Center for Discovery offers residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient at multiple locations across the United States. Usually the PHP/IOP/OP programs are in separate buildings from the residential. They treat children, adolescents and adults.
Any reviews? Please post in comments below! You can check out the FAQ and Guidelines for suggested questions. Thank you!
Multiple locations:
Arizona: Mesa
California: Bay Area (Fremont), Beverly Hills, Danville, Del Mar, Emeryville, Glendale, Granite Bay, La Habra, La Jolla, Lakewood, Los Alamitos, Menlo Park, Newport Beach, Pleasanton, Rancho Palos Verdes, Sacramento, San Diego, South Bay, Temecula, Thousand Oaks, Torrance, Woodland Hills –> Separate review page for California locations here
Connecticut: Fairfield, Greenwich, New Haven, Southport, Wellington –> Separate review page for Connecticut locations here
Florida: Maitland, Montverde/Orlando, Palm Beach, Tampa
Georgia: Atlanta, Dunwoody
Illinois: Chicago, Des Plaines, Glenview
Kansas: Kansas City
Maryland: Columbia, Crownsville
New Jersey: Bridgewater, Paramus
New York: Hamptons
Oregon: Portland
Texas: Addison, Austin, Cypress, Dallas/Plano, Houston
Virginia: Alexandria, Fairfax, McLean
Washington: Bellevue, Edmonds, Tacoma
Wisconsin: Milwaukee
FULL REVIEW CFD SHAWNEE, KANSAS
When were you there?
• November 2024
What level(s) of care did you do (e.g., inpatient, residential, PHP, IOP)?
Res
• If applicable: Is it wheelchair accessible?
Yes
• How many patients are there on average?
can hold up to 10 but there was 7 when I was there
• What genders does it treat?
all
• If applicable: Do they support the gender identities of transgender and nonbinary people?
Yes, they were very good abt this
• How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, nurse, etc?
Therapist 2x/week, dietitian 1-2x/week, psychiatrist 1x/week, nurse whenever you needed, and you got labs drawn on Tuesdays
What is the staff-to-patient ratio?
my therapist had 3 patients, my dietitian had 6, and care techs were abt a 1:4 ratio
• What sort of therapies are used (e.g., DBT, CBT, EMDR, ACT, exposure therapy, somatic experiencing, etc.)?
A LOT of CBT and DBT
• Describe the average day:
wake up between 6-7 then 15 mins of hygenine if you were on 24/7 obs, if you weren’t they didnt really care how long you took as long as you were ready by breakfast, then breakfast, a break, usually a group or menu planning, snack, another group, lunch, more groups, snack, a break or structured free time, then dinner at 6. after that it was free time until snack then bed which can get boring if you aren’t friends with other patients, i usually took a nap on the couch. when you first get there it feels like a LOT of downtime because you wont be on any food-prep so you sit there for a long time waiting for meals which can get stressful.
• What were meals like?:
Patients on meal prep would help the chef prepare your plates. at the beginning of the week you plan out literally everything you want. It can be whatever you want as long as you meet the standard starches, fats, protein, dairy goals that your dietitian will tell you. This was very stressful for me and if you feel like planning every single meal on your own will be stressful with where you are at in recovery like I was, I dont recommend it. Everyone sat at the same table and they had three main rules: sleeves had to be pushed up, no hoodies, and hands had to be above the table at all time. They often would take group bites if someone was struggling which was helpful.
• What sorts of food were available or served?
Literally anything you wanted they would buy. They lived in a house so anything you would get at a grocery store. They would rotate dinner which the chef would only make which was usually pasta or chicken. A “sunday” dinner feel.
• Did they supplement? How did that system work?
They used kate farms. you could talk to your dietitian if you wanted a different supp and they would usually try to comply. You have 10 mins to complete the supplement. If you refuse to start drinking than you had to sit there for five mins before they would give you your reflection paper.
• What is the policy of not complying with meals?
