*CANOPY COVE HAS PERMANENTLY CLOSED ALL OF THEIR REMAINING LOCATIONS AND DISCONTINUED PROGRAMMING FOR ALL LEVELS OF CARE AS OF MAY 10, 2023*
Canopy Cove is a non-denominational Christian-based treatment center in Florida that treats adolescents and adults. They have residential treatment, transitional living, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), and outpatient treatment (including aftercare) all on the same campus. In addition to eating disorders they treat co-occurring depression, anxiety, and self harm. Canopy Cove is known for its Equine Therapy, also known as Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP).
This treatment center has a specialized track for people with eating disorders and Type 1 Diabetes (Diabulimia), and also a specialized program people with eating disorders and Celiac or gluten intolerance.
Any recent reviews?? Please post them below!
For ideas of questions for a review, click here: How to Write a Review. Thank you!
this facility shut its doors permanently a few weeks ago
Canopy Cove’s adult program was closed when I inquired a couple weeks ago. Does anyone know if Canopy Cove’s adult residential program has reopened or if not, when it will reopen? Also, is the adult PHP in-person program still open? And is PHP still also being offered virtually too, and if so, in what states? Thanks!
I don’t know about their residential or virtual programming, but I have a friend who is in the adult in-person PHP right now.
Oh… that’s good to know! The intake coordinator emailed me and said it was closed? Are you sure she is still there and its Canopy Cove PHP in Tallahassee? That would be great if I could do PHP there once I’m done in residential at my current facility!
I haven’t spoken to her in a few weeks so I don’t know if she’s still there (just texted her lol), but she was as of about a month ago! Best of luck in the rest of res and stepping down!
Thank you 🙂
I was at Canopy Cove from early January 2023-early March 2023, and their adult residential is currently shut down. They transferred everyone there to Fairhaven residential in TN. However, their adult PHP program and their adolescent residential are still open. I have no idea how long their adult residential will be closed for, but I got the sense it’ll be a while. I don’t think they have a virtual PHP program. I think it is only in person, but they do offer supportive living for people out of state. The adult PHP program and the adolescent residential program are still open.
The facility in Tallahassee is closed due to unsafe living conditions. All staff was fired. God only knows if or when it will open.
Wondering if anyone has been here recently and can share their experience. Also wondering how much the religious component is emphasized here ?
Did you ever get any info? I am curious about how they treat “orthorexia” with some ARFID and learned they were bought in the last 2 years- parent co is called refresh mental health and they own other properties around the US
I was at Canopy Cove from early January 2023-early March 2023, and the religious component is very very very heavily emphasized. As an Atheist with lots of religious trauma, I found it extremely traumatizing. However, if you are Christian and are looking for that, it may be a good fit. However, Canopy Cove’s adult residential is currently shut down. Their adolescent residential and adult PHP program are still open though
Does anyone know more about what their treatment program for boys/men is like? Is it comparable to the one for girls/women? I only just found out Canopy Cove has a separate residential treatment program for boys/men from their residential treatment program for girls/women. According to their site:
“Our Residential campus is an all-female campus. Males are offered treatment in a separate location off campus. Adult and adolescent males are treated in our Partial Hospitalization Program which offers a full day of treatment and provides off-site housing with daily transportation. We have provided treatment to males for over 20 years.”
I’m not sure in what ways the programs vary, aside from the female one being 24/7 residential and the male one being full day PHP with off-site housing and transportation. Does the housing have support staff and meal support there at all times too, so it’s more similar to residential? Is this housing only for guys? Are adolescents and adults housed/treated separately in the male housing? How much is housing? Is the PHP that guys are treated in the same that women are, or is it different? Any info would be great!
I can’t answer all your questions, but I can say that the housing is in an apartment complex in Tallahassee. I assume it would be an all male apartment. There is not staff at the apartments overnight, so I would think you need to be capable of being at the PHP level.
Is Canopy Cove still open? If so, has anyone been that could leave a recent review?
Yes, its still open
Could you leave an updated review of their PHP or IOP programs?
My 14 yo was a patient at Canopy Cove residential in May 2022. She has Type 1 Diabetes and Anorexia. They did not have the medical staff or knowledge to manager her diabetes. She ended up in the ER twice during the week she was there. Also, it was nearly impossible to reach someone on site. You have to leave a voicemail and they do not respond quickly. There were other signs that things were not quite right such as rotting corn hole boards on the front lawn and a dirty cob-webbed entrance. My daughter did feel like she made connections with some of the staff and other residents in the program in her short time there. My understanding is that the facility has been going through quite a bit of turnover at the management level. The medical and clinical directors were not on site (out of state). I would do a lot of research on where they are now before sending a loved one there. Especially if they have other medical conditions that need to be managed.
I was in the adult residential at the same time (mid-April to mid-May 2022) as your daughter, and I did find it completely different and not as well organized as the time I was there January through March 2018. A lot of times in the adult house in the month I was in residential, we clients had to take it upon ourselves to help each other because it seemed as if none if the staff or therapist assistants cared or knew what to do to help us through things. I remember a couple times sitting ourselves down to snack 2 (night snack) because the TAs were talking in another room. The only good things that came out of this last round of treatment there were realizing since i had to do things pretty much on my own im still fairly strong in some recovery habits, having more time in PHP than residential to practice for when I came home, and the good friends that I did make in residential by being there for each other when no one else was able or willing to be. It was run a whole lot more organized with more communication, and the staff, therapists, and TAs there used to be so much more caring and empathetic. I did have the same primary therapist this time as my first time, and she is awesome! I did see on their website that they shutdown early May, but I can’t seem to find out why. The only reason I went to their website was because I received a huge bill for May last year when I went to PHP, but I know that I paid it all last year and wanted to get the number to call to dispute it. I’ve been trying to get in contact with someone to help me with it all week, but no one has called me back. Go figure.
Re: Virtual IOP & PHP
Any reviews or information about Canopy Cove’s virtual IOP or PHP programs? I just learned that they had have a virtual IOP for adults of all genders that happens 3x/week in the evenings that has been running since March. They also have virtual PHP, with separate programs for adolescents and adults. According to their website, their IOP and PHP programming is now fully virtual, and they take Medicaid, but I don’t know how recently that was updated. I’m excited to hear there is another virtual IOP/PHP program out there, especially one that may be less strict than Alsana, Monte Nido, etc, with the days per week attendance requirements for adults. Please share any information or experiences!
