Aphrodite D.
Google
About four years ago I moved back to Chicago after living out of state and was looking for a provider licensed in Illinois who could continue the important therapeutic work I had been doing. I had been diagnosed with PTSD from complex trauma stemming from numerous traumatic events that occurred from early childhood through my late teens and later with Dissociative Identity Disorder in 2019. Receiving proper treatment had been life changing, so I was genuinely hopeful when I found Watch Hill Therapy.
However, my second session there was not what I anticipated. Like many people with dissociative and trauma related disorders, I have long struggled with autobiographical memory and with recalling traumatic events, especially early on with a new provider. During that second session, my therapist at the time, Teri, made statements that I personally experienced as deeply invalidating. Specifically, she told me that she did not believe I had been trafficked, but rather that my recollection of events was something I had been told happened to me. Hearing this in only my second session with someone who had known me for less than two hours left me feeling shaken, confused, and destabilized. It significantly disrupted my healing process and the impact stayed with me for years.
It was not until later, after earning my Bachelors in Social Work and beginning graduate level coursework in ethical clinical practice, that I began to understand how harmful that experience had been. With the support of a new therapist, I have been able to rebuild trust, process what happened, and make meaningful progress. I am now in my final year of my Master of Social Work program and in a much healthier, more grounded place. I have also begun to recover memories that I was previously unable to access and I now feel more able to speak honestly about what happened to me.
As I approach graduation, I felt compelled to share my experience, not out of anger but out of an ethical obligation as both a survivor and someone who works in the field. When I looked through the available reviews, what stood out to me was that the most easily accessed ones appeared to be from providers who have worked with or endorsed the practice, rather than from clients themselves. While there are some client reviews, they do not make up the majority. Because of this, I felt it was important to add my own experience, especially knowing how in today’s culture reviews from survivors can sometimes be dismissed as emotional or exaggerated. I want my voice to be part of a fuller and more balanced picture for anyone seeking care.
I am leaving two stars because this occurred several years ago and I truly believe people can grow and change. I also hope my experience was an exception rather than a pattern. Still, I felt it was important to share my perspective both as a survivor and as a future clinician in hopes that it contributes to a more complete understanding for others who may be searching for support.