If you refused supplement then they would give you a chain of events paper that you didn’t even have to fill out all the way or at all. They just tell you to bring it to your next session with your therapist or dietitian. This was not strict enough for me because there was no real consequences.
• Are you able to eat vegetarian? Vegan?
No one was when I was there but yes they had that option.
• Does it work on a level system?
No. You get more privileges and less observations as you move forward but no levels.
• What sort of groups do they have?
DBT, CBT, process group (quite a bit), and a few random ones like adulting which allowed you to pay bills or do homework
• What was your favorite group?
Process group. It allowed lots of freedom and helped me more than the structured ones
• If applicable: Is the program trauma-informed?
Maybe? Never got into it and never really heard about it from others
• What did you like the most?
The therapist I had seemed very informed. She helped me realize a lot even though I wasn’t there for super long. The therapists seem to genuinely care abt our wellbeing. There were also some techs who genuinely wanted us to succeed and do well.
• What did you like the least?
Things were too easy for me there. I needed a more intense program and a program that wouldn’t just let me use behaviors without any real consequences. It felt like a PHP sleepover which isn’t as intense as other residentials I have been to.
• Would you recommend this program?
If you are dedicated, yes. You have to be motivated and want to recover though. You have to be able to be motivated for yourself. I went in needing more support then they offered and it triggered a lot of other patients there.
• What level of activity or exercise was allowed?
I’m not really sure. I was on couch rest due to behaviors but I saw others walking around and able to go on daily walks so you def get more privileges as you comply.
• Do you get to know your weight?
Nope! Not even daily vitals which was hard for me.
• What was the average length of stay?
Not really sure. There was someone leaving after 6 weeks and someone who had been there for 4.5 months. I’d say the average is 6+ weeks unless you leave AMA.
• What was the average age range?
When I was there it was very young. 18-24 then one 34 year old.
• What is the electronics policy (e.g., cell phones, iPods, Kindles, laptops, tablets)?
No electronics at all when you first get there, they were locked away when you came until you get more privileges then you can get it 30 mins a night. I’d say it’d be about 2 weeks before though.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE ONLY GO HERE IF YOU ARE 100% MOTIVATED AND ONLY REQUIRE SOME SUPPORT. IT WILL BE SO HARD TO RECOVER IF YOU NEED A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE OR REQUIRE HIGHER SUPPORT.
I struggled with SH and it was way too easy to bring things in and get away with it. Only go here if your primary/only problem is eating disorders with a little bit of ocd/depression/anxiety.
Location: CFD Chicago Adult Residential
As someone who recently left CFD Chicago- the adult location- please consider your options. It’s highly understaffed right now. During my time there, several staff members had left including the program manager as well as the nursing administrator. Although I believe they have someone filling in for the program manager, there’s constant gaps for the nursing side where techs have to give patients medication and there has been times where there’s been no one on site who can legally give a medication, or a controlled substance, let’s say for anxiety or for whatever reason. as well as there were several times where not only mine but others patients medications were not filled on time because of nurse understaffing. And we had to go day(s) without them. Days could go by where we would have no groups at all. Some days we would just have a process group and that’s it. But sometimes we wouldn’t even have that. Although, the dietitians are amazing. The main full time one working there is incredible and does a LOT for the house. and it’s a residential like no other that i’ve seen in which you get to, when you work up to that level, make your own meals/snacks, and eat in a regular dining room in a nice house. the therapists are pretty good too. One of them is a little bit pushy with boundaries, but the other two are really good with groups when they do have them. There’s supposed to be a group outing every saturday as well but that’s rarely happened due to lack of techs working. The techs were for the most parts amazing as well. Just a couple were obviously in their own healing journey with a past ED and should not be there. There was also a situation in which a patient was actively selfharming and every single staff member just let it happen. They allowed the patient to stay in the residential despite (*TW*) her banging her head on walls and such her whole stay (*END TW*). Also, techs were extremely lax with technology. Only certain levels were supposed to have technology after dinner for a certain amount of time, but some patients who didn’t care kept their phone literally all day and the staff stopped caring. Its been going downhill since I first started but the program and the staff helped me tremendously with how much it helps you integrate into real life, especially since they let you go on passes during the weekend to have your own autonomy to try recovery on your own. But it definitely needs some administrative attention.
