Bring Your Brokenness is a nonprofit Christian eating disorder treatment center located in Florida. They offer residential treatment, partial hospitalization, outpatient treatment, and recovery retreats for women with eating disorders. Residential and PHP take place at the Charis House. The Charis House accepts insurance and offers scholarships. Scholarships are typically for 30-70% of treatment cost.
The mission of Bring Your Brokenness is “to provide a safe and loving environment for women with eating disorders to find hope and healing for life transformation through God’s Word.” Faith is deeply integrated into treatment but not required.
Any reviews? Please post in comments below. You can check out the FAQ and Guidelines for suggested questions. Thank you!
Review Residential & PHP – Spring 2023
I did Charis spring 2023. I was there for 3ish month and did both residential and PHP. They do not provide inpatient care.
I’ve seen a variety of wonderful communities, studied mental health in college, and heard from others of all backgrounds in the ed recovery community, so I speak from my own experience, but the latter context may be helpful to know, too.
There are very few people/organization/nonprofits/etc that I can speak with as much joy and devotion as for The Charis House. I read some previous comments that seemed to speak against them, so I’m going to share logistics, my experience, and (gently) respond to the negative comments.
Logistics:
• You see a RD and therapist 2x • weekly,
horse, art, nature, and exposure therapy
• elements of faith are woven in, but are not slammed down your throat • restaurant outings, church outings, and other outings weekly (e.g. beach, Hobby Lobby, boutiques, etc).
• limited daily phone/electronics time that will increase once you reach PHP
• around 6 people are in residential and 4-5 in PHP, on average.
• THERE ARE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE (I was uninsured then and could not find any other financial aid, even after trying Project Heal)
My experience:
I’m a Christian, and this is the first time I’ve had faith woven into recovery in a way which was actually helpful. It was not saying, “Eds are sin,” as some spaces of faith communicate. Having little to no movement privileges at the beginning and being required to eat full meals was hard, BUT is also research-proven. Having to eat full meals and not just supplement your way out of it has shown to provide a healthier recovery mindset in the long-term than being allowed to skip or miss. The community being small there is a radical piece that truly changed my life. I’ve had great space of community before, but never like this. It wasn’t perfect. Having less women meant we knew each other better and could be a bit b***** at times, but it also allowed for stronger relationships. This was my first and only residential treatment stay. While I continue to work towards full recovery, I have not relapsed in the 2yrs since discharging. Many of the women I met who had been in and out of multiple treatment centers told me there was something different here, that the staff actually cared and the community built with the other residents was different, more beautiful, stronger.
In response to the negative comments:
Is the Charis House perfect? Absolutely not. Did I also think some of the things written (e.g. clothes being super dressy, some staff being standoffish, calling out girls in an unhelpful way, monitered toilet trips)? Yes, to an extent. But, is it possibly the space where the amount of relational care and concern for each woman who walks in those doors outweighs the negative pieces? 100% yes. It doesn’t negate any mistakes the staff make, but it does put things in perspective. What other treatment center director is going to make time to sit down and talk with me because I’m bothered by how fancy her clothes are (in case you were wondering, she was happy to answer, and I would encourage anyone else thinking similarly to just ask them)? Listen to me even if I’ve broken rules? Buy products that help my sensory needs? Allow rules to be shifted when the relationship is more important?
Charis house doesn’t do everything perfectly, but no treatment center does. As I hear so many horror stories coming from victims of abuse from other treatment center staff, or just made to feel like prisoners, know that Charis will love and care for you in ways you may not even know. You may not feel it when you have to complete your whole meal or when you disagree, but even then, they’ll do their best to show up well. It’s not perfect, but it’s a space to be nourished not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and, if you want, spiritually.
PS – They have great oupatient resources, too! Coaching, retreats, and a free Sunday night support group on Zoom!
Could you do a review with all the example questions answered
We are looking at this place for our daughter. Do they monitor bathroom trips the entire stay and have client sing or leave door cracked as another review I saw? Also, on meal and snack completion how is it handled if one cannot complete? My daughter is faith based and a Christian and I believe this place would be good for her but also have reservations reading how some things are handled and the client feeling called out or put down and the staff always shows up like they’re going out to dinner. Can you elaborate? And as far as the outings like the equine day and nature day?
They do not monitor bathroom trips the entire stay and do not leave the door cracked, as most treatment centers do. I recommend asking the staff how they handle those things. I’m happy to share how Charis gave me many amazing experiences and supported me well, and I know a few others on this forum would say differently. This forum is the first time I’ve seen such critique of Charis, and I’ve been part of retreats, alumni gatherings, and outpatient services for the last 2yrs, so I’ve talked extensively with others. It is so incredibly hard to trust providers when an ed is screaming in your head, so I recommend reaching out to the Charis staff or finding parents of those who entered Charis (you can find many through Facebook) to have a better understanding. Does that help at all?
I was here earlier this year (2024) and my stay helped me through part of my recovery but I found the overall experience to not be nearly what I had hoped.
