Rachel Bensinger, MSW

Review of Rachel Bensinger as MH Counselor, Golden, VA for approx 18 months for depression. Negative experience for me, she is not jovial nor uplifting. Her counseling style is similar to old school, mean, 3rd grade teacher, dictatorially raising her voice to a loud level for no reason during most appts. Counseling 101: do not loudly raise your voice to a courteous patient. I operated with politeness to Rachel at all times. Her communication style was overbearing, invalidating, demeaning, argumentative, and highly critical. Every appointment I had with Rachel, she seemed like she was having a “bad day” with her harsh tone. She dominated all conversations. I gave her constructive feedback, about patient - counselor communication, fell on deaf ears. Rachel chooses to work with veterans, she did not understand, nor sympathize, nor empathize with veteran experiences in the military nor civilian life. Having Rachel as a counselor was detrimental to me, she did not offer help or skills.