Best Mental health services in Canada

An amazing center offering counselling on a sliding scale in-person in Calgary and virtually throughout Alberta. I am very thankful that Calgary Counselling Center is there providing the community with much needed support!

Avoid this area like the plague, otherwise you will be witness to active illegal drug use and constant fighting.

A Shepherds facility moved into our neighbourhood and crime is through the roof. A two year old found a used needle and put it in her mouth and had to go to the hospital. Never saw a needle now I see them all the time. Cars are ransacked every night. Addicts are now just walking into houses and grabbing things. This neighbourhood was turning around and now everyone just talks about leaving. Ottawa Police have said they will increase patrols but that likely won't do much. The community said this would all happen, and it has. Shame on SOGH, you are horrible neighbours.

I stayed here for 2 months when my mom kicked me out. If you are not a drug addict and just need a second to pick your feet up, this is the last place to call. Drugs are everywhere, and people use them inside or in the rooms. If you complain to staff, they just shrug shoulders. They do not treat you with respect or kindness. You are already assumed to be a bad person or a burden to deal with. Staff love to talk down on you like you're less of a person because you stay there. There are no resources available to help you within reasonable time. The food here is terrible, so go to the mission or St John's church for proper food. Security guards and frontline staff have an authority issue and use it to their benefit. Take things way too far for certain matters. Most volunteers at the cafeteria are nice, and some of the frontline staff truly do care. But there are not enough of them to make the experience of homelessness tolerable. There is no way to change how it's run either because complaints do not get taken seriously. The majority of these people get paid to treat others who are at their lowest extremely poorly. This place should be your last call for emergency shelter. Cornerstone is no better because they take up to 90% of your pay, whether it's OW or you're working. These places need a big re-evaluation.

Well it's been a FULL year and despite me contacting via phone and email no one has gotten back to me.
No wonder somany people are struggling with their mental health.

Visited mavis medic on a Saturday, accompanying my husband who is the patient of one of the doctors at this clinic. The staff was welcoming. The doctor gives ample time to each patient and provided detailed counseling to my husband on his different health issues and how to deal with them. We had to wait for around an hour, but the wait was justified, given the time and individual attention that is given to every patient. We were very satisfied with the service we received!

My local walk in clinic was fully booked so I just walked into this clinic that I had never been to before. Very courteous staff. I was seen in 20 minutes although it was busy and given a prescription. The prescription was filled in 5 minutes and the pharmacy tech and pharmacist were very efficient. Will definitely return.

My therapist was nice enough, though she didn't really didn't give any advice to help with my problems. Then she informed me on session 18, as I really started to feel I was making breakthroughs, that there was a 20-session limit. So if you have any problems that can't be resolved quickly, don't bother.

Incompetent staff who are borderline Nazis. My mother and I were renovicted, and this den of the dregs of humanity was the only option. Staff have repeatedly stated that they don't care about disabled people, and further, that they hate disbaled people. There is one staff member who constantly abuses my mother. She puts my mother out in the cold for up to 8 hours. My mother has many medical issues and the cold will make some of them worse. I've had to cancel work to look after my mother for 11 hours in one event. That same staff member believes my mother is faking her conditions. I was kicked out after one month because I was "depriving someone in need of a bed". Why? Because I'm a normal law abiding citizen and not an addict. The staff laughed at me after they offered a poor option and I expressed issues about my safety. One of them stated that the only right I have is to do what they tell me, and if I don't like it, I could go die on the streets. They also told me that I have no right to consent. Aside from these abusive issues, the staff do nothing to aid the vagrants who stay there. None of them seem to be in rehab, and the vast majority of them need it. This place is a waste of resources. Staff violate the Ontario Human Rights Code frequently. They also seem to have control over the security personnel, which is absurd.

I am highly satisfied with my family medicine clinic. The staff is courteous, the doctor is attentive and knowledgeable, and the clinic is consistently clean. The prompt service ensures minimal waiting time, making each visit efficient and stress-free. Overall, it's a well-managed and patient-friendly clinic.

