Avalon Hills is a residential treatment center for female adolescents and adults located in Utah. Any updated reviews? Please post in comments below. You can check out the FAQ and Guidelines for suggested questions. Thank you!
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Avalon Hills is a residential treatment center for female adolescents and adults located in Utah. Any updated reviews? Please post in comments below. You can check out the FAQ and Guidelines for suggested questions. Thank you!
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Hi there,
I left a review about three years ago–I listed pros and cons. You can scroll down to read it.
I wanted to leave an update on my thoughts four years post-Avalon.
I standby a lot of what I said regarding the facts of the program.
However, I want to emphasize that four years later, the trauma of being at Avalon is still lingering with me. If you are on the brink of death and/or need an extremely rigid program in order to recover, it might be worth it for you. The strictness of the program may have helped me slightly in some ways, but it was extremely detrimental in others. If I had a do-over, I would not go again.
Having more distance from my time there, what I would want someone to know is this:
You are not treated like a person who is willingly there, rather, like a prisoner. You are punished for struggling rather than supported. There were a few individuals on staff at the time who did treat me kindly and restore a small sense of dignity to me. However, I mostly felt trapped and voiceless. I was anticipating support at Avalon, but was met with punishments and harshness. You are not trusted at all. Even to the extent of me once admitting that I had “ditched” food and needed to make up a few exchanges, but the staff member accused me of lying. This could have been a big moment for me as I had taken every opportunity to restrict. Instead of supporting my honesty, I was called a liar and not given food or the chance to make up.
Regardless, only in the most dire of circumstances (literally the face of death) would I send someone to Avalon. I truly felt like less of a human when I left. The experience was devastating to my mental health and I continue to face PTSD related dreams about Avalon.
I can also gladly say that despite what I faced at this treatment center, I am solidly in recovery and would even consider myself very close to full recovery.
I went to a different treatment center a year after being at Avalon that showed me that programs do not have to be as rigid as Avalon in order to support recovery.
However, I did the majority of my true recovery outpatient.
All to say, believe the reviews, do your research, recover however you can.
CC
Thank you so much for sharing this CC. I have shared bits and pieces of my experience at Avalon (I left in 2019) but spent a total of 21 months at the facility. It was deeply traumatizing and I validate everything you are saying. I have spent years dealing with the trauma in therapy. I also developed a chronic illness after the mold infestation in 2019 (they didn’t tell any past clients and I left the day before they moved everyone out of the main house) that has affected my life to this day. I am now working toward full recovery as well, despite Avalon, not because of it.
I am so sorry you went through that. I know it took an immense amount of strength to get through all of the months you spent there. Thank you for validating my experience–I also validate yours. It’s difficult, at times, to hear from individuals who had the rare positive experience there. The after effects of being somewhere like Avalon are truly devastating. I am also so glad to hear you are solidly in recovery. I see you fighter!!
Please I was at Avalon, it has left lasting damage. It seems likely I was there during the mold given the time you mentioned. Could you give me more info? I have since developed MCAS. Rachel if this person reaches out it’s ok to give them my direct email.
Hi Sara, I’m happy to talk with you
more. Rachel you can share my email with Sara privately.
That’s horrible! I was also at a treatment center (not Avalon- a different one) that was shut down due to them finding black mold infestation, and I have since developed ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and chronic migraines, all of which started while I was in treatment and I really think it’s due to the mold. What is with these treatment facilities having mold and then not telling people? I was discharged before they found the mold and shut the program down, and no one from the program reached out to me or any other past clients to let them know. I only found out because I was still in touch with a girl who was still there at the time. And I wonder every day where I would be now if I hadn’t developed all these chronic illnesses that i really think are due living in a building with black mold for three months. And my symptoms started while I was still there, and they kept writing them off as psychosomatic and telling me they were simply physical manifestations of my anxiety…
Hello, I was at Avalon when they found mold. It’s years later and I have MCAS and fibromyalgia as well as migraines. Please reach out if possible. This is the first time I’m doing research into where it may have begun for me. Can an admin or someone share my email?
Maybe you’ll get this without it being redacted. Email s_goniea@yahoo.com please I’d love to understand more what happened and if this is the root for me too.
I also was at Avalon and now have MCAS… do we know what year the black mold was present there?
I left the summer of 2019 when the mold was just discovered. I have MCAS, POTS and EDS
Were you in adolescence program or adult? How long is the average residential stay for adolescence?
Adult, I was there a total of 2 years
Oh! One more thing I want to mention.
Please do not go to Avalon if you have PTSD or C-PTSD. I feel that objectively Avalon will worsen your trauma. Their program is not designed for trauma survivors or for trauma recovery. Their therapists (in my experience) were not trauma therapist or equipped to deal with co-morbid disorders.
CC
I had a malignant mass discovered in my throat during my time at Avalon. I was allowed an ultrasound and a biopsy. When those returned suspicious, I was recommended surgery to remove the mass, and Avalon cut me off. They told me they were not able to support that type of care, and I would not be allowed surgery while receiving treatment there.
I questioned the staff about kicking me out for having cancer, and they insisted they were not doing that; I was CHOOSING to leave, against medical advice, for an unnecessary procedure. The prescribing APRN on location told me, “If it’s cancer, it’s not like it’s serious. You’ve got months, or years even.” Upper level staff were so united on this front that I genuinely questioned my own sanity. Did I really need surgery? Maybe I SHOULD leave the mass untreated.
I ultimately chose to pursue surgery. I left Avalon early, against medical advice. The mass was removed, diagnosed cancerous, and discovered to have spread. I underwent two rounds of radiation to remove the stage 3 cancer from my body, and have not heard from Avalon since, except to collect on bills.
Today I’m cancer free, but still struggling with my eating disorder.
On the off chance anyone reading this has the means and know-how to derive a lawsuit from this story, I could really use the funds to get back into ED treatment.
When were you there?
I was there from april 2021-august 2021 (4 months)
What level(s) of care did you do (e.g., inpatient, residential, PHP, IOP)?
I was there at the residential level of care for 4 months but i used my PHP and IOP benefits to continue treatment at the residential level even when my residential benefits ran out.
How many patients are there on average?
in the adult house, when i was there, it was only 8 . i know they were trying to expand to 11. in the adolescent house it was 12
Does it treat both males and females? If so, is treatment separate or combined?
only females unfortunately
If applicable: Do they support the gender identities of transgender and nonbinary people?
kind of? i heard at the adolescent house you could be trans/ nonbinary and you’d have to have your therapist approve your new name if you were coming out while there. (weird, i think) regardless, it is my understanding that you have to be AFAB to go there.
How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, etc?
medical doctor (1x/ week)
psychiatrist (1x/ week)
therapist (2x/ week for individual therapy, 1x/ week for family–you HAVE to do family therapy, there’s no budging on this. i had a friend who was from an abusive household and she still had to do family therapy)
dietician (2x/ week)
neurotechs (everyday)
What is the staff-to-patient ratio?
2-3 (usually 3) staff to 8 patients
What sort of therapies are used (e.g., DBT, CBT, EMDR, etc.)?
experiential (such as equine and art therapies) as well as evidence based (such as ACT, DBT, CBT, EMDR, etc.)
Describe the average day:
very early wake up (i think 6 am) and you have to get your stuff from the sharps closet (such as scrunchies, ipods, etc. ) within 5 minutes of wake up call otherwise you don’t get that stuff for the day.
6-7:45 vitals, showers, etc.
7:30 you get to watch the news if it’s not too triggering at the time
8am- breakfast
8:45-9:30 time to kill (allowed to play cards, nap, etc.)
9:30 programming begins (NO CARDS, GAMES, IPODS, KNITTING ETC. ALLOWED)
9:30-5 Programming ONLY ALLOWED TO DO PROGRAMMING and snacks/ meals; again no naps, knitting, ipods, etc. allowed
5-6 phone calls, cards, knitting allowed (you’re only allowed 1 10 minute phone call a day)
6-6:45 dinner
6:45-10 phone calls, cards, knitting allowed, reading etc.
THIS PROGRAM IS VERY STRUCTURED
What were meals like?
not my favorite of all my places tbh. they sent me a folder with all the meals they make and their recipes. if anyone is interested my email is [redacted]
What sorts of food were available or served?
mainly american and seasonal foods. you can’t be vegan. being a vegetarian is a very difficult process. you have to have been a vegetarian since childhood and hold no disordered beliefs about vegetarianism.
Did they supplement? How did that system work?
they boost based on exchanges. a boost plus = 3 exchanges. a regular boost is 2 exchanges. say you left 5 exchanges behind, you have a boost plus and a regular boost as your supplement.
What is the policy of not complying with meals?
you get supplemented. they do not usually do tubes. however, i have heard it is something that is done very very rarely when someone is on a very high mealplan. basically, tubes are a case by case basis and must be compliant. nobody was ever tubed while i was there.
Are you able to eat vegetarian?
rarely. if this is a priority for you, i would highly recommend emphasizing this in your intake.
What privileges are allowed?
when you reach level 4 (which only happens after at least 4 months, you get unlimited phone calls and computer privileges.) Otherwise, it’s just 1 10 minute phone call a day that’s monitored and computer privileges if your therapist approves (which is rare tbh). otherwise it’s kitchen and bathroom privileges.
level 1: no plating for the first week, oh i just remembered, you can’t do equine therapy on level one, and you have to pee while being monitored (bathroom door more than cracked, but nobody is looking)
level 2: plating, usually corresponds with meet exchange which means you don’t have to follow a certain number of exchanges at each meal, you can split up your exchanges more, equine therapy, and you can use the bathroom with the door cracked
level 3: you can cook! plating, usually corresponds with something they call modified intuitive eating which means that you have to meet your exchanges but you work on an intuitive eating plan, and you can use the bathroom with the door closed. they still check the toilet after tho.
level 4: cooking, full intuitive eating, full bathroom privileges, get to make as many phone calls as you want and can use computer in free time.
Does it work on a level system?
yes. it is based on the stages of change. level 1 is entry level. level 2 is ambivalence toward recovery. level 3 is in recovery but not ready to leave. level 4 is maintenance in recovery. you’re supposed to leave on level (i left at level 3 for the record)
How do you earn privileges?
compliance and doing MENTAL work. it doesn’t matter if you’re eating, if you’re not doing the mental work, you won’t get leveled up.
What sort of groups do they have?
equine, art, dbt, recovery maintenance (AKA relapse prevention), cooking group, cbt, act, neurofeedback group, body image group, medical group
What was your favorite group?
i got to lead medical group once and that was the bomb it was so fun (nursing major here)
Would you recommend this program?
this is complicated. it helped me the most out of all the programs ive been to but they convinced my parents to pay out of pocket for the program when insurance cut me from res and that’s where i have the problem. it’s extremely pricey and most of the people there were very privileged and that was hard (being a middle class person). it was a good program but its hell on earth for the first 1 1/2 months because all you want to do is get out because your privileges are just not there. when you start to establish a proper relationship with your therapist and start to do the mental work, it gets more bearable.
What level of activity or exercise was allowed?
they did it based on bands that you wore. red band was 15 minutes of exercise (you start here, except for the first week when you are on couch rest), yellow band was 30 minutes of exercise, and green band was 45 minutes of exercise
What did people do on weekends?
we got to do outings! which was usually a hike or a car ride! (this was in the midst of covid, ik before covid they did more)
Do you get to know your weight?
they might tell you before you leave if you’re doing well but you gotta really be doing the work. i never learned my weight after being there for 4 months. they scheduled a day for me to do it but i freaked out and decided it would hinder my recovery.
How fast is the weight gain process?
really depends on the person. i wasn’t there for weight gain but i knew people who would have very high meal plans and some who gained more slowly. i think it depended on the urgency of the problem
What was the average length of stay?
most people stayed 4-5 months. by 6 months, USUALLY, you’d reach level 4 but i would say most people left on level 3.
What was the average age range?
usually 20s but some people were in their late teens and some people were in their 50s.
How do visits/phone calls work?
1 10 minute phone call a day. visitation wasn’t an option when i was there because of COVID
What is the electronics policy (e.g., cell phones, iPods, Kindles, laptops, tablets)?
nope.
For inpatient/residential: Are you able to go out on passes?
yes! if you lived in the area or your parents/ family could afford for fly out, you could get passes on level 3-4. usually they did overnight passes, weekend passes, or week long passes.
What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an outpatient treatment team?
they help me set up my outpatient treatment team but i used my PHP and IOP benefits for res and my parents paid the difference so i didnt have the opportunity to step down
Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country?
they help you establish what is in network within your respective state for when you leave
If applicable: How is the program responding to COVID? (Less patients, virtual programming, no visitors, masks, social distancing, etc)
for the first 2 months i was there, we had to wear masks, until things got better, than when the medical team deemed it appropriate and everyone was fully vaccinated, we didnt have to wear masks anymore. no visitors were allowed
please feel free to reach out on here or over email ([redacted]) with any more questions!
hey can you send me the recipes they sent?
I wish I had never gone to Avalon. It must have been my 4th or 5th day there that we went on a day trip to some community gym where we were allowed to walk around the indoor track. I hadn’t been outdoors since I’d been there and I’ve always been like a plant…I need sunlight and fresh air or I wilt. I was extremely depressed, not relating well to the other girls, and simply fed up with the whole prospect. Plus, EVERYONE at the gym was staring at us as we were in jeans/day clothes and being “herded” by the DCs around the track. I somehow managed to hang back and there was an open door. I slipped outside and started trying to find a way out. It was totally impulsive but I wanted so badly to be outside and I felt trapped. I made it to the fence and they caught me.
