Reed Balentine, LCSW

I saw Reed Balentine at Empath PLC for couples therapy with my partner, but the experience was highly disappointing and uncomfortable. Rather than focusing on couples counseling, Reed quickly shifted toward individual sessions with us. During my individual session, he made inappropriate comments about his own personal preferences that were completely irrelevant to my therapy needs. I found these disclosures unsettling and unprofessional. Additionally, Reed gave inconsistent guidance, telling my partner one thing and me another, which led to confusion rather than clarity. After waiting a month to see him, Reed abruptly canceled a session just an hour before it was supposed to begin, suggesting I seek another practitioner without any clear reason. This last-minute cancellation, after we had invested time and money in these sessions, felt unprofessional and disruptive to our progress. Finally, his contract includes an unusual clause imposing a hefty $8,000 fine for recording sessions. This clause felt intimidating and not client-centered, raising questions about transparency and accountability. If you’re seeking a therapist who provides consistent, professional, and focused support, I would recommend looking elsewhere. This experience left me feeling unsupported and uncomfortable.

Reed is a great therapist whose compassion and professionalism is obvious from the minute you walk in the door. I felt really safe working with him, even when he was challenging me, and I think we made a lot of progress in a short amount of time. I really liked the mindfulness stuff he taught me, especially the yoga since I have trouble sitting still. I would definitely recommend Reed for anyone who is nervous about trying therapy, especially if they have trauma-related issues.