Residential program in FL. Also has a one-week intensive program. Any reviews? Please post in comments below. You can check out the FAQ and Guidelines for suggested questions. Thank you!
Residential program in FL. Also has a one-week intensive program. Any reviews? Please post in comments below. You can check out the FAQ and Guidelines for suggested questions. Thank you!
Hi,
Hoping for a recent review of the ED program. I have many questions including
1) washrooms – are they locked washrooms? Are they restricted at all? (Bladder issues)
2) blind weights?
3) requirements for weight restoration? Amount per week? Expectations of BMI upon discharge of inpatient (admin note: amount per week permitted, beyond that no numbers)
4) laptops/tablets/kindles allowed? I read that nothing with wifi is permitted?
5) are you able to provide an example of some of the meals? I saw that all patients have the same choices per meal?
Any other information would be appreciated.
Does anyone have a recent experience about this place for EDs? I’m considering either here, or Alsana Westlake or Monterey (I’ve been to Monterey before), or Center for Discovery Thousand Oaks location.
One difference between The Refuge and a Center for Discovery or Alsana location is that The Refuge is not a primary eating disorder treatment center. Center for Discovery and Alsana are eating disorder treatment centers. The Refuge is a mental health treatment center that accepts people with eating disorders. I have not been to the The Refuge, so I cannot provide a review. This knowledge is from reading reviews provided by other community members and visiting the website for the facility. I have had treatment at Alsana before, though not either of the locations you mentioned.
If you are specifically seeking residential treatment to work on your eating disorder, a program designed to focus on that as the main goal is probably a better fit as a starting point. Once you are doing better, a program that primarily focuses on mental health treatment could be really powerful. For example, some people attend residential treatment for ED and step down or transfer to a mental health focused residential or PHP upon completion of ED treatment (such as ERC followed by Pathlight or another center that offers both like Rogers, River Oaks, Linden Center for Hope, McLean, or going from an ED facility to an MH facility).
It’s important to get into a good place with your ED recovery and have enough support for that. Sometimes people attending programs that are not specifically designed to treat EDs find the support lacking in varying ways like meal support, meal planning, exposures to new or challenging foods. If many of the clients are not dealing with eating disorders, those parts of the program might not be as strong or as much of a focus. It’d be a good idea to find out if the program has an eating disorder informed/specialized dietitian, any protocols to support your recovery, and what specific groups would be offered and how frequently that would be for ED support. Could you be the only person in the program working on ED recovery? Would your therapist have training in eating disorders, and if so, what training?
The refuge does or did have an ed specialized program. It is called the oak house. I loved the program when I went there a couple of years ago and would return if my insurance was accepted there
Can anyone give a recent review of this place? They recommend it for my 25 yr old son for ED but he has alcoholism too.
Just wondering what this place is like for EDs
I just discharged from this program last tuesday!
May 11- June 11. Exactly one month.
Residential.
During my time there, around ten. It was always a full house. The moment someone left, someone else joined.
Male and female.
There were a few non-binary people in my milieu and some of the staff would refuse to use the correct pronouns for them, even after being corrected multiple times.
Once a week for each but my therapist was flighty and would postpone our sessions a lot. Sometimes she’d have to cancel and Id go a week without a session.
On an average day there’s 2-3 techs and a nurse working, but more often than not we’d end up with just a single tech and a single nurse. One time there were no techs were available and we went the day with only the nurse on staff.
Lots of alphabet groups, yoga, inner child, equine therapy/men’s or women’s trauma, cooking group, an outing once a week. The schedule left a lot to be desired and there was far too much free time to just sit around doing word searches or napping.
Describe the average day:
Theres next to no meal support from staff, so you kind of have to take advantage of the support of your peers when a meal is particularly difficult. Snacks are ten minutes and meals were thirty.
Theres a meal planning group every week with a rotating menu you can choose from. You’re allowed one alternative per day (things like pb&js, entree salads, and grilled cheese.) You can also sometimes buy food from the store on your outings to use for your snacks/meals. Snacks were entirely up to you. They offered things like fruit snacks, granola bars, peanut butter/apple slices, cereal, cottage cheese, yogurt, etc etc. I liked the otis spunkmeyer muffins.