I’m screening with them tomorrow for Virtual IOP. I will definitely post a review of the admission process and then, if I admit, the program. Hoping someone else has an update though!
They didn’t accept me to VIOP so unfortunately I cannot do a review, however the person I spoke to advised that their PHP is in person only right now so I wanted to share that.
Any updates especially regarding covid and waitlist and staff? Thanks!
For people interested in PHP, can you admit directly to PHP or does your facility only allow people to admit to PHP that did Residential there first?? Also, may I ask how many meals per day are provided in PHP and if clients pick there own food or if everyone eats the same thing? Additional, how do meals work in Residential? Does everyone eat the same thing for all 3 meals and snacks or do clients get some choice – to an extent? Would it be possible to get a few examples of typical meals clients might be plated at breakfast, lunch and dinner? I’m trying to get an idea of the types of foods served at Canopy Cove….3 sample meals for each breakfast, lunch and dinner would be really helpful if someone doesn’t mind giving me some examples so I can get an idea of what to expect given the types of foods can vary SO SO much from facility to facility….thank-you!!
My daughter felt the adolescent program is not up to par. She claims she took cold showers because there was no hot water. She was there for 43 days. Yes, the facility was successful in putting weight back on my daughter but it’s only because of the sedentary environment she was in. I was given inaccurate information on the amount my insurance would reimburse nor were the claims submitted weekly as told by the staff. So, we used a massive amount of our 401K thinking we would be reimbursed all but 16,000-17,000 and that couldn’t be farther from the truth. One of the direct0r’s you may speak with seems sweet but felt she had ulterior motives. A main frustration was with insurance. If they had filed the claims weekly like they said I would have known Blue Cross only allowed a fraction of the rate they charge. The day my daughter discharged, ironically in 4 days all the claims came through.
My daughter said the therapist were good, but some of the assistants were lacking making unprofessional comments about their job, etc.. My daughter claimed they would get aggravated if the girls had to use the restroom during the night and complained about their salary in front of the clients. Seriously, consider other options for your adolescents recovery.
*Names removed by admin per site rules
Any reviews from 2016?
I am looking at this facility and would appreciate any recent reviews. Thank you!
Hi, are you allowed to have your phone/laptop in residential?
Thanks
Updated Information from Canopy Cove:
Does Canopy Cove cut you off from outside contact initially? Can I bring my phone?
‘Yes, in the adult program clients are able to bring their phone. (Remember to bring your charger as well). We want to share that the first few days of treatment are “unplugged” or “phone free” times. This initial time frame is designed to allow you to focus on connecting with the treatment team and to become comfortable with the schedule. You’ll have an opportunity to call your family on the third day in the program. During the program, you’ll have a chance to contact your family or friends on a regular basis during scheduled phone time. While these times are consistent, they are short. The short phone times are designed to ensure that each client is able to use their energy to focus on the issues related to their Eating Disorder rather than being distracted by other events. In addition to the regular phone times, you’ll have an opportunity to speak with your family during the family education or family therapy sessions that are offered each week by conference call. Note: Clients with young children can opt to participate in brief nightly “Mommy Calls”. You may opt to explain in advance that you will be able to speak with them very often and may avoid committing to talking each night. This will allow you to have the opportunity to call on the nights that you feel are appropriate.’
Is there internet time at all? Can I bring my laptop or other electronics?
‘We have laptops available for clients to have access to for specific situations. We do ask that all electronics be left at home, this includes laptops, hand held games and readers such as kindles. The goal is to avoid distractions and to allow you to focus your energy and thoughts on the recovery process.’
How many groups are there, how is the program tailored towards the patient?
‘Our program is considered an extremely “Intensive Program” and provides a high level of treatment. Clients receive both a high number of hours of treatment each day, as well as a high number of individual sessions each week. This high level of treatment is in place to avoid free time which is where clients often “redirect” their focus toward destructive thoughts or behavior, or toward avoiding treatment. Clients are up at 7:00 and groups run until bedtime. There is only one “unstructured” hour of the day. In addition, we limit the number of clients accepted at any one time to ensure that clients have a high level of access to the treatment team.’
Any reviews from 2015?
if you have any specific questions, you can get updated answers quickly by asking posting them on the canopy cove professional page, they may not be “consumer reviews” but it will at least be updated information and you don’t have to make a bunch of phone calls. if you need anything let me know, hope you can find the help you need.
where is this treatment center located
Tallahassee, Florida
Any recent reviews of Canopy Cove? Thank you!
Hi, I saw you were looking for a recent review for Canopy Cove. I just read their review on their FB page, and I saw 2 that were very recent. One was from just a week ago and the other from a month ago.
They both give a really good review. Hope this helps.
“Thank you so much Canopy Cove, you all helped save my life both times I was there. The second time I was there, I was trying to hide the truth from myself and others, I acted very childish, I was a very difficult client, but now I know this and can see this. I am so grateful that the —— founded such an amazing place. I let God back into my life fully and that made so many things possible for me. Finding God again has brought a certain peace to me that I couldn’t find myself. I am safe and I am whole. I am in recovery and largely thank the wonderful people at canopy cove for helping me get where I needed to be. God is wonderful, I can’t possibly begin to even thank God, CC, or Dr. —– enough for everything. Equine was such a wonderful part of the program, I often felt like the horses would look at me and just know how I was feeling. I miss them so much, they inspired my recovery. I recommend this program to anyone who is struggling from an eating disorder. There are not any better hands to be in than the ones of Canopy Cove. Thank you so much CC. I feel so alive.”
“I just recently left Canopy cove, (I left on the 27th march 2014) and this was my 2nd time going to cc for treatment…The first time I had come here I thought i was ready and wanted to get help for my eating disorder…
But I was wrong, and i wasn’t ready to let go of ‘scarlett’ yet…(this was back in october 2013) so if you would have asked me back then I would have said I had a horrible time, and it wasn’t worth it, and i was glad to get out of there…though Both times I did make very important unbreakable bonds.
But, In January I made the choice to return to Canopy Cove knowing full well what I was getting myself back into, But this time I was going back on my own terms, not on Scarlett’s, and it was so different…it was still hard but it was WORTH IT.ALL the staff…i love them SO MUCH. I will NEVER forget them!