Dr. Khan stands out as an exceptional professional in my eyes. Her unwavering commitment to excellence is truly commendable. Not only does she bring a wealth of expertise to her practice, but her genuine compassion and understanding create a supportive environment. Dr. Khan's ability to actively listen reflects her dedication to patient care, making each interaction meaningful and valuable. I am grateful for her remarkable combination of professionalism, helpfulness, and attentiveness, which sets her apart as the best in my experience.

Dr. Saima Khan is the best family doctor ever. All the ladies at front desk and other staff deserve 5 stars too. They always treat you like a family. Thank you so much everyone there.

I LOVE SHEPHERDS GOOD HO PE Natalie security guard very beautiful the staff members also beautiful specialty TESP TEAM beautiful membhas well but woman more even Tia and nikky even the trailer members are gorgeous all staffs are very polite and awesome best place be and best place to live for it's a ktzillion stars 🌟 love ya all y'all

My family and I have been coming to Mavis Medix since 2020, when our family doctor was not seeing patients due to COVID-19 lockdowns. Over the past 3 years, the doctors and clinic staff have always made me feel comfortable and heard. Never have I felt my concerns are being dismissed, something unfortunately I’ve had to experience with other physicians. Because of the quality of care they provide, we did not hesitate before rostering with them. They offer a holistic approach to wellness and genuinely care for their patients, which is why I will continue recommending them to my family, friends, and community members!

Dr.Khan is incredible! She is kind and compassionate, with excellent communication skills. I love that she is so knowledgeable and makes sure I understand every step of my diagnosis and treatment. I always feel my concerns are heard and she takes her time with appointments. I highly recommend this doctor.
Dr khan is seeing me and my baby since I got pregnant..my daughter got her piercing today...it was so easy..and comfortable and in a sterile environment...I uploaded a photo of my happy baby after 1 min of piercing...it was that smooth..

If someone recommended this facility, please don’t come here, and seek treatment abroad. The mental health care system in Canada is broken, underfunded, and understaffed. The mental health professionals are all snobs and berate you for having problems with life. They are not understanding of your issues. They do nothing, they don’t prescribe you with the medications you need and they only see you one time, only to discharge you. As if we don’t pay taxes for the services that they’re obligated to provide us with. There’s also a one to three year waiting list to see a specialist. It got larger due to COVID. I also overheard one social worker talking about how she calls the cops on her mentally ill son. Scum of the earth.

I’ve had good experiences with counselling here in the past. Being on AISH I appreciated they factored in my lower income and gave affordable sessions when I was living alone. Now that I live with my partner, I’m expected to pay $200 a session because his income is factored in? (For sessions I may not even vibe with or benefit from? In my past experience it was 50/50 if you even connect with someone you like.) My partner is not going to pay for my sessions, we have rent and bills to pay too. Cost of living is at an all time high, and I’m still disabled, still low income. This is price gouging if you ask me. Won’t be using this service anymore.

When I was homeless this place was a great place to go to when you needed to be sure you had a good meal and especially meeting Alanis Morissette when she great fully fed everybody she was veat worksry generous of course I would likely do the same if I ever won a substantial amount of money hopefully one day hope this place is there for someone who really needs it keep up the great work everyone that works or volunteer there

This place is very disappointing; I really wanted help and was committed to attending, listening and being engaged...and all I got were councellors that brought their own biases and were using this place as a way to make themselves feel better by dispensing their personal opinions and acting like clients should be grateful for their services/time...even when you're paying full-on counselling service rates.

As an example, since when is it appropriate for a counsellor to tell a male parent that he 'has no rights in saying what his child can do...that is up to the mother'???

Another example: called after a number of delays/misstarts and then when conversing with counsellor that was assigned and when I was attempting to determine 'fit' i.e. are you familiar/equipped to help me...I got told that my needs were 'perfect world' ; there didnt seem to be a fit and confirmed it when the councillor admitted 'I haven't even looked at your intake file yet'...so what, you're going to assign someone who specializes in addiction when I need help with my Autistic kids?!?

Really hoped that this was a place for clients to heal and build up our community; instead it's one-size-fits-nearly-no-one situation. Our community really needs a better service than this.

BTW- I don't need your generic 'communications' email address so that I can feel heard so please dont respond to my review with it; you've got some significant issues to fix and you need to start examination amongst your organization...not head-patting your clients.

