Backcountry Wellness is an eating disorder treatment center in Greenwich, Connecticut that offers a full range of care in Fairfield Country from outpatient up through residential:
- Residential Treatment Program – Offers 24/7 comprehensive support and programming in a state-of-the-art treatment environment.
- PHP – Full-Day Program provides a full day of comprehensive support for patients who are ready to return home during evening hours.
- IOP – Half-Day Program provides three-hour programming sessions for those integrating treatment with school or work.
- Outpatient Services provides support on an as-needed basis: new patients, alumni continuing treatment, and those seeking intermittent support.
- Counseling Services consists of customized therapeutic and nutritional support to help individuals maintain a healthy and balanced approach to wellness.
- Virtual Care offers all of their programming virtually, providing easy access to comprehensive care.
Backcountry Wellness is also known for helping and providing comprehensive treatment for people who suffer from disordered eating but who may not fit the full criteria for any given eating disorder diagnosis.
Any reviews or information? Please post in comments below. You can check out the FAQ and Guidelines for suggested questions to answer in reviews. Thank you!
Before I further divulge into the specifics of BCW, I want to recognize and acknowledge that everyone’s experiences are different, and I can fully understand the rationale behind some of these negative comments. Going through eating disorder recovery can be one of the hardest obstacles to overcome in some people’s lives, and there are so many points where you’re frustrated at others, or maybe just the process itself. It can feel daunting. I hope this review helps all kids in the now or in the future who may enter either the IOP, PHP, or Residential program at BCW. Just know that recovery isn’t linear, and that even on a bad day- it’s just a bad day and not a bad life. After all, progression is the goal, not perfection.
Day to day at the Residential, various forms of therapy (ACT, DBT, CBT, etc.) along with a range of other topics pertaining to struggles one might have when confronting their eating disorder are to be expected. Based on my personal experience, the clinicians were very easy to talk to and incredibly open minded. They are able to challenge their clients, always asking the tough questions to make the clients think deeper and ultimately, gain a better understanding of themselves. Furthermore, I was fortunate enough to have a group of incredible kids in my milieu that offered alternative perspectives and help me grow and develop exponentially as an individual. The small program sizes can really make one feel much more supported and that your needs are always going to be prioritized within your clinical team. I also believe that BCW stands out from other eating disorder treatment facilities in that they take a family based approach, most notably utilizing FBT and IFS. Research has concluded that this is by far the most effective treatment technique to use when dealing with eating disorders. Additionally, the fluidity and flexibility of the treatment plans paves the way for a customizable treatment approach that is tailored to the needs of the individual, rather than a one-size fits all approach that other eating disorder treatment facilities may follow.
Initially, when I found out I was going to be transferred to the BCW Residential program, I was terrified. The mere thought of constantly being in a food-focused environment and the inability to see my friends or even parents was extremely anxiety inducing. However, now out of the Residential program and currently in their IOP program, I can confidently say that this has been a truly life changing experience in such a positive way. It would have been an impossibility to recover without going through this extensive yet necessary recovery process. I became a more emotionally intelligent, kind, compassionate, thoughtful, aware, and fulfilled person. I found things within me that transcended food or exercise, whether it be core values I can always live with or the ability to connect with others on a deeper level. I cannot express enough gratitude to the BCW people (clinicians, care coaches, educational staff, and leadership staff). Most importantly, I want to thank all the amazing kids I was able to meet at BCW.
Hope this review helps, and comment below if you agree or disagree with my thoughts and opinions.
Can you do a full review?
this reads like something written by a staff member but not a patient. If I’m wrong I’m sorry, but the lack of specifics just makes it sounds like it’s not a lived experience. If it is a real review, answering the questions makes it so much more useful for people. Then you still get to share your story and you contribute a lot. I’d like to know more about this organization because there isn’t much online, but I am not trusting of this.
Backcountry wellness is an extremely unique place. Of course, I don’t mean that in a bad way! This place literally saved my life. Before I got into BCW, I was in a horrific place. They took me in and cared for me in a supportive, caring, and safe environment. I have NEVER met kinder, funnier, and more supportive people ( staff & clients). Shout out to [names redacted*]. They supported me through hard meals, horrid body image days, and even on my good days. I’ve been through the residential twice, three times in PHP and IOP twice, Not once did they give up on me! They supported my parents and my whole family I am extremely grateful for that. BCW allowed me to get my personality, help me laugh again, and get my life back. They gave me skills to help me combat ED thoughts and urges. The program also gave me some of the greatest, most supportive friends. I am forever thankful for everyone and especially all of my “milieu. “ For every person who is reading this thinking about going to BCW or is in BCW now remember you are in control of your recovery. There is so much more than being occupied by food, body, and calories. I can’t believe how much my life changed for the better in this past year. Thank you to all the staff and friends I met YOU HAVE TO NOURISH TO FLOURISH!!!!
*admin note: names reacted per site policy
I see quite a bit of negative reviews and I am surpised; although I did not go to the residenitial place.
My experience was at PHP/IOP. I think the dietician is the same, she was pretty cool and really tried to have me practice eating normally without measuring. I do see the benefit of this because I am not going to bring measuring tools to high school with me or out to a restuarant. The lets see what you can do approach is good because i know the expectation is to complete without the pressure. The program director goes above and beyond and is there everyday. Often times she takes us to Starbucks or Smoothie places in greenwich for an exposure snack. I think she pays because I noticed it only happens on her watch. I dont like that she takes our phones but I get why. Shes not my therapist but i find her groups to be the most engaging and helpful, I think she even takes her kids for exposure meals which Im kind of jealous of. I like my therapist too but I wish there was more structure in the sessions, but it gives me the space to bring up whats bothering most which is body image, but I dont get much feedback on it. We have alot of groups therapeutic and not which is a good balance. I think the building could use an update but it gets the job done. I would recommend PHP/IOP, sorry i cant give feedback on Residency.