The atmosphere initially is welcoming and loving (and openly Christian, which I as a Christian appreciated), but the longer I stayed, the more I felt like most of the staff/leadership were just hoping to push people through the program come hell and high water. I began to really feel like a “pack animal” by the end and felt hopeless that I’d ever find the deep healing I was desperate for.
I also found some of decisions of the leadership to be strange and at times, down-right wrong/unfair. The leadership seemed to genuinely not enjoy their interactions with the residents and wanted to stay in the office as much as possible.
Also, the leadership especially seemed to get impatient with those who were struggling more and at times called them out in such a way that was embarrassing. I remember watching one of the girls look like a deer in the headlights, teary-eyed and incessantly tapping her foot as we were lectured as to how “a few of us” needed to stop giving into our EDs and get it together.
Another strange thing was that the leadership would show up every single day in overly fancy clothing (always high-heels, often in dresses you might go out to a nice restaurant in, hair done, full faces of makeup, and at times, revealing clothing) while we were told to wear comfortable clothing which consisted mainly of loungewear, yoga pants, some sportswear, etc.
Also, everyone (even those in PHP, when they were in program) had to have someone monitoring their toilet trips by either having the door cracked open or by having the patient sing, count, etc. constantly and the patient could never (even after being there months) flush their own toilets. This, combined with other rules, like having to eat and drink everything every meal and snack, even the crumbs off your plate from day one, made it overwhelming to stay there.
One of the hardest things was watching one resident who had a deep struggle with ED be forced to stay up multiple nights in a row because she couldn’t finish her meals for the day. She was also forced to take a shower at some point and was immediately returned to the table. Eventually, she was sent back to her family somewhat abruptly because she was too hard of a case for BYB to accommodate. She was also somehow able to self-harm one morning (even though she should have been monitored at the time) and I noticed her hands were raw with scratches on them. They made her wear latex gloves after this.
The staff can be very friendly and down to earth but I noticed there seemed to be pressure on them to hold things together and create a sense of peace while the leadership hovered in the background, doing their own bidding much of the time.
I left, in all honestly, very discouraged, upset, and happy to be home. All I know is what I experienced.
I will say, a highlight of my stay was counseling with S**** J*****, as he was one of the best counselors I’ve ever seen.
I have been in res at Charis. The groups and nursing staff are excellent. The faith-based approach is also wonderful.
I agree with a lot of both positive and negative comments posted. I think the one big negative is the dietitian. The clinical director is a registered dietitian and an amazing person. Her groups were outstanding and I wished she was the dietitian and handled food-related issues. The dietitian who does is fairly narcissistic and does not listen or accommodate individual needs. She seems to use outdated approaches that are not consistent with intuitive eating. Examples include not allowing substitutions like yogurt instead of milk, not allowing choice in snacks, and not making adjustments for things like hypoglycemia and hunger cues as your body adjusts to eating. Those things made the other positives not effective enough to recommend Charis.
How well does Charis handle clients with complex medical needs? Do they have trauma specialists who know how to treat CPTSD?
Hi there,
I’m currently researching inpatient eating disorder treatment programs and would really appreciate a detailed review from anyone who has stayed at the facility. I’m especially hoping to get insight on the daily structure, meal plans, and overall atmosphere—both the support side and the rules.
If you’re open to sharing your experience, would you mind answering the questions below? Your feedback would mean a lot to me as I try to find the right place for my recovery. Thank you in advance for your time and honesty!
Questions to Include in the Review:
What is the daily schedule like (meals, therapy, free time, etc.)?
What types of meals are provided, and are they the same for everyone or individualized?
Do they accommodate specific food allergies or preferences (vegetarian, lactose intolerance, etc.)?
Are you required to finish everything on your plate?
What happens if you can’t or don’t finish a meal or snack?
Is there any form of punishment or consequence for not eating?
Do they allow any flexibility in food choices?
How are portion sizes determined and monitored?
Are supplements or meal replacements (like Ensure) used?
Can you ask for more food if you’re still hungry?
Is staff present during meals and snacks?
Are meals eaten in a group setting, and if so, what is the atmosphere like?
Are you allowed to go to the bathroom after eating?
Are bathroom breaks monitored or limited?
What kind of therapy is offered (CBT, DBT, group, individual)?
Is body image or body dysmorphia addressed specifically?
Is there any kind of weigh-in schedule? If so, how often and is it blind/weigh-in?
Are patients allowed to exercise at all?
If not allowed, is there any punishment if someone tries to exercise secretly?
How do they handle exercise compulsions or movement urges?
Do patients have access to their phones, internet, or any screen time?
Are you allowed visitors or phone calls from family and friends?
Is it a locked unit or open-campus?
Is there medical monitoring (labs, vitals, etc.) regularly?
What kind of support is provided for refeeding symptoms or physical side effects?
Are the staff compassionate and understanding, or more rule-focused?
