ED Treatment Reviews

Find and submit reviews for eating disorder treatment centers. Run by queerhawkeyes

[edtreatmentreviews]

Any reviews for Cielo House in Moss Beach?

Not presently, no.

Anyone been to Cielo House? Submit a review

[edtreatmentreviews]

ERC Ohio

Treatment Center: ERC Ohio

Level of care (IP, Resi, IOP, PHP, etc): PHP (they only have PHP and IOP which are basically combined)

When were you there? October 2016

Is it co-ed? In theory, yes. I was the only one who was not cis-female which was awkward. They had one male adolescent in adolescent IOP.

How many patients were there? When I was there, it started out with 6 then got up to about 10-12 combined IOP and PHP. They had no adolescent PHP due to low census, so combined the one adolescent patient with adult PHP. I will say 10-12 was way too crowded for this ERC, and there was not space to accommodate. So I imagine that is about the max in terms of number of patients they have at once.

What was the admissions process like? Unsure, I transferred from another ERC.

Describe the average day: Get there around 9 (8 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays), breakfast, check in, group (ACT or DBT), random group, morning snack, group, lunch, group, break 2:30-3 (or 2-2:30 on early days), snack, two groups, dinner, group, check out, leave at 7 (6 on fridays, saturdays, sundays). Schedule was constantly changing as far as groups and nobody really seemed to know it.

What were meals like? Not good. Like really awful. You do not get to choose food AT ALL. They have no kitchen, so there’s legit only one meat or vegetarian option and too bad if you don’t like it. Meal times were stressful. Staff would ignore when patients were obviously struggling. Patients struggled to talk and to complete meals. Not a good environment. Occasionally they would try to play a game or music which would help but it was not consistent. 30 minutes for meals, 15 for snacks. 5 to supplement.

What sorts of food were available or served? Did they accommodate for dietary needs or vegetarians/vegans? You can be vegetarian. But the food was nasty. If you’re picky they don’t substitute anything so you’re out of luck and you just get to supplement. You do get to choose breakfast and snacks to an extent, but lunch and dinner were awful and there is zero choice and one option.

Did they supplement? How did that system work? Yes with Boost. Full meal refusal is like a cup +, 50-99% is another amount, 1-49% is a different amount. You get 5 minutes. Often people would just take a couple of bites and then refuse the rest just to not have the 100% refusal because you know that they go by greater or less than 50% and there’s no in between.

What privileges are allowed? Passes. There’s one lunch and one dinner outing a week.

Does it work on a level system? No.

What sort of groups do they have? ACT, DBT, RODBT, two nutrition groups a week, a lot of craft stuff and killing time groups, Exposure Response (ERP), Process Group, Music Therapy

What was your favorite group? Music Therapy by far. The music therapist there was seriously amazing and probably my favorite staff member. We got to play instruments, make up songs, talk about music, it was fun.

What did you like the most? Music Therapy. How nice most of the staff were, that it was a small program so you really got to know staff, and how much 1:1 time you could get.

What did you like the least? Meals and meal times were awful. The community when I was there was not at all recovery based. How crowded it got when they kept admitting and not discharging. The schedule was not good and way too crammed. Morning snack was barely an hour before lunch, but almost 3 hours after breakfast. Dinner was too early to accommodate for eating all meals in program.

What level of activity or exercise was allowed? I think there was a yoga group once a week? Other than that it was never talked about other than on an individual basis.

What did people do on weekends? Programming had a bit more downtime, they’d basically have a lot of the same groups (always have ACT or DBT) but then just turn the tv on for a few hours instead of having other groups in the afternoons.

Do you get to know your weight? No.

How fast is the weight gain process? Unsure. Did not know weight. I was also one of the few there at the time who still needed to weight restore, which was rough.

What was the average length of stay? No average. One person had been in PHP for 10 weeks. Another came in, did two weeks and was discharged. People were constantly stepping up, stepping down, etc due to either insurance or just life circumstances. A lot of people would come for one day and never show up again or not show up consistently.

What was the average age range? When I got there it was mostly 18-19, with one person in their 50s which was awkward. However they did admit the one adolescent and then some in their 30s and 40s later which helped. So really diverse. 16-60s. At first the young group really was awkward for the few of us that were older. It got better as the group diversified in age.

What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an OP treatment team? They have IOP and they do step down to 4-5 day IOP. They try to refer you to other programs if you are from out of area, and try to help set up an OP team if needed.

Would you recommend this program? Ehhhh honestly unsure. It really depends on the person. If I had not been able to live at home while doing PHP there, I’d say staying and doing PHP in Denver would have been better. I’d probably recommend Denver or Chicago to someone who would have to stay in the apartments either way. Just because the larger ERCs there is a lot more flexibility in terms of food and they really seem more on top of things and more on top of keeping the community more positive. That said, if you’re a cis female in their late teens, sure go for ERC Ohio. Though a lot of my experience could be due to the community when I was there, who knows. I’d say to just be skeptical. The staff were super nice and I loved all but one staff member. Most of my issues were with the food and the community.

[edtreatmentreviews]

Oliver-Pyatt Centers review

Treatment Center: Oliver-Pyatt Centers (OPC)

Level of care (IP, Resi, IOP, PHP, etc): Resi/PHP, TLP/IOP (TLP is their transitional living program where you have programming 5 days a week either during the day or night)

When were you there? March 2016 – September 2016

Is it co-ed? Only women

How many patients were there? There are three houses (Rosada, Azul, and Verde) and each house accepts up to 12 patients

What was the admissions process like? My admission process was a little different, since I was coming from another treatment program. But the treatment center that I was at called OPC and checked my insurance. Once I heard back from them about that, I had my assessment over the phone a few days later, and got my admit date soon after that

Describe the average day:

8 am: breakfast at the apartments (you have breakfast with your roommates and an RC, recovery coach)

9 am: go to your respective house (Rosada, Azul, or Verde)

9:30 am: group

10 am: morning snack

11 am: group

11:45 am: “pre-post group” before lunch (an RC tells you what the meal is, and you go around and say your hungry level using the hunger/fullness scale and your intention for the meal)

12 pm: lunch and “post-meal group” (you do the same thing that you did in pre, but report your fullness level on a hunger/fullness scale and report if you met your intention)

1:30 – 4:15: individual sessions with your treatment team/outing (you have individual therapy 4 days a week, dietician sessions 1 day a week, and treatment team 1 day a week) *Treatment team is basically where you meet with your therapist and another member of your treatment team and talk about how things are going*. Outings are daily and are 45 minutes long. Two days are a park outing, another is shopping, another is Target, and I’m blanking on what the other one is.