Back at the house, I was taken straight to the basement where I was put on isolation. They didn’t tell me how long, just that I was not allowed to interact with the other girls, I was not allowed to do groups, the DC was not allowed to talk to me, I had to sleep on one of the filthy couches in the basement area with a DC person watching me all night, and the only thing I was allowed to do was complete therapeutic “homework” assignments. They gave me a packet and some crayons (because I can harm myself with pencils) and I completed the assignments in a matter of hours…I’ve always been a quick study. I wasn’t going to be seeing my therapist until a few days later, though, so they said I could just hang onto them until then. I was on isolation until then.
Night was awful. The lights had to be on and I got maybe one hour of sleep per night on that uncomfortable couch. I had to wait in another area of the basement while the other girls got ready in the evenings and mornings because I wasn’t even allowed to make eye contact with them. I was not allowed to sleep during the day so I was exhausted and cranky. I had run out of assignments to do so basically all I could do was stare at the wall. I tried drawing with the crayons on some paper at some point, but they took the crayons away because according to them, I would probably hurt myself with the crayons. But I think they saw me being creative and entertained and decided I wasn’t allowed to have any kind of creative outlet or fun. They said I could use a single marker, but only to do assignments. But I had finished the assignments? Oh, well…tough luck. Back to staring at the wall. Some of the DCs were nice and actually talked to me, but most of them just sat and glared at me the whole time. I actually started to look forward to meals (I had lost the privilege of being able to pick and had to eat them there in the basement) simply as a way to mark the time and break the monotony. Oh, and because there were no clocks and they had taken my watch and I was in a dark basement, I didn’t ever know what time it was unless I asked and the DC was kind enough to tell me.
By day 3, I wanted so badly to sleep that I tried to but the DC kept nudging me awake. I was fed up. My brain and body clock were so messed up and I felt like I was going insane with boredom. I was so agitated that I got up and started walking upstairs…still not sure what I hoped to accomplish. They restrained me, but I managed to free myself using self-defense moves, dart upstairs, and outside. I kept running but the house is so isolated, there is no place to hide. They caught up to me with their van and I really didn’t have a plan of what to do. I was exhausted, I felt threatened, traumatized, homesick, and mistreated. They got me back to the house and I was crying uncontrollably, completely unable to talk. They decided to keep me restrained 24-7. I don’t like to be touched (trauma history) but here I was with 2 staff members holding me down to the couch. Apparently this was my treatment now? My therapist eventually got there and told them to get off me, but it was too late. My fight mode had kicked in and I was out of control, screaming at the top of my lungs and tantruming like a 2-year old. I was lashing out so much that they decided they weren’t equipped to deal with me and shipped me off to the mental hospital in Logan. I was relieved to go. I would rather be in that mental hospital than back at Avalon. At the mental hospital, I was still unable to talk for a whole day. The nurses there were patient and kind with me, though. They were actually trained to handle humans with needs and after a day of my needs finally being met, I felt like I could breathe again and talk again. I honestly benefited more from that hospital stay than Avalon.
What Avalon did to me was inhumane. The kind of isolation they subjected me to (calling it treatment) was more along the lines of torture. I’m not sure what outcome they expected and I feel for any other girl who has had to go through that. The staff are NOT trained to handle trauma cases or people with other unique mental health needs and end up doing more harm than good. I was just lucky enough to get kicked out before they could do any more harm
my god, Esther, i relate to you so hard. I acted out impulsively and was put on 1:1 for days. I was depressed and the last thing i needed was to be isolated from the group. i ended up staying for 4 months and i think my ED got better because I wasn’t using behaviors but my depression was left untreated.
Esther- I’m so sorry you endured the horror that Avalon is. I was never on caution or isolated but there were many times I was close to also acting impulsively just to escape the hell that that place was. The only reason I never tried to bolt was knowing the consequences and that’s NOT how you help someone- with punishment and by instilling so much fear. Maybe some clients leave without ED behaviors and doing well in that respect, but the way they get people there is through intimidation, discipline, fear, and manipulation. And if you try to advocate for yourself they respond as if YOU’re the crazy one!
I don’t know how this place is still operating. It legitimately makes me sick. I had just been thinking that maybe I was unlucky and went at a bad transitional time but then I read your post. How does someone go about taking action and doing something about the trauma this place inflicts on clients? Years later now and I still suffer from nightmares. It’s horrible. I 100% understand that feeling of relief you experienced getting to that hospital. I managed to transfer to a different treatment center after being stalled by Avalon staff for months and it felt like the happiest day of my life.
I’m so sorry you went through that. It wasn’t okay! I wish you all the best.
I feel for you and I completely understand the trauma and everything that place did and didn’t do!
Hello,
It has been 15 years since I was at the adolescent unit at Avalon. I still have PTSD from my experience there.
I was there from May – December, and it was so traumatizing. Highlights include:
1. Not being allowed to talk to my family when desired. I had never been away from home and I was a lonely outcast there. For the first 2 months, I was only allowed a phone call once a week or so.
2. I had a mental breakdown and tried to run away – sadly, I barely made it out the front door before I was caught. This resulted in me being locked in “the dungeon” for about a week. I had to sleep on the couch with someone watching me, wearing gloves and a mouth guard so I wouldn’t self harm.
3. I had an intense discomfort with my stomach being touched, and I suspect it was from trauma. I was held down against my will so the male NP could examine my stomach when there was nothing wrong with me that would require this examination. To this day, encountering someone who looks like the NP gives me PTSD.
4. I was threatened with being catheterized because I did not want to give a urine sample for reasons unbeknownst to me.
5. I have control issues. I own it. However, being told that I could be in treatment for however long it takes was absolutely terrifying. There were girls who had been there a year. I had no idea how long I would be stuck in this hell hole.
6. Being watched while I shower, go to the bathroom, etc is just not cool. I was not bulimic (although post Avalon I did engage in learned behavior from my time there..) so I still don’t understand why I had to be watched in the bathroom.
So, I did what any reasonable person would do. I faked it. I pretended to buy in to recovery so I could get out of there. Eventually it worked, and I was released. From my time there I picked up some concerning habits I never had before including drug use, purging, and pretty serious self harm methods. I went home and went back to my old ways.
Anonymous above said it well – this program could be a good fit for people who have been to multiple treatment centers or wilderness programs. I had never been in impatient before and this whole experience was deeply traumatizing.
If anyone wants to discuss, please email me @ joniwalters69@yahoo.com or add me on Facebook – Michelle Imam Bakhsh.
I wanted to give an updated review of Avalon Hills— I was at the adult house from Oct. 2019-March 2020.
Avalon is definitely a unique program. Here are some of the pros and cons from my and my peers experience:
PROS—
-Avalon is great about fighting insurance companies to cover as much treatment as possible. I find this really amazing, and was honestly very helpful for me. 4-6 weeks would not have been enough.
-The neuro program is very interesting and I found it to be helpful. I haven’t found any other treatment centers who do something similar. You basically do “brain training” five days a week with you neurotech were you learn how to regulate and focus your mind to calm brain waves that are heightened and stimulate ones that are under functioning.
-There are certain staff members who are great.
-The food is really great… And you don’t ever have to cook haha. I find that to be a big downer about other programs as I hate cooking (not in a disordered way—i actually cooked tons in the ed). You can do cooking exposures if needed!
-The nursing staff is overall great. They are very attentive and thorough.
-I made some great friends there.
–
CONS
-The direct care workers that basically who hang out with you all day (also called DCs at Avalon) are not mental health professionals or in the field at all. Most are 18-25–yep, 18. While I loved many of them as people, in moments of crisis at the table or otherwise, they were NOT well trained in what to do. A lot of the time professional staff is not there, though a nurse is on site 24 hours and a therapist is always on call. However, I requested a few times to talk to the on call therapist but was declined. I found this extremely extremely upsetting as I felt extremely unsafe and unsupported in moments of struggling. I had extremely high anxiety while I was there that was very much exacerbated by the lack of support.
-Access to “the outside world” is absurdly limited. You get one fifteen minute phone call a day, however during the phone call a staff member is sitting with you taking notes on what you are saying to report to your therapist.
-You really have no privileges until reaching the final “level,” level 4. Hardly anyone reaches this level and if they do, generally they graduate 1-2 weeks later.
-You can expect to stay here for a minimum of 6 months unless you leave AMA/ACA. Most individuals I know who graduated stayed 8-12+ months.
-Probably the biggest downside of this program is the required 60 day stay. You literally cannot leave unless you pay something like $100,000 out of pocket. You sign a contract and everything. Because of this I often felt stuck which greatly exacerbated anxiety for me. Granted, if the 60 days minimum hadn’t of been there I would’ve left soon after getting there and not made the progress that I did while being there.
If you have any questions, let me know!
Hello C,
Hope this finds you well. I guess the main question is: Would you recommend this program? Was it helpful? How was the transition to OP? How many adult patients there?
If you are needing an extremely structured program then I would say yes it definitely will be helpful. It is a very intense treatment and they are relentless about interrupting behaviors, so do be aware of that 🙂 It was helpful for me in some ways and like any program unhelpful in others. I definitely have improved with food though.
There are a max of 12 clients at a time.
The goal of Avalon is to have their clients go straight to outpatient instead of doing a step down, but I was unable to go straight to outpatient. Also know that the average stay there is 6-8 months. You don’t have to stay that long but it is HIGHLY unlikely that you would be able to complete the program before 6 months (even if they tell you it’s possible initially). All the best in your recovery!
I will be looking into being admitted to Avalon Hills. After reading the reviews I’m apprehensive. Honestly I know an ED is a mental illness and realize these professionals probably get frustrated with some of the rigid ness they have to deal with. It’s easier to recover when you are a willing participant.
I just want to make sure that this is place where one can grow and get the help they need. I was told 6-9 weeks but after reading I’m nervous the typical length of stay is 6 months or longer. I have a family and career that will be awaiting my return.
I would highly advise against avalon hills- please look elsewhere. I have trauma from being there 10+ years later.
AGREED!!!! Please read more of the comments below and find somewhere else. Because we all have our things that work and don’t work for us, I never give my opinion on whether or not I’d suggest someone try or or not try a place, except for this!!! I don’t know why more people don’t talk about the horrific experiences they’ve endured at Avalon Hills because I KNOW that they exist. Somehow this place continues to fly under the radar and get away with their corrupt and manipulating practices. Even their success rate is a lie. They do NOT include all clients in their numbers. Anyone who has been cut by insurance, transferred elsewhere, or left to just get the hell out of there is not included in their outcome results. Their “success rate” is based on the very specific clients who stayed the entire duration of the team’s recommendation (often 9+ months) and earned a graduation. Often the ones that make it this far had really good insurance or paid out of pocket and were there long enough to be manipulated/brainwashed into believing in this place. If that’s wasn’t you, you weren’t good enough to them. You could’ve stayed for 6 months, worked your ass off, and HAD to leave for personal reasons and you would still be excluded from their outcome analysis. It’s fraud. Myself and multiple others have been deeply traumatized by this place. BE CAREFUL!!!
I just barely got back from AH! I stayed there less than 6 months and it made a HUGE difference. I was in adult, and it is different there than adolescent. You can chose to leave at anytime after the 60 day contract, and even before if it is too much, you just have to pay for the rest of the 60 days. I was wary of the 60 day thing at first, but it is helpful for recovery.
The food is great, and the staff that are there now are too. It makes me sad that people will avoid treatment because of reviews. Some of the other girls there (including me) almost didn’t go because of the reviews, but it is a really good program.
I might put in a more informational review somewhere after this, but just to contrast the horror stories, Avalon is worth it.
It of course depends on how fully you are willing to work with the program, and there are variables such as how well you work with your therapist and things like that. But if you are willing (and that can come with time; it’s going to suck until then, I’m sorry), then, in my experience, it can do a lot of good.
Every program and treatment center has its cons. This one is very rigid in hopes to be prepared for all sorts of issues, a lot of which will not apply to everyone and therefore might make things feel oppressive and pointless at times. But every rule they have in place has a good reason for being there, and in my experience, most of the staff (pro and DCs) genuinely care and want to see us doing better.
Avalon has helped me a lot. I just had to be willing to accept the bad and good together and try to get as much as I could out of it.
After my horrific time spent stuck at Avalon Hills (and I say stuck because unless your insurance cuts out, that’s basically what you are), my focus in therapy has had to switch from my eating disorder and other critical long time work on PTSD, to trauma work on my experience there. I’ve been in a lot of treatment and have had some great experiences, and some not so great, but I am always one to encourage people to try something out and form their own opinion, as I know that not every place and approach works for everyone. But PLEASE, do NOT go to Avalon Hills. And if for some reason you do choose to go, bear in mind that it is common practice for them to encourage people to pay out-of-pocket, whether you have no insurance coverage, or your insurance cuts. They will encourage you to take out loans, second mortgages, etc in order to stay, essentially promising recovery while preaching their success rate. But in my view they’re praying on the vulnerable who are desperate to get themselves or a loved one help and to find hope. It all sounds good until you’re the one left footing the bill and dealing with the attorneys helping you to fight for reimbursement for the next 2-3 years. Luckily I wasn’t in that position, but I heard it from at least 4 different people between those I was there with and someone I knew had been there twice previously (and was convinced to pay both times, never seeing any of that money again). Even upon returning home, a therapist told me that she almost had a client go there but didn’t because they wanted her to pay out-of-pocket. I myself was encouraged to do whatever it took financially. And then when I was requesting to leave, they stalled me, and let’s just say made it very difficult. So if nothing else, please be cautious of that. We all know what a toll fighting this illness takes on us financially as well as mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. If you would like more detailed information, I’m open to sharing more about it. There’s much more to say. And if I can save someone from living what I did, and do now, then something good would have come out of my experience.
