LifeStance Therapists & Psychiatrists San Francisco

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Shelley Costantinivia Google

10 months ago

Frustrating Experience with LifeStance’s Admin Communication: UPDATE as of April 14, 2025: I received a reply to my review 2 weeks ago which you can see below. Since then nothing has changed. No one has reached out to check in with me, no apology for what happened - nothing. I'm removing the 2nd star. _____________________________________________________ I’ve had a good experience working with my provider at LifeStance (hence the two stars), but unfortunately, the administrative side of the organization has left me feeling really disappointed. While my doctor was away on vacation, I received a message saying he was no longer with the practice. That came as a shock — especially because I rely on a time-sensitive prescription and had no warning or clarity on what was going on. I was told I’d need to start fresh with a new provider, so I scrambled to schedule an intake, rearranged my schedule, and paid for a visit that, in hindsight, I found was not necessary. When my doctor returned from vacation and responded to a message I’d left, he was surprised too — turns out he hadn’t left the practice at all. He’s been helpful and kind throughout, and I’m thankful to be continuing care with him. Over the last couple of months, I’ve been requesting a refund from LifeStance for the unnecessary appointment — both for my insurance and me— and so far, I’ve been denied once and am now waiting (another month) on an appeal. I’ve even provided the actual messages that show how this all unfolded, but they’ve stuck to the line that “services were rendered.” To me, this misses the larger issue: that the service shouldn’t have been needed in the first place. LifeStance as a company really needs to improve its communication and patient care systems. Especially in the field of mental health, these kinds of administrative mistakes can have real emotional and financial consequences. This experience has been stressful, confusing, and poorly handled.

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Kathryn DeYoungvia Google

10 months ago

I like Dr. Murphy, he has taken the time to not only talk but to listen. The previous therapist was nothing more than a pill pusher. Dr. Murphy has taken the time to review, discuss, coordinating with my primary physician to determine the exact medication I need.

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Zachary Mossvia Google

11 months ago

I'm so glad my provider has finally left LifeStance. Ever since they took over PCPA they've been both difficult to work with and a nuisance. They are a prime example of what is wrong with private equity-owned healthcare, in this case TGP. Sadly this is what we have to put up with if we want our psychiatrists covered by insurance. Stay away if you can afford to both as a patient and a provider. When my psychiatrist had to take a leave of absence they fumbled at every turn. They assigned me to a newly minted doctor that clearly didn't have the time for me and held some major gender biases. Next they passed me off to another doctor who refused to refill my medications I had regularly been taking because of previously known lifestyle choices. When I tried to explain my difficulties in changing those choices he repeatedly encouraged prayer. I am not, not have I ever been religious, but that didn't seem to register to him even though I repeatedly told him so. During all of this LifeStance customer service proved themselves to been both under-trained and under-staffed resulting in me having to contact my original doctor despite her being on medical leave. After she returned to work LifeStance proved to be an obstacle with the constant paperwork and surveys they requested and with the shoddy video conference platform they used. My doctor was equally as frustrated as I was working with them, eventually resulting in her leaving to work in private practice. Now she is in a situation where she can no longer provide insurance coverage. I'm fortunate enough to still be able to afford seeing her, but it is not a small additional expense. This is a predicament that we're only in because LifeStance does an awful job at managing their business. This is what you get when private equity firms such as TGP, who owns LifeStance, puts earnings over care for their patients and for the doctors they employ. Whomever is the CEO and COO of TGP should be ashamed of themselves.

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Aziza Henryvia Google

over 1 year ago

My provider no showed twice, once during our very first appointment and then our third with no explanation. She then rescheduled twice without actually showing up on the rescheduled dates. When I tried to cancel an appointment they told me I would be charged, but there was no reprimand for my provider. Absolutely cuckoo company I’m going to file a better business bureau report because it doesn’t make any sense the lack of professionalism.

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Helona Lvia Google

almost 2 years ago

Some good therapists, but this review concerns billing and customer support, which are awful. The price for a missed appointment is greater than the actual appointment charge. If you cancel or change your appointment within one day of the scheduled time, even for illness, you are still charged. And it’s almost impossible to contact administrative staff or the billing department to change an appointment or dispute a charge. I only use LifeStance because they have a large selection of in-network providers. If you have other options, do your mental health a favor and pick a different practice that isn’t a conglomerate.