5 pm: group/movement (yoga is twice a week)

6 pm: dinner

8 pm: go back to the apartments

What were meals like? The meals are actually really good, in my opinion. It’s a lot of different options, which I liked. And everyone’s meal plan was individualized, which I found very helpful.

What sorts of food were available or served? Did they accommodate for dietary needs or vegetarians/vegans? There were various different types of food – soups, salads, sandwiches, pasta, etc. There were many different options. There was a side and dessert with every meal (lunch and dinner), but it’s optional unless it’s a part of your meal plan.

Did they supplement? How did that system work? They don’t supplement. If you don’t complete, you can’t have caffeine for 24 hours, can’t do movement for 24 hours, and can’t go on outings for 24 hours.

What privileges are allowed? Once you get to PHP, you can start going on passes.

Does it work on a level system? No, but movement is on a level system. See more below for that J.

What sort of groups do they have? So many different groups… CBT, DBT, ACT, cooking group, family and relationships, shame and resilience, body image, relapse prevention, art therapy… So many others that I’m forgetting at the moment.

What was your favorite group? Probably art therapy or cooking group

What did you like the most? The same group of girls and the overall compassion all the same has for every single patient

What did you like the least? I can’t think of anything to be honest

What level of activity or exercise was allowed? They are on a level system for movement. Level 0 is just your admission today and you can’t do movement, and then there are levels 1 – 5. No one ever gets to level 5, I’m not even sure what it entails. Level 1 and 2 can do yoga or the strength training class, but depending on your level, you can only do certain poses. Level 3 can do yoga, strength training, and hip-hop. Level 4 can do everything, and go on movement passes outside of program.

What did people do on weekends? It’s a lot of downtime. There’s some groups and a longer outing on Saturday and Sunday. People will journal, read, knit/crochet, do puzzles, arts and crafts, or work on TO’s. TO’s are therapeutic opportunities which are basically journal prompts your therapist gives you every week. They are super individualized and are tailored to what you are working on in sessions. I personally found them really helpful, and still look back at them when I’m struggling. Every Saturday night is pizza night and every Sunday night is dinner outing.  

Do you get to know your weight? No

How fast is the weight gain process? It’s really slow, which was a lot easier for me compared to other treatment centers I’d been to.

What was the average length of stay? It really depends. I was there for 6 months (4 months in residential/PHP and 2 months in TLP), but I’ve heard the average is about 3 months.

What was the average age range? Mostly girls in their 20’s, but when I was there, there were some patients in their 30’s

What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an OP treatment team? If you have an outpatient team, they will have been communicating with them weekly throughout your stay so the transition home is really smooth. If you don’t have an OP team, they will help you find a team in your area.

Would you recommend this program? Absolutely 100%! 

[edtreatmentreviews]

ERC Denver

Treatment Center: ERC Denver (Pine)

Level of care (IP, Resi, IOP, PHP, etc): Residential - at Pine they also have T-Res and PHP. T-Res: it’s short for transitional residential. (Though for insurance purposes it’s still residential.) Basically you spend the day doing programming with PHP, you do not need to be supervised in the bathroom, and can go outside when you want. PHP groups are a bit more challenging and stimulating, and they like to use T-Res as a way to transition to PHP. After dinner on T-Res, you go back upstairs to the residential unit, and PHP goes back to the apartments or home. For all meals, snacks, and community and process groups, PHP and Residential are combined. I was only at Pine, but I know Evergreen has IP and Res, and if you are there and transition to PHP then you go to Conifer for PHP.

When were you there? September 2016

Is it co-ed? Yes. There were a couple of guys and also a couple of trans people there.

How many patients were there? Residential has 26 beds (24 rooms total, 2 rooms are double). PHP has more. At Pine there are three tracks of 18 people each (res and php combined), and the track you are on is determined by who your psychiatrist is. Tracks 1 and 2 do everything together. Track 3 is separate.

What was the admissions process like? My admissions process was not normal, because I was referred to Denver by a different ERC program. I think most people do a phone assessment and they get back to you within a day or two about what level of care is appropriate, and then take it from there. They do labs and EKG when you get there for admission, so they are not generally required in advance which is nice.

