Complaint Review: Mary Perdue Tucson

I'm writing to advise you to stay away from Mary Perdue, who works as a counselor/therapist in Tucson, Arizona. I met with her over the course of nine months for therapy, which turned out to be a hellish experience: she failed to take notes during our sessions, she never discussed a treatment plan, she never asked me how I was doing or what positive steps I was taking to help myself (she only wanted to hear the bad things), she gave me mixed emotional and professional messages, she would say nothing in response to my concerns that I felt she was ignoring me, she verbally accosted me during one of our sessions, which hurt me considerably and resulted in my feeling very suicidal, and she was taking 2-weeks off approximately every two months and would simply say at one of our appointments, "I won't be here for the next two weeks." No explanation, nothing.

I wrote a complaint letter to the AZ Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, which is responsible for licensing therapists in Arizona. It took them a year to review my complaint and, after doing so, they concluded that she had done nothing wrong. I was shocked. I then requested copies of all the records that were on file and learned that SHE HAD FALSIFIED THEM! Specifically, she indicated that, prior to seeing her I'd had extensive therapy. I hadn't! I had seen one other therapist 5 times before seeing Mary Perdue, but apart from this I hadn't seen anyone. Additionally, she stated that I was often confused, disoriented, and possibly on drugs. No, I wasn't. With respect to drugs, I'm a runner, a yogini, and I also swim and bike. I don't do drugs--I don't even consume caffeine!

Ms. Perdue needed to falsify my records because, if any of what I said in my complaint were indeed true, she would lose her license. This is because she is not competent--as she knows--to work as a therapist. This is how she operates:

a. She is very familiar with how the behavioral health system, in conjunction with the legal system, works. She previously worked as an attorney in California with the juvenile courts. She knows how to use and work the system.

b. She stopped practicing law and completed a Master's in Counseling. Here I need to say that I don't think that she actually completed the degree. I think someone either completed it for her or that her transcripts were falsified. I say this because, during our therapy sessions, she would say things that were inaccurate, such as, "Do you know you're speaking in the 3rd person?" What? The 3rd person refers to the pronouns "he, she, and it." I then asked her to clarify. She said, "You keep saying 'you.'" First, "you" is the 2nd person, not the 3rd person; second, I wasn't using this pronoun, I was using "I." When in therapy, things pop into her head--either things she's read or heard, it doesn't matter. Then, she'll say these things to you, regardless of whether they're appropriate. They sound impressive and, if you're not well-educated, you'll believe she's correct. She's not. That's where her abuse of power begins. Additionally, if she were the one who actually completed her degree, why would she say such things, inappropriately and inaccurately?

c. In 2000 Ms. Perdue began working for SAMHC, which is effectively the state-sponsored mental-health system in Tucson. Ms. Perdue derives her clients from here, which is important because: if any of her clients should stop by SAMHC because they're feeling mentally unwell (perhaps because she did something to them?), she can see their names and read what happened--each day that she goes to work. Of the paperwork that the counselors who meet with people in crisis are required to complete, several pages don't require signatures. These are the pages that can be altered--and this is what Ms. Perdue did in my case. She retyped these pages to reflect what she needed them to say, not what actually happened.

4. As a result of her legal career, Ms. Perdue knows the director of the AZ Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, as they previously worked together. This is a support system Ms. Perdue relies upon, and it works.

5. Thus, Ms. Perdue's method of operation is: recruit clients from SAMHC, meet with them privately (often only a few times, because most of her clients are of lower income and can't afford extended therapy), review SAMHC files on a regular basis to see if any of her clients appeared, and rewrite the files as necessary. Additionally, Ms. Perdue can effectively say and do whatever she wants during therapy sessions, knowing that even if she does something bad, no one is likely to say anything--either because they don't have the skills or knowledge to do so or because they are afraid that she will use against them things they said during therapy. In this respect, they are right. Effectively, Ms. Perdue has a completely secure job in which she can (and does) exploit her clients, take their money, offer limited if no therapy, while knowing that no one can say or do anything about it because she not only knows the rules and how the system works, but also because few of her clients have the resources to say or do anything. I was the exception, and I was punished heavily for it.

I encourage you to STAY AWAY from Mary Perdue, whether you see her in private practice or are forced into speaking with her while she's working at SAMHC. Her therapy is a scam, her therapeutic environment is fake, her actual interest in clients (as opposed to her professed interest) is zero, and her purpose in working as a therapist is to ensure a steady income stream that requires as little effort and work as possible. In this she has succeeded. Please stay away from her.