Any reviews on the Columbia, MD PHP?
Could anyone tell me about CFD IOP program in Austin Texas? What to expect during time there. I’m planning to do the 12-3pm one to go with my work schedule.
is there anyone who did res at the KC location and able to give a full review? specific questions: how many beds do they have? Policy with electronics? *TW* Do they do continuous or overnight tube feeds? *END TW* What is the property/facility/rooms like? What are bathroom/shower policies if you don’t struggle with that? Do they work closely with your OP team?
Any recent info on the Chicago adult residential? Has staffing improved?
I just left and it was the best experience of my life after being in a ton of treatments.
There is much more staffing and they are great. The team really is amazing here, especially the dietitan and therapists. They have enough nurses as well. It’s a great place to recover, and they have been doing a great job!
Describe the average day:
Does anyone have any recent reviews of the Des Plains in IL location for their IOP?
Ask the program about staffing before you admit. This location has been plagued with understaffing issues
Has anyone done the virtual IOP? I am considering it, but getting so little info from admissions on what it actually consists of.
I’m admitting to CFD PHP next week. Please tell me if anyone has any info on them or something they think I should know. How is CFD on allowing caffeine?
Which location in php you can have caffeine I’ve been to 5 different php locations and they all allow caffeine they all have coffee machines depending on the location some are strict about one per day or only during snack but I’ve been to places where you can have them all day.
For Cfd php it’s basic your not going to get anything fancy every location has the same groups (people reading off worksheets) same food because they order from Sysco same rotation meals just basic treatment you meet with a dietian 1x a week therapist 2 process group 3-5 times a week dbt cbt act nothing new or unique
Does anybody have any experiences with CFD Mclean/Virginia? Seeking any experiences with adult residential in the east coast and am between that and Aster Springs
LOCATIONS:
Residential: McLean, Virginia
PHP: Paramus, Bridewater, virtual
• When were you there?
February 2024-April 2024 and August-September 2024 for res at McLean Virginia, December 2023-February, May 2024 and October 2024 in PHP at Paramus, Bridgewater and virtual respectively
• What level(s) of care did you do (e.g., inpatient, residential, PHP, IOP)? residential and PHP
• If applicable: Is it wheelchair accessible? not really… there are steps to the house and stairs inside the house to go to both the bedrooms and the group rooms
• How many patients are there on average? the max is 10 but it never got that much bc of lack of staff
• What genders does it treat?
McLean: at the moment trans people (all trans people) and women, but not cis men (the former person in charge of the house said that she wanted to include cis men eventually but idk if that’s changed bc she got fired)
PHP: all genders
• If applicable: Do they support the gender identities of transgender and nonbinary people? yes, there were several trans and nonbinary people there
• How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, nurse, etc?
