I am writing this to warn you to stay away from SAMHC. What they will not tell you, and what they do not want you to know, is this:
One of SAMHCs therapists, Mary Perdue, is mentally ill, an abuser of both drugs and alcohol, and works under a falsified licensure file. Her licensure file was falsified between April November 2008, after a complaint had been filed against her. I am the one who wrote the complaint, I had obtained a copy of her licensure file prior to writing the complaint, and in December 2008 I obtained another copy of her licensure file after learning that she had falsified my SAMHC records in order to cover up what she had done to me.
In response, and in order to cover up what Ms. Perdue had done, the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (AZBBHE), under the direction of Debra Rinaudo, together with Laura Waterman, the clinical director of SAMHC, rewrote Ms. Perdues licensure file so that she would not be held responsible for what she had done, and also in order that neither SAMHC nor the AZBBHE could be liable for licensing someone whom they knew to be mentally ill, to be institutionalized on a regular basis, and who admits in her licensure file that abuse of alcohol and drugs impairs her ability to work. Yet, Ms. Perdue continues to work at SAMHC, and those who use SAMHCs services have no control over whether they are forced to meet with her. Should she do anything to harm you, she will rewrite your SAMHC records and you will have no recourse, as SAMHC and the AZBBHE will do what they can to maintain the facade.
When I presented the AZBBHE board members with phone and medical records indicating the Ms. Perdue and I had met when she denied that we did, Debra Rinaudo told the board members that they could not view the information. In addition, she told her investigator, Kami Thur, to disregard what I had written and to take no action on it. Last, when I appeared at the Board meeting at which the complaint was discussed, Ms. Rinaudo silenced me after I told the board members that, with the assistance of Ms. Rinaudo and Ms. Waterman, Ms. Perdues licensure file had been falsified and my SAMHC records rewritten. Ms. Rinaudo told me that I could not speak. Is this the position in which you want to find yourself?
With respect to her licensure file, Ms. Perdues current licensure file states the following:
1. That she suffers from bipolar depression / schizophrenia.
2. That she abuses both drugs and alcohol.
3. That her use of drugs and alcohol impairs her ability to do her job.
4. That she is regularly institutionalized as a result of her mental illness and drug / alcohol problems.
Her current licensure file also states:
1. That she received a masters degree from St. Lawrence University in the late 1970s. This is false. She received only her bachelors degree from this university in the 1970s.
2. That she worked at a mental health clinic in San Francisco in the mid-1990s. This is false. She was working in Seattle at the time, together with Debra Rinaudo. It is for this reason that Ms. Rinaudo agreed to help falsify Ms. Perdues licensure file between April November 2008.
3. That Ms. Perdue did her SAMHC supervisory evaluations under Laura Waterman. This is false. In fact, when I brought this to the attention of the Board, Debra Rinaudo later had the following comment added to Ms. Perdues supervisory evaluation: Laura Watermans name accidentally added.
If you believe that what I am saying is false, ask both Laura Waterman and Ms. Perdue to verify that:
1. Ms. Perdue has a masters degree from St. Lawrence University.
2. She worked at a mental health clinic in San Francisco in the mid-1990s.
3. Ms. Watermans name was accidentally added to the supervisory evaluations prior to December 2008.
Neither Laura Waterman nor Ms. Perdue will be able to verify this information, as they know that doing so will implicate both of them, together with Debra Rinaudo, in the falsification of Ms. Perdues licensure file. What Ms. Waterman, Ms. Rinaudo, and Ms. Perdue will be able to verify, and what they will not be able to deny, is that:
1. Ms. Perdue suffers from mental illness that encompasses bi-polar depression / schizophrenia;
2. She is frequently institutionalized;
3. She abuses drugs and alcohol;
4. Alcohol and drugs by Ms. Perdues own admission impair her ability to work as a therapist.
It is illegal in Arizona to drink / do drugs and drive; yet it is legal to work as a therapist on a falsified licensure file, to admit that alcohol and drugs impair your ability to do your work, to rewrite SAMHC client records, and to have the director of the AZBBHE, as well as the director of SAMHC, cover up what was done. It is also legal to be mentally incompetent and yet call oneself a therapist. Is this who you would want to be forced to have as your therapist? Do you want someone who is mentally ill and under the influence of drugs and alcohol assessing the status of your mental health?
Dont assume that because someone works as a therapist she is qualified to do so. Additionally, dont make the assumption that someone is mentally competent because she calls herself a therapist. In fact, in this instance the opposite is the case: SAMHC, the AZBBHE, and Mary Perdue want you believe that the title therapist conveys mental competence. It does not. For this reason, you must ask questions first. You can begin by asking for validation of the statements indicated above regarding Ms. Perdues mental illness, drug and alcohol addictions, institutionalizations, and falsified licensure file.
If you must use SAMHC's services, do NOT allow them to assign you to Mary Perdue. SAMHC knowingly and intentionally continues to employ her only because such extensive efforts were made to falsify her licensure file and maintain SAMHCs image that it is a qualified and competent provider of behavioral health services. This, too, is false.