Psychological Counseling Services - Scottsdale, Arizona

Paige Ring

15/10. 6 stars. If you’re in a desperate place, frantically reading reviews, and longing for actual, deep help and healing like I was three weeks ago - call PCS. I completed an intensive week, and it was life changing. I keep repeating that I’ve never felt more challenged and safely held to process deep grief, wounding, and pain. I’ve experienced an array of therapy, intellectually conceptualized so many modalities and research, and I’ve completed coursework toward becoming a counselor. But PCS helped me finally FEEL empowerment and true connection with myself - especially to know how to advocate for exactly what I need in a therapist as I move back into my life and continue fighting the good fight. Lean in to the experiential work. It’s terrifying, but the payoff is huge. This is brave, hard, and exhausting work. I was in a group with only men, and I wouldn’t have it any other way after looking back. Stay hungry, open, and curious. The therapists are experienced and wise. They SEE and celebrate all of you, collaborate, and create an individualized plan that holds sacred space for you while also preparing you to integrate back into the reality of your life. And that’s key with a “mountain top” experience like this. I’m over and beyond impressed by the entire operation. I loved and connected with all the staff and therapists I met. They provided a place of safe and grounded guidance to help me access the literal magic and beauty that’s been within myself all along. I’m forever grateful and changed from my time here. Thank you, PCS!!!!

Chele Hipp

I did the intensive program for trauma recovery after many years of talk therapy and self-help books. The previous work helped me arrive more ready to get to the next levels and get more from the program. The program was life altering. The team at PCS is truly extraordinary. They get the whole picture very quickly and then lead you on a recovery path that is unique to each person. This isn’t a one week and done program. It’s the start of a whole new life. It’s very hard work - 70 hours of therapy in eight days - and totally worth it. By the end of the week, you will have a clear path to healing and a higher quality life. The only limitation is one’s own willingness to do the work. Highly recommend.

David Clark

Posting under an alternate account for privacy. I went here 2 years ago for the intensive program. I have suffered from depression (and been in treatment for it) all my life and was in a particularly bad place going into the program. Reflecting on it now I do not think I got any long term benefit from the program, and there were some concerning aspects to it that I would like to see them change.

PCS' bread and butter is sex addiction treatment, and in fact out of my cohort I was the only person not being treated for sex addiction. Although they tried to tell me to look for commonalities, it just was not a good fit and in retrospect I would not have done the program had I known ahead of time.

The focus on sex addiction carries through to their worksheets and documentation, so I was given a worksheet that referenced the "cycle of offense". I don't think it was appropriate and I found it offputting to have my sadness labelled as if I was a sex offender. This just seemed lazy to me, surely you can tailor your material better so you're not forcing a client to use ridiculous terminology to discuss their illness? Especially for over seven thousand dollars?

There was a person who talked to us on the first day who drew a diagram of a 'healthy' psyche with the word GOD in big letters. I'm an atheist, so that just turned me off completely to anything she had to say. Especially in these times where the religious are trying to dictate our lives to us, I'm over this nonsense. Another time I was asked to say the serenity prayer. No.

The bulk of the week in the intensive program is spent documenting your situation, your past, and literally every bad thing that ever happened to you. As a long time veteran of therapy this was 100% well-trodden ground and I did not gain any insight from it. Some people in the program did seem profoundly affected by this so it may be great for you if you haven't spent a lot of time on your issues before.

At the time at least, the program relied heavily on EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) which from my reading has been an effective therapy for many but it did nothing for me. I noticed no improvement in any area that we worked on through EMDR.

I liked all the therapists a lot but I couldn't name a single insight or breakthrough I gained in talking to any of them. It could be me, I may just not respond well to talk therapy any more, but be aware.

In the end I did feel better coming out of the program but after a lot of reflection I think that good feeling came solely from being away from my environment and around other people for a week. If I had to do it again I would not do the intensive program.

Lyndsey S

Even having the best counselor (Kris is awesome) doesn't matter if the front desk people schedule you and then "can't find your appointment" when you show up. The front desk person unapologetically said, "you're not in the system for today- would you like to schedule for another time?". Um, actually, no, I'd like to have the appointment I was told that I scheduled. I was even sent paperwork to confirm the in-person appointment a week prior, to which the front desk representative said, "well we have two different systems and sometimes the information doesn't get in the right system." Well, perhaps you should address that issue so that people don't waste their valuable time away from work to come all the way to your establishment just for you to tell them you never actually put their appointment in the system. The only reason I'm posting 2 stars is because other front desk staff have been helpful in the past, and Kris should get 10 stars (however, again, that doesn't matter much if you can't even access your appointment). The representative I encountered today was shockingly rude, unapologetic, and could use some serious empathy and customer service training. It's a shame that a center with such great practitioners is so poorly run.

BrieMcG

Wow—this place is something special. I wish I could afford to go back and do an intensive every year. So much I could say but will leave it at this for now.

Miranda Anderson

The entire team is fantastic. But Haddas is magical, and Gloria is an angel.

Timothy C

Great experience with therapist there. Not so much with the front desk staff. Have found some to be abrupt, confrontational and generally unhelpful. PCS needs to address this.

d m

Those who have left negative comments thank you . Hopefully you are going to stop projecting your negative emotions onto others and look within yourself to see the real problems.