I’m so sorry you had such a bad experience! Can you please share a more detailed review of what to expect on a normal day? I was there a while ago and had been considering going back and would really appreciate anything additional you could share.
Sure thing B. I don’t remember the schedule exactly as far as what “groups” are *supposed* to happen, but I can give you a general idea. I think wake up time during the week was 6, and 7:30 (?) on the weekends. Get up, grab whatever clothes and towels you need from your room for morning prep because there are 2 bathrooms that everyone shares. No bedroom has it’s own bathroom, and NONE of your toiletries, personal care items, jewelry, etc are kept in your room. Just clothes, shoes, pictures, blankets (can’t have them out during the week, just weekends), maybe a book, glasses if you need them, and some other essential non-sharp items. Even hair ties have to be checked in and out of sharps during morning and night prep, except for ONE that you’re allowed to keep. Hair ties, bobby pins, any sort of clips, all jewelry items, anything that can contain or hold something… plan on your things being locked up. Staff will stand in or outside of your room until you and your roommate(s) are out and then the door will be locked. Everyone gathers in the basement living are. All but one bedroom, the nurses office, a bathroom, and a large storage space called the “Bomb” are down there. Each person will take their turn using the bathroom for their shower, which you have 10 minutes for. If you’re level 1, staff stands IN the bathroom with you in their peripheral vision whether you’re using the toilet or the shower, every single time, and they still check the toilet before you flush. Level 2, staff stand outside the bathroom with the door cracked and check the toilet before you flush. No matter what level you’re on (except 4) you have 10 minutes for the shower. Level 3 for shower or toilet use you can close the door while staff stands outside and they’ll check before you flush. During morning prep each person also takes their turn doing their morning nursing assessment, which is very thorough. Otherwise, in the basement living space, which they for some misleading reason refer to as a “group room”, there are cabinets where some of your personal items are locked up, one sink, and 2 mirrors. Your other belongings you gather from the “Bomb” which is unlocked and monitored by staff for about 10 minutes before it closes until the end of prep time. You all have to share that same space to get ready except for getting dressed. Brush your teeth, your hair, put on makeup, shave (unless you want to use your shower time being watched doing it)… you don’t have any private space. Some people who don’t do anything to get ready in the morning will just fall back asleep on one of the 2 couches. The staff will then take people room by room to get changed. They’ll open your door, you can get dressed while they stand outside the door with it cracked, then they lock it and that’s the last time you’re able to get in there. During the week breakfast is 7:30 so everyone shuffles up together. You canNOT be out of staff sight so everyone travels as a group. If you do leave staff’s sight, or walk away, they will level drop you. If you’re on one floor with staff and there is another staff on the other floor (there are 3 floors) you can “call yourself up” so they can know exactly where you are and what you’re doing.
Upstairs you spend the day in what actually is the group room. It’s the day room/milieu and group room all in one. So you basically don’t leave that couch or wherever you’re sitting except to go to the kitchen, nurses’ office, or a clinician’s office for a session. The day is the typical treatment meal-snack-meal-snack etc. There are VERY few groups in between. There aren’t even that many on the schedule, and even those don’t always happen or they’re late, or it’s time spent shooting the shit and not actually doing the group, except process group. That happens. That’s always been a group I’ve valued the most in treatment and I dreaded it so painfully much at Avalon. But when I was there the bullying was vicious and incessant and nobody ever did anything to redirect it. It continued on and on and on day after day.
Almost every day you go off-site for a group, which would be your physical activity group and for outings on the weekend. Bear in mind that not everyone will go on the outings. You have to earn it. And if you don’t complete even ONE exchange and don’t supplement for it, you will be on couch rest and not allowed to leave the house for anything (they’ll even cancel an off-site doctor’s appointment) for the entire next day or do much of anything at all. If they are short staffed (which was happening daily because everyone quits there) and can’t stay in ratio split between on and off-site, one person being on couch rest will hold everyone back. This is one of their approaches is peer-pressure. Not one of us wants to be the one making everyone else lose out on something so chances are it’s going to bully us into doing what they expect us to do. Also RE: going off-site. If you’re level 2 and above you can sit in the front passenger seat, but level 1s (and anyone else who doesn’t call shot gun) have to be in the back and they DO keep the child locks on. So when you’re in the car, you canNOT get out unless someone opens the door for you.
During free time in the evenings, sometimes the afternoons depending on the day and goings on, and in the mornings on weekends there is time for phone calls. Each person has 10 minutes per day, and because you have to be with staff at all times and because they are supposed to monitor your calls, they will sit there. Some of them try to respect your privacy and do things on their phones, others will chart things that you say on your call. They will hand out mail and emails (sent to a general client e-mail address) daily during the week, but only after it has been read and deemed “appropriate” to give to you. If you’re sent any sort of package or gift, everything will be unpacked from the box and given to you later.
Eat, assignments, “groups”, and your 2 individual, 1 family, and 1 nutrition session for the week. If you do not complete all or a portion of a meal or snack, no matter how much or how little, you will be brought a supplement of course, and you will sit there with it either until you finish it or it’s the next time to eat and everyone filters into the kitchen again. Technically, the staff member sitting with you isn’t supposed to talk to you at all, just sit and monitor, but some of them will talk because they understand how awful it must be. If there isn’t another client supplementing too, you can’t talk either. You’re expected to sit in silence and can’t have anything else at the table. Generally they will take you to the restroom if you ask, but there were times staff answered people with “once you’re done supplementing.” If you’re scheduled for a session during that time after said meal or snack, you forfeit your session, even if it’s a scheduled family session over the phone. Same if it’s your personal time to use the phone. You will miss it and can only hope that there’s a chance someone can help you get one in later. If there is something scheduled offsite, everyone else will go while you stay at the table, or they will be held back because there isn’t enough staff. When one staff is sitting with you at the table, it’s one less staff monitoring the group which means a lot of things can’t happen like phone calls which would require another person to take clients and monitor those. Or if someone who’s level 1 needs the bathroom, there has to be one staff to stay in the group room with everyone while another staff takes the other person to the bathroom since they have to stand in there and wouldn’t be able to have eyes on the bathroom and group room at the same time. Because of this set up clients can get VERY resentful of each other and it can get ugly.
Meals are planned ahead of time by the kitchen and are on a 4 week rotation which changes for each season. Snacks are up to you to choose based on the number of exchanges you have. You’ll choose it out of the pantry or fridge, plate it, and sit down with it and wait until everyone is ready to eat. However. Your first week, a staff member will pick your snack for you. If you want fruit, too bad, you might get a serving a chips. Or if you’re lucky a pack of fruit snacks. If you want yogurt, you might get a serving of chocolate covered raisins. Your first week, you go into the kitchen and sit down and they’ll grab something, usually whatever is easiest. It doesn’t matter what you want or what scares you the most, which seems kind of backwards to me for your first week when you’re trying to acclimate and just eat your food! Before eating everyone has to have their watches off and face down on the table. You don’t get to know what time it is and they won’t give you any time warnings. Some staff will kindly give you a little “hurry up” look if you’re almost out of time for the snack (15 minutes) or meal (30 minutes). But if you have a couple bites left and time is up, you’ll get supplemented. Once everyone is done eating and drinking their fluids and have “checked off” their plates and cups with staff, they can be dismissed from the table even if it hasn’t been the whole 15 or 30 minutes. What this leads to is the people who finish quickly or sooner sitting and waiting eagerly for others who might be struggling more and taking longer or needing the whole time to finish. It creates and pressuring and stressful dynamic in an already stressful situation. As for fluids, if you haven’t finished whatever fluids you got for yourself at the start, which they record, you’ll get “supplemented” for that amount with Gatorade. All fluids throughout the day are recorded. Some people have a range that they have to land in by night snack, and some people have an exact number of ounces that they have to get to by then. If you don’t meet that number or the bottom of your range, you’re on couch rest. If you go over your range, you have to drink it in Gatorade.
Right after night snack, if everyone has gathered their things and is ready, the group can migrate back downstairs. But you can’t do anything using water to start getting ready for bed until some time has passed (30 minutes I think?) Some people might finish their phone calls on the phone downstairs if they don’t mind the room hearing the conversation. It’s not too different from upstairs though when one person can get the “greeting room” while the other makes their call at the desk right next to there and down the hall from the group room where everyone can hear you. If you haven’t found a time to change already, someone will take you to your room to get changed into your muumuu, which is also what you wear during your morning nursing assessment. Once again, one by one, everyone visits with the nurse and gets their meds. Some people will get vitals again (1-3 x/day depending). Aside from levels 1-4, you have different levels that correlate to your physical activity and/or medical status: red (very limited activity and movement), yellow (moderate), green (able to do all). You could be doing everything right and look great medically, but if you’re weight is “too low” you’ll stay on red. It could be vitals, it could be physical or mental/emotional safety… You could be on green but then end up on couch rest and be red for the next couple days. You could be at your ideal weight and not using any ED behaviors but then struggle with self-harm and be on red. It’s up to them. Anyhow, people who are on red will get body checks every single night NO MATTER what your history is, whether you’ve never thought about SH or SI a day in your life or struggle with it regularly. Yellows get several surprise body checks a week. Greens, none. After 30 minutes after snack, they’ll unlock the cabinets and everyone gets to share the 1 sink in the open living area to do whatever they need to do. The “bomb” doesn’t get opened at this time though so whatever you need at night needs to be in those cabinets. It’s a real pain. All sharps get checked in, even your pair of stud earrings if you wear them. Rings. Watches…. Things that actually are “sharp” like tweezers, or pose a strangling risk like belts, and things that aren’t in the least. You can’t have eye masks because of the strap. You can’t even have Q-tips but can ask the nurse for one and then let a monitoring staff know you have one and show them when you throw it away. When you get floss they have to watch you take it, and then see you throw it away. They’ll count how many hair ties or head bands you took out in the morning and how many you’re turning back in. Despite all of this, they weren’t even doing luggage searches for new admits, just unpacking and counting everything, but then did luggage searches on people coming back from pass who still managed to sneak dangerous things in (it could take staff days after someone returned from a pass for staff to do a luggage search and for the client to be able to unpack those belongings).
As far as the rest of the night goes, once all your personal hygiene is done and your roommate(s) is also ready, your room will be unlocked so you can go to bed. Levels 1 are typically in the same room and the door (opens to the living space where there is light) remains open while a night staff sits in the doorway (or just outside of it depending on the person) and watches you so that there are eyes on you all night. And it’s across the board, regardless of how you’re doing and what you’re struggling with. It’s all level 1. Level 2s can be in their room if they are together, with the door cracked, and staff doing 15 minute checks. Level 3s can be in their room with the door closed. It’s run very stringently, but there are A LOT of inconsistencies and rules popping up here and there. There won’t be any issues wearing tank tops, for example, but then all of a sudden one morning you’re not allowed to anymore if you’re “red”. Body shaming, in my opinion, isn’t a way to stoke someone’s motivation to weight restore, nor is prohibiting them from getting in a swimsuit. Some people will be allowed one thing, and then not others later because “it’s a rule”. Generally, using whatever tactics might work to keep people in line is not going go healthfully or positively motivate change for people.
… So without getting into more details and the inner workings of things, that’s the general structure. Hope it helps!
Wow….just WOW. That is really a horrible and degrading place. That place would most definitely make me worse. Thank you for such detail. I wish everyone would leave such detailed reviews.
I can 100% agree with this. I was there in 2016 as an adolescent and it was even worse. I have been to many treatment centers and Avalon was by far the worst. The therapists were awful and they had one dietitian for the whole building, who also had no idea what she was doing. Shame and fear were their number one tactics for getting you to comply with anything and that is no way to run a place where you are supposed to be healing. Staff would yell at you (literally yell) for not completing your supplement and the food was just disgusting. The medical director was a nurse practitioner who made me and several others very uncomfortable and used his religion to try to get me to comply. (Ex: “How do you think Jesus would feel if he saw you sitting at the table not eating? It’s not very Christian like and you should rethink your actions.”) The other patients had been there for 7-8 months already and one of them was leaving after 13 months. That’s not at all normal for any treatment center for eating disorders. They advertise lots of outside time as part of their program and I think I went outside maybe 3-4 times in the month and a half I was there, and it was only to feed the horses and rabbits. They let me get much sicker there than I had even come in as and the only way I finally got out was that they sent me to a hospital because I was pretty medically compromised at that point, and then to another treatment center in Utah. The whole ride to the hospital, by the way, I was lectured on how great their program was and how I should’ve tried much harder so I could stay. I don’t know if AH would’ve worked better for someone who was more willing to get better, because I really wasn’t at that point, but I have never met someone who had a good experience there. Not to be dramatic, but I was vaguely traumatized by my experience there and I would not wish this place on my biggest enemy.
They preach their “success rate” as if their lives depend on it, which I guess they kind of do or else they’d be out of business. Just like they convince, persuade, and condition clients to comply and do and believe things their way, they have a talent when it comes to convincing practitioners, families, and potential clients of their positive effectiveness and success. They’ll also convince families that what staff says is what is to be believed. Not the client, because after all, the client is the “sick”one. Just reminded me when you said you were lectured the whole way to the hospital… Avalon Hills has somehow conditioned people, those on the outside and within, that they are the best, and that’s exactly how they act too: as if they’re better than, including better than you.