Medical doctor: once a week sometimes less
psychiatrist: once a week sometimes less
therapist: three times a week
dietitian: twice a week
nurse: as needed
• What is the staff-to-patient ratio? used to be 2 techs and now they can barely have 1 tech at least when I was there
• What sort of therapies are used (e.g., DBT, CBT, EMDR, ACT, exposure therapy, somatic experiencing, etc.)? They changed the schedule the week I left but this is what I think stayed the same DBT, RODBT (aka SOFA), expressive arts, ACT, book and article club, and process
• Describe the average day: What were meals like? 30 mins to complete meals and 15 for snack and people played games or talked during meals and snacks
• Did they supplement? How did that system work? they had a % for each food group and the amount of ate for it and would give you x amount based on that
• What is the policy of not complying with meals? Not being to go on outings
• Are you able to eat vegetarian? Vegan? vegetarian yes vegan I don’t know
• What privileges are allowed? going on outings and exposures
• Does it work on a level system? yes
• How do you earn privileges? completing and being medically stable
• What was your favorite group?process
• If applicable: Is the program trauma-informed?yes very much so
• What did you like the most? the staff and other patients
• What did you like the least? my therapist quitting the first time around and the second time around my therapist/program manager and program director getting fired
• Would you recommend this program? depends on the person I’m talking to
• What level of activity or exercise was allowed? none unless you were medically stable enough aka on level 3,4 or rarely 5
• What did people do on weekends? outings
Do you get to know your weight?no
• What was the average length of stay? about 1 month or more but it depends on the person and insurance, some people stayed for about 6 months and some only 3 weeks
• What was the average age range? 18+ with most being in their 20s
• For inpatient/residential: Are you able to go on outings/passes? yes if you are medically stable and have completed your meals and snacks for the last 24 hours
• What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an outpatient treatment team? usually recommend PHP at CFD or IOP if you’ve been there a while sometimes
• Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country? yes I came from out of state
• If applicable: How is the program responding to COVID? (Less patients, virtual programming, no visitors, masks, social distancing, etc) I got Covid my second time there, so did 2 other patients. I’m not gonna lie, it was rough but they didn’t send us home. We had to stay in a separate room from everyone else that luckily was connected to a bathroom and bedroom with just enough beds. We didn’t receive any programming but still got to meet with our treatment team outside and wearing masks. We spent the whole time trying to figure out how to use the TV. we didn’t get support for meals but still had to supplement if we didn’t complete even tho at least for me it made everything I ate taste metallic. It was really stressful, especially because my therapist/the program manager got FIRED only two days before the outbreak. They didn’t require masks for other residents which kinda made no sense but idk.
Hi, I was wondering if you’d reccomend McLean for adult anorexia patients?
I mean yeah. They only take adults and they mostly focus on anorexia in the program
Can someone please update me on what the Kansas City location is like please?
Any reviews for La habra res?
Can anyone tell me a review or anything about the Chicago location?
I know this location & the step down and will tell you CFD is a really shady company that prioritizes profit over patient. I would recommend going to Monte Nido over CfD right now for Chicago residential (or ERC if you need medical stabilization). Cfd has extremely high turnover and has since it opened because they don’t properly support their staff, it’s always understaffed, folks are undertrained, etc. They’re spread really thin and it impacts the care they can provide (but they’ll gaslight you if you mention it). Some of the staff they have are absolutely phenomenal (they have a wonderful RD outpatient rn and might be worth it to work with if she doesn’t leave) and the reason the place is still running, but overall there’s better care out there. The php doesn’t have a clinical director or any administrators on site right now, it’s just the 2 clinicians and 2 techs. They do a good job keeping everything going, but it’s absolutely ridiculous. Someone flew out from corporate to tell us everything was okay despite it clearly not being okay.
i can tell u lots.
what is the water policy? and coffee? time outside? single rooms?
thanks so so much
Does anyone have a review for cfd Edmonds?
Recently spent time at the Chicago adult residential unit and would be willing to answer any questions anyone has. Long story short some of the staff are amazing but some are rude and don’t offer the support needed; also it is NOT ADA ACCESSIBLE.
Was the program fully staffed and did you receive the amount of therapy promised?
Was the staff experienced?
What were the restrictions with clothing, outdoor time, communication/phone use?
Were medications given in a timely manner?
What, if anything, were you promised by admissions that was not a reality once you were at the program?
Do you feel like overall the program helped/harmed?
Thank you for any info you are willing to share!
these are such great questions. I’d love to hear a response!
Hi! Can you answer these questions? Considering their residential program in Chicago right now.
Hi – would you be able to answer some questions or tell me more about your experience?
any reviews on the new young adult residential in cypress tx?