Describe the average day: For residential and PHP, Tracks 1 and 2 start the day with breakfast at 7:30am and end at 6pm. Track 3 starts at 8:30am and ends at 7pm. For residential, each morning you get vitals and weight and pee in a cup. Labs are drawn every day for the first 5 days or so, after that just weekly. Bathrooms are open in the morning until breakfast, and unless you get permission from your team to shower at night, you shower in the morning. They usually unlock the bathroom for a few minutes before meals/snacks. If enough people ask to go, they’ll unlock it at other times too. In theory if it’s less than an hour after a meal, they’ll ask you to use the single bathroom where a staff member is in the bathroom with you, just behind a curtain. They always have to check the toilet before you are allowed to flush. For residential, after breakfast you go outside for about 15 minutes. You can only be outside with a staff member. You go back in, there is usually a group, and then morning snack. After snack is daily intentions. Then you usually just chill for a bit until lunch. You go outside for 15 minutes after lunch again. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays after lunch is always process group, Tuesdays and Thursdays is community - these are together with PHP. Short bathroom break, then afternoon snack. After snack is usually one to two groups, then dinner. After dinner is wrap-up group and then you can go outside again for 15 minutes if you want. This is also when you get electronics. Night snack is at 8:30 (all tracks eat night snack together which can be pretty overwhelming) and the bathrooms are open again around then and after that for a while. Meds are after snack. Electronics get turned in around 10 or 11 depending on track. They do not enforce a bedtime or anything, but they do expect that you go to bed shortly after that. You meet with your primary therapist for individual sessions twice a week, your family therapist once a week, dietician once a week and usually at other times to check in if changes need to be made, and the psychiatrist as needed, typically once or twice a week. So people are constantly getting pulled throughout the day for that. What is really nice is that if they pull you for a session and it is a snack time, they will usually grab a snack and eat snack with you during session. Also most are available just to check in with you during the course of the day if needed. Rounds are once a week where you meet with your entire treatment team for 15 minutes or so. Side note - bedrooms are locked during the day and you are expected to be with the community. The only exception to this is if you are on room based care, which only occurs if you are medically unstable or ill. Your treatment team sometimes can approve a daily rest time for an hour or so, as well as things like phone passes or computer passes for if you need to do schoolwork or sort other personal things during the course of the day. If you are panicking or not doing well you can ask to go into one of the quiet rooms for a bit (just an empty room with a bed next to the main desk).

What were meals like? Meh. You get to choose one of three options (one is vegetarian). The food is okay, not great. Usually they will try to play a game or something at the table if there is not a lot of talking. Some staff are better about things than others and more strict about calling out behaviors. Lunch you usually sit with a member of your treatment team. So one day you sit with your dietician, another primary therapist, family therapist, and then once in a while the case managers will sit with you too. For breakfast and snacks (on level 1) staff eat meals with you. They just started doing a trial thing where staff sits with you but does not eat dinner that is going to go at least through December. That started after I left so cannot comment on it, but nobody was thrilled about it.

What sorts of food were available or served? Did they accommodate for dietary needs or vegetarians/vegans? You can be vegetarian. They strongly frown upon veganism and have very limited vegan options.  They did accommodate kosher for one person when I was there, and if you have allergies will work around it. You can have coffee or tea in the morning, and tea at evening snack. If you do not drink the water or are dehydrated, they will put you on mandatory water. They give it to you in a red cup, and if you do not drink it at the meal, it is the same process for supplementing. 10 minutes to finish it, and if not you have to fill out a form. They will also work with you on making changes that make it easier for you to complete. I had issues with night snack, so they changed my meal plan around so I did not have to have one. When I struggled with a large amount of exchanges at lunch, they swapped some of them around to other times. They also were able to get in other foods to an extent - I know they had almond butter as an alternative to peanut butter for a while.

Did they supplement? How did that system work? Yes. With boost generally. If you have problems with the boost they are great about using other supplements. Some people got Breeze or pro bars. Amount is dependent upon meal completion,  but it’s not like other ERCs where it’s just 0-50% versus 51-100% completion, it’s a bit more complicated than that. It might be closer to 0-25%, 26-50%, etc. but not entirely positive. You get ten minutes with the supplement, and if you do not complete they have you fill out a form saying why that your dietician gets. They do not make a huge deal out of it either.

What privileges are allowed? Electronics in the evenings, they have an outing to a bookstore on the weekend, sometimes your process group will also get to go on an outing. Once you get to t-res or php you can go out on passes and additional outings.

Does it work on a level system? At meals yes. Not really any other time. Level 1 has to sit with a staff member at all meals and snacks. Level 2 sits with staff only at meals, not snacks. Level 3 does not have to sit with staff at meals or snacks, they usually go to a cooking group and on more meal outings, and some meals are served buffet style. Level 3 also checks their own menus/meals so they expect you to speak up if something is missing or incorrect. If you are on level 2 or 3 and you do not complete an unsupervised meal/snack, I believe you get bumped back to level 1 for 24 hours, but that never happened while I was there. Level 3 is also expected to do the variety/challenge snack on Thursdays (optional but encouraged for levels 1 and 2), and you can only have one or two menu write ins a week. (You fill out your own menus during menu group once a week.)

What sort of groups do they have? ERC is mostly ACT based so a lot of ACT groups, DBT, CBT, mindfulness. ALL the mindfulness groups. There is a nursing group on Sundays. On res groups are pretty lame. PHP groups are a lot better. The evening group before dinner on PHP is led by the different therapists and are things like anger management, sexuality, boundaries, and day groups are things like recovery skills and stuff. Groups are never mandatory but they encourage you to come, and obviously it looks better to your team if you participate. Community is where everyone on your track, including primary therapists and staff sit and talk about what is going on within the community. Usually there’s an icebreaker, then they go through individual accountabilities, what you are working on, committed action, success. Then just general group issues (or carefrontations but there usually are not any). After that is partnering in illness and partnering in recovery, where you sort of talk about good and bad things you all have done together. Process Group are sort of like individual therapy sessions, but with other patients. Everyone with the same therapist is together with your therapist (usually 5-6 people) and you go around and talk about different things that are going on that you can get support with. Usually the therapists will sort of moderate it and will sometimes have a theme or take you on an outing, but usually it is more patient led and the patients supporting each other which is really cool. It also gives you a chance to really get to know a few of the other patients and your therapist. On Saturdays after breakfast is peer support, which is similar to community but more just talking about what is going on for you and what you might need support with over the weekend, since the therapists are all off, and there is less staff. Our track also did something every week called sunshine siblings, which is like a secret santa. That was really nice. Unsure if all tracks did that. Also on weekends was “time management” in the afternoons where you could get your electronics for a couple of extra hours.

What was your favorite group? I really liked process group best of anything. That and the therapist led groups in the evenings before dinner.