Willing to get better or not, allowing someone to get sicker is unacceptable. That’s neglect. I don’t know if I’d say I got worse (except emotionally), but I didn’t get better and the more time that passed the more impossible that became. I got to the point I started to break- wasn’t heard, was minimized, invalidated, shamed, bullied, etc- and didn’t know how else to get through other than turn to what I knew for some comfort, safety, and something known. Other people just put their heads down and did what they had to to get out, but I couldn’t so I felt completely trapped. People have been there for up to 2 years. What it made me think of was an adult group home but where you’re constantly monitored, stripped of a lot of possessions and freedoms even basic to every other treatment center, and have no autonomy because you can’t be trusted, you’re crazy, and criminal. A cross between a group home and a psych hospital. And they CAN physically restrain people, and they WILL. They will also separate and isolate you to be one to one with a staff member, staying in the basement level of the house, wearing scrubs, and MAYBE allow you to have a blanket and/or a book if you’re on “precautions” for engaging in or struggling with urges for self-harm or SI, or for attempting to run away. And in that situation you’re not allowed to talk to any fellow clients or staff (if the group comes downstairs at some point during free time for the tv you’re taken to a different room), you’re not even supposed to talk to the person you’re one to one with but if you get someone understanding they’re more lenient with that. No mail, no phone calls, no going to the kitchen or table to eat and having your food brought to you downstairs… nothing.
The isolation piece was one of the worst parts. I was stuck in a tiny hallway in the back of the basement one-on-one with a staff for 24 hours many times while I was there and it was horrific. Literally the stuff of nightmares. I slept on a dirty couch after they restrained me and physically put latex gloves on my hands “to keep me from self-harming” even though I had been completely calm and not aggressive in the least all day. I was not a danger to anyone else and not once was I physical towards anyone else. I did not throw huge fits or scream or do anything radical the entire time I was there and yet I was restrained and treated like an inmate at a prison many times. It was inhumane. I was taken to the bathroom with a staff standing a foot away from me, yelled at for having a low heart rate, for not participating, for crying. We were all treated like dirt. A girl tried to drink nail polish remover in the closet one night and all they did was watch her and say “it’s not fatal, she’ll be okay.” and not even take her to the ER, which sounds like the logical move to me. They read your mail and edited it for things they deemed to be inappropriate. You were allowed one 10 minute phone call per week, and if you were placed on any sort of precautions, you lost your phone call for that week. The fluid requirements were insane and no one drinks that much water. I agree with you in the part about others putting their head down and you being unable to. That’s not who I am and seeing people being treated the way they were and also receiving that kind of treatment made me more resistant. I would sob to my parents on the phone for the ten measly minutes I had and the staff would tell me to be quiet, because God knows they have to convince everyone that their program is the greatest. I don’t know if you were at the adolescent or adult facility or when you were there, but I’d be curious to hear from someone who was there recently, as my experience was in 2016. It was a terrifying place, absolutely horrifying. To anyone who has never been to AH, this all probably sounds pretty dramatic, but man, even writing about it has got me worked up again. How they haven’t had enough lawsuits to take them out of business is a mystery to me.
Writing or talking about it gets me fired up every time too, especially when I’m doing the work around my experience there in therapy, since that’s needed to take up too much time and space and far more than that place or those people deserve. Even to people who have been to AH it might sound dramatic, because there are those who become 100% convinced by the program and defend it whole-heartedly, especially those who’ve spent the previous years going from program to program without the stability of being home, and/or don’t have support or structure outside of there. Some people cling to AH and become a “follower”. Absolutely agree on the law suits as well. I don’t know how they are still operating. But thing is, as a client, you don’t really have proof of wrong-doing, only your experience, which should be enough but isn’t. They have the records, notes, documentation, clinician support… and they know it. I’m sure that’s one reason they feel so secure with themselves and using/abusing their power. People may overlook what happened or be able to just forget about it because the impact the experience had on them wasn’t as great, but I also know for a fact, and for a myriad of reasons, that there are those who are afraid to speak up or feel like it wouldn’t matter, including former staff. As for me, I was in the adult house, where I regularly felt like I was treated like a child, spoken down to, dismissed, judged, doubted, etc. Made my childhood with emotionally abusive parents seem not so bad given that I wasn’t an adult or with strangers in this sort of vulnerable situation at that time. And it was much more recently than 2016 so it’s safe to say that nothing has changed. Is there a way to contact you?
I’m really sorry to hear you went through that too, GP. And it saddens me that that doesn’t surprise me. I understand that fear of sounding dramatic because I struggle with that too. Unless someone has been through it there or something similar elsewhere, they can’t know how bad it was and it’s easy to invalidate our experiences and chalk it up to the typical and inherent challenges of eating disorders and treatment, when that’s something entirely different. I was traumatized as well and continue to battle the damaging effects it had on me. Based on the repeated responses and dismissals I got to my feedback, I wouldn’t expect them to make any changes, so I hope that people can make a decision based on ALL the information rather than under the influence of AH. I hope you were able to get the support and help that you needed and deserved, because it wasn’t that.
Could not ask for a better treatment center. There’ is never a convenient time to put your life on hold for recovery, but I promise the time you spend in Avalon will be so worth it. It is because of Avalon that I live a life of full recovery. I couldn’t ask for a more talented, caring staff. If you or someone you know is seeking help, Avalon Hills should 100% be the treatment center you choose !
Do not buy into this I repeat this place falls under troubled teen industry as there are many abusive practices
What is their policy for not complying with meal and/or supplement? Do they discharge to a HLOC? If so do they expect you to come back afterwards?
When I was there 6 years ago they never discharged to a higher level of care for noncompliance. I was there for almost 2 years so it was quite awhile.
They have a behavioral modification model where if you are not completing you will face consequences. A lot of people start eating out of fear or exhaustion. You will have to sit at the table all day in silence with supplements if you continue to not complete. If this escalates they will send you to the basement on 1 to 1 which is just isolation.
They will also use peer pressure, taking away outings, outside time etc.
If you don’t complete and your blood sugar is dropping, vitals are bad etc. they will send you to the local hospital but a staff member stays with you at all times there as well. They would only leave you if you were admitted to psych. When I was medically admitted for something else they had a staff with me the whole time. Basically to keep you from doing behaviors.
I had nightmares about this place for three years after I left. Please don’t go, or don’t send your child here.
Is there an adult unit here?
Hi Anon,
Yes there is, but please consider going to another treatment center if possible.
This is by far the worst, most traumatizing treatment center I’ve been to.
The majority of your rights will be taken away even as an adult. NOT WORTH IT!
I do unfortunately have to agree. While my ED is in remission (3yr) and I did have some positive experiences, I’m still in therapy to this day to deal with the methodologies they employ, and am acquainted with past direct staff care who would tell you the same. There is also a 90 day minimum that is not disclosed prior to you literally arriving to treatment. I’ve heard great things about ERC, but regardless would urge you to research some other places!
Does anyone have any more information on the black mold that was in the adult unit? What was the exact timeline? What was done to deal with it? I was there October 2019 to April 2020. I do beleive I came after the mold was dealt with. However, I’ve had some pretty serious health problems since and want to make sure it’s not related. This is also important for others to know as it sounds like Avalon was not transparent. Thank you.
I was there during the mold situation for a very long time. However I discharged literally the day before they got it tested and moved everyone out. I was never contacted other than by another client a couple of months later to inform me and got sick 5 months later and have been chronically ill since. I got tested at that time and had high levels of mold toxicity in my blood. Knowing Avalon they did a half ass job getting rid of it. I would not be at all surpised if they still had the mold.
i am 15 and probably going to avalon soon. there are a lot of negative reviews on here and i’m kinda freaked out, because ive been to some awful programs before and don’t need any more trauma. does anyone who’s been there (the adolescent program) recently have an review or a reccomendation for a better program? thank you so much :))
I have been there….. it was the best thing that has ever happened to me. please feel free to ask me any questions!!!!!
I would love to have a firsthand conversation with you and your experience at Avalon Hills. If you are willing, please email me
yes, my email is [redacted]
Have you tried Clementine yet? The program recommended most on here by other adolescents is Clementine by far! If your parent/s (or guardians) are hesitant about exploring a different program, I’d recommend having them check out Clementine’s review page here: https://edtreatmentreview.com/clementine-monte-nido-affiliate-for-adolescents/ They can reply to reviews/posts there with follow up questions that community members who have been will answer.
Many of Center for Discovery’s California locations also get good reviews from adolescents, and Laureate does as well. But if you haven’t tried Clementine yet, and it is feasible for you, they have a few locations now and absolutely worth a shot!
I second Clementine!! I’ve been to both cali locations, and they were amazing!!
Can you vape? Are there outside breaks that are allowed? What is the average length of stay?
I don’t want my trauma from Avalon to cloud this post so I will try to keep it objective. I was there a long while ago but I can tell you that smoke breaks do occur as long as weather permits. Other outside time depends on the weather and staff and is limited. They are EXTREMELY STRICT and you will have no independence. If you want to go outside staff will be with you. Everything you do you will be watched. The average length of stay if someone is to complete the residential program is anywhere from 4 months- 2 years. They keep people a VERY LONG TIME.
Were there passes? Restaurant outings?
When I was there it was a treat to outcome program meaning passes are to go into the community for 3 days in Logan UT with family, then 1 week home, then 2 weeks home. They market themselves as being able to transition people straight to outpatient.
Yes they do restaurant outings.
I would avoid this place if you have any other options. Unless they have changed this program has caused me ongoing trauma. It looks good on paper but unless you are the perfect client it is extremely punitive and toxic.
I completely agree with anon1. Don’t go here if you can avoid it.
**TRIGGER WARNING TRIGGER WARNING**
Hello, I am intending to participate in a psilocybin study for anorexia after stabilizing mentally in this treatment program, but without the goal of weight restoration ***, in order to still qualify for the study. Do you think they’re able to accept and accommodate that *** until I reach the minimum weight required for the study?
How do they do with non compliant/struggling patients (*** etc,?) What happens if they decide you aren’t a fit for the program, especially because they don’t use NG?
and can you plan a shorter length of stay, with transparent qualifications for when you as an individual will be released? Lastly, is signing out AMA an option or will they work with insurance and guardians to try to get you to stay as long as possible, even if it isn’t helping?
Thanks.
***per site policy, some very triggering and explicit descriptions of using ED symptoms in treatment have been redacted by admin
I can not imagine them allowing for that. They are incredibly strict and do not tolerate noncompliance. They do not tube, they will just keep you longer and you will be put on couch rest or precautions for noncompliance. They want clients to discharge at 100% IBW. They do long stays and are not flexible with timelines. They will not give an estimated release date. They make signing out AMA very hard
If Avalon is your only option then some treatment is better then none. But I would steer clear of Avalon if possible. I am still working through the trauma I have from my (over a year-long stay) at Avalon. They convinced my parents to keep me there. I am shocked they are still operating.
Avalon Hills is known for longer stays, and treating to outcome (complete recovery in residential only). They don’t have PHP, so they tend to keep people in RES until they are ready to return to their OP team. Stays tend to be longer than other programs and is months in residential care. They do push family to keep you there if they don’t think you’re ready to leave and insurance cuts out. They do have scholarships.
Avalon Hills does not have a harm reduction approach. I don’t think this is the right program for what you’re trying to achieve. A medical stabilization program might be more suited to your goals, or any program that tends to be shorter term. Alsana is one that does treatment intensives to work with you to a certain point in your recovery then send you home. If you have a predefined plan, dates for next step/appts, and support from your outpatient team, they honor it as long as you make the progress agreed upon during treatment with them.
Agreed. An IP program like Princeton that just implemented a SEED protocol might be a good fit.
Rosewood might be another program to consider from what I’ve read here it can be a more self directed experience than some places. I haven’t been, so ask others here.
hi, i was wondering if anyone has been here recently that wouldn’t mind doing a review of their adult program. thank you!
I was on the adult unit for 7 months. The proffessional staff were very authoritarian. This will be especially true if you are struggling or have low motivation. If you refuse food or self harm you will be put on 1:1 where you are isolated to the basement and must wear bright green scrubs. I was physically restrained. It was very traumatic and honestly my memories are a bit blurred. At the start of the pandemic they made us wear the SAME n-95 mask for 16 hours a day two weeks straight before we were allowed a clean one.
I did like the other clients, the dietition, the brain training, certain DC staff, and equine therapy.
Hello! I am seriously considering Avalon Hills at the recommendation of my therapist and my physician, both seem to think it’s the best option. The reviews on here are a bit unsettling, i was wondering if anyone had a recent positive experience or anything to share from the past year. Thank you!
I haven’t been to it, but I know it comes highly recommended by a lot of top therapists in my area.
i was the most recovered ever since leaving avalon hills
check out my review! i just posted it !
No treatment center is going to be perfect, but I’m going to say that Avalon’s pros are worth the cons. It doesn’t let you go until you’re actually better (unless insurance is stupid, of course), and it tackles the core issues instead of just the normal stuff like weight restoration.
Some of the reviews are just plain not true.
I’ve had one of the longer stays here, and I’ve witnessed plenty of drama, but when it comes down to it the staff are decently well-trained and seem to genuinely care about the clients’ wellbeing. The pro staff are also very good, and I think highly of the program overall.
It’s not fun living here, but it’s worth coming to get help. If you make the most out of it, you’ll get the rest of your life back.
PLEASE DONT GO THERE!!!! I know that you want help for you ed and give you huge props for that but I went there after I relapsed twice and its was my 3rd treatment center and it was absolute waste of time, money, trauma was caused, they don’t run groups, they isolate you, its bin the worst treatment center!!
I met some lovely ladies there and it was a decent place maybe 10-15 years ago but there are other treatment centers put there for you to get they help you need and deserve! I would recommend Alsana the Ballwin, Missouri location. I went there after I was in treatment in California for 11 months came home and three months later I was admitting, it was Castlewood in 2017 when I wenr there first and talk about an absolutely amazing program.
