Awake & Aware

I take my friend here for therapy and groups and I have to say I'm impressed because I've actually seen a big change in him and the progress he has made definitely gonna recommend this location to others.

I have suffered from PTSD, agoraphobia, and panic attacks for over 20yrs, Awake and Aware is the only program that has helped me! No more Xanax! I'm now living a healthier lifestyle with an understanding of my condition. Thank you for saving my life!

This is the worst establishment I have ever gone in to.if my rating could be no stars it would. The "therapist" triggered me and then basically said time is up and shoved me out after promising they don't do that. She also said in order to participate in this DBT program I would need to stop seeing my other therapist who is 90 % of my support group which I thought was odd. She also said in order to be in the group I would need to only utilize their therapists and support group and possibly also get rid of my phsyciatrist. This is odd. When I expressed I didn't feel comfortable doing group due to a past trauma (I had in a groupelsewhere )and voiced safety concerns she laughed at me and told me that doesn't happen there. She said she would never force me to do anything but in order to be in the program I would have to do group and cut ties with the therapist I have been seeing the past voiple of years and my other support group of mental health professions. My current therapist was willing to work with the awake and aware team to add extra support between the traumatic DBT sessions but i was told this was not an option.they do not want to help people. It really seems like a cult. I was triggered and traumatized at her laughing at my trauma and blatantly not caring. I shudder to think someone else who is hurting having to go through this . I have tried to get in touch with the medical director but they keep giving me the run around. I am so triggered by what this malpractice has done to me I am now on my way to get help from the phsyciatric hospital at UNM. This has been one of the most destructive mental experiences i have ever had. I will continue to write reviews, try to contact their medical director,tell everyone I can not to go here,and may possibly look into leagle help due to the ugly damage and unacountability these quacks have demonstrated . What a nightmare of a place!!!

Therapy and finding the right therapist is a tall order. Typically a person is put with whatever clinician has room regardless of personality types or what would be an ideal fit. Back in August or September of 2016 I assessed with Awake and Aware and was placed with my current therapist. Now I'm awkward and really don't do well with new people in general. However, I don't recall my first appointment with my therapist which means it went very well. At Awake and Aware I've always been treated with kindness and respect. Despite my constant mean mug they always greet me with a smile and appear happy to see me. Next, my therapist. I've been around the therapy block and this is the best match I've ever had. My therapist has a sense of humor, is able to put my feet to the fire when needed, and best of all is authentic. I'm purposefully not posting their name here because you got to trust the process of being placed with the right person for you. DBT is the form of therapy used at Awake and Aware and clients are required to attend skills group once a week for 90 minutes. If you're looking for a therapist this could be the place for you.

I've just finished the 12 week DBT program at Awake and Aware with immense gratitude and a new found sense of accomplishment in my recovery. My journey has been a rough one like so many other people, and I have tried everything to try and make better choices and leave old behaviors behind. There were so many times I thought I would never find the right program or therapist, until now.The 12 week group was a perfect introduction to DBT skills, with course content provided and a well led, easy to understand class. The class was led by two therapists, Stephanie and Vanessa. They are both well versed in DBT, mindfulness, and couldn't be mor friendly, helpful, and understanding. I immediately felt a connection and developed a rapport with Stephanie who is now my therapist going into the comprehensive program. I could not be happier, Ive already had two sessions with Stephanie and am happy to report I finally found the help Ive been looking for!If you are like me and traditional programs are not for you, give Awake and Aware a chance! They really have been a blessing for me. Also, thanks to Sabrina who always greets you with a smile!

Jessica Salgado was my therapist for four months. Each and every time I saw her I felt completely invalidated, disrespected, and treated condescendingly. She expected me to know the skills and was really rude to me. She told me to "cut it out" when I talked anxiously. I told her not to talk to me that way and she point blank refused to stop. She said "no." This happened several times. She said people need to check me sometimes and I told her that felt really unnecessary. I can be intense but I've had success in other non DBT based therapy and I know that she was causing a lot of frustration for me by not treating me like an individual person. It seemed like it might be common for the people at awake and aware to view clients as manipulative, rude, or difficult because she really generalized my behavior and ignored what I had to say. She fell into the trap of thinking she knows best what's going on with me. She needs more training.She spoke bad about clients on two occasions, complaining that someone talks a lot in group and expressing gratitude that I didn't write much in my diary card because some people write a lot. I know that seems small but to me it showed a lack of respect for the pain clients are in and it made me self conscious about how much I write or speak. I tried to tell her about all of this several times. She constantly gaslit next and told me it was all my interpretation. Well, yes and she said what she said and my feelings are valid. We ended our relationship after I called while experiencing suicidal ideation and wanting to find alternative help elsewhere and wanting to discuss this. She argued with me, was very defensive and finally told me that she is more into the "change model" of therapy, rather than the "acceptance model." No wonder I was struggling so much with her. She basically just thought telling me to change my thoughts and behaviors would work. As if. Every time I told her how I felt she would try to point out how my feelings were not based in reality and were just my interpretations. I can't even believe the lack of therapeutic skill and understanding. People in a lot of pain can't just do that and I was defending myself often, telling her I was trying and apologizing whenever I messed up. Something she could not do. Acceptance and compassion are very helpful for me, when the pressure is less intense I have found that I am able to dissolve a lot of the anger and because I already want to change my behaviors I do when I am not being harsh with myself. She was incredibly harsh with me and I feel really hurt by her. She told me that obviously the skill I was using wasn't working so try something ELSE (she emphasized the word else as if I was stupid). I was sexually abused for 9 years as a child, I'm a female veteran, I have PTSD and BPD and it's not as simple as me cognitively getting it and that's it. That's why I'm in a DBT program not a CBT program. If you go here make sure your therapist has some experience. BPD is difficult to recover from but with a skilled therapist who can handle some frustration and acknowledge their own interpretations while they point yours out, it's totally possible to learn these skills.