Yes. Same way it works at any other place. They got ensure for when you don’t complete. They put it in front of you n tell you to drink it.
Not entirely sure. I didn’t drink the supplements while I was there and wasn’t entirely meal compliant but was never approached about a higher level of care. They actually approved me for php the week before I ended up leaving.
Yes and yes. Vegetarian is much easier for them to accommodate, but my roommate was vegan and it worked out.
iirc level 2 you can walk places without supervision, you get your phone for an additional hour, you don’t need flush checks, and you get an extra cup of coffee. level 3 was just a ton of extravagant extra privileges but very few people actually got to that level.
Yea.
Just be compliant. Eat the food, participate in group, don’t break rules.
Do the smoke breaks count?
What did you like the most?
The other clients were pretty cool. Made a few friends while I was there.
I really didn’t like my treatment team and I never felt like a priority. My therapist was inept and the dietician had no prior experience with eating disorders. I think I just got unlucky though.
Yes. Especially for those with comorbities like addiction or trauma.
I was surprised when I got there by the lack of restriction on exercise. I went kayaking my first week.
Lay around and watch movies.
No.
Depends. Mine was 30 days which was standard, but many people stayed for longer.
I want to say early-mid 20s but people of all ages were there.
I never had any visitors and neither did anyone else while I was there, but there is structured visiting times on the weekends. There’s a landline, too, and 45 minutes allotted each day to make phone calls.
You get your phone for an hour in the evening at level one (so long as you’re compliant with your meal plan) and two hours at level two. Kindles and ipods were allowed and people would sorta just walk around with them and use them at their own leisure.
Theres a friday outing every week. You go out to lunch and someplace fun, like the beach, target, the petting zoo, dollar general, or the movies.
I don’t really know about this one. I left kind of abruptly so there wasn’t much of an opportunity for aftercare planning.
No, not really.
Feel free to ask me any other questions about the program if you want— my snap is doespots. I’ve been to 4 different residentials and I think this one’s pretty special.
What kind of places did they go to for restaurant outings?When I was there they did not do them, which I was kind of disappointed about as I think they are really beneficial for recovery. Also, is there still only one nutritionist? D. ? or are there two now? I DMed you on snap I am just trying to get more info to see if I want to return here or look into another facility. Did the case manager S. leave I found her really helpful and beneficial in the discharge planning process and helping to manage everything with my employers. I also know they were working to incorporate more groups especially trauma focused groups into the schedule, it sounds like they haven’t been able to?
What was special about this program? Also, do you mind letting us know why you left so quickly and Leslie did it help you? Thank you.
Thank you so much for your detailed response. Would you mind if I asked a few more questions if you have the opportunity to answer?
I was wondering…
1)How structured are the weekends?
2) Do you ever mix groups/activities with others on campus not in ED?
3) Did you find their individual and group therapy to be beneficial? I have been to several treatment centers and really appreciate new perspectives and somatic, IFS, spiritual approaches as apposed to the same old CBT, DBT stuff.
4) You mentioned having choices of food/going grocery shopping. Do they allow foods like plain yogurt and whole grains or like many centers, only more flavored and processed versions for the sake of convenience or avoiding “diet” foods?
5)Does it feel individualized?
6) As a person with complex medical issues would you think I would be able to continue with my PT exercises while residing under their care?
Thank you so much!!
Has anyone been here within the past month or two? Have you noticed any changes to the program or can you provide feedback I know they were making changes to the program and trying to improve it and was potentially considering this place as a treatment option again
Thank you!
They made alot of promises that weren’t kept.. They claim to be trauma focused but they really struggle in this area and eating disorder wise they also fail to help clients develop coping skills to assist in recovery. I was promised EMDR and never recieved it,, that is why I came here. They also have one therapist who does ART. They have nutrition groups which are a joke and don’t offer any sort of real world knowledge or practical tools you can use. No DBT groups or CBT Groups. They have art, equine, inner child, yoga 1x wk, mindfulness mixed with cbt amd dbt, meditation group and trauma group which is IFS focused this group and the inner child group was the best..
