Senior Psychology Svc

Pros

• Patricia Cline has changed the client's life for the better through her work addressing whole-person healing.
• Patricia Cline has been the client's cheerleader and guide to recovery over two years.
• Dr. Holloman and Dr. Teel have provided sessions that the client has enjoyed and found very helpful.
• Ian has been very helpful and understanding of the client's situations and always willing to help.
• Darild provided prompt customer service, going above and beyond to meet the client's service needs with patience and professionalism.
• The front office staff are described as caring and concerned by the client.
• The client feels grateful for the care received from Patricia Cline.

Cons

• The $100 cancellation fee is described as unethical.
• The policy shows a lack of empathy toward patients with ADHD and mental health issues.
• The reviewer reports being sent to collections for appointments they never had.
• Front desk staff are described as rude and unhelpful, with callers being hung up on.
• A clinician allegedly diagnosed depression within 15 minutes, dismissing ADHD as inappropriate.
• Office communications were consistently poor, with unanswered emails and slow responses.
• The clinic charges high rates for short sessions, leading to financial strain.
• Billing problems included delayed notifications of balances and threats of collections.
• The overall service was labeled as trash and strongly discouraged for others.
• Some reviewers warned parents not to bring their child there due to safety and quality concerns.

Review

A tapestry of experiences emerges from the reviews of Southern California Psychology Centers, weaving together moments of genuine relief and gratitude with sharp, persistent grievances about how care is billed, scheduled, and administered. On one end, several patients speak warmly of particular clinicians who helped them feel seen, heard, and supported. On the other, a chorus of critics questions the ethics and practicality of the center's policies - especially the $100 cancellation fee - and details a cascade of administrative missteps, miscommunications, and perceived indifference that can loom large in the lives of people already navigating mental health challenges.

Central to the strongest criticisms is the center's cancellation policy. Review after review laments the $100 fee as harsh and unfair in a mental health context, suggesting a misalignment between the fee and the realities of conditions like ADHD or other mental health struggles that complicate scheduling. Critics point out that insurance payments for a 20-minute psychiatric appointment are substantial, which makes the fee feel predatory or at least punitive in an economy where many patients are already stretched thin. Some describe the fee as unjustified when cancellations stem from misunderstandings, forgetfulness, or a lack of reminders from the clinic, arguing that there is little empathy or accommodation for patients who are barely managing life's daily demands. There's a sense that the policy prioritizes revenue over patient welfare, with cancellations treated as a simple financial transaction rather than a consequence tempered by compassion.

Against this backdrop of policy critique, there are standout affirmations about specific clinicians who have made a meaningful impact. One long testimonial celebrates Dr. Bianca Karris and Patricia Cline, describing a transformative two-year journey that culminated in a renewed sense of purpose and "a new life" in the patient's final chapter. The reviewer emphasizes the holistic approach of Patricia Cline - addressing the whole person and providing steady encouragement - casting her as a pivotal figure in personal healing. This narrative contrasts sharply with the broader complaints about administration, suggesting that while the clinic's care providers can deliver life-changing therapeutic work, the experience of engaging with the center as a whole can be inconsistent depending on who is involved.

Several accounts touch on broader struggles with the system surrounding ADHD care, diagnoses, and ongoing treatment. A few reviewers recount attempts to obtain help or appropriate medications for ADHD and related concerns, only to encounter denial or misalignment between diagnoses and treatment plans. One patient cites being told by a clinician that ADHD was not the issue and that depression was, delivered within a brief initial session, with a medication recommendation that sparked concern about safety and appropriateness. Another reviewer notes a past diagnosis of ADHD, followed by questions about the accuracy of a quick second opinion and a discussion of meds such as Wellbutrin, highlighting the tension between swift evaluations and the need for careful, patient-informed decision-making. These stories underscore the fear that rapid assessments can overlook longstanding histories and trusted diagnoses, leaving patients feeling misunderstood or dismissed.

Billing and collections emerge as a separate, persistent thread in the reviews. Several individuals describe situations in which they were billed for services they never received or were told they owed substantial sums despite not having ongoing, direct engagement with the clinic. One reviewer reports a call from a collection agency claiming a $1,000 debt despite never having visited the office or spoken with staff, with emails and communications about appointments appearing in their spam folder or never arriving at all. Another recounts a painful sequence of payment disputes: a late notice, a long lapse in contact, and finally a demand for payment beyond an agreed plan, all while feeling that communications were lacking, inconsistent, or unhelpful. The sense conveyed is that billing practices can destabilize finances and mental health alike, leaving patients feeling pursued by debt collectors rather than supported by care providers.