You see all these ads about how the Royal helps. We moved to Ottawa from Toronto 2 years ago and my adult son has still never been helped. Can’t get a family Dr so no one will help. So why don’t you help EVERYONE??????

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Dr. Tyler Brown this summer and am looking forward to continue working with him in the future. While I won’t go into detail of the nature of the sessions, Dr. Brown provided a safe, professional, and compassionate setting for the services requested. I must also thank Dr. Pusch for assisting in the intake and tailoring the services I required from Southport’s practice; they have been the most responsive practice in South Calgary. The entire team has been a joy to work with; reception is clear and concise in the areas of scheduling, billing, etc. The aesthetic of the office itself is also warm and welcoming.

Parking can be difficult to find at the complex, but is free for a couple hours for as long as you register your vehicle at the parking kiosk.

I honestly can't believe they call themselves mental help workers. I call for my daughter because she is an addic and needs help copeing with her boyfriends death due to overdose. They did nothing to help her .

Do not waste your time with their substance use and concurrent disorders program unless you will die from withdrawals if you stop using. They wasted over half a year of my time and the doctor didn't even show up for my video call appointment. I was referred to this program by my family doctor for poly-substance use problems, years of depression, suicidality and self harming, and they made me feel like I would have been better off not seeking help from them at all. Even just the word "Royal" is a trigger for me now after dealing with their staff. Very rude, bad communicators, and do not exhibit any indicators that they valued my time or well being.

It’s been good and life changing both times I’ve had to go. It gave me hope & was actually affordable for me in a time of need. Not all.. but I feel like a lot of the complaints are people who come in with a closed off mind & expect a magic overnight fix to their problems. It’s not as intensive or personal as a more expensive therapy program, but I’m assuming they get a lot of clients so yes it was a little more talk based…but I was still given advice and tools to deal with things at a time when I couldn’t afford it elsewhere.

Winter Garden Hair Salon was the best cut I’ve had in ottawa!! Julie is incredible and gave me exactly what I wanted and more! Can’t wait to see her again ❤️

The Kingston Penitentiary never really closed. They just moved their headquarters to the Royal Ottawa Hospital (including their surly staff). Beware! If you are not crazy when you go there it is guaranteed you will be when you leave! The place is like a prison. The staff are unpleasant. If you misbehave or speak out they give you a shot in the derriere and send you to your room. Unfortunately, my daughter is one of their victims through no fault of her own. They claim my daughter has Schizophrenia and she is on a locked ward. She also has Multiple Sclerosis, but they seem to forget that. Her needs are not being met. They have her in an ill-fitting wheelchair which is damaging her spine. They keep telling her that a new wheelchair has been ordered. They've been telling her this for time immemorial. I don't understand what the problem is. Their attitude is bizarre! My daughter wears an alarm bell to alert the staff if she needs help. It is rarely answered, and if it is, it is with disdain. Because my daughter cannot move the wheelchair herself, she has to rely on the aid of others. It is a never-ending battle for my daughter. They are slowly destroying her mental, physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Nobody can convince me that their actions are well-intentioned. She is on a list for a Long-Term Care Home but the lists are extremely long. She needs help now! Does anyone care?

I was visiting my daughter one day when all of a sudden this glaring maniacal woman charges into the room. She sits beside me and proceeds to defame me with no just cause. I had never seen her before. I won't bother to mention her name unless you insist that I do. She barrages me with incorrect information and threatens to ban me from the hospital. She also called me a "liar". I happen to be my daughter's "Substitute Decision Maker" and "advocate". I resent this woman's ignorant behaviour towards me and I cannot imagine that management hired her as a Director of the Schizophrenic Ward, (probably nepotism no doubt).