What did you like the most? My primary therapist was absolutely amazing. How out of the way staff would try to go to meet you where you are and work with you to try to help, and how the therapists would often go out of their way to check in with you if you needed. Also the psychiatrists are not super drug heavy. If you do not want meds, they do not push it, unlike most places I have been before. I also really liked that members of your treatment team would eat lunch with you, because then it was more casual and just a good way to get to know them, which made it easier to open up in sessions.

What did you like the least? Unit staff (MCs) were not great at leading groups and often enforced rules differently, especially when it came to individual allowances that they were not always aware of. Also if people were struggling at a meal, staff usually would not say anything.

What level of activity or exercise was allowed? If you got approved for it, yoga was once a week. On t-res and PHP there are other movement groups that you can get approval for. Otherwise no exercise or moving around. You are expected to just sit. If exercise is an issue for you they make you wear a heart monitor to track your movement, and can supplement you if you move too much.

What did people do on weekends? Be bored. Most people hate weekends because the groups are not as good and time drags. Res goes on the same outing every week (to a bookstore for literally 20 minutes) and it is super lame once you have gone once. Time management helps because you get electronics during the day, so most people usually talk to family or sleep during that. Oh PHP you do not have to show up until morning snack time on Sundays, so a lot of the people in PHP will plan to do things for breakfast together.

Do you get to know your weight? Nope. If they change your meal plan you can ask why, and they will tell you why - i.e if you are not gaining versus not gaining quickly enough but that is about it. They also might tell you if you are still underweight if you ask.

How fast is the weight gain process? Unsure.

What was the average length of stay? Super individualised and dependent on insurance. Most people a few months, but a lot of it is also dependent on behaviours and if you need to weight restore. They usually try to get people doing t-res after a couple weeks at least, especially if they are afraid insurance is going to cut. Their weight criteria for PHP is 85% ideal body weight which is higher than other places I have been.

What was the average age range? It was all over the place. There were 17-18 year olds, and then people in their 30s and 40s too. It was not an issue, and everyone tended to get along regardless of age.

What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an OP treatment team? I assume they help make plans for aftercare. I only did residential there and then transferred to do PHP at a different ERC closer to home. But I know they do try to help people figure out housing and other stuff if they are concerned about that being an issue when they go home.

Would you recommend this program? I was super resistent to going and being there, and while I hated most of it, yes I would recommend it. They were willing to accommodate a lot of things, and really tried to work with you. Also I will say, in terms of for folks who are not cisgender, it was actually pretty good. Most staff tried to use my preferred name and pronouns, as did most patients. I have heard that Chicago ERC has more diversity in terms of this, but really they were pretty good since they also are not limited to female only like a lot of places that I looked into were.

[edtreatmentreviews]

I was at Timberline Knolls for about a month (stupid insurance cut me off) but it was absolutely amazing and life changing!!

thanks for adding your experience. would you be willing to submit a review? 

[edtreatmentreviews]

Does anyone have any reviews on Columbia in New York? Not the research unit but the actual clinical unit. Thank you! Xx

anyone?

submit a review here

[edtreatmentreviews]

I'll try to submit a review later, but I just wanted to put in a good word for Walden Behavioral Care in Waltham MA- the resi specifically. It saved my life and I feel like it gets a lot of shit but it's actually a spectacular program. !!

okay, thanks!

I was on Alcott five times between 2011 and 2014, and it wasn’t a great experience (although the program changed significantly during that time, so it very well could have changed again), but I have heard people say much better things about their resi program.

[edtreatmentreviews]

Treatment Center: Renfrew Florida

Level of Care: I was inpatient/residential but they also offer day treatment and iop

When were you there?: April-June 2015

Is it co-ed?: no

How many patients were there?: There were about 50 women at all times

What was the admissions process like?: I don’t know because I was transferred to Renfrew from a substance abuse rehab and they handled all of the admissions stuff for me

Describe the average day: We would wake up between 5-8 for weights and vitals, breakfast was at like 8 or 8:15 and in the morning there were groups E, A, and T which were loosely divided by how long you had been in the program.  You had to spend at least one week on E, A, and T but some people would spend more than one week at earlier levels.  These levels didn’t correspond to privileges, just about emotional regulation.  We would have a snack in between the two morning groups at about 10.  Girls who did not have a snack would have a break.  After the second morning group we would have lunch at 12 immediately followed by after meal process group and then like three more groups.  There was a snack in the afternoon and a little bit of free time before dinner.  Dinner was at 6 and there was an evening “group” that was kind of like study hall to do work that you needed to do or to hangout with friends after dinner.  There was a snack after this study group and another snack at 10p.

What were meals like?: Meals were hit and miss but they were very accommodating to vegetarians (not vegans though).  Sample day choices:

Breakfast:  Cereal/Breads: croissant with 1 tbsp cream cheese or croissant with 1 tsp butter Dairy: 1 cup 1% milk, 2 slices cheese, or 1 cup low fat yogurt Fruits: 1 cup orange juice or 1 cup apple juice Fats: 1 tbsp almonds, 1 tbsp walnuts, or 1 tbsp sunflower seeds.

Lunch:  Entrees: 1 turkey and vegetable wrap with 3 oz turkey or 1 cheese and vegetable wrap with 3 oz cheese Dairy: 1 cup 1% milk, 1 cup 1% chocolate milk, or 2 slices american cheese (turkey wrap only) Fruits: 1 banana, 1 cup apple juice, or 1 cup canned peaches Fats (select two): 1 package peanut butter (for banana only); 1 package mayo; 1 tablespoon honey mustard dressing; or 1 tablespoon ranch dressing

Dinner:  Entrees: thinly sliced steak (3 oz) panini sandwich with red and green peppers and melted mozzarella cheese (1/4c-omit dairy) or thinly sliced (4 oz) tofu panini sandwich with eggplant, red and green peppers, and 1/4c mozzarella cheese Dairy: 1 cup 1% milk or 1 cup low fat yogurt Vegetables: 1 ½ cups tossed salad or 1 cup fresh vegetables Fruits: 1 apple, 1 cup grape juice, or 1 cup canned pineapple Fats (select two): 1 tbsp almonds, 1 tbsp sunflower seeds, 1 tbsp walnuts, 1 package peanut butter, 1 tbsp honey mustard dressing, 1 tbsp balsamic dressing, 1 tbsp ranch dressing, or 1 tbsp italian dressing

Snack examples: granola and yogurt, nature valley bar and milk, frosted mini wheats and yogurt, pretzels and apple juice, granola bar and string cheese

You get one boost if you eat more than 50% of your meal but don’t complete it or two boosts if you eat less than 50% of your meal.  If you don’t gain fast enough you get boosts at snack.  Snacks aren’t given to everyone and boosts aren’t given to everyone but some people have a lot.  I was on double boost plus snack four times a day for a while.

