Complaint Review: Resolve Community Counseling Center - Scotch Plains New Jersey

It was suggested to me that I find a counselor locally that could help me with some issues I had. I contacted Resolve in Scotch Plains and after speaking with a very nice lady one Friday evening she said a counselor would contact me soon. About 10 minutes later a gentlemen with a horrible cough called me and asked if I could meet with him the next Monday at 1pm. I met with him and immediately I felt very uncomfortable. I have never been to therapy or single 1on1 counseling before but this was a horrible experience. Right off the bat he told me I was "depressed" and "lazy" and that he could just tell. I was there for something completely different then what he kept noting on. He asked me a lot of personal questions about my family, their ages, their professions, and then begun asking me questions about my doctor. He said that I should go see HIS doctor, which was probably about 90 minutes away compared to mine that is 15 minutes from my home. He said that my doctor probably wasn't qualified that much and that his doctor (friend) was excellent and a lot better.

After this one session he wanted to schedule a session 3 days later, I told him that I was only supposed to be counseled once a week. He was very sturn and demanded I see him again. I saw him again and it was the same nonsense, asking me about my family, my doctor, and telling me I was depressed and over weight. He scheduled another session for the following week at 2pm... all these sessions were in the middle of the day. When I noted I was offered a job for 5 days a week that I wanted to take as I was only working part time he said that I was "not ready" to work. He said that I should not work and do more therapy. I pretty much caught onto his scheme by then. After that session he said he would call me over the weekend to schedule our next appointment. He called me on a Sunday evening around dinner time on a Holiday, wanting me to come in the next day (Monday) at 1pm. I told him that I had work and we would have to schedule something in the evening. He ignored the fact, and called me the next day at 1pm asking if I was coming in. I said No. He then got very frustrated and said that I NEED THERAPY IT'S SERIOUS. He called me a few more times trying to get me to come in around 1pm on a few different days, I told him politely again that I worked until 4pm each day and it would have to be in the evenings.

He clearly stated to me during one of his sessions that he didn't really like working for Resolve, that he hated coming there from his home which was 60 minutes away if he only had one patient, and that he only came up if he had 3-5 patients scheduled. So he basically worked out his own schedule he wanted and obviously planned to get his sessions in when he wanted, to make everything convinient for him. He in absolutely no way helped me after about 4-5 sessions. He was a terrible therapist, and I still don't know why he claims to be a doctor. His name was Dr. Jerald Cilente, he is supposed to be their adult drug counselor... god I hope he only works with adults I would NEVER allow this man to be anywhere near my child as he was very creepy, touchy, and to be honest seemed like he was on drugs himself. He left cigarette packs and matches around his office, he had a horrible smokers cough, looked like he hadn't showered in weeks. I do not want to knock on Resolve itself, as the ladies that worked in reception were always somewhat nice to me... but this guy was a just and proof to the previous complaint about this company that some of these therapists are simply there to try and direct patients/customers to doctors and facilities of their choose. Dr. Jerald Cilente told me outright that he had a friend/partner who was a doctor that he received 50% commission from for each new patient he sent to him. WOW, UNPROFESSIONAL! I would never, ever, see this man again! As for Resolve, along with any other counselors I am honestly scared to continue any type of 1on1 therapy and will stick to group therapy and counseling.