In Utah @ Avalon they have the worst health care and they say they obviously have the best and that’s just a bunch of bullsht. I struggled with severe Anorexia for 27 and have very serious complex Medical background and I complained and did at least 5 others who had lived in the same room as me, because I had to watched at ni Please ght sleeping by someone starring at you because I am on high flow o2 at night and I was getting headaches an nosebleeds and feeling horrible and believe me treatment is easy but the room smelled moldy and I am the type of person that I will speak my mind and demand to speak to higher ups or whatever and not in and aggressive way but well lets just say if it something I’m passionate about or someone hurts someone I love I will all lawyer up in your ass . well while I was on phone call home which by the way a DC sits in the room you have 15 min and they take notes about what you are talking about and maybe two days later my therapist who left there thank god cuz she was way too talented for that place and she even knew it asked me if I was going to have my parent back in Boise call department of health and welfare and have them come do a random inspection of the house, and I’m not the only patient who was demanding that this be done. and I said yes cry I’m not going to lie, well they the entire clinical staff came in including the owner who started it and (my own outpatient therapist went there in the adolescent unit was horrified of what they did next and will NEVER SEDND CLIENT THERE AND HAS SENT OUT LETTERS TO DOCTORS IN IDAHO NOTIFYING THEM OF THIS SHITHOLE) was told that if I didn’t stop talking about this issue then they were going to sue me for deformation and charge me the entire 6 months I had already be trapped int hat prison.
I demanded that I have access to a phone and I called one of my siblings who is one of the well he is the lawyer to the governor of Idaho and one day later they had an outside inspection team c0me in and then after maybe an hour they called us all into one of the group rooms and said that mold was confirmed and they had a leak in that area 5-6 years ago and I LOST MY SHIT!!!
they said we are going to stay in the house until it is confirmed that it is black mold and I was so dumb founded. you would think that a place who are treating people with very serious and deadly disorder would want to take the highest precautions to be better safe then sorry, so I demanding to speak to the legal team and they agreed with me and literally at the exact time and this had taken most of the day the company called that did the inception and said its was incredibly high and extremely dangerous levels and we should leave the house right away and everyone needs labs and Medical check up at the hospital in logan.
so that is when I officially lost my cool and I went in and grabbed my vapes and y phone and two people who were from Utah discharged that night and they still kept us int here for another 6 hours and we had to bag every item that we didn’t have to throw away because they had to be sent out to a special company for multiple attempts at decontaminated them, and we spent hours writing down everything we had to throw away in lengthy detail so we would get reimbursed which they stated they would do, around 2am in the morning we moved into another house they own that hadn’t had a person in it for years and it was. wreck! two days later was yet another birthday in treatment for me and I was punished.
I still was not allowed access to my phone so I could call my specialist at the Mayo Clinic and my own fucking parens! they finally took me and one other girl to the Hospital after I was treating to call the cops and or run for the nearest house and well lets just say I was severely sick from it, my ears had been bleeding for a few months it flared up some autoimmune disorders, I demaded at the Hospital and my favorite nurse whoa so no longer works there let me sneak away to the phone and call my parens and they were int he middle of the back country but damnit I tracked them down calling forest Service and camp groups and they went out and found them and the next day the treatment centre received a call from my parents, lawyer, I had a year and half of law school d0wn and shit hit the fan. it was going to take my parents a few days to come and pick me up and I was losing it
at this point there was only three other girls left everyone else had discharge and we still had not a personal item to ourselves and I sued them as did my insurance company and I never received my items that I had to throw away and all of my clothes and well everything you bring to treatment still were being cleaned. I literally received maybe two or three big boxes of my clothes and personal effects about 3 weeks to a month later, and they had intentionally damaged my items more pouring food in the boxes and that’s just low class man!
I was so happy to get out of there but I’m still honestly working through trauma from that place and I am happy to say I have been in pretty stable recovery for almost 2.5 years now, even though my medical health has severely deteriorated and I have home health and no life but. I’m a huge advocate for mental health and eating disorders and spreading awareness and ending the stigma that comes along with all of it as my genetic disorders which I still suffer from the effects of the mold poisoning to this day and I discharged in the end of august of 2019.
please EVERYONE HERE I NKOW THAT NOT EVERY TREATMENT CENTER IS GOING TO HAVE WHAT YOU WANT AND MIGHT NOT BE THE RIGHT FIT BUT THEY ARE IN LEGAL TROUBLE AND AS A WHOLE LITERALLY DONT GIVE A SHIT ABOUT YOU AND THAT SAD ESPECIALLY IN THE WORLD WE LIVE IN TODAY, BUT PLEASE REACH OUT AND GET THE HELP YOU NEED, I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE IN EVEN A MONTH OF RECOVERY AND I DIED TWICE FROM MY BATLLE WITH ANOREXIA BUT RECOVERY IS POSSIBLY AND HELP IS OUT THERE!!!
another great place online look up recovery with meda on Instagram and I dear friends with the owner and founder and they have launched a new all access app too but they can get help and resources for treatment
keep on fighting
AND IM NOT EVEN AFRAID TO PUT MY FULL NAME ON HER CUZ. I KNOW STAFF READS THESE TOO AND IF I WAS A CLASSLESS HUMAN AND WELL A TERRIBLE HUMAN BEING OR PART OF A COMPANY THAT OPERATES LIKE THIS I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A FEW LAST WORDS FROM THEM AND A LAUGH IN THEIR FACE BUT ITS NOT WASTE MY TIME AND ENERGY
I CAN ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING THE HELP THEY NEED AND WINNING THIER BATTLES!!
I 100% validate and confirm everything Mojo said! Thank you for having the strength to write this post and speak about the severe trauma we have experienced at this facility. I spent the better part of 2 years here and I am traumatized by my experience. I will recover in spite of Avalon NOT because of them. I hope they get shut down soon.
Former staff here. I will also validate this.
? I’m here for you and I can understand your “journey “ there
S thank you for everything you said and I’m so sorry you have been mistreated and your rights broken by a place that is not supposed to be there to help you along your process and also how to do recovery in the real world and unfortunately you are so isolated there and punished and abused! This has to stop at all treatment centers and I just want people to know the other side of what is going on there and with two members of my outpatient team went there and after everything that was going on while I was there and how it’s continued to slide and hurt people
I’m not ashamed of my struggles in life and damn this process is long and hard and doable but I don’t want anyone to go there until they fix the incredibly broken and illegal program they have, I know it could be amazing but they after lawsuits and so much outcry and flyers here in my hometown where dropped off at all highs here’s doctors offices and hospitals and my therapist and dietitian did that and will never send another client there.
Recovery is a bitch and it’s sad when you are coerced, threatened,?taken advantage of, and forced to sign contracts that are literally illegal in the state of Utah and federally illegal too in regards to your rights as an adult and it’s so sad to see the damage that Avalon Hills in Logan, Utah to so so many people and that ITS STILL GOING ON!:( and I’m still in contact with a couple nurses who worked there for years and all had to make the difficult decision to leave their career and loved what they did and how it used to be but they knew that they could no longer be a part of that program because of how detrimental and danger it has become. Most of these nurses all have had their own battle with an eating disorder and while I was there 3 therapist left without warning, 5 nurses in the time I was there to no longer then 3 months after I left and they knew what was happened and they stood up for us and left and I’m still dealing with chronic issues just from the massive amount of black mold I laid my hard 4 inches away from the wall and they were sued and they lost when my insurance company came to that decision on their own and it’s not like I got a personal settlement and they had to pay every single penny back to my blue cross insurance
Just said how people take advantage of the weaker and sick people
There’s a reason why therapists and physicians like Avalon Hills so much. They are one of the best all-around treatment places in the world.
Is it for everyone? – that’s like saying Diet Coke is for everyone. Are you going to click with everyone wherever you go? – heck no!
No matter where you go, YOU have to put in the effort.
Most on-line reviews people make for any place is to complain about something they didn’t like or to put someone down because THEY feel wronged or entitled.
Take reviews with a grain of sand. Put more stock into what the experts say.
Oh believe me I worked towards my recovery and yes every treatment center is different and they used to be one of the best treatment centers but unfortunately they have not been that way for a while, losing the best therapist that they had etc etc
AND HONESTLY YOU CAN FEEL FREE TO INVALIDATE MY EXPERIENCE THERE BUT WHAT YOU CANNOT DO IS TELL ME I DIDNT PUT EFFORT IN WHILE I WAS THERE IM MOST DEFINITELY NOT AN ENTITLED PERSON NOR AM I WRITING THIS REVIEW TO GET BACK AT SOMEONE OR SOMETHING!! THATS IMMATURE AND YOU OBVIOUSLY DONT KNOW ME!
I don’t give credit to that treatment center for anything not my recovery my journey and my life, I am in a pretty solid recovery for a little over two years and yea some reviews should be read with a grain of salt and not every place is right for just one person but don’t act as if you know me and put words in a reverse assuming you do or anything that was taking place during the time I was there!
I believe people need to hear about places and read the majority of opinions and concerns about a treatment center and then make the decision for themselves.
I want as many people to recover from this illness that took 27 years of my life away and killed me twice, and I have my opinion as well as others and if you read all of the reviews about Avalon here and everywhere else then you would see I’m most definitely not am right in line with how hundreds and thousands feel.
Can I ask, where did you go to get treatment and remain recovered?
T – This comment is so salty, it doesn’t even need a grain of salt to let us know not to put stock on it. Also I don’t understand why you would possibly think it is appropriate to compare EATING disorder treatment centers to “Diet Coke.” Lol. Plus you clearly didn’t even go to Avalon Hills, so I don’t know why you are criticizing anything said by people who did. This reads like a review written by someone who works for Avalon Hills… And yes, we know that Avalon Hills writes reviews of themselves. So heads up to everyone else, it’s not a good sign that this Avalon Hills employee doesn’t even know enough about eating disorders to know not make Diet Coke metaphors when trying to convince us to go there.
Thank you So Salty and Mojo for speaking out. I could not agree more! I rarely write reviews but I feel so strongly when it comes to the trauma Avalon has caused me and those I care about.
You don’t have to thank me! I’m just writing truth
It is pretty sad that they write the reviews themselves and like you said that right there be something to pay attention to if you are considering this treatment center
It’s so incredible wrong and unprofessional and some of the things that were and are going on are illegal!
My insurance company sued them and they lost and I am not a petty person and I hate hate drama and I want everyone to have to opportunity and or availability and insurance coverage for treatment and I don’t want anyone else being a victim and suffer ptsd and this shouldn’t happen and it’s sad but I have done and continue to do the every single day countering my ED voice and it gets easier and after 27 years of seven anorexia I am so lucky to still be here and the damage I have done to my is serious and I had heart failure twice and died both times and I honestly had a out of body experience both times and watched the Chaos of all the medical staff working so hard on my and I was told I had the choice but it wasn’t my time and that my best friend will be there greeting me like she has and she would be back and take me on the journey to the next stage of life. I don’t want anyone to suffer from any eating disorder and mental health conditions and we shouldn’t be losing people to this horrific and devastating deadly disorder and spreading awareness is SO IMPORTANT!
And both sides tell their stories and options and or experience here or anywhere and it’s sad that some who have commented on my post say I didn’t go there, I am entitled and didn’t put work into my recovery because I knew that some of the Anonymous people posting are employees and I am not and will not attack anyone for their opinions BUT I WILL TELL THE TRUTH AND IT WOULD BE SO AMAZING TO SEE AVALON ADMIT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS AND HAVE DONE THINGS WRONG AND THEN SIT DOWN AND YOU EMPLOYEES “PUT THE WORK INTO IT!!!!”
I honestly wish you were correct about it, I do respect your opinion and the thing is is that my therapist went there in her early teens and her and my dietitian are pop would send people Rhee if possible and THEY WILL NOT SEND ANOTHER PERSON THERE AND PAMPHLETS WERE PLACED ALL OVER MY CITY and they used to be a great treatment center back in the day and I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS PLACE BUT LISTEN CAREFULLY IF YOU NEED TREATMENT PLEASE PLEASE GO, EVEN IF AVALON WAS THE ONE PLACE YOU COULD GET INTO…..YOU GO!!
No treatment center is perfect and you have to put the hard word in every single second but when a treatment centers had put countless ladies for months and months and months live n a very very black mold infested house and after months of us complaining and they finally brought in and inspector and we were notified that this was the case and we had to throw away almost echo things we owed that was in the house and they had us stay there longer before moving to a different house and they didn’t reimburse ANYTHING!!
I has been suffering from serious migraines bloody noses multiple times a day and my ears where bleeding, the wall with the massive section of black mold was a the head of my bed and even if this hadn’t happened I would still not recommend this place, I have never wasted so much time in my life in the few groups we had a week everything was always canceled and it was just a terrible experience and all of these actually amazing staff left right after I did and they were sad about how terrible this treatment center went south and they’d had been working thee all of them 10yrs or more and they don’t have medical care there, it’s a joke!
But please remember what I said about going to treatment and going anywhere you can get into!
I have been to residential treatment 5 times and I definitely know what center I would, I will forever
Yeah, experts who buy into a treatment center’s marketing strategies without having experienced the place as an actual client.
I keep seeing someone recommending Avalon Hills instead of ERC Denver on the General Forum, but these reviews of Avalon Hills are all horrifying. Are there people who actually do have good experiences here?
I think some people do have decent experiences, but I think it’s a very specific type of client. Most of the women who I saw come around to buying into it were those who had gone from one treatment center to the next for years straight, or those who had been in wilderness programs for years for their behavioral issues. Coming to Avalon from that sort of environment they felt they were treated great, in comparison. And being in one place for months up to a year or more gave some of these people the stability and home-like feeling they craved. Other women got broken down into submission basically and learned to follow the program as a means to an end, to just get the heck through and get out. And because they discharge free of behaviors, the program may seem like a success and come recommended.
