Reviews of Avenues Psychiatry and Counseling Services (Psychologist)

T K

The office staff is amazing. They are patient and kind, ensure your doctor gets your message, and when he/she respondents they promptly let you know. Dr. Wilson is an amazing psychiatrist because allowed me to be involved in treatment planning by always providing several options, and reviewing the pro's and con's of each option. He is especially knowledgeable about medications and different treatment strategies. Aside from medication management, Dr. Wilson is a skilled therapist who challenged me when I needed to be challenged and provided support when things were bad. He always returned phone calls promptly and responded to psychiatric crisis with urgency and care. I am sad he will no longer be seeing outpatient clients as he is a truly wonderful doctor.

Dana Lueckler

Called to make an appointment, never was able to speak to a live person. Spent about 10 minutes in an endless phone tree, choosing the schedule appointment option several times. Finally it had me leave a message, they never called me back. What an awful way to run a medical clinic.

Kimi

The Psychiatrist is great and most attentive. The front desk lady is rude and dismissed my concerns. I asked about over-payment she said they never let clients over-pay, yet my experience was that I did over-pay it being my first visit using my new insurance. I ended up getting refund by intermountain. I love intermountain. Medical billing is always fun (sarcasm). It might good idea they get a noise machine.

Piper Brady

Really like my doctor here, but my prescriptions have been late or missing more than once. One time, somehow two prescriptions were just completely forgotten and never sent in. Like over a week. I ended up having to call in about it, at which point one of them was sent to my pharmacy, but the second never showed. It's pretty difficult and frustrating, pretty scary. Another time, I called in for a refill. I called in on a Thursday pretty close to closing time, and no one picked up. That's totally understandable. I left messages right before closing time, one for scheduling an emergency appointment and one for the refill. Was kind of counting on getting my prescription in the 24 hour time period the phone system gives. Just super struggling, and only one day of medication left. The next day, scheduling called me and we got an appointment set. Afterwards, they transferred me to refills and.... no one picked up. Called again, no one from refills picked up. Called again, finally got a hold of someone, they said they got my message but needed to verify a thing or two, and were working on it. Fifteen minutes to closing, I hadn't heard back from anyone, prescription not sent in yet. I was not doing great, and stressed that I would forget if I didn't get it done that day. Stressed about how work was going to go the next day with no medication. Called in to check and make sure everything was good. Surprise! No one picked up. So now I'm writing this review. I'm not sure whether I'm gonna be able to go to work tomorrow with everything going on and no meds. I'm pretty stressed, I'm gonna lose a ton of money if I don't go. I can't afford it. Figuring out what to do. A lot of people seeing psychiatrists have executive function issues. It's hard for me to remember things and get everything taken care of in an orderly and timely way. I'm trying so hard, but if I can't count on my psychiatrist's office to be prompt and reliable when I need them most, I'm just screwed. I wish I was able to call at better hours, but I work too. I don't want to switch doctors, but I gotta figure out how to avoid this kind of thing happening again. Other than that, great place! Everyone is super kind when you go in.

Ashley Brown

The office staff, recepiants, MA are rude and don't understand the mental hardship of the patients there dealin with. Trying to get medication and all they needed was to fill out a form, I called eight times and took a month to finally got them to do their job, I finally went directly to my doctor and she got it done. I agree with many of the coments, the front desk it not what it should be for the type of patient's it deals with. Well actually for any doctors office, but there will always be people like this, and I just have to remind myself I don't know what there going through, but no excuse for being rude.

Susan Scott

Honestly I really like my therapist. This is the only experience I've had that turned out really well. The guidance that I get is what I need in my life.

Dakota R Silva

Husband needed refills on medication. He called in, left a message with the medical assistant named Chris or Kris. Waited the 24-48 hour turn around like they say. Nothing. No refill. No call back. Nothing. Finally they send it to the pharmacy, but failed to call and say “Hey! Medications at the pharmacy!” They don’t return calls. Gave it a second chance. Went in for appointment, got medication, ran out of medication, called again about medication refills, and again. No returned calls, no sent prescription, no notification, nothing. He called again left a message, still nothing. Called the front desk and explained that the medical assistant Kris or Chris WOULD NOT return the messages, and guess where they forwarded us to? Lovely Kris or Chris that doesn’t like to return phone calls. Glad the new insurance we have covers the University of Utah. This facility is a joke. Hire people that do their jobs.