I spent two months here at canopy cove…when I left recently it was very emotional,because the girls and the staff are truly my family! and will ALWAYS be my family…I know that if I ever need them….they are there for me. please….anyone who is struggling with this…go get help….you don’t deserve to stuggle anymore! The lord loves you! Canopy Cove is such an amazing place, with precious the cat, their amazing horses and just….you can’t even describe with words…I’m so thankful and Blessed that I got a second chance to go back to canopy cove. ♥”
[edited by admin to remove names]
is the adult program and adolecent program are seperate or together? Also, what is youngest age they are able to accept?
They are separate and don’t interact. One house is the Adult Women’s house and another house in the Adolescent House, they are on the same campus but the programs don’t interact. The adolescent house takes clients starting at 13 years old, but occasionally they will make an exception and take someone who is 12ish.
October 2 2013- November 20 2013
Hi – I’ve struggled with an eating disorder, anxiety, and self-harm for 5 years. I realized (when I passed out at school and ended up in the hospital) that I didn’t want to graduate from high school and start college with all these issues.
A few months ago I went to Canopy Cove and it changed my life! I feel like I’m really living for the first time ever. They helped me learn so much about myself and I feel so much stronger than I ever have. They treated me with more respect than anyone ever has in my entire life. I’ll be grateful to them forever!
I know that it would have really helped me relax before I went if I had known some things in advance so I wanted to do a review.
One thing that was really helpful for me was that everyone had an ED so we could all relate to each other (and most had a dual diagnosis like me). I made some really great friends with the girls there!
How many patients on average? There were a total of 5 (including me) in the teen program and there were 4 adults but we never interacted with the adults.
Does it treat both males and females? If so, is treatment separate or combined? There were only females when I was there
How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, etc? I saw the medical Dr. and the psychiatrist right after I got there. Every week there were 5 individual sessions. I saw the dietician once a week, the psychiatrist once a week and the therapist 3 times a week.
What is the staff ratio to patients? I don’t know the exact ratio but there were 4 therapists each day plus 2 TAs plus the nurse.
What sort of therapies are used? Cognitive behavior therapy
Describe the average day:
Wake up at 7:00
Weigh in/temps Dress, meds
8:00 Breakfast
8:45 Reflection/Morning Meditation
From 9:00-12:00 You have a schedule you go to different groups or individual sessions. Every day we had at least one individual session and the other times you go to groups.
12:00 Lunch
2-3:30 Different Groups or your individual
3:30 Snack
4:00 Claiming Victories
5:30 Free time and Showers
6:00 Dinner
7:00 Group
8:30 Snack
Free time
10:00 Bed
What were meals like? They had guidelines we all followed to keep the conversation focused on acceptable topics. We didn’t talk about food at all (which was good for me). Meals were actually more relaxed and fun than I thought they’d be. A staff member kept us on track with the timing of our meal so we didn’t run out of time. Meals were a good time to visit with everyone.
What sorts of food were available or served? There was a wide selection and we got to have input on what would be served. We were allowed to create a list of dislikes and then we weren’t served those foods. (Which was great for me because I truly dislike certain foods!). (fruit, veggies, protein, carbs. Sandwich, pasta, grilled chicken and veggies, sweets if you wanted to challenge)
Did they supplement? How did that system work? If you didn’t complete you were given ensure or boost to cover what you left.
What is the policy of not complying with meals? If you had trouble with a meal (especially with a fear food) then one of the staff would sit with you for support.
Are you able to be a vegetarian? Yes, I’m a vegetarian and I have celiac so I have to eat gluten free. They already knew about gluten.
What privileges are allowed? Computer, phone, off site visits
Does it work on a level system? Yes there were 5 levels
How do you earn privileges? Mainly by making an effort. Also by reaching goals.
What sort of groups do they have? Music therapy, art, spirituality, nature, body movement, body image, equine, family ..(I’m probably forgetting something)
What was your favorite group? Hmm….I have a couple but definitely Equine, the horses are amazing to be with. Angel was my favorite …she’s such a cutie! Art was really helpful and I’m not good at art at all! It’s strange but the group I disliked the most at first (body image) actually helped me a lot!
What did you like the most? Being in a place where I felt understood. Learning about myself and understanding more about how I developed an ED and new ways to handle stressors. Making friends with the other “Coversâ€.
What did you like the least? At first I really didn’t like not being able to get away with things because they really knew all the tricks but I actually needed the structure.
Would you recommend this program? Yes, especially if you’re tired of living the way I was. If you’re ready for things to be better and your willing to work. I couldn’t have done it on my own. Also the therapists were amazing – you could tell they really cared about you and wanted you to succeed.
What level of activity or exercise was allowed? None really except the nature walks (but it’s a pretty big place so just walking from one building to another was a good walk. Also body movement group.
What did people do on weekends? I was in the residential so we had therapy groups on weekends plus a few fieldtrips. We also went to church off site.
Do you get to know your weight? NO
How fast is the weight gain process? 1-2 lbs a week
What was the average length of stay? 30-60 days. Some girls were there longer.
What was the average age range? 14-17 years old in my program.
How do visits/phone calls work? We had a time each day that we could make calls. You had to get your parents to approve the person to be on your call list in advance!
Are you able to go out on passes? Yes, as long as you were stable. I could go places with my parents.
Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country? I don’t know, maybe because one girl was from Canada.
What kind of aftercare do they provide? After I left the residential I went to the partial program (They have apartments you live in off site and they pick you up/drop you off each day. A heads up, if you’re under 18 then a parent has to live with you once you go to partial. ) Before I left the partial program my CC therapist talked to my therapist back at home.