I went to the young adult residential in Cypress in 2022. It was… rough. The doctor was racist and triggering. I know he is an expert on eating disorders but he’s just so rude. Some of the techs were nice but the therapists were literally right out of grad school and had never worked in eating disorders before. One of them gave a girl crystals to heal her deadly mental illness? They admitted patients on the spectrum with a lot of needs, which they say they are able to handle and trust they could not handle it. They were so understaffed and those of us who had less needs just got ignored. I will say that they are quite strict and it is hard to get away with sneaky behaviors. It’s just also very hard to get better. Groups were useless. It seems cute that it is in a house until it is cleaning day and you can not hold a group the entire time the house is being cleaned because not a single one of the rooms has doors so you can hear the fucking vacuum going the whole time and can not hear each other. Also there is not a pool! And the elevator was broken so even when you make you go in a wheelchair because they think you are too unwell to walk, you will still be climbing the stairs. If you are not in school, come up with some other reason to use the computer, because otherwise you will spend several hours every morning in the school room with absolutely nothing to do. Also a lot of the milieu is from Texas. Not an issue, just not something I expected as someone from out of state. I’ve heard Renfrew and Emily Program are better, but I know the options in TX are limited.
Does anyone know whether CFD accepts medicaid from NYS?
CFD does not.
has anyone gone to the Paramus, NJ location / have positives or negatives to share? What were the days and hours? Is it strict? Are you able to see your regular therapist if you come here? How long is average length?
FULL REVIEW CFD PARAMUS
Describe the average day:
12- arrive, vitals and weights, prep
12:30- lunch
1- group
2- group
3- snack
3:30- break
4- group
5- group
6: dinner prep
6:30- dinner
7- leave for the day
Any recent reviews of the adult Tacoma php?
I also want feedback on the adolescent Tacoma IOP.
Any recent reviews for the Kansas City location? I am (tentatively) headed there next week, and would love to hear someone’s experiences. It seems like a relatively new location, so I can’t find any opinions anywhere
Also looking for reviews on Kansas!!!!
I do have a welcome packet they sent me from last year if that would be beneficial? I can email it. [email redacted]
Just emailed you! Thank you!
Rachel, please delete email. Contact has been made!
Done! And I’ll delete our two comments here (just the ones confirming) in a bit so that the post feed doesn’t get clogged
did you ever find out any info about Kansas City Location?
Does anyone have a recommendation/opinion for one location over another?
What are the VA adult residentials like?
I went to CFD McLean in December 2017 till February 2018. You make your own meals the staff was nice. During my time there, there was a staff member who we felt was more interested in being friendly than doing her job. As a result of that people were able to engage in behaviors when it was her job to keep us safe. I like that we prepared our own meals and snacks with the exception of someone coming once a week usually a college student studying to be a dietician to cook a meal for us. The therapists were nice.
Would you be able to do a full review?
Anyone been to the one in Kansas city??
Location: CFD Maryland Columbia
When were you there?
Aug to Sep in 2023
What level(s) of care did you do (e.g., inpatient, residential, PHP, IOP)?
IOP, I go in for the 9am to 12pm time slot but there’s an evening option. It’s 3-6 days a week, but if there’s too few clients on Saturday they canceled the program that day.
If applicable: Is it wheelchair accessible?
I think so
How many patients are there on average?
4-8
What genders does it treat?
All genders
If applicable: Do they support the gender identities of transgender and nonbinary people?
Not sure
How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, nurse, etc?
Therapist 1x per week, Dietitian 1x per week, weigh-ins and vitals 1x per week
What is the staff-to-patient ratio?
Around one to three
What sort of therapies are used (e.g., DBT, CBT, EMDR, ACT, exposure therapy, somatic experiencing, etc.)?
None, there was no groups, you just go there and hang around waiting for the meals/snacks and your sessions. Sometimes we go for a walk as a group, sometimes we mix things up in the kitchen as a “cooking group”, and one time they told us to make a banner about self-compassion for a “self-compassion group” (and I’m sure I will know what self-compassion is after making a banner and sticking it to a window). Besides, those staff who’s leading the “groups” are not licensed mental health professionals, not even pre-licensed.
