Now that I have a good client-therapist match, I am appalled at my treatment by Heather Burns,…read moreLCSW. I came to her for depression and some other very serious concerns. I am almost afraid to review her as I read her other "response" to a negative review where she insinuated the client was Severely Emotionally Disturbed. Maybe, maybe not, but it really seems Heather was unprofessional in dealing with this client, and with her subsequent response to the client's heartfelt review on Yelp. I suspect you will all be told (gently, of course) that Heather cannot reveal my diagnosis but that she is saddened by my inaccurate review, or something like that.
My own experience with Heather was very negative. She literally told me that I was "sitting too aggressively", and when I asked what that meant she said I was sitting too close to her (she was way across the room from me, but yes I was leaning forward with my elbows on my knees to be able to connect with her and to hear her better)! It turns out I had been "doing this" (as in, sitting wrong) for 2-3 sessions before Heather told me I made her uncomfortable. I left that session in shock, especially after Heather told me that aggression is related to my depression and that they were one and the same. Actually, I am almost too passive- so to be told I was aggressive, because I was depressed, was comically inaccurate.
Furthermore, I wrote Heather a lengthy note which I gave to her my second or third session (I think we had a total of 5-6 sessions). In it, I described my excitement to meet her and begin the healing process. I also mentioned something about how I will always respect her boundaries. Well, she really fixated on that and asked me if I have problems with boundaries! I was simply trying to put it out there that I would like to forge a respectful, trusting relationship with Heather. I wrote her a nice note and apparently that was not OK?!
I also have some trouble with concentration. So one day I forgot to bring along the door code number to get into Heather's office. I knocked lightly but I think there was a sign out front asking for quiet. Regardless, I waited outside for Heather to let me in and when she finally came to the door 20 minutes or more into our session, she looked in a huff and ready to leave. I apologized profusely, as is my tendency to do, but Heather obviously did not like the surprise of me suddenly appearing when she was set to leave for my "no-show". She sat in what seemed an angry silence for our session that day.
To add insult to injury, Heather terminated our therapy. I realize now that was a blessing because I found a good therapist who calls me on actual shit, not weird stuff like "you are giving me a weird look right now" (to the other reviewer who "blinked funny"- you are not alone)!
I do think Heather feels she is a good therapist, and she appears to put effort into her work. I do not doubt she may be a good match for a select few clients. But I honestly, in my heart, feel that Heather Burns is in the wrong line of work.
I am not bitter, nor angry, as I write this review. And I do not deserve a passive-aggressive "response" by Heather who severely hurt my feelings already. It has taken me a long time to get over Heather's strange and unprofessional therapeutic treatment of me.
I am so pleased I have moved on in my therapy, and in my life!
P.S. I find it telling that the glowing reviews are not by "lay people", i.e. they are reviews by a fellow therapist and a therapist-hopeful, and by folks who have reviewed NO other businesses. Hmmm... Reviews are filtered for a reason.