Describe the average day: wake up 6 am weights, shower until 730am, then free time until breakfast at 830am, groups, 10:30am snack, group, 12:30pm lunch, group, 3:30pm snack, group, 5:30pm dinner, free time phones at 6:30 level 2 and 730pm for level 1- snack and hand in phones 845pm.
Has anyone been to The Refuge for eating disorder or dual diagnosis ED & trauma treatment that could write a review or post a little bit about their experience? Some ideas for questions to answer are here at this link. Any information about their trauma treatment program would also be super helpful to a lot of people in this community, especially with UnitedHealth Group and Optum Health closing the eating disorder & trauma residential treatment programs they own in March (Fairhaven, Cielo House, and Turning Tides).
I may be going here soon I have spent alot of time talking to admissions and staff at The Oak house and staff in general regarding my desire to want to pursue trauma treatment co currently with ED treatment as to me you need to heal the roots to heal the symptoms. They seem to get it there. I know these reviews are old they seem to have revamped the program and there are two separate programs but at the same time their treatment is VERY tailored to what you want. Advocate for yourself. I did. I wanted EMDR therapy and so I told them from the start of the admission process and was promised I would get it if I go. There is still alot up in the air right now, many other programs seem to be cookie cutter or focused on either trauma or ED but this program from my conversations thus far seems really integrated. If I attend I will leave a review
Hi E- did you end up going to Refuge?
Yes… If I were you I may consider looking elsewhere. I will write a more detailed review when I get home and perhaps my view point then may change.
Thank you. I decided to rule it out after looking into it more.
Hmm my therapist just suggested the Refuge, which I was also recommended in the past. I’d love a full review whenever you discharge!
If you are primary ED, look elsewhere first. I went for ED, but I was placed into their trauma track. Due to it being my first time in residential treatment, comfort in using behaviors, and fear I did not ask for their ED track at first- even though my PHP team was advocating for me behind the scenes. I was there for 12 days and never saw a therapist. I did ask for a dietician from one of the group therapist, but since I “slipped through the cracks” I was not given one. I had a meeting with a PHP team at home, their medical staff manager, and clinician manager where they admitted to “failing me”. I came home in a much worse place than I went there in. There are really good facilities out there, but is is NOT ONE.
You were in the trauma track and never saw a therapist???
Yes, I was. I was there in August 2023. Hopefully they have changed things since then. Luckily I called my therapist at home and had sessions with her via phone calls. *TW* I did use behaviors at this facility, and medically get into a worse place* Luckily I was in a place to advocate for myself and notice these changes, and I was upfront and honest with everyone there about what was happening. Since I was placed in their trauma track I was walking about 3 miles a day around their campus in the heat. This facility, at the time, was very client led. Lots of onsite smoking, client relationships with one another, and lack of staff oversite. Their staff members would go and buy nicotine materials for clients weekly. This is all perspective of someone being placed “trauma track” by mistake. They were supposed to be working on getting me into Oakhouse and asked that I give them “just two more weeks” to make things right; however, after a 15 day stay, I needed to take my physical and mentally health as priority. Again, I truly hope that they have worked hard on getting things fixed, but my PHP/ IOP no longer recommends this facility. I landed at Fairhaven and had a GREAT experience, sadly they closed. There are great recovery oriented facilities out there, you just have to look for them and READ REVIEWS!
I would highlyyyyy advise against this place for eating disorders. I was in the trauma track (not the ED track) and the medical staff members (who treat all clients) are not HAES-informed at all. If you are in a larger body, it can be extremely unhelpful. If you come in and are in a larger body, they tend to put many people on Topamax immediately for appetite suppression, regardless of your behaviors. They are very diet culture-focused and push those views on clients regardless of whether they have eating disorders or not.
The clinical staff for trauma was solid, but this place generally is kind of sketchy with some very questionable practices from certain trauma therapists. It’s also a very 12 Step-based center, which I really struggled with. The center has a really strong following, and works for many people, but also caused my eating disorder to get much worse.