What were meals like?
They have a menu posted on the fridge for that month, we do take-out challenge every other Friday.
What sorts of food were available or served?
They place out bowls of food like pasta, fruits, chips, etc. and you’re allowed to grab food in the fridge as well. You need to portion for yourself according to your meal plan, which is measured item-wise.
Did they supplement? How did that system work?
Yes for PHP, no for IOP, so I’m not sure how that works.
What is the policy of not complying with meals?
Nothing happens for IOP, you can just clean up and walk away.
Are you able to eat vegetarian? Vegan?
Not sure
What privileges are allowed?
None, you’re pretty free as there’s no groups at all.
Does it work on a level system?
No
How do you earn privileges?
N/A
What sort of groups do they have?
No groups at all
What was your favorite group?
N/A
Is the program trauma-informed?
Absolutely NO. I was traumatized there and had intense trauma response such as frequent panic attacks the whole weekend after that incident happened, so I transferred myself to another program in the area.
After that incident I also thought more about it, there’s no way this program can be trauma-informed given the structure of the leadership at the center — they have a licensed therapist as the clinical director (who was my primary therapist and traumatized me) and a non-mental health staff as the executive director who oversees the whole program operations, that’s all.
What did you like the most?
Nothing, it was useless and I still don’t understand how it could work for anyone. I mean you just sit there scrolling on your phone/iPad/laptop and wait for your food. At most it can be called a day care program, definitely not a treatment program.
What did you like the least?
Everything, it was a waste of time.
Would you recommend this program?
Absolutely NO, strongly NOT recommend it.
I did Monte Nido’s programs before coming to this program. At MN we had a lot of groups and MN had full-licensed therapists to lead all of the groups, so when I started at this CFD I questioned them on their no-group-at-all program, and they made me feel like I was being difficult.
What level of activity or exercise was allowed?
Not sure, they didn’t mention about any restrictions on that.
What did people do on weekends?
If you don’t need to go in on Saturdays, just live your own live outside the program.
Do you get to know your weight?
No
What was the average length of stay?
Not sure, I transferred to another center after a few weeks being there.
What was the average age range?
They put minors and adults together, so it was the youngest 12 years old and the oldest 70-ish years old when I was there.
How do visits/phone calls work?
N/A
What is the electronics policy (e.g., cell phones, iPods, Kindles, laptops, tablets)?
They don’t lock away anything, so you’re free to use any electronics, and pretty much that would be all you do the whole time there.
For PHP/IOP: What support do they provide outside of programming hours?
None
What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an outpatient treatment team?
Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country?
Not sure
This is wild! Holy cow, I am so sorry you spent time trying to recover here.
I did a CFD PHP/IOP in Washington years ago and we had groups. The clinicians were totally unskilled and usually untrained, but at least they had some programming. Thanks for updating this information.
Hi, I just want to say thank you SO MUCH for writing this review. I’m currently considering an IOP program that takes insurance in MD and have been hounded by CFD since doing the phone consultation. They’re one of the very few in-state that takes insurance, as I’m sure you already know. And even with insurance, it costs an imaginable amount of money.
I have a couple of follow-up questions though. I got a sample IOP/PHP schedule from them and it lists that they do “group counseling.” Is that for show? Or is “group counseling” just being in the same room as others but there’s no actual work done? And they aren’t even licensed? That’s absurd. So sorry you had to deal with such a program.
I’m also shocked they put the adults and adolescents together…wow. Just not good. Do you know of any other better IOP places in the DMV area?
Thanks again for writing this review, and I hope you’re doing better now.
Any recent cypress reviews? If possible could you do the full review format? Or reach out to me directly?
