The Fifth Avenue Counseling Center - New York, New York

Silvia G.

Been going here for years.. needless to say, I had only 1 amazing therapist but gladly
she left to what I hope is a better practice for her. I had a new therapist, sadly she had no idea what she was doing. I requested a transfer to a different therapist because we were not clicking, it’s been almost a month and a week and still have not received a call from the office. Every time I call, they can’t give me information. I requested to speak to a supervisor and to this day have not received an email or phone call from them. Save your time and money, any place is better that this. Their customer services are truly unethical and I will be filing a report with the city as well.

Emily O.

I was given the contact information of this program by a social worker/case manager in order to try to secure psychotherapy services. I completed intake virtually, only to be called and told that I would not be able to continue because I needed "more specialized treatment." They did not speak with me to tell me this; the center director, who identified himself as Richard, left me a cold-toned, (aurally) unclear voicemail containing the name and phone number of exactly one referral for this "specialized treatment." The reason for his claim that I need specialized treatment was my prior diagnosis of PTSD. It came as no surprise that the place to which I given this referral does not fit the specifications of a psychotherapy provider for which I am looking, and which I described during my intake with the Center.

I found this communication with and refusal of a potential patient appalling. First, I was not contacted to discuss their review of my intake, and whether PTSD would be my primary focus of treatment, or whether I would want to continue past intake at the Center in spite of their lack of "specialization," i.e., to treat my other diagnoses, or to receive supportive psychotherapy. I infer from the way that this was handled that I did not have the autonomy to decide to seek care for my other disorders, or general care, so much so that the decision had to be made for me and announced to me via voicemail. In my book, that's multiple layers of gross! To me, the worst part is that autonomy is one of the fundamentals of a mental health care provider/program.

I also found the implications of their referral particularly horrific considering how important it is for those in the mental health space to be trauma-informed and trauma-focused in a post-pandemic world. By saying that they would not continue to admit me past intake because of my PTSD, I believe that Richard was basically saying they consider trauma too "specialized" to consider offering me a spot in their program. I believe that care of people who have experienced trauma is a growing reality as society becomes more aware of how many "little ts" and "Big Ts" people suffer in their lives, among them things like bullying, narcissistic abuse, capitalism, etc. I am seriously blown away that this Center director claims that there is not a single provider at the Center who can work with a person who has a trauma diagnosis. Perhaps more accurately, I am confused how they have any patients if having experienced trauma (while also having other disorders in need of treatment) disqualifies a current or potential patient from their services.

In conclusion, I am appalled by the way the refusal to treat and the referral were handled, appalled by the implications about their practice, and appalled at the poor method of communication. If I had any desire to work with them in the future, (which I do not,) I would have completed several state and federal disability discrimination complaints regarding the way that I was (not) treated because I have PTSD. I sincerely hope that they treat no current or potential patient in the manner that I experienced their services.

Jeremy G.

If you are thinking about going here, do yourself a favor and don't waste your time. There is a select couple of hours to call and even get scheduled to go in for an intake. They also have limited times to do so, so if you work a 9-5 job, then it will be extremely difficult to do so.

I was able to maneuver my schedule around to accommodate their availability when it should really be patient focused. But I was still willing to give them a shot since they took my insurance and were within network. I went in for my intake session and was then told that if I wasn't available during the day, then it would be a 1 month wait list. I was able to get time off from work each week to make this work and called them back to let them know. Of course, once again I had to leave them a message since it's difficult to speak to anyone there.

Then I get a phone call back a week later saying that they mistakenly took too many intakes and now it's a 2-3 month waiting list. They gave me a number to call for a referral ensuring me that this referral would take my insurance and was within my network. I just got off the phone with the referral and guess what? The referral does not take my insurance.

Thanks for nothing! I hope they will at least keep my on the waiting list and eventually get me in. I feel like that's the least they can do right now. I hope to hear from them

Dinae A.

Just made a call with them to schedule an appointment and was given a callback the next day (today). Ellis- the person I talked to- asked me a bunch of very personal questions that made me feel uncomfortable just to tell me that because I was trans and had a past of mental health that I would be "difficult" to help. Also proceeded to give me only LGBTQ resources from places that would not give better and more direct care.

Save your trouble trying to use this clinic. Ended that phone call in a ball and in tears.

Teresa Y.

My experience was not good here. I picked this location due to the ratings and insurance coverage. I called them to make an appointment and they asked me a bunch of questions about my well being and what I wanted to come in for. I had a specific, intentional, proactive reason for wanting to go for a session so I described that to the person I spoke to on the phone. I made an appointment and went in and they asked me to fill out paperwork with the same questions asked on the phone. They asked for me to pay my co-pay upfront and I sat with a woman who I thought was going to my therapist for the session. She then proceeded to ask me all of the same questions that I got from my initial phone call, asked for in the paperwork and then also in person. My co-pay for this session was fully paid and I didn't get the time and space I was paying for to discuss my proactive reason for wanting to attend a session in the first place. If you are someone looking to go to a therapy for a session or two and without a chronic issue - DO NOT GO HERE. It was a waste of my time and money and I will not be going here again.

Jesse O.

I’ve had a really good experience here and they take my insurance!

Rina G.

2 sessions and it's helping already.

Jonathan H.