Ventura County Behavioral Health - Oxnard, California

Alekz De La Torre

TW: negligence by office staff
Ignoring requests to speak to my therapist
Speaking over patients
Lack of explanation of paperwork signed
Etc….

I am a long time patient here and have consistently had issues with the front staff here. From scheduling to tone to receiving letters in the mail addressed to OTHER patients.

This week I was advised my doctors appt was moved to an 11am clock time slot versus the 10am I had made with my therapist. I okayed it since things happen but I did tell my therapist and we worked a second appt around it.

Today I get a phone call advising the second appt is for a totally new day. When I advise Ms Marilyn what had happened and that I was confused and a single mom with a hard time getting a sitter, her response is that her schedule shows that the appt is for tomorrow. I am trying to concoct a plan to show up for both appointments and it became clear Ms Marilyn is not able to or wanting to look further. So I ask to be transferred to my therapist to avoid wasted time. Ms Marilyn’s response is that I’m scheduled for tomorrow and there’s no availabilities for the time I was told I was scheduled. Frustrated, because this imformation was already stated and I needed a rescheduling of some sort, I said i understand can I please be transferred? Ms Marilyn says “to who?” Shocked and feeling unheard, unhelped, and a nuisance, I asked if she had coffee this morning and said ANYONE ANYONE AT ALL IS TOTALLY FINE.She scoffed and transferred me.

I’m transferred to Ms Maribel. Tone is immidietly uninviting. I am aware of Ms Maribel and she has known me for years. I advised her of the situation and advised her that I’m not sure if the other girl is new but she is absolutely not awake and I need to get this resolved- Ms Maribel interrupts me to advise me that, my appointment is scheduled for tomorrow. Again restating the information that has been shared. She ends the call before I respond. I call back and say please transfer me to my therapist. Ms. Maribel adds “yes maybe she can change something…” flustered at the unnecessary back and forth and the consistent need to speak over me and restate the same sentence, I advised her this is correct and precisely why I asked for her 3 times and between the two of them, I couldn’t get through.

When I arrived last week, I witnessed a mother watching someone from the office. Ask her son to sign a paperwork. And the mother very loudly. Stated. How can you make him sign that if he clearly doesn’t understand what you’re making him sign? No one offered an explanation or attempted to console the mother. I was in shock.

I’m not sure with what prejudice or preconceived notions these women have when working with their clients but I do believe some serious training needs to be done as well as an apology to not only myself but anyone else that struggles but is strong enough to show up for THEMSELVES. Sorry to disrupt your lounging at the office with my serious scheduling needs and concerns.

What is unbeknownst to them is that I’ve worked at high demand offices with clients going through high risk situations (DV, suicide, homelessness, mental health etc) and while they’re marking me off as someone undeserving of their precious time sitting at an office made just for that, people just like me are deciding to take their insurance elsewhere or possibly even give up the fight. Because women like them, just got back from lunch and are possibly a lil tired.
I am a staple to the community, creating reunification programs for parents and their children and volunteer coordinating at an animal shelter. All I ask for, is to be transferred to my therapist or someone with competent scheduling skills.

Please only go here if you’re in a waiting list for somewhere else. The disrespect is volumes.

Ventura Local

I have to give 5 stars because last week Alex and the crises team responded in the best way possible. Our family needed help and that is what we got. Thank you

Past experience was different, hopefully they continue to improve services. We need thier help.

Debra

Front office staff is robotic, rude, incompetent, and a huge part of this extremely problematic place. Dr was abusive, cold, unprofessional, accusatory and a hindrance. SHE needs serious and long term psychiatric help..... immediately. The happiest and most productive I've been in years was when I made the decision not to return. Please do not go here for help. From the waiting room to the robots behind the glass to the idiots that call to "confirm" when they already have, to the idiots that don't know how to print forms with actual ink in the printer, to the cold useless Dr T.... they are waaaaay below the standard of care. I wouldn't take a stray cat there. VCBH is never good, but this place is criminally bad. There are telehealth physicians who will take Medicare. Try that rather than going here. This is worse than your last resort. This is worse than nothing. Stay safe. Keep trying. But not here

Grisha _owo

inexperienced and judgmental staff. Avoid this place if you value your mental health.

MrRaccoon 1

Let me start off by saying this place and the people who work at VCBH have saved my life. They've diagnosed me correctly and we've found the perfect medications I need. If not for VCBH, I wouldn't be here to give this review.
If you or someone you know is going through severe depression, PTSD, or undiagnosed, go here because there are soo many more diagnoseses that they will pinpoint and give the proper support of medication. They have 1 on 1 counseling as well as group therapy and much more! There's no reason to live in agony when you can get professional help. I am now very successful. I could not have lived my days out with what was going on in my head.
My life is is worth living now that that I've gotten All my mental blocks out of the way. It's all due to therapy, medication, amazing staff, etc. I would not have a great life that I do now without VCBH. This is my true and honest experience that is priceless.

NinjaBard Pheonix

Lots of turnover, and miscommunications. The staff are all pleasant. Trying to understand the tools that you have available, and then requesting them is where allot of the clients get stuck.
The medical staff will only prescribe psych meds( not even an inhaler), and will prescribe weaker versions, doses, or outright discontinue medications, regardless of how helpful they are to you.
If you have severe anxiety/anxiety adjacent diagnosis, do not expect any anxiolytics or similar from them.
Expect Nurse practitioners and Skype calls with a psych that doesn't understand or listens for the wrong things, and they can be pretty apathetic. All this being said, non medications related staff are all usually very pleasant.

Lorena Rodriguez

Whenever I call the crisis team I’m never met with understanding or compassion. They are the worst of the worst. I will add that they are prejudice against people.

Lisa Garcia

I like Relaxation its Awesome they have a class program for those whom need it the most, the good thing bout this it could be for anyone in anger, alone, afraid, even for those whom have trouble with alcohol! Take a chance anyone..