Tucson Outpatient Psychiatry

“Aecha Guerrero has been extremely helpful throughout my therapy journey. As a first generation American Hispanic woman, I feel that she genuinely understands many of the experiences I’ve had. Being half Korean and half Mexican herself, she brings a unique cultural perspective that allows me to feel seen and understood. She has taught me valuable tools that I incorporate into my everyday life, and I truly appreciate the impact they’ve had on me. I no longer feel nervous or anxious when going to therapy, and I feel comfortable being open and honest during my sessions. I also attend my sessions online, so I have never personally been affected by or experienced any of the concerns mentioned about the office staff. I’m very grateful for the support and guidance Aecha has provided, and I’m excited to continue my therapy journey with her.”

“I was a patient of Dr. Shirey for several years and, for much of that time, believed he was an excellent doctor whom I could trust. Unfortunately, the way my care ended left me deeply hurt, confused, and concerned. At times, he took a very directive role in my life rather than simply guiding me. He acknowledged that this was not his usual approach but said that I was mentally too vulnerable at the time to make certain decisions confidently. Because I trusted him and was experiencing significant cognitive difficulties, his advice carried an enormous amount of influence. After beginning an antidepressant, I developed worsening memory and cognitive problems. I had to place nearly everything on calendars and reminders simply to function. Approximately a year and a half later, I was informed that the antidepressant could interact with another medication I was taking in a way that contributed to cognitive impairment. The medication was discontinued immediately, and the doctor apologized. I accepted that apology and continued trusting him. During this same period, I was also experiencing seizures, physical-health problems, employment difficulties, and major personal changes. I detransitioned from living as a transgender woman for personal, health, and spiritual reasons. After my detransition, I perceived a noticeable change in the warmth and friendliness I had previously experienced during appointments. I cannot know the reason for that change, but the timing was painful and concerning to me. When my work situation became difficult, the doctor advised me to leave my job. Because of my cognitive condition and the amount of authority I had allowed him to have in my decision-making, I followed that advice. It took several months after stopping the antidepressant before I felt cognitively clear enough to return to work and make important decisions independently and confidently. Despite having been a regular and communicative patient for years, I was ultimately discharged from the practice because I had not attended appointments as frequently as expected during this exceptionally difficult period. I did not understand that maintaining appointments every two weeks was a condition of remaining a patient, particularly after I had lost my employment and was struggling with cognitive and physical-health issues. I even offered to pay in advance for multiple future appointments in an attempt to resolve the situation, but the decision was not reconsidered. Missed-appointment fees were still collected during the period in which I was experiencing these cognitive problems. I was also overcharged on two occasions and had to spend several days seeking reimbursement. What has been most upsetting is the lack of meaningful acknowledgment of how the medication issues, medical problems, employment loss, and the physician’s own advice affected my ability to maintain the expected schedule. Psychiatric patients may experience instability, impaired functioning, memory problems, and difficulty following through. Those struggles should not make a patient disposable. I am sharing this because patients deserve to understand how vulnerable they can become when a provider assumes a highly influential role in their personal decision-making. I once felt deeply supported by this practice. By the end, I felt abandoned at one of the most medically and emotionally complicated times of my life. People with straightforward needs and the financial ability to maintain frequent appointments may have a positive experience here. Based on my own experience, however, I would urge patients with complex psychiatric, neurological, or cognitive needs to ask detailed questions about attendance expectations, medication interactions, missed-appointment policies, and how continuity of care will be handled during a health crisis. I genuinely wish that my years of care had ended with greater communication, accountability, compassion, and dignity.”

“I called this office to see if they offered a service that I was looking for. The office unfortunately was not a good fit as they didn’t take my insurance… HOWEVER… I was treated so kindly by the person who answered the phone (Cathy), that I absolutely can tell the practice is an amazing, healing place to be. She was exceptional, and even though I wasn’t able to schedule with them, she patiently took the time to provide some other resources to me that do take my insurance - which is absolutely above and beyond. She spoke so warmly, and acknowledged that it is so hard to make these type of calls, and she keeps the list handy so that people do not get discouraged from striking out. She seems like an absolutely genuinely caring person, and an absolute asset to any employer. Employees like that genuinely make such a profound difference to patients reaching out during overwhelming times.”

“When you see any business that only replies to good reviews, that is a red flag. Clearly, no one has told TOP about a little thing called reputation. Or that oh so helpful, for truly professional businesses are keen to obtain called: feedback. They, in short, don't seem to care because for some reason they don't think they have to or that they might be held liable for someone who, under the care of one of their staff, a actually was caused considerable harm. More to come. Merry Christmas TOP. Update: In the days leading up to and after my father suddenly passed away, Dr. Meyers was AWOL. My calls for help all went unneeded. When I finally called and pressed the cold and uncaring disengaged office manager, she said that Dr. Myers was out of town. Don't you think an, "I'm out of the office and if you are having an emergency call xxx." Nope. When Dr. Myers finally responded via text. I detailed what had happened and how it was affecting me, to which she offered this obtuse response, "You are grieving." My response was, "Ya think!?!?". I then sent TOP a detailed email about Dr. Myers several lapses, such as ignoring my messages that I had run out of a prescription and was having truly awful withdrawals. I write, "As much as it is important that a doctor should do no harm it is equally important to not, in the face of a crisis to leave a patient to the mercy of a serious affliction and DO NOTHING. That is a kind of moral malpractice." The vengeful nasty office manager then not only rejected the payment that my late father had set up but then took it upon herself to be the one to notify the bank that my father was dead. Im using the "What any reasonable person would think and / or do both on the side of TOP and in my shoes, and they in no way come out deserving of anything but disgust. As one reviewer wrote, "It feels like a money grab." Indeed. Spot on. In total, this experience is an object lesson in a careless, venal disinterest and disregard for a patients well being. DONT GO TO TOP IF YOUR IN CRISIS OR FOR ANY REASON.”