You have to have dessert three times a week.  Once you eat 100% of your meals for a certain amount of time you get to walk through the line and pick your food instead of having it already trayed and at that point you can have dessert in place of a fat.

Did they supplement? How did that system work?: Yes, they use Boost Plus and it is usually if you aren’t gaining fast enough (hyper metabolic) or you aren’t eating your meals

What privileges are allowed?: Well levels depend on your health.  If you are medically unstable then you will be put on a red badge which means that you have to stay in the day room from after breakfast until bed.  You can only leave with a staff member/pushed in a wheel chair.  Green badge was given to bulimic patients which meant that they had to stay in the day room for 45 minutes after meals and snacks (or maybe it was an hour I’m not sure).  If you are healthy and doing well then you can move freely about the facility while not in group.  There is a pool and a garden.  You can make phone calls but you need to bring phone cards.

Does it work on a level system?: Yes depending on health. If you are a medical risk and on red badge you can’t really move up through the levels.  Supposedly some people can eventually have their phones and go on passes but I never saw that happen.

What sort of groups do they have?: EAT is like emotional regulation and changing the way that you think.  I was on the trauma track and the drug and alcohol track and both of those were a lot smaller, like three or four girls depending on the clientele at the time.  If you are not on red badge there were art groups.  

What did you like the most?: Meeting some new friends who understand what its like to live with anorexia.

What did you like the least?: After meal process and community because they were just girls crying

What level of exercise was allowed?: Light yoga if you were medically cleared hahah but there was always drama about girls secretly working out (not allowed).

What did people do on the weekends?: There were groups saturday morning and you could go to a spiritual/Christian group on Sunday.  We watched a lot of tv on the weekends.

Do you get to know your weight?: I knew my weight the entire time I was there but most girls did not.

How fast is the weight gain process?: Pretty fast but not overwhelming.  I came in in bad shape and was kinda restored in two months.

What was the average length of stay?: About a month but they would try to move girls into their days and then iop program if they were local.

What was the average age range?: When I was there it was probably 1/3 adolescents 13-17, 1/3 young adults like 18-30 and 1/3 women 30-60

What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an OP treatment team?: If you are going home they are very well equipped to set you up with a team in your city.  I wasn’t doing that and was going back into substance abuse treatment so I didn’t really deal with their aftercare stuff.

Would you recommend this program?: Absolutely.  Renfrew saved my life.  I had had pockets of quasi-recovery from anorexia and had decided that that was as good as I was ever going to get.  Renfrew medically restored me which allowed me to be healthy enough to deal with other issues in my life.  I do not live dominated by food and fearing food anymore and I am incredibly grateful for my time at Renfrew.  The only thing that wasn’t ~ideal~ was that I was released still on 8 boost pluses a day and when I stopped drinking supplements my weight shot down super fast and I had to learn by myself how to make up that kind of calorie deficit.  

[edtreatmentreviews]

i spent 6 months at timberline knolls and it was a wonderful 6 months. i got so much out of it. i see people criticizing it and i respect that they had a bad time, but that was not my experience at all and just want to make sure i put that out there

[edtreatmentreviews]

Any treatment centers in IL?

right now the only center in the Illinois tag is Timberline Knolls

anyone been to a treatment center in Illinois?

[edtreatmentreviews]

Any Mccallum Place Reviews?

anyone?

submit a review here

edit: there is one review in the tag, but it is not a recent review

[edtreatmentreviews]

Any reviews for centers around St. Louis?

anyone?

submit a review here

[edtreatmentreviews]

Can I make a request for anyone who knows about outpatient programs in Minnesota or Iowa?

anyone?

submit a review here

[edtreatmentreviews]

Lindner Center of Hope

Treatment Center: Lindner Center of Hope (Mason, Ohio)

Level of care (IP, Resi, IOP, PHP, etc): IP (but they have PHP as well)

When were you there? April 2016

Is it co-ed? Yes, and it is not all ED patients, because it is general psych IP, so not everyone is on ED protocol.

How many patients were there? At most they can have 16 but it was generally closer to 10. When I was there 3 others were on ED protocol.

What was the admissions process like? Unsure because I came in on a psych hold at 3am, on a weekend.

Describe the average day: 5-5:30: wake you up for vitals and weight, which they did in your room 8-9: Breakfast (though was usually late) 9: Goals/Community Group 10: Rec Therapy - would do morning snacks around 10:30 if you had one 11: CBT/DBT Group (sometimes separated for an ED specific group) 12:30ish: Lunch 2: Group, usually CBT/DBT or IMR/Spirituality 3ish: Afternoon Snack, Rec Therapy 4: Outside (or gym if weather was bad) 5:30ish: Dinner 6:30 Wrap up/Process Group 7: Gym (or outside if people wanted) 8:30 Evening Snack 9-10: Vitals at some point

What were meals like? Everyone on ED protocol had to sit and eat all meals and snacks together with a staff member. It was usually pretty quiet and you had 30 minutes for meals, 15-20 for snacks. Some staff would try to talk or ask questions. You were not allowed back to your room for an hour afterwards.

What sorts of food were available or served? Did they accommodate for dietary needs or vegetarians/vegans? They let me be vegan. The food was not great but I am very picky. They will go out of their way to accommodate and work with you individually.

