Elvira
I have attempted to escalate concerns as a client, including to the director Susan Hollander, and have been met with responses that felt dismissive and confusing rather than addressed directly. For example, I was told that we “hear things from our perspective” and that I must have been misunderstanding what the counselor was saying, including when I raised concerns about the counselor’s language and behavior (such as questioning why I thought someone might be abusive and suggesting I may not be interpreting things correctly). This felt especially egregious in the context of receiving domestic violence counseling, and it did not feel like my concerns were being meaningfully engaged with or clarified. When I asked for a supervisor to become involved, I was told I had a “pattern” of escalating concerns to others. I also felt invalidated and unsafe when I was told that I should have directly addressed concerns with my parents, despite them being the individuals involved in the abusive situation I am seeking support around. This response reflected a lack of understanding of domestic violence dynamics, where direct confrontation may not be safe or appropriate. I am also receiving domestic violence counseling through this organization, despite there being no clear indication that the staff have specialized training or expertise in DV-informed care. Given the sensitivity and complexity of DV work, this raises concerns for me about whether the appropriate clinical framework is in place. I would have expected, at minimum, a DV-informed approach when discussing safety-related concerns. Overall, my experience has left me feeling invalidated rather than supported when raising serious concerns, and I question whether the organization is appropriately equipped to handle DV-related counseling cases.