ATTENTION . . . . . . . .(New Information)
VERY IMPORTANT . . . . . . . .URGENT

On Saturday, August 5, 2023, one of my daughters and myself visited another daughter (patient at the Royal Ottawa Hospital.) The visit went well until some patient took me aside and informed me that my daughter was being treated terribly by the staff. My daughter, as I mentioned earlier, has Multiple Sclerosis. She was admitted to the Royal in October of last year. She has been using an ill-fitting wheechair ever since. She has been promised a new wheelchair for months now. The antique wheelchair is damaging her neck and spine. Does anybody really care? My daughter was told that she would have to contribute $1,000 toward the chair. Now they have upped the amount to $1,800. I find this increase rather high, but no explanation has been offered. The patient who took me aside, as mentioned above, tells me that my daughter is left to sit in the old wheelchair, for hours at a time, in spite of almost begging for relief! How coldhearted can people be? She desperately wants out of the Royal! She shouldn't be there anyway.!The staff are inhumane! I think the poor animals at the shelter are treated more humanely! I keep informing administration about this sad state of affairsl What do they do -- NOTHING! They show no interest whatsoever! I wonder what they would do if it was one of their own!!!!!! If anyone is reading this commentary, please tell me what you would do?

Mavis Medix is a wonderful clinic that provides exceptional care and service.Dr.Naal is wonderful doctor who listen to u very carefully about all your concerns very patiently and give solution to all things.he is taking care of my baby from day 1 and baby also enjoys her. Dr.Khan is extraordinarily doctor. She is always willing to answer any questions and concerns. The staff are equally impressive. They are always willing to assist with anything. Overall, my experience with Mevis Medix has been exceptional. I have never had any troubles during appointments, and I have always felt that my health and wellbeing are their top priority.

AMAZING! I received online counselling from Courtney Edwards and she is the BEST. never had such a good counsellor. very affordable sessions which helped since i have no insurance for counselling but the year i spent working with Courtney was life changing. Took a week or so to hear back and get matched with a counsellor but so so so worth it

Disgusting sad excuse for a mental health centre. I was waitlisted FOR A WHOLE YEAR while my mental health continued to decline. When it was finally my turn, I spoke to a social worker, then a psychiatrist FOR A ONE TIME CONSULT. Why tf does this hospital make it so that a struggling suicidal patient can only see the psychiatrist ONE TIME. They will prescribe and throw a medication at you and tell you to walk away. No one to monitor or see if the med is working. The psychiatrist I saw didn’t even fax my prescription to my doctor and I had to email this nasty royal like 10 times for a follow up. horrible excuse for a mental health facility.

The Calgary counselling centre can be a mix bag.

Firstly it’s a 50/50 shot one will: A) Connect with said counsellor, or B) Not connect at all.

I have sought counselling on and off with the centre for the past 10 years dealing with different issues. Over 10 years I seen three counsellors in total.

The first counsellor I had, she was amazing!! The second one was flaky with her scheduled and wasn’t consistent. The third counsellor was Uber religious, and some of his “religious thoughts” flowed in the sessions, inappropriate!! He called himself the “Jesus guy” - so needless to say I ended that real quick with “Jesus Guy” - tell it to your church buddy!!

One may get someone with the whereabouts and knowledge to help folks deal with various issues, but being it’s a mix bag, one may get an inexperienced, green counsellor who does not have the skill set to handle certain issues.

If folks can afford something better, do it!! If you’re on a budget this is a good option but keep your expectations low just in case you have an odd experience here.

Also like the other comments “Rate your counsellor,” and how it’s executed needs revamping. Just because it’s a standard test that is used does not make it effective.

Rating one’s counsellor should be done without the counsellor being there. As people feel they have to lie, because they’re scared of conflict, or like me I end up having to counsel the counsellor about their tactics. I have my own issues to deal with never mind going over this bloody assessment of why they shouldn’t talk about their religion AKA “Jesus Guy.”

So good luck- in this place one will need it!!

Its a lovely place.

Jade is a wonderful counsellor who holds space in the most non-judgmental and compassionate way. Her trauma informed, loving approach is something I have spent a lifetime of therapy looking for. I highly recommend her services.

This is life. It really isn’t anyone’s fault this situation is happening, but everyone, including the patient, the family, the system, the society, has a part in it for making the situation happen.

In dire need of help, I have called Crisis line, many treatment facilities including the Royal, then 911, then a few other resources, including the ones paramedics gave me, and back to the Royal, to no avail.

