Holland Hospital Behavioral Health, Outpatient — Local services in Holland

i'll be honest, this place has its flaws. after sending my referral, i had to wait like 6 months so i could set up an appointment because the waiting list for new patients is long. yes it sucked to wait that long. but if you're familiar with the mental health industry in america, long waits and psychiatrists being completely booked is incredibly common. so it just comes with the territory. there isn't much you can do about it.

i see a lot of reviews about the office staff being horrible, and i can agree. most of the office staff are the mean girls from high school lol. but are a few that are super kind, like the receptionist on the right. always go to the receptionist on the right side if you have any problems. she is the one who usually checks you in and helps you pay your balance. you have to schedule appointments with the ladies in the back window or the left window in the front. they aren't super kind but they get the job done. i often hear them complaining about other patients to each other which is kind of disheartening. but the receptionist on the right side in the front makes it worth putting up with if i'm honest. it only takes a few minutes to schedule a new appointment. the good outweighs the bad.

the doctor i have, barbara vandermale, is incredible. she always listens to my concerns and is very compassionate. this is something i was searching for in a psychiatrist because it makes it easier when you are doing med changes. she is very kind and encouraging and empathetic.

at any psychiatrist or doctor office, when you change meds or adjust doses, it takes at least three weeks for your body to start feeling the effects. the only right way to changes meds is to wean off of one while very slowly adding another. medications aren't quick fixes like some people want them to be. they take a lot of time to adjust and find the right dose and medication. medication is general is not quick by any means. when you walk into a psychiatrist office you need to prepare yourself for months of very slowly changing meds and weeks of just seeing if your body takes a medication and tolerates it. you cannot just cold turkey stop a medication or immediately triple your dose. medication requires patience. if you come to this office and have little patience, you will get little good out of coming here.

there are flaws at this office if i'm being honest. sometimes the card reader at the check in doesn't work. sometimes the scheduling ladies are rude. sometimes the next appointment is a month out. but that's the reality of any mental health psychiatry place.

the good outweighs the bad. the receptionist on the right knows patients by their name. she lets older people check in with her because they don't know how to do the electronic check in portals by the door. barbara is incredibly compassionate and encouraging. i wouldn't trade those things...

I highly recommend Erin to anyone looking for an empathetic psychiatrist. She is truly concerned about improving her patients’ well-being. At the same time, she is very professional and knowledgeable and I felt like I was in extremely capable hands. She has helped me overcome so much, and I feel like my life and mental peace are both in such a better place since I started seeing her. i have been working with this lovely lady for over a year now. I have a history of unspecified Mood disorders (anxiety and depression) since I was a teenager. In recent events when I first met Erin I was at a pivotal point in my life, In my young 20s I started to develop signs of ADHD that really brought my world chaos. I have seen such a significant difference from last year till now it brings tears to my eyes because I felt so hopeless for so long. She was extremely thorough in trying different medications, While keeping in mind the health risks specifically pertaining to me. As our communication grew stronger we were able to rule out what was working and what wasn't. She is a active listener, and is extremely kind and exhibits a vast working knowledge of psychiatric, emotional, and mental disorders and the issues and symptoms that stem from these disorders. I always felt at ease with her and I have really appreciated and benefited from being under such excellent care. She has been so patient and understanding. I can now say that I am happy with my life I have things to look forward to and I feel like I am slowly becoming the best version of myself now that I...

I was treated so horribly at Holland Hospital Behavioral health today. My provider left the practice, and I made an appointment with her before she left. She suggested that I call back and make an appointment in a couple of months. Fast forward a month later, I call to get a prescription filled and I was told my chart was closed. I asked if it could be reopened or if I could scheduled time with a new provider and the receptionist said no. Thankfully I work in the health care field and could figure out a way to get my meds and find a new provider, but what happens if I didn’t understand how to navigate the completed health care system? I was never notified of the closure, or given a reason why. The receptionist said they left a VM, but I have gone back through my VM’s 4 times and can’t find one. How can you care for people in mental health crises, when you so quickly turn your back on patients? I could see if I was seeking a controlled substance, but I was asking for my antidepressants.. and was denied. I was also told that I was not “welcome back”. For what? I missed one appointment because of a car accident, and that was years ago. What could I have done? This is my first of many complaints, I want patients to know just how poorly this office is operated, and if you are seeking help, please go to an organization that plans to stick with you until you get the...