Did they supplement? How did that system work? Yes with Boost. Full refusal -16 oz, Each side or fluids not being completed was 4oz each, Entree not completed was 8oz. You can refuse but they do use tubes eventually.

What privileges are allowed? It is pretty restricted since it is a mixed IP unit. There was a computer on the unit you could get privileges to use and you could get off unit privileges to go outside or to the gym, but if you’re on ED protocol you are probably not allowed to walk around or exercise. You can ask to be allowed to have things like stuffed animals, etc and they try to be accommodating if possible.

Does it work on a level system? No.

What sort of groups do they have? A lot of DBT - mostly focused on emotion regulation. Some ED specific groups which are DBT based as well. Rec therapy they played games and did crafts. Goals/Process. Once every 2 weeks a therapy dog comes. Social workers would do skills and life management groups. There were spirituality ones that were not religious based as well with topics like heroes and bullying. Pretty standard and they start to repeat if you are there more than a week or so.

What was your favorite group? The ED specific ones just because they were smaller and there was more individual attention.

What did you like the most? Most of the staff would go out of their way to try to help or advocate for you.

What did you like the least? Staff do not consistently know the rules or enforce them for ED protocol, and it is hard to get a specific discharge date.

What level of activity or exercise was allowed? None really, they even make you sit down to speak on the phone, but you could ask for walking privileges

What did people do on weekends? Same as weekdays, just usually one or two less groups.

Do you get to know your weight? No.

How fast is the weight gain process? Unsure due to not knowing weight.

What was the average length of stay? I was there about 10 days. Some people are there for a couple of months. It is very individualised.

What was the average age range? It is an adult unit so 18-40. Most people were pretty young, 18-22. There is a separate unit for older adults (above 40) that they combined with ours for a while due to low population.

What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an OP treatment team? They generally refer you to their PHP or to PHP elsewhere. They offer recommendations for outpatient if needed.

Would you recommend this program? I have never been IP for an ed before, but I would say yes. They really do try to work with you and be as accommodating as possible, and most staff are really nice. Having your own room and bathroom also makes a big difference, as does everything being so individualised in terms of food and meal planning.

[edtreatmentreviews]

This might be strange, but if you know who asked about ERC Ohio and had their username, I would be willing to come off anon and talk to them in private, just not really wanting to do so publicly. I have had contact with them and am potentially going there.

It was an anon, so I do not know who it was, sorry. If they see this and were willing to come off anon I could potentially get you guys in contact though.

[edtreatmentreviews]

Monte Nido River Towns

Treatment Center: Monte Nido at Irvington New York

Level of care (IP, Resi, IOP, PHP, etc): residential 

When were you there? January-March 2016

Is it co-ed? No

How many patients were there? Maximum 14

What was the admissions process like?

You call California to let them know you’re interested and they set you up to work with someone in admissions. Everything is done from their office in California. Everyone is super nice and supportive, they really try to make it work out with insurance. After doing a short assessment, you schedule a longer one that’s usually about 2 hours. They then recommend a level of care and after you put in a deposit you get put on the waiting list for whatever location you choose or whatever has the soonest opening. 

Describe the average day:

6:00am: wake up/vitals, weights on Mondays (sometimes Thursdays)

7:00am: Breakfast prep (if applicable)

7:30am: Breakfast

8:00-9:00am: free time 

9:00am: 15 or 30 minute walk (Tues and Sat), circuit training (Mon and Thurs), yoga (Wed and Fri)

(Wed and Sat free time 10:00am-12:15pm, Sunday free time 8:00am-12:15pm)  

10:15am: snack 

10:45am: primary group 

12:15pm: lunch (Wednesday meal outing 12pm-2pm, no pm snack)

12:50-1:30pm: free time 

1:30pm: group (Mon- creativity or improv, Tues- pre contract, Thurs- special topics, Fri- nutrition) 

3:00pm: snack 

3:15-6:00pm: meetings with therapist, nutritionist, or psychiatrist, time to work on assignments

6:00pm: dinner

7:00pm: group (mon, wed, fri, sun- food and feelings, tues- CBT, thurs- Body and soul, sat- games and recreation)

(Fridays: CVS and Starbucks outing 7:00-8:30pm)

8-9:15pm: free time 

9:15pm: snack 

11:00pm: lights out 

           What were meals like?

30 minutes for breakfast, 35 minutes for lunch and dinner, and 20 minutes for snack. Everyone usually talks, if it’s quiet then games are usually played, but they typically lead into other conversations. There are two tables, a staff member sits at each one. They change seating every Wednesday night and you sit in the same spot for the week. People who are new, struggling, or tend to use more behaviors sit next to staff.  

What sorts of food were available or served? Did they accommodate for dietary needs or vegetarians/vegans?

There were all different sorts of foods. There is a chef who is amazing and is an incredible cook. Breakfast you get to choose (oatmeal, bagels, toast, eggs, nuts, cottage cheese, fruit, yogurt, etc), lunch and dinner you pick a protein, but everyone eats the same things essentially. Lunch is usually salad, a sandwich, stir fry, or soup, and dinner is usually a combination of a protein, starch and vegetable. There’s always a vegetarian choice, but other than the protein everyone eats the same thing. They do a lot of tofu, tempeh, fish, and chicken. You pick snacks from a list of either A or B, they range from fruit and yogurt to ice cream or pudding. Every Wednesday you go out on a meal outing which counts for lunch and afternoon snack that day. I’ve known one person who was allowed to be a vegan, but typically they do not allow it. Meal plans were done more calorically rather than with exchanges. 

Did they supplement? How did that system work?

Yes. They used ensure plus, and the amount depended on how much you ate. They didn’t look down on supplementing at all, and it was regarded the same as eating meals. If you knew ahead of time you wouldn’t be able to eat a meal, if you told them 2 hours in advance, they would make you a meal shake instead. If you refused your exercise for the next day was revoked. 