If you don’t mind me asking, would you recommend it for trauma or no? I’m looking at it but just really apprehensive all the way around. Would you feel comfortable sharing what the sketchy practices were? Thanks so much either way!
This is really helpful, thank you D! When were you at The Refuge?
Does anyone have any recent experience with The Refuge? I set up an assessment because a fellow peer did their trauma track and said it literally saved her life and she kept raving about it. I was in a mixed treatment center so they treated a bunch of other things besides eating disorders. I’m hoping that I can somehow make it through their ED levels so I can move onto the trauma track-I was told Oak House is where everyone starts-you’re carted around, wheelchair-bound even if you’re medically stable and don’t need it, and bathroom breaks are monitored. You can move to Level 2 once your treatment team clears you and you’re medically stable (I’m hoping you can meet with your treatment team within 48-hours so they can assess if you need to be in a wheelchair or not). Level 2 is pre-plating and bathroom flush checks Level 3 is plating and I guess they have various food options and you can choose according to your meal plan. The woman on the phone (****) told me that the ED track has everything the trauma track has in terms of groups and includes 3 days/week for trauma and you meet with your therapist 2x/week. The therapists come to the Oak Lodge to lead groups and you live in one of their lodges. I didn’t catch how many people are in a lodge but it’s set up so some rooms you have a roommate and then the room in the middle is a single. I’m not sure how they determine if you get the single room or if you have a roommate. Based on the previous person’s experience, I hope that’s true. She also told me they’re in the process of expanding the ED side and there will be another 20 beds added to Oak Lodge (the name of the ED side). You never get a chance to interact with patients outside of the ED ward, which is unfortunate because this peer is going back next month and I won’t be able to interact with her at all. Once you’re cleared for movement, you can go swimming in their pool, go on walks, and do yoga (not sure how this works, I will ask tomorrow morning). You can have your technology (phone, iPad/tablet, laptop) if you’re approved by your therapist. Apparently it’s REALLY easy to get approved-you just say you have work, school, etc.. and you’re allowed to have it (not sure on the duration but definitely everyday). You can bring an e-reader as long as there is no mic or camera, and you can keep the e-reader with you in your room.
I’ll provide more info after I chat with admissions and see what kind of vibe **** gives off.
This is extremely helpful, thank you Sara!
Cross-posted from Anon’s post on The Refuge’s “Ask the Treatment Center” page, to optimize exposure:
Is the facility private pay only? If not, do you take Cigna? I don’t see them on my insurance provider list and this program sounds like it could be great. I can only go where insurance will cover me though.
Cross posted by Admin from the Ask the Treatment Center page:
Don’t go here if your ED is an issue. This program is great for trauma but terrible for EDs. I used to have an ED but am in recovery. I went to the Refuge to work on trauma and it was good for me but when I saw the people in the ED program, they did not do well. They did not have enough meal support. They didn’t have structure, didn’t have enough ED groups, could use behaviors, could exercise, etc. If you need ED help please go somewhere else because you just won’t get the care you need.
Is the facility private pay only? If not, do you take Cigna? I don’t see them on my insurance provider list and this program sounds like it could be great. I can only go where insurance will cover me though.
Don’t go here if your ED is an issue. This program is great for trauma but terrible for EDs. I used to have an ED but am in recovery. I went to the Refuge to work on trauma and it was good for me but when I saw the people in the ED program, they did not do well. They did not have enough meal support. They didn’t have structure, didn’t have enough ED groups, could use behaviors, could exercise, etc. If you need ED help please go somewhere else because you just won’t get the care you need.
Sara, have you been to ED treatment where they provided good meal support? Thanks!
Gill–pretty much every specific ED treatment center provides good meal support. It’s the programs that are primarily for substance abuse/trauma/mental illness that ALSO do EDs that don’t seem to really provide enough care. Any specific ED center should do better. My best experience has been with Monte Nido, but Alsana is good, Roger’s residential is good, Reasons residential, etc will all be helpful 🙂