We had a horrible experience at Canopy Cove, and they did the exact same thing to our insurance company! In fact, after they forced us to stay the full 60 days (because we were threatened to have to pay $60K if we did leave before our 60 days were up) they still charged our insurance company after we were home. I kept getting letters from our insurance company saying that they approved Canopy Cove’s request for us to stay an extra 30 days. I called our insurance company and told them we had left after our 60 days were up and they were SHOCKED! I cannot tell you the harm this place caused my family and the way they didn’t help our son, who was there for an eating disorder. It is awful and I would never recommend this place to anyone. I really hope whoever reads this understands that we did everything they said and were really taken advantage of. This treatment is not individualized – it is cookie cutter. They give you mixtures of drugs to make the patients do what they say to do. Most medication doses are too high and not supposed to be mixed with other medications, but they have “their” doctor okay this and convince you that it’ s the only way. The side effects that my son had were HUGE! As soon as we got home, my son’s doctor got him off of them immediately. Scary! The counseling sessions were horrible and caused so much trauma with our entire family. They made issues come up that weren’t even real or weren’t issues before. The minute we left was Heaven on Earth. Please, please don’t send your child or family member to this awful place.I have never left a review on anything before, but I felt this is so important that it is necessary. Once you sign the papers, you are locked in and stuck with what they give you.
I’d have to disagree, our insurance was able to cover most of the costs, and as an actual patient I learned a lot while I was there. They helped me realize so much and though I still have little struggles, I don’t fight with my eating disorder as much as I used to. I would definitely recommend Canopy Cove to anybody with an eating disorder.
I went here three years ago and would not recommend this to anyone. I chose Canopy Cove because it is marketed as a Christian facility, but I believe only a few of the therapists are truly Christians. They highly recommend medication. Equine therapy is in fact watching horses after visiting a creepy doctor who tells everyone they are pre-osteoporotic (despite their level of health.)
Little attention is given to client’s as individuals. I had SO MANY MORE food issues after coming to this facility than when I entered it. Yes, I gained weight, which was necessary (and I WANTED to gain weight), but they did not help address the root of my problems (which was NOT fear of food.)
You are given two ten minute phone calls a week.
I was in partial and residential treatment programs. I would be happy to answer any questions you might have. I REALLY wish I would have gone somewhere else, but I am just trusting God has a purpose and plan for everything in life.
The founder is THE MOST GENUINE SWEETHEART, but unfortunately you very very rarely get to see her.
very interested in your experience at Canopy Cove. Please contact me. Donna
please tell us what programs you had better success with
I went to their PHP program after their residential two years ago…. I have found other programs to be more helpful.
Can you say why? Or what the program is like?
When I was in transitional housing for PHP I was the only one living in the apartment. There was not support staff there or any other clients at that time. I didn’t have the support needed to follow my meal plan and not use behaviors etc…
I felt that their residential program was not nearly as strong as another program I have been at. The food was prepared by support staff and not by a chef, which I didn’t love. The groups were not deep enough. I didn’t care for the medial doctor. While we were all under the impression that attending church was optional even though it is a Christian facility, all clients were forced to go. I wanted to go, but there were girls who did not.
I just didn’t love the program and would reccomend others. I am sure that the program has been great for other clients, it just wasn’t for me.
Bri, I know you didn’t like it here and I know you were there 2 years ago, but since there are no reviews for Canopy Cove, could you please do a full review? (see FAQs page for the full list of suggested questions)
In all honesty I don’t believe it would be fair for me to do a full review. I have a lot of memory loss from around that time and don’t really remember enough to do a full review. 🙁
Any reviews on the PHP program?
Anyone been here?
ANy recent reviews?!??!!? thanks!!
I was at CC a year and a half ago or so and could give you some info, but I don’t remember a TON from my stay there due to severe memory loss.
I cannot recommend AGAINST this place enough. They utilize several legal loopholes to charge insurance companies, or more often private payers, EXTRAVAGANT amounts. They categorize themselves as a SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility), which they are not, and somehow this allows them to charge more. My wife stayed there for 3 days and voluntarily discharged because she did not trust their treatment. The director violated her Doctor-Patient confidentiality on the first day. Her meds were approved by her Psychiatrist and changed by a team of a PhD and a Family Practitioner without consulting the Psychiatrist. Also, a Therapist refused to hand out prescribed medications. Denied her discharge or communication with any doctors, lawyers or family at her request. She was not there on legal order, this practice is illegal and technically kidnapping. When she threatened legal action for the third time they finally discharged her and attempted to force her to sign a statement saying “I am financially responsible for all charges levied by Canopy Cove.” She was in significant distress at this time and it is lucky that she had the state of mind to refuse her signature. OSHA violations such as vomit (common in these facilities) was not cleaned up properly. They attempted to charge us $10,000 because our insurance company was smart enough not to pay. After involving our insurance company’s lawyers two or three times, we finally got Canopy Cove to leave us alone. No payment was ever issued.
I am a person that pays all reasonable bills. I do not have much debt. My wife has been to a few facilities to treat her disorder. Some of which were covered by insurance, other we paid privately and were not cheap. This is the only facility that we have ever had to fight with legally.
I am thinking about gong therte but only for PHP. I do not want to do their residential but am afraid when I get there they make admit me to residentital. can anyone prpvide me with any info in regards to what they have seen or experienced in this regard. also, do htey court order you there if you wan to leave. Just want to loowerm y anxiety on what to ecpect. thanks
Anyone…is there usually a wait list for the PHP program?
No. I spent 6 weeks there recently and was one of three people in the partial program when I left.
can you do a review?
Can anyone do a recent review of the program? I’m thinking about admitting this month. And can someone give an example of a days meals? Thanks
Canopy cove has the potential to be a great facility. However, during my time there I found them to be very close minded on their treatment approach. They prescribe the same meds for everyone, even when I had a letter of medical necessity to not be placed on SSRI’s they insisted on Prozac. Needless to say, it didn’t work. I wish they would have spoken with my past providers. They refused to so I felt like I was reinventing the wheel going through everything with them again. I would not recommend this facility.
there are pros and cons. They will make you take medicine. I developed a severe case of tardive dyskinesia as a side effect of abilify. I was going crazy. I feel like a lot of the treatment is geared toward anorexia/bulimia and not other kinds of ed’s. Yes, absolutely no exercise is very upsetting and ANYTHING is considered an eating disordered behavior. A very tiresome place. Some of the therapists, though, and the director are awesome. I would NEVER go back, or recommend going there, but it is what you make of it.
Do you feel cooped up not being able to do any exercise? How do they handle complaints? Are you allowed to talk with other clients freely or is everything supervised? Is it difficult not being able to use the phone freely? Do you have to be a believer in all of their philosophies for this program to work for you? How can you tell the program is working? Do you feel confident that what you’re learning here will make you stronger in the real world? How do they handle it if you don’t want to take the medicines they
recommend? Do you feel pressured to give in and conform?