Allison Heiner

Both my counselor and psychologist retired so I had to find new providers. I did a lot of research on different clinics and physicians and finally decided on the Avenues Psychiatry and Counseling Services. I filled out and returned the new patient packet the office requires timely. Yesterday was my second visit. The front staff has been cordial in greeting me on both visits. On my first visit, I waited about 45 min (I think) past my appointment time. Okay, sometimes they run late and I understand that. But because I had waited so long at my first visit, I became concerned that this could be the norm. Yesterday, my appointment was at 3:30 with Dr. Vitkus. I arrived 10 or 15 min early as I always do for any appointment. I filled out the questionnaire on the iPad I was given which took about 1 minute. I've filled out this questionnaire hundreds of times so I know basically what the questions are. Approx 10-15 min after I checked in, another patient for Dr. Vitkus checked in. I became concerned at this point that the doc would have to rush through my visit since the next patient was already there. At 4:00 I was still in the waiting room. I became angry and I left. The front staff was on the telephone and helping another patient check in so I didn't have the opportunity to tell them I was leaving. As is the case with most people, I'm sure, I have to take time off work to attend appointments and my time is just as valuable as anyone else's. On my way home, I called the office twice and was on hold 5 min or more each time. Finally, a woman came on the line and I told her I wanted my credit card for the visit refunded. She said I needed to speak with someone else and put me on hold again. A few minutes later the same woman came back on the line. I told her my appointment was at 3:30 and at 4:00 I got tired of waiting and left. She said something along the lines as, "Your appointment was at 3:40, not 3:30. We tell patients 10 minutes earlier to allow time for check-in and to fill out paperwork. In the future, you need to remember that." First of all, I didn't know that. No one told me they give you a "fake time" for your appointment. Secondly, if that is the practice, then let patients know that at the time of scheduling! Tell them their appointment is at 3:40 but that they need to arrive 10 minutes early for check-in and paperwork! That would have made all the difference in the world to me yesterday. The woman I was speaking on the phone with yesterday was talking to me as if I was a child. She was very condescending and short with me. She sounded put out but said she would go ahead and refund my co-pay. I was in the middle of saying "thank you" when she hung up on me! Unfortunately, as much as I was feeling comfortable with Dr. Vitkus, as is critical for mental health treatment, I won't be back because of the way I was treated when I called in, definitely not because I was displeased with Dr. Vitkus.

Cameron Judd

front desk team is very rude

Payton Lynn

I've been seeing Dr Crookston since i was 19 & they were out on Fort Union. So that's 7 years so far, as i'm now 25. He has seen me through first admitting I had an addiction problem, through going to different Rehab's, through sobriety & relapses & through the other mental health roads I've walked all these years. I honestly could not ever ask for a better Psychiatrist. He listens to what I have to say, he encourages me to decide how I want to proceed with medications & treatment, he's compassionate & offers advice as an outsider view, which often I follow & am happy that I did. I live all the way in Herriman, but this Psychiatrist is truly so incredible that driving an hour to see him in rush hour traffic isn't bothersome at all to me. I've had Doctor's in my area, specifically PCP's who try telling me I can switch my medication's to them so I don't have to drive so far, but I always say no thank you, I'm happy with my Psychiatrist; Reason being: Dr Crookston knows ME. He knows all of my medications, he knows about my lifestyle, he knows my personality & how I deal with stress, he knows my story & what I've been through in the past 7 years & most of all, he understands the medications he is prescribing & how they interfere with other things as well as how they actually work & how they should work for you. Not all doctor's can say the same. He's even been able to educationally discuss "homeopathic remedies" with me so I could understand whats safe for me & my current medications, whats worth trying based on actual fact, their makeup & even the hype on certain remedies. I could not be anymore satisfied with my care here. He works with you on how often you see him based on YOUR progress as well. When I was 1 year clean, we were seeing each other monthly. When I hit 2 years clean, we switched to every 2 months. Now I'm over 3 years clean so I only see him every 3 months, but still have the ability to see him sooner if need be. Its also really nice to use the patient portal when you have basic questions or requests for your Psychiatrist. I highly recommend The Avenues psychiatry & have never had any complaints about any of my care because its always been outstanding.

