Serenity Mental Health Centers - Desert Ridge's Online Review Report Card

Testimonial by Noemi Trevino Patient at Serenity Mental Health since June 2025 My journey with Serenity Mental Health began not for myself, but for my 17-year-old daughter. Like many people, I turned to Google in search of someone who could help diagnose and treat her. The first place I contacted was Serenity Mental Health. During that initial call with the scheduling department, I shared some of my daughter’s history—and unintentionally, a bit of my own. The gentleman on the other end of the line heard my story and kindly offered their services to me as well. Mental health challenges run in my family, beginning with my mother. In January 2020, I started seeking help through my primary care physician because I knew deep down that something wasn’t right. I felt different. That initial call with Serenity introduced me to something called TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation). At first, I was nervous—it sounded a bit like electroconvulsive therapy from the early 1900s. But despite my fears, I agreed to be seen by one of their mental health professionals. From my very first session with Dr. Carlos, I felt understood. He listened and truly heard me. He explained how TMS could make a significant difference in my life. Although I was still hesitant, I decided to give it a try. At my first treatment appointment, I met my technician and saw the TMS machine for the first time. It looked intimidating—still feeding into the old image I had in my mind—but I went home and researched it more. The next day, I received my first treatment, and to my surprise, it wasn’t scary at all. The more I went, the more excited I became. Alongside my anxiety and depression, I was also battling chronic migraines, nerve pain, vertigo, and ear pain. Since starting TMS, I’ve experienced fewer and fewer migraines—and my vertigo is completely gone. I’m only 42 years old, but before treatment, my body felt like it was 80. My life was centered around managing pain with multiple medications. Today, September 14, 2025, with only four sessions left in my treatment plan, I’m proud to say that I’ve significantly reduced my intake of medications for anxiety, depression, migraines, and vertigo. That alone is a miracle for me. I’ve prayed for years to feel "normal" again—to live a life without needing so many prescriptions. My father passed away due to kidney and liver failure after years of taking too many medications following back surgery in 1996. I don’t want to follow that same path. I want to be here for my future grandchildren—and maybe even great-grandchildren. I am so grateful for this journey and the incredible people who’ve helped me along the way. A heartfelt thank you to my two technicians, Anna and Kassy—you ladies are the sweetest. And thank you to everyone at Serenity Mental Health for making this place feel like hope.

This place is a scam, and seemed to be run more like a med spa than a legitimate healthcare establishment/business. My partner and I just moved here, and I scheduled us an appointment to get established for medication management. I went with my partner to his appointment, and they wanted $240 for the initial appointment, even though our copay is $65. We were never given this information when scheduling the appointment over the phone. When I questioned them about it, they said they’d refund us the amount that our insurance would cover. We refused to pay it, then they said we could just pay half?? It makes no sense, and frankly seems very sleazy. We ended up cancelling both of our appointments, and they “granted” us the 1-time-only waiving of the $150 cancellation/no show fee, even though none of this was our fault?

This place is a scam, and seemed to be run more like a med spa than a legitimate healthcare establishment/business. My partner and I just moved here, and I scheduled us an appointment to get established for medication management. I went with my partner to his appointment, and they wanted $240 for the i nitial appointment, even though our copay is $65. We were never given this information when scheduling the appointment. When I questioned them about it, they said they'd refund us the amount that our insurance would cover. We refused to pay it, then they said we could just pay half?? It makes no sense, and frankly seems very sleazy. We ended up cancelling both of our appointments, and they "granted" us the 1-time-only waiving of the $150 cancellation/no show fee, even though none of this was our fault?

They are horrible in every possible way

I had to call Serenity Mental Health five times just to get my prescription sent to another pharmacy because the original one was out of stock. They were fully aware that I was leaving the country and urgently needed my medication, yet they repeatedly ignored my requests and failed to follow through. There are truly no words to describe how unprofessional, careless, and inconsiderate this practice has been. When patients depend on critical medication, ignoring them is unacceptable. I will never be using their services again and cannot recommend them to anyone who values proper care and communication.

