Connections – Santa Cruz

Dorian Bailey Matthews _{on Google}

Feb 13th, 2024

Would not recommend this program if it can even be called thatto anyone with a history of complex trauma. *Especially* not if, like us, you are physically disabled (an inherently traumatizing experience in its own right), on top of a history of abuse survival and mental health struggles. Their understanding of a trauma-informed approach to care is rudimentary at best, and their ability to comprehensively implement those techniques is abysmal. Unless you are looking to be dismissed, talked down to, gaslit, and treated as though your issues are a moral failing by the very people who are supposed to be helping you get your needs met; STAY. FAR. AWAY.

Evelyn Avanti _{on Google}

Dec 25th, 2023

Don't come here if you value your sanity and mental health. But if you want to reenact being part of a crazy-making, chaotic, dysfunctional family that repeatedly triggers, hurts, and traumatizes you, betrays your trust, tramples over your vulnerability, and leaves you in worse shape than when you came, and you moreover want to pay money for that experience, this is the place. I kept getting kicked when I was down by the very people who were entrusted
-- and paid! -- to help and support me. I can barely scrape myself off the floor now, and am trying to recover FROM my experiences thete, rather than recovering BECAUSE of my involvement in the program. There were some positives, but just as in my family of origin, I paid too high a price for the needs I got met. And more than anything else, I'm left feeling traumatized by my time there. The fellow clients and program assistant were caring and supportive, the doctor was wonderful, but I had numerous experiences with other staff that were shocking and extremely upsetting and hurtful. They have had no program manager for several weeks, as she suddenly quit with only a day's notice -- a red flag, especially given that a recent reviewer here reported that two therapists and a doctor all quit in the short time he was in the program a few months ago. There's a reason staff keeps quitting! Since the program director left, they have no licensed therapists to facilitate the groups or for 1:1 sessions. And with no on-site captain of the ship, things are chaotic and unpredictable. The posted schedule isn't followed. The rules keep changing inexplicably and unpredictably per the capricious clinical director in San Jose who oversees outpatient services. And despite him having a doctorate in psychology, he said such deeply hurtful, appalling things to me that I refused to meet with him again. The unlicensed therapist running the groups is well-meaning, but young, unseasoned, fumbling as she learns, and seems in over her head. And an upsetting encounter with her when she got angry, defensive, unprofessional, and flat-out denied reality, marked my "can't-take-any-more" breaking point. No hoped-for ownership,
apology, repair, or even acknowledgment came from her in her follow-up emai, much to my disappointment. The newly-hired, also-young, also-unlicensed therapist at the San Jose location who filled in at times to help with groups and 1:1 sessions is shockingly atrocious. I refused to meet with her again too. And the nurse gave me a scolding, shaming lecture one day that almost sent me over the edge, and left me trying to keep a safe distance from her too. I kept on getting kicked when I was down by so-called mental health professionals who I had trusted and made myself vulnerable with, but who proved to be unsafe, unpredictable, untrustworthy, and emotionally harmful. I deeply regret not taking seriously and heeding the 1-star reviews previously posted here. They are there for good reason.

Nick Bodsky _{on Google}

Oct 15th, 2023

In my short time attending, 2 therapists and my psychiatrist left. Turnover in this critical mental health environment is very off putting and leaves a sour taste. I was also promised reimbursement for parking (over $400 worth) which was never given. With the excuse that a check will be mailed, I have not received anything in more than a month after ending treatment, I'm not sure what to do. I get that mental health treatment is scarce in this area, I had high hopes, but ultimately this wasn't worth it. Connections falls flat in all aspects of care and support for their clients, at least that's how I feel.

Kate Winn _{on Google}

Aug 25th, 2023

I spent days and days trying to get ahold of people here. I sent multiple emails, called several days in a row at different times and even when the San Jose Hospital transferred me, themselvesstill nobody could be bothered to answer. Nobody answered. Nobody called me back. Nobody could even respond to an email. Its now been an additional week after several days of attempts and still nothing has been done to contact me or to answer when you call them. Good luck trying to get into a program if youre trying to prevent having a crisis. I am genuinely disappointed with how I have been blatantly ignored. I was desperately in need of help and I dont know if they are understaffed butsomeone is not doing their job.