What privileges are allowed?

You can go outside, the area is beautiful, there’s two computers and a client phone, but you can’t have your phone or computer until level 4. You can request different privileges every week on your contracts. It ranges from being allowed to go up and downstairs, decreasing bathroom observations, portioning your own meals and snacks, passes, etc. 

Does it work on a level system?

Yes, everyone comes in at entry level and then once you complete certain assignments you move up to level 1. You have to ask to move up levels on your contract, the highest is level 4 but people only get to that level when the team feels that you have a 90% shot at being recovered. You get certain privileges with each level. Level 2 you can start going on passes with your family, but only for snack, and level 3 you can go on meal passes and do independent meals and snacks either in the house or out. 

What sort of groups do they have?

Primary group is the main group, which is essentially just a process group. It’s lead by the clinical director and asst clinical director, and usually a couple therapists sit in. They have no problem calling you out for using behaviors, and it’s encouraged for the clients to do the same. They really embody “truth without judgement.” Food and feelings is another group that is basically a process group, but it’s encouraged to talk about the food and thoughts regarding it. There’s also CBT, and pre contract group where you read your contracts to the community and they offer you feedback. Contract group is the next day where the therapists read you your contract and tell you what’s been approved and what they’ve added. Body and soul is their version of a body image group, but it’s focus is mostly on connecting you back to your soul self. Special topics ranges from having recovered staff speak, to more of a cbt approach, it’s whatever the therapist running the group decides. Creativity/improv switch off every other week. For improv, someone comes in and does the group. 

What was your favorite group?

Body and soul. 

What did you like the most?

The staff are all incredible. They are very open and will go out of their way to help. It didn’t feel like they tried to have a power trip over anyone, and all decisions were discussed with the clients. A lot of the staff is also recovered, and they encourage them to be really open about it. Staff often will talk about their recovery during special topics group.

What did you like the least?

Rules were followed by different staff, and some would enforce them whereas others wouldn’t. It also wasn’t okay to do a lot of different food combinations regardless of whether it was eating disordered or not. 

What level of activity or exercise was allowed?

Everyone was allowed to do floor yoga, but then you had to be medically cleared for 15 or 30 minute walks, moving up yoga levels, and circuit training 1, 2, or 3. 

What did people do on weekends?

Saturdays were pretty laid back. There’s a family group in the afternoon where you can invite anyone to come from the outside. Usually people just watch movies, play games, or work on assignments. Some people meet with their therapists, some people go on passes. Sunday is the same with games, tv, and meetings, but there’s also an outing in the afternoon that everyone goes on. You always go to starbucks, and then usually pottery, Joanns/barnes and noble, the movies, nails, etc. There’s also a food and feelings group at night. 

Do you get to know your weight?

It’s completely individualized by what your team thinks you can handle. If you have to gain you’re told your weight goal in 10lb increments and are told when you meet it. 

How fast is the weight gain process?

It’s a lot slower than most places, but it’s also completely individualized. They aim for around 2-3lbs a week, but for some it could be 1-2. 

What was the average length of stay?

Usually about 2 months, It varied a lot depending on if someone was on insurance or private pay. 

What was the average age range?

They took anyone over 18, but usually people were in their mid twenties, but they do have clients in their 40s and 50s. It varies a lot. 

What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an OP treatment team?

They are really great with helping to figure out step down. You don’t usually discharge without an OP team, and typically you go directly to partial. They have a partial program in NYC and other locations that they like people to go to, but depending on where you live they work with you to figure out another one. You start planning for discharge upon admission. 

Would you recommend this program?

Absolutely. It’s been the only program that’s ever helped me and made me think that full recovery is actually possible. 

[edtreatmentreviews]

Monte Nido Laurel Hill

Please note that this review was written nearly 2 years ago. Since then, the staff has changed (not a bad thing) and it is much more like it’s sister Monte Nidos. Feel free to email me for more info! [email protected]

Treatment Center: Monte Nido Laurel Hill in Medford, MA

Level of care (IP, Resi, IOP, PHP, etc): Residential

When were you there: July 2013-October 2013

Describe the average day: 

6:30-7:30 vitals, weights (Mon & Thurs), shower, meal prep if on appropriate level

7:30-8:00 breakfast

8:00-9:30 either yoga, walks, circuit training or free time

9:45-10:00 snack

10:30-11:45 process group M, W, Th, Fri walk Sat free time Tues & Sun 

12:15-1:00 lunch

1:15-2:15 groups (Sat multifamily group 1:30-3 & outing on Sun)

2:30-2:45 snack

3-5:30 either free time, individual sessions, session with psychiatrist, contract group (Tues) or outing (Sun)

5:45-6:30 dinner

7-8 group (CVS on Fri and free time on Sat)

8:45-9 snack

9-10:30 free time

10:30-11 room time

11 lights out

What were meals like?

You sit at a long table. New clients or those who are struggling tend to be seated on the end to have greater support and supervision. The conversations weren’t very limited (no one talked about calories) and we were allowed to talk about treatment and food (although not in a negative way). We played word games but mostly just laughed until someone peed their pants (i’m serious). 

Everyone has a place setting made by a client and an envelope for people to leave you notes and inspirational quotes. We even did a little Secret Santa (in the summer) and left little DIY gifts every morning.

What sorts of food were available or served?

Monte Nido does not go off of the typical exchange meal plan. They emphasize eating well rounded meals and the flexibility to go out and have “a bowl of pasta” for dinner and not need to count exchanges. I LOVED THIS!

The meals rotate on a 4-week schedule. You pick all of your lunches and dinners the Sunday before and there is always a vegetarian option. A typical lunch was some type of salad with chicken and bread or a wrap/sandwich. Dinner could be anything from stir-fry to fajitas. After PM snack, you pick your breakfast and snacks for the next day. Breakfast options included cereals, toast/english muffins, granola, yogurt, cottage cheese, oatmeal, etc. Snacks depended on meal plan but was very varied (cottage cheese and fruit, bars, granola, trail mix, ice cream, etc). The food was really good and the chef (Janice) is such a character.