What is the age range of patients, and were you placed with people you felt comfortable around?
How does discharge planning work? Are you involved in the process?
What would you say was the most helpful part of the program?
Is there anything you wish you had known before entering this specific facility?
Hi! I would love to help answer your questions. Would you be open to calling? It would be more helpful if we could talk through these questions, as I don’t have black and white answers for all of them 🙂
Hi! Thank you so much for your help! Just do your best answering the questions on here, that way everyone who visits the page can benefit from the information! Black and white answers not necessary 🙂
Unfortunately I can’t facilitate phone calls and we’re not allowed to post phone numbers on EDTR.
Unfortunately I don’t think we are able to share numbers on this site but I would appreciate anything you can share regarding my questions so that way everyone is informed
I would like to know more regarding this program?
I have personally benefitted from Charis and I can say knowing that of course no program is perfect, this one is the very best that I am aware of for ED recovery. I reflected on a list of ways Charis stands out better and unique from any other ED treatment program. I hope this is helpful for someone considering treatment.
1) processing is encouraged and facilitated after every single meal and snack
2) support is provided to share and reframe automatic negative thoughts in light of the truth every single morning
3) there is an emphasis on separating one’s identity from the ED, and this means leaving NO room for the ED to have as voice in ways such as facilitating nonnegotiable full completion at meal and snack times. Patients’ true identity apart from the ED is celebrated, and they experience unconditional love and support.
4) the gospel power of Jesus Christ is central, and the treatment team speaks in terms of hope and full recovery rather than inevitable relapse.
5) the small census and highly competent and compassionate staff make it feel like being at home with a family instead of feeling “trapped” in an institution.
6) the clinical director and program founder are daily involved in the activities and needs of the patients. No matter how busy they are, they demonstrate kind, sacrificial attitudes and they are willing to listen and help.
7) the staff holds onto hope for the patients when when they cannot for themselves, and they help the patients to repeat the truth until they can believe it. They also come alongside the patients with compassionate hearts rather than with a disciplinary or belittling demeanor, further making patients feel safe and willing to choose recovery.
8) treatment plans are truly individualized and appropriate for each person’s needs. The clinicians are not afraid to be creative and flexible to do what is best for the individual.
9) the patients are guided to acknowledge and honor their food for how it serves their bodies and to pray at every meal and snack time. This practice reinforces gratitude and the fact that food is a gift for our bodies, not something threatening. (“Unless food is spoiled or you have a medical allergy to it, food is always safe for you to eat.” – Mrs. Shields)
10) patients are repeatedly reminded that “their now is not their forever,” they did not choose to have an ED, it is not a sin to have an ED, and they are making an admirable, worthwhile, powerful sacrifice to participate in treatment now and to work towards putting their ED to death. These truths help to remove shame and instead reinforce hope, dignity, and endurance.
Has anyone done the recovery retreat and can speak to their experience
Yes! It was SO good. I believe their next one will be Spring ’26! Are you considering attending?
I had a brief call with the admissions coordinator yesterday and i thought i’d pass along some info (i got nervous and didn’t ask a ton of questions so sorry in advance but what i did learn was pretty hopeful imo):
-residential is super small, only 6 female identifying ppl at a time, PHP is 4 max.
– offer scholarships to cover 20-80% of total cost if not in network or no insurance
-dietician and therapist 2x a week, groups daily
-recommendation @ least 60 days res, 30 php. php has apartment style housing 10 minutes away from residential location
-she said they are transparent about being a faith based program but do not push any ideology or belief system on clients (i’m not really a person of faith but i am interested because the program seems so intimate and small which is really appealing, and they are a non profit which i also really appreciate)
[name redacted] is awesome and I’m not the most knowledgeable Christian but they are not like a cult mentality or anything close. They are amazing people here
Oh yeah I didn’t mean to imply that at all! When I did my intake with the nurse she said that some people choose them because of the faith aspect but they definitely have had other people come in because of the small setting, and who were Christian and that both were welcome :0)
I have had nothing but positive, hopeful interactions with everyone I’ve interacted with so far! I would really appreciate a full review too, if and when you’re ready. Much strength and healing energy your way! You’ve got this!
I’m on my way there tomorrow morning to admit
Congratulations!! I hope it goes well.
Hi I have never been but they do a free ed support group led by the owner on Sundays anyone can sign up to join.
has anyone been here?
Yes, I was here earlier this year (2024) and to be honest, I didn’t like it and felt it could improve a lot. There is a little cardboard box in one room for suggestions but written on it is “No complaints” so there’s not a lot of opportunity to voice your struggles.
Yes! It’s hard because full recovery will never be easy, but they will be there to do their best and provide support every step of the way. I shared more about my experience above! If you have further questions, let me know! I’d love to share more.
Any reviews for here?
I posted mine above! Let me know if you want to talk more – I’d be happy to share more about my experience.
Has anyone been to this facility?
i would love to hear any reviews on this residential property that any one has