Let me start by noting that Sussman Psychological isn't a widget factory, meaning I don't serve up therapy to order the way Wendy's does burgers and fries. If there's a "product," it's my time and energy. As I write this, no one has yet commented upon or rated these services. I post it now, while it is still the case that this is not a reaction to anything other than the idea of ratings as it applies to clinical psychology.
Numerous factors exist that conspire to determine a client's feelings about their therapist, and most of them reside outside of the client's normal waking consciousness. (I'm not at all seeking to mystify by saying this. Freud rightly observed that even the simplest of actions is "over-determined ;" that is, every action has more than one cause. For example, I could probably spend the next hour listing reasons (ranging from uncomfortable sensations from stretch receptors to avoiding embarrassing social situations) why I might go to the bathroom to urinate. If such a simple behavior has so many causes, how much more so would it be true for something as complex as a client's felt sense ot their therapist?) Psychotherapists call the feelings clients have for them "transference," and the feelings they have for clients "counter-transference." Some form of analysis of transference and counter-transference in the therapeutic relationship is an important part of any facilitated deep growth process. This work is done in session, face to face. It can lead to healing of even the deepest wounds. It cannot be done through ratings on a website. Here's why:
When their reaction is positive, a person might endorse my expenditure of time and energy with respect to their process, such as they perceive and remember it. I do hope I'm not the first to point out to anyone that endorsements have no objective value whatsoever. (Somebody really ought to have told you that before now is what I'm saying.) As a result, endorsements are uninteresting to anyone who seeks valid information. Admittedly if a client reporting a positive experience also goes ahead and brings that up in session it can be useful to the process. But simply rating on a website isn't that helpful for them.
Criticism is just as uninformative as is endorsement. In addition, due to confidentiality concerns, as a psychotherapist I can't defend against any specific criticism; even when I have good reasons for actions I have taken, even when I took no action such as a critical comment describes, I simply can't disclose any of that in a public forum. Even when it is in fact the case that as far as I can tell the critic has never been my client, I can't even say so. Without their specific written signed permission I can neither confirm nor deny whether someone is or has been my client at all, far less confirm, deny, or defend any specific event they claim occurred. People claiming to be or to have been my clients face no such professional/ethical restrictions and can just go ahead and say anything they want without any fear of repercussion. It's a perfect playground for bullying. Bullying wounds both parties, it doesn't heal anyone.
My sole reason for maintaining websites for Sussman Psychological is to inform people of the kinds of healing and personal growth work I facilitate, and to let them know how to get in contact if they want to give themselves that sort of gift. I avoid as much as possible the whole business of ratings. Wherever possible I disable ratings mechanisms on my websites.
My strong preference is for people to process any feelings/impressions they have about me directly with me, either by telephone or face to face. That way the playing field is level, and what needs to happen can happen. Maybe even a healing. Healings are an awesome therapeutic possibility. Healing through personal growth is in fact the goal.
Wishing everyone love, light, and especially personal growth and healing.