I would say that for those clients who would do well in the more average IP/res program for a few months and really need the focus on a few primary ED behaviors, this is not the place. These are the ones who went through the most hell and hated Avalon, I would say. It worked for the ones who were extremely out of control with a myriad of ED behaviors AS WELL AS self-harm, suicidal ideation, etc. It works for the rare person that needs and responds well to discipline and negative reinforcement. If you’ve ever been admitted to a psych unit, think that sort of environment but in a house in the middle of nowhere so that there is nowhere to run. It doesn’t matter your history or current circumstances- you will not be trusted by staff and they will make that known.
Also be aware that Avalon Hills filters their reviews, not on this site but places like Facebook and Glassdoor. Some of their higher ups will post things as well, speaking as if they are clients.
Honestly, I personally had a few pretty bad experiences with ERC Denver yet I would myself choose or refer there over Avalon any day. I would only suggest Avalon over ERC to the person who requires very strict oversight and has little to no motivation at all because ERC Denver has a lot of blind spots and a large client population. There’s a lot of room to get away with stuff there. But if you can be honest and hold yourself accountable, ERC.
ERC PLEASE!!!
I just came from Avalon Hills a couple weeks ago. It was a great experience for me, and I hope the other reviews don’t defer anyone from getting the treatment they need. Maybe things have changed to be less traumatizing, but this is one of the best programs I know of.
The staff are very caring and sincere. And even if they weren’t, the main job is to recover and not to manage the staff. If there are problems though, we had a community meeting each week to bring up problems that came up, as well as stuff we wanted to do. We used this a lot, and it was really helpful for staff issues if there were any. Also, they can’t touch you unless you are a danger to yourself. One of my friends was there a couple years ago, and said that a staff tried to move her, and got fired.
How long was your stay?
going here Monday. anything i should know before I admit?
Be aware that what they have on their website which is not how they run this prison. Watch your back and take notes of anything you feel is inappropriate and YOU HAVE TO SIGN A CONTACT STATING THAT EVEN IF INSURANCE IS DROPPED YOU HAVE TO STAY FOR 60 days and then you have to pay out of pocket! It’s not a good thing to do to people who are suffering and don’t want to die and are fighting, they take advantage of you, you won’t see your phone or anything else of yours until you discharge, theu Watch you sleep at night eating food and drinking on your room while attempting to sleep in a black mold infested house,
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY YOU HAVE TO FOCUS ON ONLY YOURSELF AND YOUR TREATMENT PLAN BUT YOU LEGALLY HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHALLENGE OR REFUSE SOMETHING BUT THEY SCARE YOU INTO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN ID YOU REPORTED OR EXPRESSED CONCERN TO A STAFF MEMBER CUZ PUNISHMENT AND TAKING EVERYTHING FROM YOU AND ITS HARDS AND SO SAD THAT MYSELF AND SO SO MOLLY OTHERS HAVE LEFT HERE WITH EVEN MORE SEVERE PTSD AND ITS SUPER UNORGANIZED AND GROUPS I BELIEVE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF TREATMENT AND YOUR JOURNEY AND AT AVALON THE 5 months I was locked up in I was attempting to get myself busy during the day CUZ NOTHING GOES OM, in our DBT group OMG WHAT A JOKE!! The therapist didn’t know there was a DBT workbook and myself and two others who had been to residential treatment centers a few times already so we would run the group and the medical education group was supposed to be every Friday and while I was there we had a total of 4
completed groups,
BUT YOU FIGHT FOR YOU AND YOUR RECOVERY AND ILL BE SENDING YOU SOME POSITIVE VIBES AND Encouragement TOWARDS YOUR RECOVERY PROCESS AND ITS SO SO MUCH WORK AND SO HARD BUT WHEN YOU ARE DOING IT FOR YOU AND YOU ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND AND PUSH YOURSELF AND LISTEN TO YOUR GUT AND SOUL CUZ YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE BEHIND THE SCENES AND BE COMPASSIONATE TO YOURSELF PLEASE AND THIS OA SOMETHING THAT YOU GOTTA FIGHT FOR AND RADICALLY ACCEPT AND UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR EATING DISORDER IS ABSOLUTELY NOT YOUR FAULT.
If you need anything or want letters while you are there I’d be more then willing to keep you going! They do open everything of yours and not in-front
of you and a copy is made of the letter or email and given to the entire
treatment team and they won’t give them to you even for the smallest little swear word and you will never see if. You will get in trouble for swearing and PLEASE PLEASE HAVE A COPY OF THE CONTRACT AND YOU READ IT A FEW TIMES OVER AND YOU SEND ONE TO A FAMILY MEMBER OR EVEN YOUR OUTPATIENT TREATMENT TEAM BECAUSE THEY FUCK YOU OVER IN THAT CONTACT AND OF IT HASNT BEEN UPDATED SINCE WE FOUGHT TO PROVE THEY HAD HARMED US AND BROKE LAWS REGARDING BEING AN ADULT AND MEDICAL TREATMENT, BUT I REALLY HOPE YOU MEET SOME COOL DRAMA FREE LADIES AND YOU ARE MAKING PROGRESS AND HANF IN HERE PLEASE, FIGHT AND BE STUBBORN BECAUSE I KNOW YOU CAN BEAT THIS DISEASE AND IM NOT GONNA LIE AT ALL AND IF YOU HAVENT BEEN TO TREATMENT BEFORE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU
MATTER AND TREATMENT IS SUPER MESSY AND EXHAUSTING AND STRESSFUL AND PAINFUL AND YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DO TREATMENT PERFECTLY AND UNFORTUNATELY THE ODDS OF RELAPSE AND ANOTHER TREATMENT STAY IS INCREDIBLY HIGH BUT YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO TRUST YOURSELF AND THEN YOU CAN REALLY START TO SEE THE WORLD A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY EVERY DAY AND PLEASE JUST DON’T EVER GIVE UP AND IF YOU DO FAMILY THERAPY YOU GOTTA LEARN TO SET BOUNDARIES AND YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT EATING DISORDER ARE A PSYCHO/social/ AND GENETICALLY PREDISPOSED AND I TRULY BELIEVE EVERYONE CAN RECOVER FROM AN EATING DISORDER IF THEY ARE ABLE TO SEEK THE CARE THEY NEED EARLIER THAN LATER AND ITS SO SAD THAT WE HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM AND WITH THAT LIKE IN MY 27 year battle with severe anorexia I HAVE SADLY CAUSED SERIOUS CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS AND PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND SPEND 5 DAYS A WEEK AT THE HOSPITAL FOR 5 h HOURS EACH TIME BUT I DONT THINK ID CHANGE A THING CUZ YOU CANT BE ASHAMED AND BEATING YOURSELF UP ?
Any recent reviews of the adult unit? Do people really stay for over 6 months?
People have stayed at Avalon for upwards of two years. It is very common for people to stay six months or more. The program is “treat to outcome,” meaning they want you to be well when you leave. Rather than prepare you for PHP or IOP, they want you to be successful on your own when you leave. That means a long stay. They’re also incredibly good at securing insurance coverage, so people have long stays.
The average stay (at least at the adolescent house, but I think the adult house is similar) is 5 to 7 months.
That is because the program cares about much more than weight restoration, and it recognizes that eating disorders are usually a symptom of deeper issues. These deeper issues need to be worked on to fully and truly recover, and that takes time.
I would also not recommend Avalon Hills. I was at the adult unit and while adults are legally allowed to consent to treatment and medication, there was a lot of coercion going on there. For instance, I was advised to take a medication that I didn’t want to take and told that if I didn’t try it I would lose privileges. When I did take it, it made me feel absolutely awful. I agreed to stay on it for a week. when the week passed I requested to be taken off of it and was told that it was my right to chose not to take it but that if I didn’t, it would show my lack of commitment to recovery and would probably lost privileges. This is coercive and 100% in violation of an adult patient’s rights. Additionally, 1:1 (where you’re placed in a room with one other staff member but can’t talk to them or anyone else, except maybe your therapist) is actually seclusion under Utah law. Technically, it’s not supposed to be used for punishment and only for safety threats. Yet, anytime I was the slightest bit non-compliant I was placed in 1:1, sometimes for days in a row. Also, not legal. Avalon started out with good intentions, but instead they’ve really shifted their focus from being a compassionate program to help people struggling to a much more punitive and harsh environment. The one good thing I will say is that the direct care are awesome, but they also live in fear of the professional staff which definitely influenced their interactions with us.
All I can say is YES YES YES to this review. It’s far from even half the story about Avalon Hills, but so spot on. Shame and punishment based.
I would highly highly ADVISE NOT GOING TO AVALON!!! This place is horrific! Plus they have lost the only few good staff members they had left!
I had mold poisoning after I’m living in the adult house and complaining for months that something was wrong with the room I was in and it turned out to be BLACK MOLD!
The groups were absolutely horrible and nonexistent! As well as being felt up by a so called self defense class!! PLEASE THIS WAS A WASTE OF MY TIME A SO TRAUMATIC!!
Medical care is terrible and you are treated like a child that has done something terrible and there is such a lack of support it is mind boggling!
My insurance company sued and won!
I have been to many different treatments centers and one of the most important thing is to have are groups that are intimate and push people, unfortunately here as clients we ran our own groups and sat around!!!
PLEASE PLEASE DON’T GO HERE!!! I KNOW MULTIPLE OLD STAFF MEMBERS WHO WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS PLACE! AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF MY OWN TREATMENT TEAM THAT ONCE WENT THERE AS CLIENTS WONT SEND THEIR OWN THERE TODAY
Can someone offer a detailed current review please?
My cousin is thinking of going here. What do they let you bring? Are you allowed to wear your own clothing? Do they provide basic toiletires?
My parent and my treatment team want me to go there. I have eating disorder and substance problem. Is this a good program addressing both. Sometimes I want to recover, sometimes I don’t. I was told that they don’t let you out for a long time. I am scared. Can someone share or let me know.
I would not recommend Avalon Hills. I believe that they temporarily saved my life in the short term, but they failed miserably to provide me and others with any sort of long term recovery skills. We sat around way too much doing nothing or sleeping out of boredom. They have recently moved away from the sincerity and usefulness of human therapy contact, meaning that they are trying to become some state of the art treatment center and now used almost all neurofeedback with machines rather than actual human/therapist contact. I feel that they made me gain more weight than was necessary and tried everything possible to keep me there even long after my insurance wouldn’t pay…I am still paying out of pocket. They make it very hard to just leave when you feel you are ready, or when insurance is no longer paying and you will pay with your soul for the rest of your life because you still have to pay the bill. They seem to do and say anything and everything possible to keep women as long as they can and even past the point where the person can realistically pay without losing everything. I would not recommend Avalon Hills to anyone. It is a short term fix in that they restore weight and stop behaviors immediately, but long term wise I am not better off, and maybe even worse off than before I went.
This is very helpful to know, thank you. It seems similar to other things I have heard. I’m sorry you feel worse 🙁
Hello. I so apreciate these reviews. A friend of mine is seriously considering going. Was wondering people’s experiences on a couple things. One with the scholarship process. She has only medicaid and no other financial resources. Two she has borderline personality disorder, and PTSD self injury behaviors ETC. I realize the ED would be the major treatment issue but has anyone had other diagnosis and been able to get in? Also does anyone know the requirements in terms of severity of disorder to get in. She knows she needs help but is worried she’s “not sick enough.” Any thoughts are apreciated.
Sam –
I do know that some others have been to Avalon that had serious co morbids. Some they were able to treat fine, including self harm tendencies and some they had to refer out. They are equipped to handle these if they do not become a harm to others there. One of my friends was denied from dozens of other treatment centers due to his daughter’s co-morbids, including self harm and Avalon was able to help her.
The scholarship process is a tough. They ask very specific questions, and it was a big packet, however, for us in the end, it was approved and it covered what insurance didn’t cover. I am just not sure if Avalon takes Medicaid. The person to talk to would be Loreen and or Dee Dee (call the number on the website) and they would be able to tell you if Avalon would be a good fit. It was for my daughter and she is doing very well now. Best of luck. If you have other questions, post and I will try to answer the best I can or direct you to those who can. I am not sure the rules on this forum, whether I can post direct contact info. – you can google me and find it though.
What can you bring as far as clothes/beauty products etc. and what can you not have?
You can bring almost anything. Electric shavers are allowed from day one – level 4 is where you can do disposable shavers. Curling irons, straighteners, make up are allowed from day one. You get ready in a downstairs family room together. Any clothes are ok. They do make you go swimming and you have to wear a real swimsuit (not swim shorts and t-shirt). If you bring new clothes while you are there they take forever to get approved. The body image therapist approves the clothes.
This is a new review of Avalon. It has changed a lot since 2013. I don’t have time to type it all in now, but hopefully will soon. If someone wants new info. on a recent experience (18 year old in adult house October 2014 – March 2015) They will notify me when posts or comments come up by e-mail and I’ll get on here if I don’t get a summary put on here before that time. It was a good experience for me.
I would love to read an updated review of Avalon. Thank you! I know they take time so I appreciate it.
Please leave an updated review! I’m considering going to the adult house very soon.
When were you there: October 2014 – March 2015
How many patients on average? 12 Women in the adult house
Does it treat both males and females? If so, is treatment separate or combined. N/A
How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, etc?
Medical Dr. 2 times a week
Therapist – when I was there three times a week – 2 individual and one family, but now they have a neuroscience therapy called the Muse and more therapist time on site, just not a session and they dropped one of the individual sessions.
Dietitian – twice a week
Body image therapist – as needed (specifically addressing exercise)
What is the staff ratio to patients? It seems that there were 4 direct care there always (12 women), now there is also a therapist there always.