Do you feel cooped up not being able to do any exercise?– No, you still get equine and if you’re at a healthy weight you can go on walks sometimes
How do they handle complaints?– You can talk to the director of the program or Dr. Brogdon herself about any complaints
Are you allowed to talk with other clients freely or is everything supervised?–You do have time to talk to other clients freely, and the staff won’t intervene in conversation unless its inappropriate
Is it difficult not being able to use the phone freely?– Honestly, no, its fun getting mail. Sometimes I did wish I could use the phone more but its nice to not have my phone plastered to my hand.
Do you have to be a believer in all of their philosophies for this program to work for you?– No, treatment is what you make of it. I have seen multiple people find healing and not believe in every single philosophy CC has
How can you tell the program is working?– Just like any other program, if you feel yourself having less ED thoughts and more control over the thoughts, then you’re making progress. They help separate yourself from your ED, so you can feel that happening.
Do you feel confident that what you’re learning here will make you stronger in the real world?– Yes, in partial we even have life skills groups that help us prepare for life outside of treatment. I personally am feeling more separated from my ED, so that will help me be stronger in the real world.
How do they handle it if you don’t want to take the medicines they recommend?– They will try to convince you to take them but I’ve seen people decline taking certain medicines before.
Do you feel pressured to give in and conform?– No, nobody can force you into anything. I believe in coming to treatment when you’re ready to find healing. Even people who aren’t ready end up finding healing, and its incredible. This is a Christian program, so of course there are Christian groups, devotionals, and references to the Bible, but not once will they force you to participate or try to make you believe in what they believe in.
I definitely felt cooped up, but not because we didn’t get to exercise. I just hated not being able to hop in my car and go somewhere. the house is only but so big. after sitting in groups with the same people all day and night you kind of want to get away. as far as exercise though, they do have yoga, but in no way is it intense.
Complaints? well you can’t complain about food. i wouldn’t say i’m a picky eater, but sometimes the food sucks and you just want to whine about it lol. it’s definitely not tolerated though. it’s kind of assumed any food-related comments are ed-centered.. when i was there, they had us address any complaints we had with other clients in a group/open forum. i’d say they’re fairly open to hearing what you issues you have, but that’s not to say things will change.
Contrary to the other comment, I felt like EVERYTHING was supervised. they constantly assumed when we were alone we were talking about our EDs. sometimes it was true, but generally not the case. I hated having the TAs monitor conversations.
not being able to call my family whenever I wanted was probably the hardest thing. it never got easy. i live thousands of miles from cc, so my family never came to visit. it absolutely sucked not having family visits and being able to leave like others could… so getting a 10 min call a couple times a week with someone (younger than me) standing there monitoring me just didn’t cut it. it was beyond frustrating. sometimes i’d spend the whole 10 min just calling people and never getting a hold of someone. as soon as my time was up they didn’t care if i didn’t get to talk to my family. needless to say, i did not agree with this rule.
I wouldn’t say you have to completely believe in their ways for it to work, i think you just need to be willing to separate from your ed (and recognize that you have to), deal with the oftentimes sucky environment, and just respect the process (as cliche as it sounds..). it certainly helps if you’ve come in broken and desperate for help, but i definitely did not and it still helped me.
How do you tell if it’s working? hmm. that’s a hard question. I think only you can tell if it’s working for you. I came in in a bad place, and didn’t want the program to work for me. after a while, I full on attacked issues I never acknowledged/spoke of. While my ed thoughts/behaviors were still very strong, I started seeing small changes in myself.
Was I confident what I learned would make me stronger? Ha, no. not at all. I guess I’d heard it all before. I knew all the tools, but just couldn’t apply them outside of treatment. BUT, I have talked to others who’ve been to cc and have really embraced/applied what’ve they’ve learned and I can see it’s made them stronger in their recovery.
I didn’t feel like their use of meds with patients was individualized. I believe I entered on prozac and they immediately wanted to put me on buspar and geodon. I didn’t agree to it right away. i requested information on the meds, which they EVENTUALLY supplied. They continually increased my geodon, and I hated how i felt on it. i asked for a decrease and they said they would, but never did, so i would go to take from meds and the same amount would be there. i never felt like they were taking my requests seriously, so i took it into my own hands…. i don’t know how it works for a minor, but as an adult you don’t have to agree to anything. they will, however, strongly try to convince you and ask for good reasons as to why you’re not willing to.
I didn’t feel pressure to conform, but I guess you could say I got to the point where I figured I’d be there for a while so I might as well “give in” and talk. 🙂 it’s worth it.
hope this helps!
That does help! Thanks very much for your responses. I think that these are insightful points. So many ED programs sound alike and sound very good on the marketing side, but there are some little (and not-so-little) differences which can really change your experience and which are hard to find out about.
When were you there? Currently
Describe the average day?
(in res)
Wake up at 7am on weekdays, 8am on weekends. Do keytones, weights, sometimes vitals. Get dressed, eat breakfast, do opening, have three groups, lunch, three more groups, snack, closing, phone calls on certain days…in there somewhere you will have one or multiple individual sessions. each night is themed, so you will do whatever theme night it is. then pm snack.
(at partial)
Get picked up to go to partial at 8:30am on weekdays, 9:00am on weekends. Start prepping your breakfast upon arrival, and do keytones/weights/vitals while doing that. After breakfast you have opening, three groups, lunch prep/lunch, three more groups, snack prep/snack. You leave program at 4:30pm and are driven back to the apartments (partial provides apartments to stay in). On weekends you leave at 3pm. You do dinner and snack on your own at night.
What were meals like?
(in res)
Meals are cooked by the TA’s (therapeutic assistants). Meal plans are created by Ashlee the dietitian. They are very individualized to your particular needs. A lot of the meals were challenging but in a good way…it was what my ED needed.
(in partial)
You cook your own meals, so really its whatever you buy that adheres to your meal plan.
What privileges are allowed?
(in res) Depends on what level you’re in. Theres level 1-4, you come in at 1…they determine number of phone calls/if you can have on site/off site visits.
(in partial) You have the whole night to yourself, so you can do what you want, of course with certain treatment restrictions (like no drinking or anything like that)
What sort of groups do they have?
