Christopher G. Westergaard, LCSW

I had similar experiences to the poor reviews previously written here. I did not receive any real help or useful philosophies or tools and found his billing practices to be not in line with my insurance. He was asking me to pay up front an additional $ 60.00 over my co-​pay and then billed my insurance as well. He said we would settle once the insurance was paid. I then found my insurance was paying him as well and he was only turning in my $ 20.00 co-​pay.
He also indicated I needed to see him twice a week and on weeks that I traveled for work said I would have to phone in at an additional charge. I finally realized that this «treatment» was causing me additional stress that was not needed. I quit going and found that the reduced stress from dealing with these practices, additional time it gave me and the additional $ 160.00 I had available to me each week went a long way in helping me reduce stress and focus on addressing my other issues.

Unless you need to be intimidated and strong-​armed, do not go to Christopher Westergaard for therapeutic help. He accused me of «not being serious about therapy» and said «it wasn’t his job to coddle» me. Every issue I brought to the table became my «fault.» I was so traumatized by Westergaard that I didn’t go back to therapy for another three years. As a matter of fact, I tried to report him to my insurance company.
Good for those people who’ve had positive experiences with him, but for those seeking help for the first time, you can find someone better, whose appointments you won’t have to wrangle your way out of should you decide that he’s not the right fit (see Willie A’s review; I had a similar problem).
Just say no.

Dr. Westergaard,
I don’t feel comfortable with the arrangement and rules set forth by
your practice. It has been heavy on my mind every since I left your
office last Wednesday and it is leaving me with a feeling of resentment.
I have enough stress in my life without having to worry about your
extensive set of mandated rules, prepayments, non-​cancellation policy
and extremely high fee to use a credit card.
I understand that I signed a contract and am bound by that but If I am
going to work on myself with a therapist I need to feel comfortable
doing so, and after the one meeting I can safely say that I do not
feel comfortable with this situation.
I called and left you a message on Saturday to say that I had the
cash. You could have at least had the courtesy to return my call on
Monday to say if it was okay for me to bring the money to my
appointment on Wednesday.
As of today I am ending my contract for your services, with a 45 hour
notice for the appointment on Wednesday July 30, 2008, and 3+ days
advance notice of the appointment on Friday August 1, 2008.
Respectfully,
Upon following up after emailing this letter, I called to let him know that I sent it and that I would no longer be needing his services, I still haven’t received any type of response from him 4 days later.