The RAAM program is the most accessible out of all contacts I have made. But the front door check-in staff and clinician lacks necessary understanding to help move things forward. I don’t blame them. I can see clearly that it really requires someone who has gone through the same/similar situation oneself to be able to possibly understand. Having heard about it or seeing it happening to others isn’t enough. And here lies the problem.

An initial assessment session which only needs a total of 20-30 minutes ended up taking 5 days to finally complete with a social worker.

Rapid access is accessible but isn’t really rapid…There are laws we have to abide to, but the law isn’t designed for complications. It’s a flawed system.

An acquaintance of mine said “The 'system' although advertised as available to listen and help sometimes falls short of navigation strategy.”

It is so so true.

This is me writing my thoughts just after finally being able to complete the initial assessment, after days of going in loops. But this is only the first step to getting any potential help in another 7 days.

I am reading other recent reviews… it’s not good. But what else can I do? I don’t have any other choice at this point.

This is what it’s like in Canada… Yesterday’s news was a Nova Scotian woman who died after waiting 7 hours in ER…

The positive takeaway from this whole situation at this point is the importance of early awareness, which is however only to be gained through experience i.e. something has already happened. An available friend with experience proves to be the most helpful link to get things moving… It’s also inspired me to be an advocate going forward.

Fingers crossed for whatever may come.

(Edited)Here is my reply to the reply of my review:
AccessMHA was one of the first contacts I made…I signed up to book an appointment…filled out a questionnaire, one that’s pretty much the same as your intake form… that was Jan 9. I have an email confirmation to remind me of that…. Today is Jan 19. I haven’t heard anything from AccessMHA. No call, no voicemail, no email (i checked my spam box too).

Do you see my point now?

2weeks ago I wrote a review about customer service, well that day I placed an order to be delivered to my home. I was told I should receive it within the week, as I mentioned I was flying out of town December 16… “no problem”…..well it was delivered to my home today December 21st. No one is home until January 6th! I will definitely be returning this item and after which I will never step foot in Shepherds.

My experience with Andrew Luceno and his team has been nothing short of amazing.

My life has been improved more than I could ever imagine. These days, I really look forward to my future and cherish how much my life has turned around while allowing me to self-actualize my own personal values. Furthermore, I continue to improve the lives of others around me using my newly understood CBT (and executive function) skills with my wife, family, friends and coworkers. CBT is simply the gift that keeps on giving. And that's because of the great work that Andrew Luceno brings to the table. Andrew's incredibly real and compassionate personality makes me feel comfortable exploring my thought patterns and past experiences. I started going to Southport Psychology over a year ago with a myriad of different challenges that I wanted to overcome. Right off the bat, Andrew was really patient and thorough but also provided thoughtful reflections and homework for me after 2 or 3 sessions. He also was deliberate in helping me establish clear goals and allowed me to modify the goals as I learned more about myself and what mattered most. We have covered so much ground and are still working on new challenges and I continue to look forward to many more cathartic lightbulb moments which explain my core beliefs and schemas.

The office itself is also very tastefully decorated considering that its in a large-ish office building. Lori at the front desk is also always has a warm and welcoming presence as well.

If you are unsure about therapy, please don't hesitate and realize that life is too short to be spinning your tires. And if you feel like your life circumstances or relationships are holding you back, know that therapy gives you the tools to become the change you want to see. Remember that you are going to be in good hands, be patient, and trust the process :)

My daughter went here 3 years ago for grief counseling. The counseling turned into some sort of behavior counseling asking her some serious and rude questions. I would definitely not recommend place anytime as it really upset both me and my daughter.

Had an intake appointment with Taylor today for my 10 y/o. Taylor was very thorough and took her time asking questions in order to gain insight into my daughters situation. Taylor gave us helpful tools to help curve anxiety and to put my daughters fears into perspective. Taylor was very patient, kind and understanding. We left today with a referral for on-going therapy sessions and look forward to being contacted for future appointments. I highly recommend Woodview if you have any youth or teens struggling with mental health issues.