Both res and partial do several types of groups, ranging from body image to CBT to art projects to open forum. I haven’t done the same group twice.
What was your favorite group?
I agree with Rachel, I’ve liked them all. I do favor art projects though.
What did you like the most?
Also agreeing with Rachel, the staff are incredible. Everyone is caring, but will go the extra step to push you when you need it. TA’s are there 24/7, therapists are there when you are awake (aka 7am-10:30pm).
What did you like the least?
They actually do not read your mail anymore, just fyi. Only for adolescents I believe. I don’t know that there was anything I really didn’t like in either res or partial.
What level of activity or exercise was allowed?
Yoga on Mondays in res, Yoga on Wednesdays at partial. You also have equine multiple times a week at res, and once a week in partial. In partial you have a lot more opportunity, depending on where you are health-wise, to incorporate healthy exercise.
What did people do on weekends?
Both res and partial go on field trips on Saturdays, and church on Sundays. Still have a therapist/staff there all the time.
Do you get to know your weight?
No, blind weights.
How fast is the weight gain process?
1-2 pounds per week.
What was the average length of stay?
30-45 days for adults, 60 for adolescents in res. In partial, its really individualized.
What was the average age range?
I can’t say there is one. We have people in their 20s and 30s right now, but I’ve heard of many age ranges being here.
What kind of aftercare do they provide?
Partial comes after res, then IOP, and outpatient. If you aren’t from the area they will set you up with a treatment team near your home.
Do they help you set up an OP treatment team?
yes.
How many IP beds?
In the adult house- 11
In the adolescent house- 5 I believe
How many patients in PHP or IOP?
Partial- the max is 8, theres four of us now
IOP- I dont think there is a max but theres like, maybe 4 people in IOP but they don’t come every day. IOP is only from 8-1:30 or 1:30-4.
How are medications handled?
You meet with Dr. Morse, who is a family doctor for medical things like labs and medication overviews. You also meet with a psychiatrist who is very good at what he does. They do put a lot of people on Prozac, but they explain why when they put you on it, and people here are on several different medications than each other (we have talked about our medications with each other and I can tell you for a fact, none of us are on the same regimen).
Other details?
You are called a client, not a patient, since its not a hospital setting. Its not a locked unit, its a house (or a building if you’re in partial). Mostly everyone here gets along really well, and its nice when that happens because you sometimes need that extra support. There is some down time, but they try to structure the day so that that doesn’t happen too often. You get individuals every day, either with a therapist, the dietitian, or a family session (with a therapist). Equine is super fun, you do get to ride if you have a normal dexa scan.
Would you recommend this program?
Yes 🙂 I love the Christian aspect to the program, its very refreshing. The groups are helpful and the therapists are incredible. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.
Also – Tata and Lisa, could you do a structured review like what Rachel did (above)? That type of review is what seems to be most helpful.
Cdigs, I wonder if you could do a structured review – ie. what were days/meals like? groups? etc.
Just because somebody didn’t have a good experience doesn’t mean their “eating disorder personality” has taken over. Whether you like a facility isn’t even a personality issue in the first place.
Patients should not have to feel like they’re definitely wrong and misguided if they don’t like a place because they’re the one with the eating disorder. Sometimes the treatment center is no good either. Some places are a downright waste of money and others deserve to know about it.
Sorry for the rant but I think that the “you should have stayed long enough to recover” comment is VERY rude and presumptuous.
Cdig’s eating disorder personality must have taken over when she wrote her review. I spent 2 months at Canopy Cove and yes- it was hard – but thank God my parents found this place for me! I know for sure that they are legally accredited and legit because my mom verified all of this when she did an extensive search of all of the treatment centers in the country (and even in Canada) before I went there. I was there within the last year and we did have a nurse who was in charge of medicines and spoke to my doctor each day. The staff was kind, understanding but strict with rules. This is what your eating disorder NEEDS and if you would have stayed there long enough to get well you would realize this!
I know because I had been to two other centers for a total of 13 months before I came to Canopy Cove.
I hope you find peace and healing soon Cdigs.
I am highly offended by your comment, Tata. I’m glad Canopy Cove worked for you. Like I said they probably were really great and probably could help a lot of people, but there have been changes since you’ve been there. Before I went to Canopy Cove I had spent 6 months somewhere else- an amazing facility where I was able to go through the agnoy of separating myself from my eating disorder and truly getting to the roots of my ED.
If you read my review I have legitimate complaints and concerns, not eating disorder garbage. I never said they weren’t accredited, I said I didn’t know how they were. I work in healthcare and made their accreditation aware of their healthcare code violations (i.e. not eating disorder complaints).
The last thing I want to do is “bash” a place, but I could not ethically not let other people know about my experience. I wouldn’t recommend this place to my best friend so I’m not going to recommend it for anyone who truly wants to recover.
I have found tremendous peace and healing. That is one of the reasons I was able to assert my concerns and my concerns for the welfare of future patients.
I’m in the program right now, and I find it very helpful…so I think its really based on individual opinion. I don’t think we can blanket Canopy Cove as being “good” or “bad”.
Would you be willing to do a structure review?
Example – like Rachel’s (above).
Thank you.
I loved Canopy Cove. It is the reason I’m in recovery right now. I think the therapists and doctors are really invested in our treatment. The groups are helpful, and I never did the same group twice. If you’re not Christian, it might be hard to go here because of all the religious things they participate in. The meals were challenging but in a good way, its what my ED needed. I really recommend going here if you want to recover.
Wow! I am seriously troubled hearing all this. I was thinking of admitting soon too. Did they force you to take meds against your will? How long were you there? (less than 30 days as “required”?) What do you mean when you say insurance fraud and kidnapping?? I know it’s probably upsetting to talk about, but I think you would be doing a good deed to share the facts with us.
As you noticed, all of the reviews until now were very positive… and your review changes the landscape. What did you complain about to the Florida State Mental Health Board? And what do you mean about them being closed minded? If anyone else has input on this, I would appreciate your insight too.
I know they were all positive. That’s why I chose to go there for my step down. I was there 9 days so I left before their 30 day requirement and they tried to get me to sign something saying I owed them $31,000 for my remainding days which I refused to.