On entry and level 1, you do not go into the kitchen or clear yourself. On level 2, you’re allowed to do those things. Level 3 & 4 allows clients to begin portioning their own meals and snacks.

Did they supplement? How did that system work?

They do supplement but only if absolutely necessary. They kind of expect you to be finishing 100% after your 3-day Grace (if you even get that). You get 5 minutes at the end of the meal to finish your Ensure and, if you refuse, you cannot attend your next exercise. 3 refusals will have you “staffed” and likely a push to a higher level of care.

What privileges are allowed?

Privileges are based on level. You can have your razor & sharps on a check out basis once you reach level 1 (1-2 weeks). Everyone can have gum/candy after meals. All clients attend the lunch & Sunday outings. You request privileges on your weekly contract and the team decides in their meeting if you get what you want. Typical requests were , sharps/straighteners in bedroom, early bedtime, Skype sessions with family, portioning, passes (level 2+), circuit, and independent outings/days once on level 4.

Oh yes, smoking is allowed. They hold onto your cigarettes and lighters. You can take out two at a time, anytime as long as it doesn’t interfere with meals and groups. It was a pain to ask but most staff were really accommodating. 

Does it work on a level system?

Yes. You are automatically on entry level upon admission. You have to complete a binder of paperwork and get it signed off, meet with the doctor to be cleared, present letters to your parents in process group and your Life Map (a creative expression of your life and ED). You are on 2hr observations after meals and 1hr after snack. You cannot go upstairs, go on walks, or yoga. Most people get off entry level within their first week.

Level 1 is similar to entry except you can do yoga, go on 15 min walks (if cleared), and roam around without supervision. Observations typically stay at 2-1.

Level 2 includes passes for small gaps of time with family only (no meals or snacks out yet). You can clear your plate and do dishes. You MAY get 30 min walks and more yoga. Observations are reduced to 1hr after meals, 30 min after snack (but vary by client).

Level 3 is when it gets good. You can ask for upstairs privilages so you can go up to your room during the day. No more observations. You can have sharps in your room. Passes are allowed and you can go out to eat. You can portion more and have “pick at the time” snacks. You’ll likely have two 30min walks, some circuit and level 3 yoga.

Level 4 is very independent. They may grant you entire days to prepare your own meals. You can go on passes alone. You can have your computer & phone. Independent exercise. You can bring your car to program and leave it there. 

What sort of groups do they have?

Process group is exactly what it sounds like. It is typically run by the Clinical Director or a clinician but other staff tend to sit in, which was always great. Food & Feelings (another process group), Nutrition, Body & Soul, CBT, Meditation, and Creative Therapy. It’s rare to see a worksheet. They rely on clients talking their way through their process.

What was your favorite group?

Process group was great if the group was talking. When clients were vulnerable and honest, the groups were incredible. Body & Soul with Ally was a nice start to the week. Oh yea, family & alumnae group on Saturdays was such a great group. I loved everyone’s families and how open everyone was. My parents even befriended other parents and now support each other outside of group setting.

What did you like the most?

Everything. After being at Monte Nido Vista last year, I have to admit that I like this MN better. Although it was still very new, they did a great job following Carolyn Costin’s philosophy and really making it feel like a place to heal. I loved the neighborhood, the clients, their families, the staff. I loved it all!

What did you like the least?

Some of the staff had a hard time finding a balance with boundaries. Not sure if it was because they weren’t accustomed or comfortable to being allowed to hug and reveal their own struggles. I could have used more hugs. Also, they were a little inconsistent with rules (likely because of the newness of the program). I hated the psychiatrist but they replaced him the week before I discharged and now have a fabulous, renown doctor.

Would you recommend this program?

Absolutely. Without a doubt, the best residential in New England. I wouldn’t be actively in recovery and thriving if it wasn’t for MNLH.

What level of activity or exercise was allowed?

Anywhere from 15-30 minute walks 2-3x a week, to multiple rounds of circuit training (I never went so I can’t say much about it). They’re pretty tough about pacing and “playing”. I was never allowed to toss a ball around or even stand when smoking.

What did people do on weekends?

There’s a lot of free time on Saturdays (except during family group) and, if you can’t go on passes, you’re limited to whatever you can do to keep yourself occupied at the house. Most girls had movie marathons, painted nails, slept, or spent time on the computer. Sunday afternoon is for the group outing from 1-4:30. The girls submit a few choices prior to the team meeting and the team decides which the group can or can’t do (they rarely said no). Outings included pottery, the mall, nails, Barnes & Noble, the movies, bowling, and other fun things. Sunday night includes a group after dinner.

Do you get to know your weight?

You do not get to know your weight. You may be told that you have goals (usually 10lbs increments) and the nutritionist will tell you each time you reach a goal (you’ll need to do this to move up levels) but you won’t know your weight. You have blind weights 2x weekly on entry and level 1 (Mon & Thurs) and on Mondays only for level 2+ (although they might weigh you more depending on the client).

How fast is the weight gain process?

Weight gain is gradual. They like to see 1-2 lbs per week and factor in water retention and hyper metabolism. I gained very slowly despite a gain meal plan. They are not looking to get your weight up quickly but rather that you consistently take in food.

What was the average length of stay?

It depends on insurance. Some girls stayed months (private pay) and some days (shitty insurance). I had a PPO and was there for 2.5 months after insurance cut without much notice. The average was 6-10 weeks. 

What was the average age range?

The youngest client was 15 and the oldest was 40. Most girls were in their low/mid twenties.

What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an OP treatment team?

You begin planning for discharge at admission. They arrange appointments with your OP team and help you find treaters if needed. They do not currently offer a PHP yet so most girls stepped down to CEDC or Walden. The sister IOP program is in Andover and is amazing!