What sort of therapies are used? (DBT, CBT, EMDR) etc? ACT and DBT and animal assisted therapy (horses). They now have the neuroscience therapy with the muse – bio feedback stuff.
Describe the average day: Everyday different – groups/outings/therapy.
What were meals like? Meals were 30 minutes, snacks 15 minutes. It was in a family like setting (the adult house is an actual residential house) – the kitchen staff were great – it wasn’t cafeteria/institutional like at all. There was a large table we sat around in a big dining room.
What sorts of food were available or served? All kinds – they do it on an exchange system. Every meal a protein, carbohydrate, and a fruit or vegetable. You are given how many exchanges you need to have and at first there may be a refeeding process, then after that, you go to whatever plan your dietitian says suits your needs. You get to choose your snacks after a week from a big pantry and there is a huge variety – from yogurt, to chocolate, to fruits and vegetables, to crackers lots of stuff. The group actually helps make a grocery list for snacks twice a week that the head chef goes and gets. IT was pretty cool.
Did they supplement? How did that system work? Ensure – if you didn’t finish – they would give you it for the remaining portion.
What is the policy of not complying with meals? Ensure – staying in the kitchen until you are done. They do not do the tube.
Are you able to be a vegetarian? Yes, if you were before and not for eating disorder reasons.
What privileges are allowed? There are different levels – phone calls, music, bathroom privileges etc.
Does it work on a level system? yes
How do you earn privileges? By moving up in the levels
What sort of groups do they have? Body image, ACT, art, DBT, process group, spirituality, animal assisted therapy (riding/taking care of horses), cooking classes.
What was your favorite group? horses
What did you like the most? That it was in a home setting, not a hospital like setting.
What did you like the least? The front office screened all your mail.
Would you recommend this program? yes
What level of activity or exercise was allowed? Red, yellow and green bands indicated what you could do – tied to your health and doctors approval. We went to a local recreational center, called Sports Academy to do things from dancing, yoga, swimming, basketball, wally ball. Yes, we had to do swimming.
What did people do on weekends? We had outings in the community. Movies, coffee house listening to music, concerts, shopping. They did have skiing or other outdoor activities. We went on walks. It is in a pretty mountain setting.
Do you get to know your weight? no
How fast is the weight gain process? idk
What was the average length of stay? 5 months. They really fight insurance companies to get the longest possible stay – They have a treat to outcome philosophy which means it is not just a head to a bed – turn around, but they want to make sure you are there long enough to be able to keep/maintain treatment gains when you leave.
What was the average age range? 18 and up. I was 18 when I was there, but there were 40 year olds. The average age is mid 20s.
How do visits/phone calls work? There is only one 10 minute phone call a day and there is a direct care person there by you. Not much privacy there.
Are you able to go out on passes? Yes, with the group.
This is different than other places – they do not have visiting hours at all. After a certain amount of time, they have what is called a Logan pass, where your family can come stay in a motel and your stay with them over the weekend. Then they have 2 therapeutic leaves of absences. This is where you actually return home. The first one is for a week and while you are there you must meet with your outpatient team – if you don’t have one – they help- you get one – then you return and process how it went. After a while when you are getting close to discharge, you have a 2 week pass home meeting with your OP team and returning back to Avalon to process. This is to help maintain treatment gains and is part of there treat to outcome philosophy.
What kind of aftercare do they provide? 6 month to a year check ins.
Do they help you set up an OP treatment team? They really make sure you have one in place. This is super important to make sure you don’t relapse.
Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country? idk They don’t advertise it, but there are potential scholarships to offset what insurance doesn’t pay and a mega long application to fill out if you want to see if you qualify for it through their foundation.
Other? They only have 2 family weeks a year. One in May and one in November. They are a full week. They do intensive step work with the family and give presentations on current research, body image, advocacy, and lots of things. But again, no visitations. If you are there and you qualify for a Logan pass or a home pass, that follows the week. In my case, is wasn’t ready in November for a pass.
They are very pet friendly and have 2 house cats.
If you are medically compromised – like have a tube – or extreme health issues, they cannot address those. It is not inpatient, but residential.
Do they do anything with Trauma?
Personally, we never made it that far into all my underlying stuff. But they definitely do!
This is Angela in response to the anon, I’m doing this from my phone so I’m not sure if this is posting directly to your comment or not! I was there for just over three months, the only reason I left that early was because I was supposed to do a php near home but I quit the php after a week. I’m doing well though! I guess they “treat to outcome”. So like most places will you treat you until they think you’re ready for the next step down, they try to treat you until you’re ready for strictly outpatient. They also don’t just look at the fact that you’re completing your meals and maintaining your weight, they look at your mind set. Little stupid shit means a lot to them. Like they wanted me to “take charge of my recovery”. I WAS LOCKED IN A HOUSE BEING WATCHED 24/7 WITH LITERALLY NO CHOICES WHAT DID THEY WANT FROM ME?!?! They work well with insurance and they give a LOT of scholarships! They do this two month contract that you have to sign when you admit. If you leave before the contract is up, then you are responsible for all the costs you accumulated. Kind of mean if you ask me. Now this is just my experience, I know some people who loved it there, but I HATED it, obviously lol. Hope I helped! Don’t mind the questions at all 🙂
With the 2 month contract thing, who else would be responsible for your cost even if you stayed the 2 months? I’m confused by that, do you mean insurance wouldn’t pay or something? That is pretty strict. Also random question but are adolescents and adults together or is it two separate programs? And do they do restaurant outings or anything like that? I get the sense that it’s kind of out in the middle of no where, is that true?
I think that before you admit they talk to insurance to make sure that they’ll pay for at least two months, and I believe that if you leave before the two months, then insurance gets all their money back and you have to pay avalon? I’m not totally sure. Adolescents and adults are not together, on wednesdays though, you (if you’re adult) go to the adolescent house to do horses and you might see them in passing but you’re never really together like for groups or outings or anything. Yes, there are restaurant outings every other week! And occasionally they’ll throw a snack out in the mix in addition to the restaurant outing. It is pretty out there but Logan is about 20 minutes away and there’s a mall and tons of shops and restaurants there! There’s also Utah State in Logan so you often go to games and stuff that the college is hosting. Another thing I forgot to mention, they are VERY strict with fluid intake. During fall and winter you have to drink between 80-120 ounces of fluids a day, during the summer and spring its 96-120. They start you off slow depending on where you’re at with fluids at your admission, like I started out at 48 ounces. But, like med water (you have to drink 6 ounces of water or juice every time you take meds, which, if you’re like me, was 4 times a day, so that’s an extra 24 ounces on top of what you already have to drink) and if you’re on prune juice protocol for constipation (if you haven’t had a bowel movement in 3 days then they put you on 4-6 ounces of prune juice at every meal and snack until you have a bm or they put you on something else,) and the prune juice doesn’t count towards fluids either. And when we have physical activity (which is like 3-4 times a week) you have to drink 16 ounces by the end of the physical activity) it’s really stupid and only adds to the discomfort and fullness and nausea.
Definitely would NOT recommend. Just got out in December 2013. Hated every minute of it. There’s so many unnecessary rules and I felt like no one was qualified to do what they were doing. The “nurses” were all nursing students, most in their late teens/early twenties. Both the people who see you for psychiatric needs and medical needs aren’t even doctors, they’re nurse practioners. And the DC (direct care) staff, who are with you ALL THE TIME, are all college students, none have any experience with eating disorders and many make inappropriate comments. I could go on for hours about how stupid everything is there and how much I hated it. And trust me, once you go in, it’s VERY hard to get out. Most stays are 6-8 MONTHS. And was not uncommon for people to stay 1-2 YEARS. Just don’t do it. You will regret it. I literally have nightmares about going back.
Hi Angela, I’m sorry to hear about your bad experience. Do you mind me asking how long you were there for? And also why do they typically have people stay so long? How are people able to cover that cost-wise?? Sorry so many questions. Last one, could people not just leave if they wanted to? Of course if they’re under 18 it’s a different story but for the adults.. is it a locked facility or something?
Thanks, sorry so many questions.
Also would like to hear any recent reviews.
Hi, does anyone have any recent reviews? I’m considering going here… not sure… also have been recommended to Olivia Pyatt. I’m 19, if that helps. Hope you all are doing well!
Reaching out for recent reviews. The idea of having students or unqualified staff makes me uneasy. And did I understand that a PA is responsible for medication management? Plus the strict monitoring doesn’t seem to give much opportunity to breath. My therapist has highly recommended Avalon Hills!
I was there from 9/11/13-12/20/13, so less than a year ago. Though, I have heard from people I was there with who went back said things have changed a bit. By PA do you mean Physician’s Assistant? A Nurse Practitioner manages meds and does all the things a doctor would do. There is an actual MD who comes every other week or so. I know it seems iffy but they do a pretty good job, and have been doing what they do for quite some time. I know it seems terrifying with the lack of privacy and so many rules, but to be honest, hating it and being uncomfortable kind of means it’s working. I had been to several other facilities before Avalon; like ERC in Denver, multiple times, Roger’s, several other small facilities, and I would relapse immediately every time. Now, it’s been over a year since I admitted to Avalon, and that means over a year I’ve been behavior free. The 3 months I was there were hell, but I’m out and I’m doing well. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.
Any newer comments on avalon in Utah.
Do they take involuntary adult patients if someone has medical guardianship (and therefore the power to make all medical/treatment decisions) of the patient?
yes they will. it depends case to case but they try very hard to work with the client nad their family. as the client (and basically an involuntary adult admit) i thought they worked a little too closely with the family for too long after but that was my take. they take “hard” cases; people that need constant observation, ect, ect.
has anyone been to avalon recently? I was there in 2009 and am considering going back and i want to see if there have been changes in the program. It has been the only place that has helped me and believe me Ive been to many places…
I was there a year ago so I might be able to answer questions, but they’ve probably changed a little since I’ve been there.
How do they deal with self harm and suicide?
Well they are really, really careful about what things are out in the common rooms and bedrooms (no pencils, tweezers, scissors, shoe laces, string, medications, soap, etc without being closely monitored) to minimize and stop behaviors. Every night nurses do body checks to keep tabs on self harm. If someone did act on a behavior (scratching or picking or trying to commit suicide) they are put on 1-on-1 with a staff for a few hours/days until they are able to be safe again. And therapists really work with people on those issues. Hope that answered your question!
Whats the cost? and does the insurance cover the stay? how much?
How do they handle passes? Does anyone know for sure about smoking on the adult unit?
I stayed at the adolescent unit, but both units operate similarly. Generally people are sent on a Logan pass (where you stay in Utah, but not at the unit) for several days, then a 1-week home pass, then a 2-week home pass (if the 1-week pass was successful).
Yes, adults are allowed to smoke daily. I think it was 3 times a day.
They NEVER tube for weight gain, right?
no, not while you are at Avalon. If someone refuses for several days, they will take them to the hospital and tube them if necessary
Old Reviews
Describe the Average day: The scedules changed seasonally and also changed ALOT the second time I went there. We woke up at 6 every morning did weights/vitals ect. fed the horses. Breakfast was at 7:30, 8 on weekends. After breakfast there was either 1 on 1 time ( which was bascically therapy work or meet with therapist/dietician) or a group, snack was at 10:30 usually more 1 on 1 or some other group was after snack untill lunch at 12:15, after lunch some days we had horses or some other activity. Pm snack was at 2:30 ater that more groups or 1 on 1, dinner was at 5:30 I was at the adolecent unit and the most recent time i was there they really crazked down on homework and where SO strict on it, we had to fo 2 hours of homework 5 days a week, so we had 2 hours of homework untill snack at 8:30, except on wednesdays we went to the gym if you were apporoved, if not you just had free time at the house. On weekends we went out, everyother friday we had an eat out challenge. we did random things like go to the movies a USU game or things offered in Logan, sometimes it was fun sometimes it sucked. We always had homework on weekends which was awful.
What where meals like- Meals where really good actually, everything was cooked fresh. It was all family style so everyone ate the same thing, just in diffrent amounts for their meal plans. we had dessert 3-4 times a week. We usually where pretty talkative at the table. You have 30 minutes for meals and 15 for snacks. The menu was on like a 4 week rotation I think and changed with every season. There was always a cook that prepared our meals except on wednesdays we had cooking group and would help make dinner, also with therapist approval you could help in the kitchen. When you first get there staff plates up for you and once they trust you you can plate yourself. Staff watched you pretty closley and redirects you, it’s almost impossible to hide any food or anything. The staff eat with you though so thats always helpful.
What type of food was offered- basically anything under the sun, it was really random sometimes and tried alot of foods i never even heard of. They do let you be vegetarian but they really try to make you stop being a vegeterian unless it has to do with you religion or something.
Did they supplement, how did that work- Supplemnt was used if you didn’t complete your meal, sometimes it was also used if someone would continually finish late. It was also used for weigh gain, the used CIB, ensure, ensure plus and VHC. They did not have NG tubes but if someone refussed to eat they would take you to the hospital and tube you, I never saw that happen though because they were really good at helping you eat.
What privleges were aloud- when you first get there absolutley none. You are always in staffs sight, they come in the bathroom with you they have to watch you all night, you get one 10 minute phone call and can get mail thats it. That Level 1 or now its called pre-contemplation. As you move up you get more privledges but you don’t get to be out of staffs sight untill your level 4 or what they now call Action. Sometimes i think it’s over kill, i mean come on now if someones doing well i think its ok for them to walk over the get a book themselves but idk thats just my opinion.
