Wendt Center For Loss and Healing

The way the Wendt Center was recommended to me felt like I had finally found specialized group therapy for the prolonged grief I was experiencing. Once in the group, it was apparent that everyone in the group had experienced a loss only within the previous 3 months. Naturally, their grief was fresh. Still, nobody could relate to what I was experiencing and not one word from the facilitators nor the participants was ever expressed in affirmation or simply seeking clarity to what I shared. Other members just couldn't relate or were lost in their own despair. Fair enough. Yet, why such silence from the two "facilitators"? I did not feel like I belonged in this group. What's more, my comments and most of the participant's comments just hung there in silence while we all just continued staring into the camera via Zoom. There was next to no facilitation for the group except for this brief and odd breathing / meditation exercise and the end of the session. It was painful to experience how much of the time was wasted just sitting there without a word being said as we stared into space. There was a tepid attempt to begin each session in a routine sharing circle. And if anyone participated at all, as most didn't, it was just to express how miserable he/she was felt without any affirmation or support of any kind to what was just shared from the 2 women leading the group. Nor was any participation encouraged. I routinely spoke up to offer some compassion, to seek clarity, or offer encouragement to my fellow group members. Though over time it made me feel like I was in a facilitation role. This was an uncomfortable feeling, and I truly had to hold back as I felt in was inappropriate for me, a participant, to be leading this rudderless group. In the beginning, it is stressed that only 2 sessions out of 10 could be missed. Yet, there was never the full complement of 10 participants. It was closer to 4-5. With the consistently painful silence of each session, I had to leave the group after 6-7 sessions. How could a "nationally recognized" organization as Wendt Center treat those in despair so poorly and be so underserved by its staff? Who knows.

This was one of the most disappointing and unprofessional experiences I’ve ever had with a support agency meant to help people grieving the loss of a loved one. Over the course of six months, I attended weekly sessions here. Often when I went to check in, there was often no one at the front desk — which made it extremely difficult to pay for my sessions or get any basic assistance. It was disorganized and unwelcoming. My therapist regularly blamed me for my “negative attitude” instead of offering actual support. She told me I shouldn’t expect others to fix my problems — imagine going to a doctor and being told that. Isn’t that why you seek help in the first place? Worse, I noticed she frequently seemed anxious to end our sessions early, even though I was paying for full hour-long appointments. It felt like I was being rushed out the door, not cared for. After a particularly hurtful session where she implied my difficulty processing grief was my own fault, I filed a formal complaint with the clinical director. I followed up — multiple times — and was eventually told my complaint was never even filed. There was zero accountability. Therapists should listen, support, and guide, especially in settings meant for grief support. Instead, I left feeling worse than when I came in. I would not recommend this agency to anyone in a vulnerable place. People deserve better care than this.

My experience at this facility was extremely distressing and left me feeling worse than when I arrived — something no grief and trauma center should cause. During a session, I opened up to my therapist about losing everyone who had ever been there for me. Her response was shocking and deeply inappropriate: “Maybe you shouldn't be here either.” When I questioned her on that, she replied with, “Do you think you're better than me?” This was not only unprofessional, but entirely unacceptable, especially from someone entrusted with helping people in vulnerable states. After the session, I attempted to file a complaint with the Director of Clinical Services, Jerri Anglin. Rather than taking my concerns seriously, I was dismissed and told to "go somewhere else" because, according to the therapist, I had yelled — which was untrue. I was simply in shock and asked for clarification. The center’s website claims to offer “compassionate, evidence-based care.” That was not my experience. I received neither compassion nor care — only harm. I strongly advise others to look elsewhere for support during difficult times.

Went to the Wendt Center after a death of a close family member that I had to take off of life support and deal with that all by myself. I came to the Wendt Center for help and what I got was horrible. I was specifically yelled at by my therapist saying do I think I am better than her and many other unprofessional behavior. I came there for help because I have no family or friends or anywhere else to turn too. I went there for over six months trying to seek help from therapists who obviously don't want to help. I filled a complaint with Director of Clinical Services who doesn't return any of my phone calls. I called and asked why I am not receiving any call backs about my complaints I want to file and apparently the Director of Clinical Services is to busy on vacation or planning her next vacation to return calls. I spoken to several other people that have also went to the Wendt Center and there has been several suicides related to people the Wendt Center has turned away. William Wendt must be turning over in his grave about the way they treat people now at the Wendt Center. I wish there was a way to contact his family to inform them of what is going on at the Wendt Center because it is a disgrace to his name and people are dying because of it.

I'm horrified by the treatment I received from the Wendt Center. The wait list is ridiculous and they do not seem to care how acute your need is. The therapist I finally saw was downright neglectful and completely checked out from being caring or present. When I finally terminated because I couldn't take it anymore (it honestly felt like the therapy I received was worse than no therapy at all), they barely acknowledged me or tried to follow up at all. A crushing experience while already dealing with crushing grief.