_________________________________________________

If you are in need of a therapist, here are some things that you should know both in looking for a competent therapist as well as in ensuring that your sessions go well. I now know all of these things as a result of my disastrous experience with Mary Perdue.

1. Verify that the person you want to meet is licensed by the AZ Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. You can do this by going to http://www.bbhe.state.az.us/verifications.htm, going to Option 2, and entering the therapist's last name. This will pull up a screen that states whether the therapist is licensed and/or whether any complaints have been filed against her or him.

2. Get a copy of the therapist's licensure file. This will cost approximately $10.00, but it is worth it. It will tell you from where the therapist received her degree, as well as noting any "blacked out" sections that relate to the therapist's involvement with drugs, alcohol, or periods of mental illness. You can request a copy of the therapist's licensure file by going to http://www.bbhe.state.az.us/Forms/pubinfo.pdf, checking "Other," and writing "Licensure File." This will give you a way to check your therapist's background and qualifications, as well as to ensure that your therapist is currently mentally well. I have learned that, while people may go through periods of mental ill-health, the honest person will discuss such periods, say how they got through them, and incorporate them into their therapeutic practice. The dishonest ones will deny that anything happened and will refuse to discuss what is in their licensure file. Do not approach such people for therapy.

3. When you speak with your therapist for the first time, ask her what area she specializes in. If she says that she specializes in a broad range of areas, be wary and ask what training she has had to specialize in such a broad range. If she states that she specializes in one or two areas, make sure that these areas reflect the issues for which you're needing to see a therapist. If the therapist simply refuses to discuss her areas of emphasis, do not speak with her further.

4. On the first day you meet with your therapist, observe whether she makes an honest attempt to get to know you and not just what's wrong. Additionally, if you feel you want to continue therapy, make certain that as of the first time you meet both you and your therapist sign a "Consent to Treatment" form. You must get a copy of this and keep it in your files, and you need your therapist to state in writing that she has given you a copy and that you have received it. This is extremely important, particularly if you should later have a complaint against your therapist.

5. From the first day of therapy, discuss a "Treatment Plan" with your therapist. This, too, should be in writing. You must read what is written, state whether you agree or disagree, and work with your therapist to make changes. You and your therapist should both sign this document, and you should have a copy. Approximately once per month, ask your therapist to review your Treatment Plan with you. If changes need to be made, make them, put them in writing, sign and date them, and get a copy. You will need these to ensure that you are seeing your therapist for therapy, not just "talk sessions," and that your seeing her is both productive and in your best interests.

6. Ensure that your therapist takes notes. Some therapists take notes during sessions, some following sessions. Either every other week or once per month, ask to see your therapist's notes. Get copies of them, read them thoroughly, and if you have any questions about what she's written, ask! You should do this not only to make sure that your therapist is doing her job, but also to make sure that she is unable to falsify your notes later on, should you file a complaint.

7. If you believe your sessions aren't going well, tell your therapist and see how she responds. Does she listen to what you have to say? Does she respond accordingly? Does she make an attempt to improve the situation? If your therapist won't discuss the matter with you, if she ignores what you're saying, or if she denies what you're saying, you need to discontinue seeing her. This is a sign that your therapist may herself be unwell.

8. Signs that you're seeing a bad therapist:

a. She talks about herself frequently during therapy;
b. She's inattentive to your concerns;
c. She only wants to hear the "bad parts" and doesn't ask what you're doing to improve the situation.
d. She often cancels appointments and gives no explanation;
e. She calls you from a non-work number, states that she's willing to meet with you in a non-work environment, or asks you to call her for reasons not directly related to your therapy;
f. She refuses to say anything about herself, such as from where she received her degree and/or what her area of emphasis is.
g. She doesn't seem to be doing her job, is interested in receiving your payment, but apart from that makes no attempt to establish a connection with you.

The above are guidelines you should consider when seeking a therapist. Therapy requires work on your part as well as the therapist's, and you need to do your part in order to protect yourself. If you simply need someone to talk to, speak with a friend. If you want to get better, see a therapist, but keep in mind that her job is not merely to have a conversation, it's to help you get better, and you need to make sure that this is indeed what she's attempting to do--not merely take your money.

Anonymous
Tucson, Arizona
U.S.A.