himself before opening his mouth and unleashing heaves of pitch black vomit onto me. I started sobbing and ran to get the staff. The office door was locked and I began banging and yelling. Eventually they cracked the door and asked what I had done. When I explained, they brought me into the office, showed me to a small closet with a chair inside it they called the "sensory room" and locked me in. They made another patient clean the vomit from the kitchen floor and discharged me that night. The entire time I was there I did not meet with any counselors, therapists, or psychiatrists. I did an intake interview where I told them I had extreme anxiety and being in an environment like this would only make my symptoms worse. They ignored that. It was a waste of time as I was there for a whole day and never treated, and more than that it was a horrible, traumatic experience. Riverside has destroyed all of my trust in the mental health system. To this day I have not been able to seek treatment because of the way they handled all of this. They have left an extreme amount of fear and distrust in me and as a result my condition continues to worsen. read more

I went in not even sure what year it was. They screwed with me so much by putting 17 as the year on a bunch of documents and they purposely let me see it every time. I was suffering a breakdown due to severe paranoia and they made my day hell. read more

There was one instance in which the psychiatrist that I was seeing at the clinic in Upton placed her hand on my back, and literally shoved me out of the door to her office. She then closed it behind me without even explaining herself. I was inquiring of her for her professional advice. A therapist at the same location openly laughed when I told her of these circumstances. This prompted me to discontinue our professional relationships, and I am currently ascertaining being able to transfer my medical care to another physician altogether. I was never provided with an explanation by either of them for that insult to my intelligence. My personal experience with the two of them required of me to conform to this kind of treatment as though it was deserved. This represented a personal and professional prejudice that I was unwilling to deny to myself in direct observation. I am quite capable of handling the stresses of my medical conditions without a reliance upon medicines to stabilize my state of mind. Medicines were meant to provide a stability in which a patient can then cope effectively without the need for such as the long term solution. I have been flooded with medications as the solution in my coping strategy, and adjustments have been few and far between. This has made my autonomy from this interim time very difficult, and then I was disregarded by these two medical professionals as someone that cannot handle coping effectiveness without instruction as an adult that in actuality was being caused by the medicines that were being prescribed. I found this contradiction to be offensive, and shoving me out of the door to the office by this psychiatrist served as the signal of a system of a belief that I was not of the personal caliber to handle the truth of my life experience. That is an insult that I am unwilling to deny to myself: I was drugged, and then blamed for it. read more

If zero stars were possible that's what they would get. The people here are patronizing, fake and judge mental. After telling one of the intake counsellors my symptoms she very sarcastically asked what if that was caused by something else. I felt judged and horrible and embarrassed after leaving. People working in this field should never make others feel this way. They refused to work with my school and work schedule and said they would essentially force me to have a certain amount of sessions per month. I told them to get rid of my file because I was sick of the way I was being treated. I took my phone out to silence it at one point and the woman looks at me and says "what are you doing" very rudely. I'm sorry but I am an adult and may take MY phone out if needed. What if I had been waiting for an emergency call? When I told them to get rid of my file she responded telling me it would still be looked over. I never received a call after that. I found this very unnerving since she did not seem to respect my request for my file to be destroyed. Stay away from here if you want quality care. This place is the worst place you could ever go. read more

This place was by far the worst I've ever gone to. The therapist they set me up with didn't address any of my real problems, and accused me of being an alcohol abuser saying that all depressed people who drink alcohol are alcohol abusers PERIOD. I asked for a switch, and they refused based on the diagnosis of a therapist I dumped in less than 3 sessions. I emailed a complaint about this therapist 3 weeks ago and still haven't gotten an answer. Unless you want to be judged and treated like crap avoid this place. read more

In terms of mental health services, this place is scary-bad - perhaps a step above '50s horror-movie depictions of state mental hospitals. The therapist I saw was clueless and inept, and the psychiatrist was a pushy, judgmental bully. God help them, and you if you go there. read more