Easton Clark

My name is Easton Clark, I would like to share my experience with Dr. Crookston. Unfortunately throughout the years my experience with addiction experts has been rough. I am over one year clean substances and struggling with self harm, and feeling guilty and not being able to forgive myself. Dr crookstons first words to me was not how are you, was not a handshake, it was a very grim and condescending tone asking if I’m in treatment, I responded I am over a year clean sometimes participate in AA but I feel like I need help beyond addiction. I’ve been to treatment centers I’ve been to iop’s, I’ve managed to kick heroin and all other substances I just have a hard time loving myself. I just would like to be heard and validated for once and not seen as lesser because of the stigma that an addict always carries. After I told him I wasn’t in a program and I felt I have deeper rooted issues (bi polar possibly manis” dr crookston told me “you do not tell me what to do, I ask the questions” I understand it’s early and I’m the first patient and you may be tired dr crookston, but you don’t get to talk down to me like you’re a god. We met for less than 1 minute before I excused myself. Maybe next time start with a handshake and some common respect and treat me like a human, an equal, not an “addict”. You’re not an expert, you have no empathy and poor communication skills. You hand out suboxone like candy and I personally know patients of yours who trade it for heroin. You should not be in a position like you are and you should remind yourself you’re working with people who maybe aren’t doing too well. Recovering addicts aren’t lesser than you and you are a condescending man with a condescending tone. You are not immune to poor communication because of your degree. I am a man just like you. You don’t know my story and you shouldnt talk down to people.

Denton Pace

Dr. Dawis is a smug piece of trash who pushes his patients toward suicide and he should not be allowed to practice psychiatry

Isaac Young

No problems with the phone operator. The staff and my psychiatrist have been excellent and I would definitely recommend them to my friends/family.

Laurara Monique

Horrible phone operator. Pissed off.

Jace Walker

Dr Richardson is a fantastic psychiatrist, very clear about options, side effects, and treatment plans. The reason for 3 stars is that the office staff are completely incompetent. They've single handedly caused me to be without a prescription that my body is literally dependent on for an entire week. Even beginning withdrawals, I had to call them 5 times and back and forth with my pharmacy because they kept filing it in error at the incorrect dosage and frequency. This should never happen when someones health is actually on the line.

Madeline Cardon

The first person I spoke to at the front desk was kind, I was trying to find a psychiatrist for a loved one who is struggling and she told me they would send over paperwork immediately. I never received the e-mail. So I called back and Lisa answered the phone. She was very rude and told me she would send the e-mail and I gave her my e-mail address to confirm. Again, no e-mail. I can't speak to the services provided because I was unable to receive services. However, it's really unfortunate to be spoken to unkindly when trying to address the health needs of a loved one. It is also unfortunate that there are many doctors who work at this facility who went to school for many years, and the reputation of the business they work at is effected by a person who answers the phone.

Courtney E

I’ve only had good experiences here. Great office staff, and my visits go well with Dr. Albrecht. Been coming for over two years without issue.

Matt D. Nelson

I can only speak to my specific physician, Nicole Albrecht Dawis. I felt like she was more interested in giving me pills than actually listening to what was going on. During our second interaction, I told her that there was more I wanted to tell her, a really important component of what I was going through, and she said "I'm comfortable with my diagnosis, you can get a second opinion if you want." It really took me off-guard, because a psychiatrist's data is largely communicated verbally. I felt like she just wanted to experiment with SSRI combinations without even fully understanding what the issue is. At around $280 a visit, it's hard to justify.

Elizabeth Best

The front desk receptionist (Lisa) is unprofessional and unpleasant. Does not address your concerns or help to get the care you need. I will not be continuing with this institution.