What sort of groups did they have- Body image, process, survive and thrive, meditation, 1 on 1, medical group, nutrition, excersize group, horses, pottery, art therapy, equine assisted therapy, iniative
Favorite group-process
Least favorite- anything with the horses and 1 on 1, the first time i was there i only hated homework haha
Would you reccomend this program- I’m on the fence with that, the first time I went to Avalon it was amazing and saved my life and i would reccomend it 110%, but the second time i went back I was really dissapointed, the program had changed quite a bit and I just felt like it wasn’t very good anymore, they were foccusing on stuff that didn’t matter like what kind of music we listened to. I think a big reason was because the like head therapist person jen who was awesome left and this guy Don took over. Don had worked at Remuda so he was changing the program to be liek remuda minus the christian stuff which made me angry because I had been to remuda twice and it was shit and i hated it and uhh dont even get me started, so to see this amazing program switch over to be more like remuda really bothers me so idk if i would recomend it now.
What level of acitivity was aloud- it depened on your medical status. There was red,yellow and green. Reds didnt get to do very much acitivity but yellows and greens got alot. We went to the gym if you were apporved by your therpist,w e also did alot of other things like horse riding, skiing swimming. They were really good withe xcersize I think once you were medically stable and working on recovery you got a very good amount.
What did you do on the weekends- we went out usually and did real life things for the most part, sometimes it could get boring though
do you get to know your weight- no, not untill your on action. weights are done blind. When they decide to tell you your weight you just get to know your range and you IBW, you are usually then alloud to weigh yourself once a week.
How fast is the weigh gain process- 2-3 lbs. per week
Average length of stay- long haha, but average is probolly 6 months. I know girls who have stayed close to 2 years though. Then theres been a few who were out in 3 months, i guess it really depends.
average age range- well the adolecent takes ages 11-17 and adult is 18 and up. The first time i was there everyone was around 16 or 17, i was actually one of the youngest comming in at 15. the second time i was there most of the girls were 12 and 13.
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he different stages are supposed to reflect where you are at in your recovery, its not based on whether you’re following rules. you also go through a group of your peers and then staff and have to get voted up to move up on levels. it makes the atmosphere very peer based so you sort of get a lot of pressure from your peers, but you get a lot of honest feedback too from ppl who know where you are at and where you are coming from. though as kelly mentioned, you are watched like a HAWK all the time by staff and i found this really annoying and that it also hampered in the “commuity” that is often created between girls when they are at residential treatment centers b/c the staff was always breathing down your neck. however, if you really struggle with behaviors, this could be beneficial.
they are very strict on a lot of stuff (ie, phone calls, mail, etc.) THEY READ YOUR MAIL before they give it to you…i found that utterly disturbing. they decide and censor EVERYTHING to a point where its ridiculous. they would hold letters from me until a time “when your therapist thinks you can handle it…”
they do have a lot of raelly good things…DBT, the sports academy, the therapy is good, and although a certain staff may be remudaizing the place, he does know his stuff and they do have some excellent therapists there. you will get some good 1:1 time. also, the RD was totally available to you all the time, whenever you had a concern, etc. i have never had an RD so cool and there for you to talk with, that was very nice. the outings need some working on…very um, how do i say this politically,…utahish :p but please, a wedding show??? :p
if you want something between an ip/res type place, avalon would be a good place. everywhere has its pros/cons, so its a little give and take, waht do you want to deal with, what little annoyances are you willing to put up with. they do have the most comfortable beds!!!
i also really liked most of teh staff/counselor ppl which is a lot more than i can say for most places…
I’ve been to Renfrew (philly) twice, and was just discharged from Avalon today. They are very different programs. Renfrew (if programming hasn’t changed, I was there early 07) tends to keep pts busy with groups all day long. At Avalon, we sit in the ‘group room’ pretty much all day (unless we have individual sessions, where our therapist or the dietician or exercise therapist comes to get us, those appts are 3x/2x/1x wk unless scheduled otherwise) They recently changed the schedule b/c we had a lot of free time and people were falling asleep a lot. People are given therapy homework (and then it’s talked about in individual). The groups I felt were kind of helpful, but there could have been more. We had DBT, ACT, Relapse Prevention, Cooking group (we made lunch once a week), mindful fitness group usually 2x/week, body image group.
I just felt that Renfrew’s groups were more helpful. I was in the trauma and D&A track (Avalon has neither of those, and doesn’t deal with trauma), but their groups like ‘Exercise Issues’ was really helpful to me. I got more out of that than I did out of mindful exercise group at Avalon, since there I was able to work through my over-exercise urges, and at Avalon I was told that my exercise behaviors were ‘not normal’ and to just ‘sit with my feelings’
Avalon is a LOT more strict. When you first get there, you have to leave the bathroom door cracked and have a staff flush for you until you progress to a higher tx level. There are no ‘unlocked’ bathrooms like at Renfrew, really, until ‘Level 4′ when patients are allowed to go into tx team and ask for the last stage of the program, and one of the privileges is getting a (bathroom) key. The rooms are also locked every morning so you can’t go back to them during the day. I kind of liked being able to have my ‘alone’ time or time with my suitemates where we would hang out, listen to music, make posters, etc. At Avalon everyone travels in a pack. You get used to it after a while, but you really cherish the alone time (like when you get to sleep).
The length of stay varies. I stayed a little over 2 months b/c my insurance ran out and I had already used a scholarship to get into the program (for the initial part of what ins didn’t cover) so I didn’t qualify for another scholarship. When my OP tx team and family talked to them prior to admission they were told the average length of stay is 3-4 mos. There are people there that have been there for 3 months and are now doing great. There are people there that have been there for over a year and are still struggling. Recovery is personal. Avalon will work with you to the best of their ability, but when it comes down to it, treatment centers, like everything else, are a business. But generally they try to keep you there until you aren’t using behaviors. You get to go on a Logan (next town over) and home passes to see how you do outside of Avalon, which is something different than Renfrew. I don’t know if Renfrew has started Eat Out Challenges. I know they were talking about doing them with the Pink House when I was there, but at Avalon we do them every other week. Those were somewhat challenging, to say the least. Avalon also has ‘body image challenges’ (the body image therapist is awesome) where they will take you shopping for clothes or give you a challenge (on one of my passes I had to get clothes for a job interview and then process it later with the body image therapist, b/c dressing up is hard for me). She tries to work individually with everyone to come up with challenges for the girls to do.
They determine your goal weight based on several factors, not just your age/height. They take into consideration your body type, your weight before any ED symptoms, your family’s body types, your wrist size. They don’t give you a specific goal weight, they instead give you a range. I think the ranges vary in size for everyone; I never knew mine since I refused to know my weight while I was there, although they offered to tell me. When I got home however, I weighed myself in a moment of stupidity and was “x” pounds when I was sure my goal weight would be “y.” I was PISSED at first, but then I had to realize that I grew over 2 inches while at AH and I was on meds that altered my metabolism/hunger-fullness cues. You have to trust that they know what they’re doing (they are experts after all) and that your body will naturally go where it wants to be. Recovery isn’t about the weight, it’s about feeling comfortable with your body/food no matter what your weight. Weight is pretty irrelevant, actually.
I believe the lengths of stay vary between the adult and adolescent units. Average adol. stay is probably 5-6 months, adult is probably 2-4.
There are 12 beds on each unit, but a few people can be doing PHP at a time on each unit.
Yes, they treat all ED’s. While I was on the adol. unit, every girl either had AN or BN, or a mix, but there were a few women on the adult unit with BED.
I think the adult unit allows iPods, bbut only during specific times (like during morning care, free time, 1:1 if you’re level 4). At least that’s how it was on the adol. unit. No phones of any kind are allowed
The adults could smoke 4 times a day (I’m pretty sure). And only if you’re 19 or older.
I don’t know how the phone calls work on the adult unit, sorry
There’s a NP that goes between both units and each week we’d meet with him 3 or four times. We would see a psychiatrist once a month. But there would always be a nurse, and believe me, they took extra good care of you. If you had a problem, they’d do all they could to help you. Sometimes they pissed me off because they were strict about meds (they told me I couldn’t be on anti-anxiety pills, only antidepressants) But, honestly, I didn’t even really need them. I just wanted them so I could abuse them, and I’m sure they knew that.
The therapists are all very well educated. They all have PHDs, even the body image person.
When were you there: 3 times. Adol. Unit Nov. 06- May 07, Again Jan 08- April 08, and The Adult Unit October 09 to February 10.
Describe the average day: It varied and was a little different in the adult vs. ado house, but generally during the week wake up was at 6 am, showers were done, assessments and weights with the nurse were done. You got ready for the whole day by about 7:15. Breakfast was at 7:30 followed by pet care (walking dog/ feeding chickens at adult, horses at ado.) Then group, snack at 10:30, group, lunch at 12:30, Group, Snack at 3:30, Group, Dinner at 5:30, Some sort of activity or group in the evening, snack around 8:30, night time showers, vitals, get ready/ relax and bed time was at 10. The weekends were much more relaxed, we got to “sleep in” lol till 7 on Sat. and 8 on Sun. We would go on outings on the weekends as well as have down time. Everyone goes to them gym (even if you aren’t approved to work out yet) 3-4 times a week. One day a week at the adult unit you go to the adol unit to ride horses and do all that equine related stuff. If it’s still the same as when I was there, I believe the adol. do horses twice a week and go to the gym one less time then the adults. It’s generally a very busy schedule, weekends can be slow but they are deff. better then some other programs weekends.
What sorts of food were available or served? Literally everything. The food was very very good. There was a chef to make breakfast, lunch, and dinner and occasionally snacks. The food was really awesome haha. We have desserts 3-4 times a week. Yes, it is very challenging but they make the food so delicious which makes things easier. Most things were pretty fresh and healthy, we had some hard meals like chicken nuggets and fries, waffles and ice cream, but also very healthy nutritious meals like black bean burgers with salad and turkey sandwiches. It’s a really solid balance. Everyone complains and cries at first, but I have not met one person that by the end ( usually even sooner) of their stay wasn’t asking the cook for all the recipies
Does it work on a level system? Yes. This has changed a bunch. But as my most recent time they had levels 1 to 4, and stages pre-contemplation, contemplation, preperation, and action. The levels were based on privledges. Level 1 was what everyone comes in on and you are very very very closely monitored and as you move up you get more freedom. By Level 4 you get a key and can take themselves to the bathroom, unmonitored showers, can go out of sight of staff, sleep upstairs and are trusted a lot by staff. It is NOT easy to move up in levels though, and there is no way to cheat the system. Trust me, I’ve tried it all. I know its scary and it sucks MAJORLY while your there, but in the long term it is much better for your recovery because I am a strong believer that if you keep any symptoms you will relapse. The Stages of recovery were more based on your mindset. For example, at one point I was level 3 but still contemplation because I was being compliant, following rules, and could generally be trusted but I was still contemplating recovery. It really didn’t have an effect on your privleges though, I think its more for therapy purposes.
What sort of groups do they have? process, body image, dbt, act, fitness, nutrition, cooking, art therapy, rec art, music therapy, pottery
What was your favorite group? Process and Fitness ( they truly help you form an appropriate relationship with exercise. I learned about my love for swimming there! The exercise therapist is terrific, I love her.)
What did you like the most? The direct care staff. They are wonderful, of course there are always a few you clash with but they try so hard and really really helped me. The medical staff is also terrific, I was very medically compromised and they monitored me extremely close. I felt very safe under their watch. They are so compassionate and really care.
What did you like the least? At the time I was there, I hated a lot. The food, my therapist, the rules, the lack of freedom, the weight range they gave me, the fact that they read my mail, that I couldn’t make many phone calls ( they give you significantly more phone time at the adult unit), that I was watched every second, horses ( ok I truly just don’t like horses lol but I was overly complainy about it) I could go on and on . But now looking back, there is nothing I didn’t like just things my ed didn’t like. Sure, its not a vacation, this is no resort and you aren’t meant to enjoy it. But for what it is, which is an intensive long-term residential treatment center, I can’t say there is anything I (not my ed) didn’t like.
Would you recommend this program? yes, absolutely.
What level of activity or exercise was allowed? Once you are medically stable you exercise 3-4 times a week. We do everything from machines, to weights, to classes, to swimming, skiing, hiking, dance. Mel, the exercise therapist, is terrific. They take medical stability very seriously though, so you will not be aloud very much until you reach a certain level. But once you do, the exercise level is appropriate and realistic. Mel really works with you to see exercise as a way to have fun and be healthy, not a way to loose weight/ use ed behaviors ect. This was a HUGE thing for me.
What did people do on weekends? We went on outings. Some were better then others. We saw a lot of movies, went to Michaels, went to different things in the community. Every other Friday was an eat out challenge. Sometimes we would do snack outs on the weekends too. Utah State University is only about 10 minutes away so we went to a lot of their events like basketball games and things. They try to make it as fun and realistic as possible for a treatment center. Outtings are also meant to challenge you.
Do you get to know your weight? No. Most people once they get to level 4 will know their range and be able to weigh themselves once a week. But this is individualized.
How fast is the weight gain process? 2-3 lbs a week.
What was the average length of stay? 2 months- 2 years. It really depends. I would say “average” though is about 6 months at the adol. unit and 4 months at the adult. Again, its very individualized
What was the average age range? Adol. is 11-18 and adult is 18-30? There are some older clients though.
What kind of aftercare do they provide? Yes. They have a great guy whose job is to literally travel the country meeting with aftercare providers and finding the best ones. You can not leave their facility without at least a therapist and nutritionist appointment. They also will do PHP with adult clients ( I very much regret not doing this, I was stubborn and demanded to go to a specific “transitional living” place and had a very bad experience/ relapsed). They are very flexible/ individualized with it.
How many IP beds?There are 12 at each unit. It’s a small, tight-knit community.
If anyone has questions, please feel free to ask.