I say insurance fraud because I went seeking PHP as a step down (I had spent the 6 months prior at center for change which was amazing) and they admitted me to residential which I did not qualify for medically or behaviorally so it was completely unethical of them to bill my insurance. And I say kidnapping because I asked to leave on a weekend and they told me I couldn’t. 1- You can always leave a facility that isn’t locked. They can’t legally hold you there (unless they have a court order) and 2- when I asked to get in touch with a lawyer they said no! Which in itself is illegal.
THey are close minded because they put everyone on the same medications and refuse to talk to your outpatient or prior inpatient teams. They changed my meds after seeing me for 5 minutes from a regimine that had been prescribed while under the care of psychiatrist on an inpatient unit for 6 months, so he knew me pretty well and what I was on was working. When I asked them to call the psychiatrist they said no b/c they had my clinical notes….
I complained for various things including the medication issue. Also the legality issue of therapists distributing medications at night. The fact that they didn’t have biohazard bags to dispose of body fluids (i.e. other patients’ vomit). That I wasn’t “allowed” to leave on a weekend, was denied a trip to the E.R. and was denied legal counsel.
I would aviod this place at all costs, especially if you don’t know your rights.
I work in healthcare, so I knew all of the violations.
I hate to bash the place because I really do think they COULD help a lot of people, but not the way they are running the program now.
It’s not just my opinion. My doctors, therapist, and dietitian all agreed with my decision to leave along with my lawyer who I contacted when I discharged.
Just aviod this mess all together and look into another place.
You were at Center for Change for 6 months!? That’s awesome! did insurance cover it all? Almost all residential facilities will never let patients leave if they ask so I’m a little confused there? Sorry you had such a bad experience!
Yes. I was very lucky that insurance covered my entire stay. I was truly a blessing
Do you mind me asking what insurance ou have?
I have Tricare.
Cdigs I am curious what places you have had luck getting coverage from Tricare? I was IP once and Tricare was a bit difficult.
Just CFC and Sheppard Pratt. I’ve found that if you have your doctor contact Tricare they will be very willing to work with you. Your doctor may have to do a lot on their end. I know my doctor sent a written report on me and why she thought I needed the treatment. I also sent an email to a tricare representative explaining why I thought I’d benefit from CFC.
Thanks for the info Cdigs. 🙂
Cdigs,
I don’t know if you frequent this board, and I don’t want to bombard you with questions or my life story or anything, but Tricare covered CFC? I need residential ED treatment but Tricare’s website says they don’t cover free-standing ED facilities because they “don’t meet the requirement to be a Tricare-certified provider” or some BS like that. I know Renfrew isn’t in network.
If you don’t mind me asking, what was your co-pay, if anything?
Also… what type of Tricare do you have? I’m currently on Standard in the South region (Humana). Will they cover facilities in another region? Also, I probably won’t be going IP until after I graduate college, and when that happens, I’ll probably be switching to Tricare’s Young Adult program. Idk if that makes a difference.
Sorry for the long reply; I’m desperate and broke (I’ve applied to 46 jobs–still nothing!). I’m on my dad’s insurance and they’d absolutely refuse to help me out financially in any way with any kind of co-pay. They don’t believe in eating disorders and think I’m just looking for attention.
Thanks again.
I wouldn’t say I frequent this site, but apparently I get emails when someone replies because I got this 🙂 Yes, Tricare covered my ENTIRE six month stay. I have Tricare overseas so I had no copay, but when I had Tricare standard I paid $20 a day (while at Sheppard Pratt).
CFC is a free standing psychiatric hospital so they are different from a ‘free-standing ED treatment facility’ CFC just recently became Tricare certified thanks in part to my efforts. I wrote Tricare a letter expressing the need for more than inpatient hospital care. http://www.centerforchange.com/tricare/
I would start by calling CFC because they will contact Tricare on your behalf and if your have an outpatient physician I would also have them call Tricare and start the referral process to CFC.
I wouldn’t wait till you graduate college 1) because you deserve to start living life NOW 2) you’ll get better grades when you’re not so focused on your disorder and 3) you’ll have more fun in college when you’re not focused on your ED. Just my 2 cents. College will always be there, you may not be, however.
CFC has made my life completely different. It’s hard but if you put in the work there you will develop relationships with others and with yourself that you never thought would be possible. I didn’t think I could recover and I’m happier than I ever thought possible. Go now and change your life 🙂
the cost is $44,700 for 30 days and it’s very Christian based. They pray before every meal and snack, force you to go to a Pentecostal church on Sundays and you read bible verses every day.
Honestly, I’m not sure how this place is even accredited and I’m supremely confused at all the positive reviews. Maybe this place was good, but I was just there (April 2011) and it was an AWFUL experience. I left in tears.
At best Canopy Cove commits insurance fraud and at worst, kidnapping. I have already complained to the Florida State Mental Health board. My medications were changed without any consultation to my former team. Their medical director who is a family practitioner went against their own psychiatrist and changed my meds without even his knowledge. They put everyone on Prozac, even though they will tell you they are very individualized- they aren’t. I was told many things that never happened. There is no 24/7 nurse so a therapist hands out medications (legality issue much?) I was also denied legal consultation while there. I truly felt imprisoned. If you leave before spending 30 days they will try to get you to sign a contract to pay for the remaining days- DO NOT SIGN IT.
The sad part is they could probably help a lot of people if they weren’t so closed minded. My treatment team was in full support of me leaving this facility and they will never refer there after my experience. Steer clear!
Can you tell me about the meals and how that works? I just did the assessment and was considering admitting this coming week but now I am having some doubts. Please tell me more if you can. Thanks
You meet the dietitian (Ashley) the day you admit. She is super nice. You are allowed to choose 5 dislikes that you will never be served, which is nice, but could also fuel your eating disorder.
Honestly, I thought the meals were “easy” in the sense that they only serve “healthy” foods and always follow exchanges without variation. It can really cause some rigid thinking and can cause you to be scared to ever vary from your meal plan exchanges in my opinion.
You eat 5 times a day. 3 meals and 2 snacks. And at every meal you have to do claiming and honoring (which has been mentioned above) and you process after EVERY meal and snack which I hated. I like to eat and just move on.