YES! [Therapist name redacted] is flawless! Recovery Goals. BCW saved my life.
*name redacted by admin per site policy
Can you say a bit more? Describing a treatment provider as “flawless” and “Goals” is concerning to me in the context of recovery, and may be triggering to the recovery of many of your community members here on EDTR. However I don’t want to jump to conclusions that you are referring to someone’s physical appearance, because I may be misinterpreting or projecting when that isn’t what you mean at all! So rather than redact those words for going against site policy, I would like to give you the opportunity to clarify what you mean.
The program director at PHP is definitely pretty but I dont think that is what is being implied here. She is extremely relatable and shows us that it is okay to be vunerable and struggle that we are all imperfect in our own ways. I remember when a friend of mine had a “girl accident” and instead of having her walk around embarassed until family could come pick her up, she took the sweater off her back to allow her to cover herself to feel more comfortable. To me that caring personality rather than focusing on ourself is something to strive for and is a goal! She cares alot about the patients and program. Even gave the office some decor to make it look more welcoming.
There was little to no dietician help at all. The dietician is for all patients in all programs (res,php,outpatient) so it is extremely un individualized. Also everyone eats the same amount of food no matter your age, gender or weight which I found very harmful because I believe that different bodies should have different needs. Not to mention that the res was a complete joke. You could get away with SO many behaviors and the people running the groups were kids that just got out of college and have no clue what an eating disorder actually is. Only once a week there was an actual group with an actual therapist. The only thing the res was successful at was making you gain a bunch of weight.
I second this 10000000%!!!!!
yes 100%. between the lack of personalized care, there being almost no therapy, and the insanely inexperienced staff, the res only made me worse. i haven’t heard a single good thing from any other patient. i’d highly recommend reviewing on google and any where else true. i really want to prevent as many people from having to endure this place as possible.
April 2022
resi
3-6; php can be way more
combined of all genders
they say they do but a lot of the staff made disrespectful comments
psych and dietician 1/week, therapist 2/week, family therapist 1/week
about 2:1
they say DBT and CBT but there isnt any actual group therapies and individual varies by therapist
Describe the average day:
3 meals 3 snacks, all super repetitive; most of the food wasnt very good,, the chef doesnt make most of the food but shes not great so thats fine
typical american foods and snacks
you have to supplement for an unfinished food; sometimes they woulld give you different foods or juice to supplement with but thats uncommon
supplement; if you dont supplement, theyll send you to hospital
yes but a lot of the staff is against it and some patients were forced to eat meat
none??
yes – levels determine bathroom monitoring, food plating; its supposed to be more but thats it
compliance with food and groups; speaking up about issues, being too quiet or talkative, etc. will prevent leveling up
almost none of the groups on the schedule happen; there are only about 5 actual groups a week – a couple nutrition groups, a cbt group, maybe a social skills group, and a cooking group
the ones where we actually did therapeutic activites, rather than just being asked if we felt like journaling or painting
getting to go outside most days, yoga
the director blatantly lied many times. most of the staff was untrained or extremely rude. they are very concerned about the company image. i was talked about by other therapists to patients. there was little structure and we barely did anything therapeutic. rules were changed on a daily basis. many iappropriate comments were made about patients’ weight, eating habits, dieting, etc. they made it clear we were just guinea pigs for the new program. i was shut down for talking abiut fatphobia, recovery culture, queerness, and more. didnt follow hipaa. ruined a lot of patients’ self esteem. dont expect a single moment alone
not at all
yoga 3x/week
lay around, see parents; there was an outing to a park or beach on sundays that was usually decided on last minute
it depended on the mood your team was in; many patients were accidentally told their weight
about 2-3 lbs per week
anywhere from 2-12 weeks; they’re brand new (and its very clear) but that means there have only been about 10 patients at the res so far so no real average
12-18
you get 7 minutes for a phone call per day
no electronics except laptops for school for a couple hours a day; they monitor computer and internet usage
yes but not often and its super subjective
yes but pretty much only if they are going to their php – they wont help you find other treatment if you cant or dont want to do their program
i posted this while i was still there but i really wanted to emphasize how bad it is now that im out,, they released multiple patients without after care and sent one person to wilderness therapy. it was a terrible and degrading experience. i have been to other places and levels of care and this was by far the worst
I would like to emphasize this. I hardly comment on anything, and when I do it is almost never negative but BCW was absolutely the worst treatment I went to. I understand that recovery is really hard and that often treatment places are set out to be seen as horrible places as they never wanted to be there in the first place and treatment in itself is very strict and structured, for the right reasons, but BCW was just flat out terrible. The staff was the problem. There were times and times again when the things they said were just horrendous. It wasn’t the rules or lack of freedom that others often complain about at other treatment facilities it was how they spoke to us and treated us. I don’t want to bad-mouth a place and be just another complaint, but truly I don’t want anyone to send their child to this program without knowing this in advance. They shamed us and belittled us. It was not a good place.
Backcountry Wellness is located in Greenwich, Connecticut, and is only 10 miles away from White Plains, New York. Any information or reviews?
thanks for adding a page for them! i have not been there, but i’m on the waitlist for their residential. their outpatient programs are all ages but their resi is only 12-17 and it’s a small program, with only 6 at a time.
I can’t wait to hear how it is! That’s good to know about the small size, and I’m glad they give adols their own residential and don’t make it all ages. Both of those things will make for a better treatment experience for sure, but I know the wait must feel endless. You got this!
Anonymous, did you end up going to Backcountry? Can you do a full review?