Ponte Vedra, FL No clear paperwork, no copays, and they set up a payment plan for me but it wasn’t consistent. Never asked me to pay when I got there. When I asked they said oh don’t worry about it right now. I probably paid twice. Almost a year later, I received a bill in the mail and insurance documents. It looks like the insurance company paid for half of it. I'm thinking they did that instead of pay all of it because Serenity was late in sending the bill. But it was supposed to be paid for in full, it's what they told me. If only half of it was covered they should have told me from the start and I wouldn't have gotten it in the first place. I’m now left with a $3400 bill from ketamine and TMS services. They told me it would be 100% covered when I signed up. After a few sessions, I was told TMS wasn’t covered. I have no paperwork that was given to me at all which is also very strange and scammy. I honestly was just in a bad place that I didn’t even think of asking for documentation. So I cannot fight the debt I was tricked into. They said there was “no rush paying it off” after I found out it would be $60 a session for TMS and you HAD to do 36 sessions or it would be effective. They don’t tell you that there is regression after TMS therapy. So you’re basically able to feel better for a limited time period. I went through 3 TMS technicians there and only one was professional and caring. I do not recommend this place. It’s easy to buy into the therapy because they know the right things to say. But leaving out the financial burden you’ll take on is so disappointing. None of the doctors or technicians I had work there anymore. There’s high turnover which is concerning. I feel they just push for treatment to vulnerable people to get money. Be careful. I feel scammed and now I’m still struggling to pay this debt 3 years later with this debt I didn’t know I’d have.

I don't leave bad reviews. I really don't but this place was terrible. I had Melissa Leuzzi, NP. She showed up late. I didn't complain. Things happen. Her office was boiling hot. I didn't complain, even as she gave me weird looks when I sat on the ground away from the heat window. She basically plugged my information into her screen, and then repeatedly denied me the medication I have take for over ten years. She told me I could get a 2nd opinion, even after I said I could get it illegally, and I wanted to have a professional to help oversee it. I was failing, in life, and I needed it. She had zero interest in listening to me. She was the second opinion. My therapist died and I tried to not take it any more in 2023. Instead of listening, she made me feel like a junkie and addict. The lobby was literally full of them. I tried really hard not to leave this review, but even after I paid the co pay, they billed my insurance again. They billed my insurance over 800 bucks, a SECOND TIME. I guess that explains why their lobby is pimped out and posh. If you want a "therapist" who uses a blanket AI printout for your therapy, and then has the audacity to bill your insurance twice pick her. I was clearly the highest functioning person in the lobby, again she was 30 minutes late, and the vast majority of patients were in and out with their scripts in 4 minutes. It was gross, and then the AI/chatGPT therapist denied me. I let it go, but today I just realized they billed my insurance ANOTHER time. Use chat GPT on your billing. I was there on April 12, 2025.

I would give zero stars if I could. This facility has made it clear they do not care about their patients. An incident occurred on Saturday that was completely unacceptable. As a patient seeking treatment at a mental health care facility, I expect professionalism, compassion, and basic respect. The way I was treated was completely out of line. I have repeatedly requested a call from the office manager, yet have received no response. This lack of follow-through is ridiculous and shows there is no real concern for patient care. The only person I can commend is the receptionist, who actually made an effort. As for the provider, Ekuevugbe (Ekus) Onosode, NP — it’s apparent they do not prioritize their patients. I had rescheduled my appointment at the facility’s request to accommodate the provider, yet when I arrived, I was checked in two minutes past the allowed time due to the receptionist handling other patients. Despite this, the provider refused to see me, even though I know from prior experience they would not have spent the full 40 minutes allotted for a new patient appointment anyway. This was pure laziness and unprofessionalism. They offered to see if the provider could fit me in at the end of the day, but after rearranging my schedule at their request, it was clear my time and well-being were not valued. This experience has left me with no interest in receiving services from this facility, regardless of location. The provider should reconsider their career choice if mental health care is not their priority, and the manager of this location should also reevaluate their role given their unwillingness to take even five minutes to return a patient’s call. And to top it off, they are now attempting to charge me a $150 “no-show” fee for an appointment I was present for. This facility is a complete joke.

Upon contacting my Insurance provider, they referred me to Dr Belmonte at Serenity as an "in-network" provider. Her profile states she is accepting new patients and from the age of 0-120. I am an existing patient of Serenity, but the therapist I was seeing is no longer there. I am on a medication that was prescribed to me by him, and it is no longer working, so I need help. I called today to get an appointment and was told that Dr Belmonte will not take me as a patient and that at 61 years old, I am too old to be seen at Serenity. I guess your mental health is not important after you turn 60. At a time when I need it most. I'm shook. : (((

Horrible company!! False claims & misleading information. FYI. serenity won't tell you upfront, but Serenity charges $1500 for each TMS treatment, in which they want you to do 30+ treatment in a session At an Estimate $45000.