Administratively, the experiences echo a pattern of difficult contact and inconsistent responsiveness. Complaints describe a clinic that is hard to reach, with much of the staff working remotely and a sense that inquiries go unanswered for extended periods. Some reviews praise the competence and warmth of particular clinicians but condemn the front desk or administrative staff for attitude problems or curt, dismissive, or hostile responses when patients seek help or try to reschedule. One caller recounts an encounter with a front desk staff member who was "unbelievably rude," even hanging up during a rescheduling conversation. Another patient mentions positive experiences with the front office in one encounter, only to see the goodwill fade in later interactions, suggesting a patchwork of experiences that can leave patients unsure about what to expect from visit to visit.

There are also pointed critiques about the quality and availability of care for minors and families. A reviewer describes a daughter's experience with a pediatric psychiatrist who was perceived as a "med pusher" rather than a clinician focused on meaningful dialogue, raising concerns about medication management and accessibility. The reviewer laments limited availability and a monthly appointment structure that feels more like a gatekeeping mechanism than a therapeutically driven plan, with the price of monthly sessions added to the stress and anxiety surrounding their child's well-being. This narrative adds to the broader sense that administrative models and policy decisions can conflict with the day-to-day needs of families navigating anxiety and treatment.

In sum, the collection of reviews paints a nuanced portrait. There are clinicians who are lauded for their empathy, insight, and life-changing impact, and there are administrative realities that many patients find punitive, opaque, or inflexible. The cancellation policy is a focal point of discontent, framed not only as a financial penalty but as a symptom of a larger disconnect between patient welfare and administrative protocol. Billing disputes, stubborn communication gaps, and front-desk frustrations compound the challenge of obtaining consistent, compassionate care. Yet amid the criticisms, there are also stories of gratitude and healing - testimonies to the fact that effective, transformative therapy can occur when the right clinician connects with a patient, even as the broader system around that care remains a source of stress and frustration for others. For anyone considering Southern California Psychology Centers, the experiences shared here suggest a careful approach: verify the specifics of billing, understand the cancellation terms, and seek out clinicians who have a track record of both therapeutic impact and reliable, empathetic communication with patients.

Restaurants

• Sonic Drive-In (0.4 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (1 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (2.1 miles)
• Rally's (2.6 miles)
• Jack In The Box (3.3 miles)
• Cutwater Spirits (3.7 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (3.9 miles)

Cafes

• The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (1 miles)
• Starbucks (2.1 miles)
• Blue Bottle Coffee (4.5 miles)
• Communal Coffee (5.9 miles)
• Sharetea (6 miles)
• The Simple Coffee House (6.2 miles)
• Starbucks (6.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walmart Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (2.6 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.5 miles)
• Rite Aid (3.7 miles)

Parks

• Lindbergh Park (1.3 miles)
• Civita Park (3.9 miles)
• Mission Bay Park (4.9 miles)
• Cal's Point (5 miles)
• Mira Mesa Community Park (5.6 miles)
• Crown Point (5.7 miles)
• Kate O Sessions Memorial Park (5.7 miles)

Physicians

• Kaiser Permanente Viewridge Medical Offices 2 (1.4 miles)
• Sharp Rees-Stealy San Diego Radiology (2.6 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente Vandever Medical Offices (4.2 miles)
• Sharp Rees-Stealy Mira Mesa (4.3 miles)
• NVISION Eye Centers (5.4 miles)
• San Diego Mental Health Services (5.5 miles)
• Pearl Mini IVF (5.6 miles)

Transportation

• Montgomery Field Airport (MYF) (1.5 miles)
• Balboa Avenue Transit Center (4.5 miles)
• UTC Trolley Station (4.7 miles)
• Fashion Valley Trolley Station and Transit Center (4.9 miles)
• Old Town Trolley Station and Transit Center (6.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Sharp Soc (1.9 miles)
• Rady's Children's Hospital San Diego Large Waiting Room, Frost Street, Entrance 8 (2.4 miles)
• Sharp Memorial Hospital (2.4 miles)
• Rady Children's Hospital (2.5 miles)
• Kearny Mesa Convalescent and Nursing Home (2.5 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center/Kaiser Foundation Hospital (4.1 miles)
• UC San Diego Medical Center (5.6 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Mission Valley 2 (4.6 miles)
• AMC Fashion Valley 18 (4.8 miles)
• Regal Edwards Mira Mesa 4DX, IMAX & RPX (5.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Good Shepherd Catholic Church (5 miles)