This organization employs the most unskilled psychologist I have ever met, who completely lacks training in modalities for trauma treatments and has zero interviewing skills, which means she is incapable of diagnosing clients. Her name is Jae Chantler, and she should really be fired. First of all, she does literally 80% of the talking while her clients sit there in shock wondering why she won't help them. Here's one example of her complete incompetence: I say, "I worked as a journalist." Jae's reply, "Don't journalists lie a little bit?" Is this therapist a narcissist who entered the profession because SHE needs help? Heaven please help her clients. She sure can't.

MORE LYING FROM YOUR STAFF! HOW CAN A FACILITY EMPLOY SO MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO LIE AND STEAL? IT'S JUST COVERED UP! I'VE ASKED MULTIPLE TIMES TO SPEAK WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS! NO ONE WILL LET ME! OF COURSE THEY WON'T. THEY WANT TO KEEP THEIR LIERS AND THIEVES FOR SOME UNFORTUNATE REASON!

Cindy I'Anson seem to not have a problem with her staff lying to clients 🤬 NOT A GOOD PRACTICE FOR A BUSINESS! Would be great if you didn't schedule appointments when you aren't even open. The counselor doesn't bother responding either. Not very good on your part 🤬 One of your staff is lying to me as well. One says no one has staff phones while another says she does. Manager can't be bothered retuning phone calls either 🤬 Manager says they don't have work cell phones. Why is staff LYING TO CLIENTS? Manager doesn't seem to care much that her STAFF IS LYING TO CLIENTS. No good for relationships is it?

It is a great pleasure to be a supporter of this wonderful service. The staff here to amazing work with the children.

Southport Psychology is a wonderful place; from the reception to services.
Lori is a wonderful person to greet you and 'check you in', she's always happy to chat and very thoughtful to bring you a glass of water or coffee.

The atmosphere in the common/waiting area is of relaxing soft background music, comfortable seating, reading materials, coloring books for the children (or adults, if you like :) ) and a modern fireplace in the center and artwork on the walls completing the ambiance.

My doctor is Dr. Rachel Martin. She's awesome! From the beginning, I felt at ease with her. She is a wonderful listener and is very thoughtful and engaging. Her method is supportive, caring and the techniques are very effective. I have found nothing but positive results.

I highly recommend Southport Psychology... 10Stars... in my opinion.
Michal

As someone who used to be a part of this organization let me say that the facilities, inside and out, are disgusting. I have found cockroaches (several times) in the kitchen, the food health and safety standards are minimally met, cooking equipment are almost never cleaned properly, and some of the staff there are just straight up insufferable (I’m talking paid higher ups and not volunteers). I’ve known several people that have left the organization because they are expected to take on responsibilities that surpass those of an actual paid job.

Moreover, the homeless clientele are some of the most ungratefull and meanest people I have ever met. Never a smile on their face, never a single thank you for the FREE food three times a day. I understand Ottawa has an homelessness issue, but they are honestly some of the worst people I have ever encountered, mental health issues or not. Most of the patrons of Sheps do not deserve the generosity provided to them by the staff there.

It is sad because I know that several of the people that work/volunteer at Sheps are decent people. I also know that the shelter is almost always at capacity and that they are not equipped to handle such a large amount of people.

I will never have anything to do with Sheps and it’s patrons ever again. It brings me great joy to never have to walk into that building of Murray st. ever again.

Fantastic psychologists and service.

I have been a patient of Dr. Pusch for several years now. As we all do, I have encountered a number of setbacks in my life while dealing my anxieties and the overall care of my mental health.. This extraordinary therapist has been able to help me conquer several uncomfortable issues that have plagued me over the past. His calm and professional expertise have been invaluable to me. He is always available for me when in need. I will continue to rely on Dr. Pusch in the future, as needed, and have no hesitation in highly recommending him.

I would like to provide a positive review about Southport Psychology & Dr. Pusch but I never was able to see him. I had researched a number of different psychologists and Dr. Pusch seemed to have decent feedback from a number of different patients, many having described getting help with the issues I wanted to work through.

Over the span of a few days I had left a couple of voicemail messages and sent a couple of emails requesting an initial consult and never had any reply. I appreciate that like most of us Dr. Pusch is probably busy but I would think that given the nature of his practice there would have been some sort of response, even if it would be to tell me that he wasn't taking new patients, etc.