Braden Counseling Center - Sycamore, Illinois

Michael C.

Braden Counseling has been instrumental in improving communication between my wife and me. We’re incredibly grateful to Vicki, whose support and guidance have helped us navigate our emotions and strengthen our bond. Thanks to her, we’re starting our marriage on a much stronger foundation and feel confident about our future together.

Tom W.

Terrible place don't listen to you or try to understand that not everyone needs therapy try to nickle and dime u for everything don't recommend I've been in mental health for over 20 years and never been a place that requires you to see a therapist or counselor just to see a pyschiatrist really bad place not everyone needs therapy some folks just need medicine to help maintain themselves there r people who finish therapy and no longer need they don't believe in tht

Ash A.

I wanted to leave this message back in January when the first ever incident took place with my husband's care but he wanted to give this facility another chance. This place has been NOTHING but a horrible experience for myself and my husband.

My husband was a patient at Braden Counseling Center working with a therapist that was removed from their staff abruptly. If I recall correctly, he was told the DAY BEFORE his appointment with her that his therapist was no longer employed with them and that he would not be able to see or contact her again (at least through them, they offered no help or explanation). Then THEY chose a random new therapist to assign to him (and all of the rest of her clientele that were also left hanging.) Despite this, they told their patients that this (now terminated) therapist was the one to refer them to the new one; trying to claim that she thought these pairings would "work well" when the reality was that they assigned her patients random providers. These are people going through mental health crisises, people who struggle in their day to day lives and the entire situation was handled with ZERO care or tact for my husband or any other patient recieving care. This almost ruined his view on mental health counseling entirely but he wanted to keep trying so we scheduled another appointment.

He found a new therapist, a trauma specialist, and set to work for several months on a new care plan until his new therapist went on leave. His temporary replacement was someone who specialized in addiciton and did not know how to handle him or his needs at all but he kept going to his appointments because his regular therapist was due to come back soon enough. When she did, he attempted to make an appointment with her only for them to call him an HOUR before his appointment to tell him his insurance was having difficulties. The appointment was cancelled on short notice with no apology on behalf of the facility for not reaching out any sooner than RIGHT before. He updated his insurance information and asked once more to make an appointment with HIS therapist and was ghosted for weeks on end. He finally called to see what was going on and why they had failed to contact him to be told ONCE MORE his therapist is leaving and they could just place him back with the Addiciton Specialist. (he does not struggle with addiction. He is working through CPTSD).

These are two of many instances of this facility showing how LITTLE they care for the REAL PEOPLE in their care. Mental Health is a very sensitive subject and these kinds of setbacks are traumatizing. On behalf of myself, who held him while he sobbed because he had no faith in his providers, and every other patient that they have failed: DO NOT COME HERE.

Hunter K.

This is singlehandedly the worst experience I have ever had with mental health facilities. Twice now my therapists have been abruptly removed from the center, they have either forgotten or neglected to call me regarding my appointments for weeks, and overall are extremely poorly ran and have a high turnover rate for therapists. One of the temporary therapists they put me with even called an unwarranted wellness check on me, after being told it would be unaffective and i am not comfortable with cops. She went as far as to get my address from me under false pretenses to call this check. The two permanent therapists I worked with were wonderful, which explains why they no longer work her

This is a resource given out by NIU. If you are a student looking for mental help in a crisis, this place is not the place to go. Find somewhere else. I will be contacting NIu and talking to them about no longer giving this name to students. I'd be dead right now if I didn't have a good support system in place for my mental health. This place set me back years in recovery- I was told this by a mental health professional

Cassie B.

My honest review is that staff is not professional. Flat out lied to me more than once. Confrontational and condescending. Who treats someone like that who is there for mental health help? I had covid as did my kiddo I bring here and all they cared about was their $40 canceled appointment fees- would have preferred us to come in sick I guess. Showed no concern or care for us at all. I would have recommended this place previously and we got great care in the past- but recently we came back here and have been so unhappy. Currently looking elsewhere for services.

Alex B.

My therapist quit and I was forced to suspend treatment for a prolonged amount of time. I was then paired with a therapist that was out of network and not told until I received a bill that was over $100. I paid said bill and then they sent me to collections for the bill that had already been paid. Additionally, I was overmedicated the entire time I was seen as a patient at this establishment. I want nothing from this place, but I want others who are at a low point in their lives to be aware of what they might be getting into.

Jacquie M.

I love my therapist here at Braden. Vickey is so caring and helpful. She is able to challenge me on hard topic in a supportive way. The staff are helpful and friendly.

Pedro T.

Professional, caring, and truly helpful. Highly recommend for anyone seeking support!