I would seriously look into other programs. Especially ones that don’t require you to sign a contract. I was at Center for Change before Canopy Cove and it was truly amazing. I only left there because I needed a step down, but they stuck me on resi. Again, I do NOT recommend this program.
Wow – My experience with Canopy Cove was the exact opposite from this! I was there just recently and I did not experience any of the problems you were describing! All of the therapists and TA’s and Nurses were completely professional and extremely helpful in the recovery process from an eating disorder! Yes, they had rules that we all had to follow, but that is understandable – eating disorders are horrible and without rules it wouldn’t be treatment! In order to benefit from the treatment you have to follow the rules! Further, when I was there everything was in compliance with the health code to my knowledge – and I worked in healthcare as well, so I am aware of the standards that healthcare facilities are required to meet. Overall, Canopy Cove changed my life in so many wonderful ways – I would not want anyone to NOT go to Canopy Cove just because one person had a bad experience!
I strongly suspect that ctech’s review was written by Canopy Cove staff. It’s just too one-sided, too onboard with all the rules, and too full of exclamation points. It’s clearly intended to do damage control. Take it with a grain of salt.
Does anyone know about Canopy Cove’s treatment of binge eating disorder? Or do you know anyone who attended for binge? I would love to hear thoughts/insight about that and the effectiveness of treatment. I hear that all eating disorders are treated together at CC, which is different from many other programs. If you attended for anorexia or bulimia, was there anyone there with you being treated for binge?
Also, other than church on Sunday, how often do the religious aspects come up? And is it more “spiritual” in general or specifically Christian (i.e., references to Bible verses and Jesus)?
i was there with someone who was treated for binge eating. the groups don’t cater to specific eating disorders. we were all treated together, which i preferred. most of us at the time could all relate to binge eating, so having someone else who wasn’t stricly anorexic/bulimic didn’t seem to make a difference.
you do go to church every sunday and have a spirituality group one night a week. as far as how spiritual it is seems to vary by therapist. some focused more on it than others, and there is no secular music played. it’s all christian. overall, i’d say it’s christian-based, but not overwhelmingly so. it was a good experience.
Like the other person is saying, they’re all treated the same. The meals plans are very individualized for you, so its not “one fits all” or anything like that. There are people being treated here for binge eating (I’m still here right now). I highly recommend CC.
I am also curious about how they determine weight range…and do they tube feed? Also will they discharge you if you are not at your ideal weight after 30 days in the adult program?
Also in the residential do they have any real world experiential like restuarant outings?
rachel, (nice name btw haha)
they don’t tube feed. weight gain is much slower compared to most programs, so it really isn’t neccessary.
they don’t require you to reach a certain weight before being discharged, although if you are still struggling with behaviors or are extremely unhealthy, they might encourage you to stay longer. they never force anyone to though.
the weight ranges are very individual. they won’t talk to you about it though. it’s not at all the focus of treatment, which, for me atleast, was a very good thing.
in residential you don’t have many real-life experiences. i remember they wanted us to have a big ‘experiential’ on thanksgiving so we got to cook part of our own thanksgiving dinner….we boiled cranberries and made our own cranberry sauce…that was it. and it was supposively a huge real life experience that we had to spend an hour processing afterwards. i loved the people at canopy cove and i think they have a really good program, but there is very little real life prepartion. in partial, however, you go on resturaunt outings every tuesday/go grocery shopping/make your own meals/have cooking days where the whole group makes and eats a meal together…stuff like that.
how do they determine ideal weight?
Do they have a family week?
No, but they do have family education sessions, and parents are welcome to come down and visit.
Can someone who has been here email me? What is an example of a sample meal? Do they force you to eat things like butter and full fat dairy etc. etc.? Red meat? Do they serve vegetables?
There are 30 different meals that are on a rotation. All are normal meals, not anything the average person wouldn’t eat. I don’t think it would be helpful to answer specific questions like that, because they could be coming from the eating disorder, but you do have 5 food “dislikes” that you won’t be served. They do serve vegetables. If you have any specific questions, you could call. But I do encourage you to not let food stop you from coming to CC. No matter what, I promise you’ll be able to work through it and get through, coming out more victorious then ever before.
I AM coming, and I WANT to gain weight! I want recovery more than anything right now!!! I was just wondering if they serve pizza/ fried foods/ red meat/ pork/ bacon. I want to gain the weight but I really prefer things like chicken/ turkey/ fish…. I was just wondering so I would know if I should make something like “pizza” a hate food, or if they wouldn’t be having that anyway…. Would you be willing to email me?
Okay, well congrats on making the steps towards recovery!! It is worth it. They do serve red meat but only sparingly. They serve pizza once but its homemade with chicken on top, not pepperoni or anything. They serve a lot more turkey products, such as turkey-bacon, turkey-sausage…and not a lot, if anything, is fried.
Thanks for replying! Omgsh, I am leaving either tomorrow or the next day! I am really really excited/ nervous! Can I call you? I would LOVE to talk, and it would really encourage me. I have kind of a rare situation, I have been trying to gain weight forEVER but for some reason never have been able to. I am underweight to the point where this kind of treatment (where I am solely focused on this) is necessary to help. But I am still nervous! I will give you my number if you can talk!! Thanks!!!!
Also, do they focus on a % ideal body weight for discharge or is it more focused on skills learned and behaviors?
Thanks!
Of course if need be, they will bring you to an ideal weight, but it isn’t at all focused on the weight. You don’t see your weight at all, and they won’t tell you. At first its really hard to let go of that control but trust me, in the end I’ve been thankful for it. They are more focused on coping, working through issues, and practicing new healthy behaviors.
How are they with food allergies? I am allergic to gluten, dairy, soy, eggs, yeast, and fructose (to name a few). I also have leaky gut syndrome, IBS, and candida. Are they able to work with issues like this?
I suggest you call to find out…I’m not sure exactly.
do the boys and girls ever see eachother?
Not anymore…they just changed the setup of everything, so the adults live in one house, the adolescents in another, and the boys live at a separate location. However in partial, everyone is mixed in together.
I’m not sure exactly what the costs are…I’ve heard of $30,000 for thirty days, but I don’t know if thats exactly right. For that kind of thing you’d probably have to call Canopy Cove. They’re also good with talking insurance into paying. CC also has scholarships that may or may not be currently available.
what is the method of treatment for trauma at canopy cove?