Spare yourself, do NOT go to cypress texas. Literally awful, made me so miserable. Horribly understaffed, meals always late (like an hour or so late), no staff support at meals or during the day, over half of the groups get cancelled and the ones that ran were watching a youtube video, they wake you up to eat a snack at 2 am and rush you in the morning so you are extremely sleep deprived. Basically all i did was sit in the milieu and cry until the next meal then eat then go back to crying and no one checked in or tried to give support they just watched. Nursing staff was incredible though as was the psychiatrist. A lot of the staff seem decent but are too overworked to actually take time with the patients. They pack the milieu full to 12 people but they do not have the resources to support that high of a census. Other girls i talked to said they received much more support in a php or at other treatment centers. I recieeved less support there than in outpatient because i saw my therapist only once and it was for the intake and they would not let me use my phone or the facility phone to contact my friends/family to get their support aside from 10 mins a day but the call is in view of the whole milieu so you cannot have a private or meaningful conversation. They also claim it is young adult but it currently is much more in favor of adolescent (and the people who are technically adults are much younger in maturity level). They also give 4 hours in the morning for school assignments 5 days a week so if you are not in school you will be bored. I would strongly strongly recommend looking somewhere else!
Does anyone have any recent reviews for adult RTCs? Specifically would love to hear about Mclean, Wellington, or Fairfield
Hi, I do not have a recent review, however I spoke with their outreach reps a few weeks ago and they said they have the most seasoned team rn at their Fairfield and Chicago locations. I hope someone who has been their can review but just wanted to offer that insight.
Hi,
Would people recommend the Cypress location? I’m in my 30s and about to be discharged home from residential so am trying to decide where to go.
Nevermind… I just realized Cypress is only residential and not PHP.
Location: McLean, VA
Does anyone have any recent experience with the McLean, VA res program?
Hi! I have not been a client at CFD Mclean. I have at the other CFD in Virginia many years ago and had a decent experience. I am involved in the ED community professionally so I looked up the clinicians currently at CFD Mclean and I know the doctor and the dietician have good reputations in the community. I reached out to my friend who works at another CFD close to McLean who is recovered herself to ask her thoughts. She said McLean is pretty good right now she loves a few of the nurses there and the clinical director is good, a stickler but good. Also she mentioned they are not having staff shortages.
Sorry I couldn’t give a recent client perspective but hopefully this helps!
Could you give a review for the CFD in VA that you were at?
Elizabeth, with CFD there have been so many changes, and experiences are very dependent upon who is on staff at the time. I was in Alexandria in 2016, which I heard doesn’t exist at the same house any more and before that became an adolescent house. My experience there was SO good, but it was because of the director who hired master level clinicians as the daily support staff, my individual therapist, and the “chill” vibe that a lot of the staff had. they basically didn’t follow a lot of the rules about electronics and things and it was a MUCH better experience than my time in Fairfield CT that I had the following year which I felt was awful. All that to say, any review from years ago would not really be accurate in any way, and there are a lot of reviews from that time period on here.
?Review?
Location: Cypress, Texas
This review is for Center for Discovery Residential home in the Cypress, TX (right outside of Houston).
Overall, I had a positive experience with this treatment center though there were some issues.
The aspect of the program I appreciated was the most was the level of freedom offered at this program and the level of medical care.
I was at this treatment center after being in their PHP level of care in 2020.
The primary physician also has a practice in Houston called The Medical Center for Eating Disorders. I saw him outpatient as well, so it was night to have a continuation of care.
I appreciated the dietitian I worked with as she was willing to hear me out about my distress levels and do her best to meet me where I was at.
I went there during the worst of COVID, so there were a lot of restrictions about visitors and outings. I know, however, that typically visitors were allowed often and outings were a regular aspect of programming.
Due to us not being able to have visitors, we were able to Zoom with our families for an hour every night. This was AMAZING after having been at a center where we were only allowed one 10 minute, supervised phone call (EVEN AS AN ADULT).
I was an adult when I went to this treatment center as they allow up to age 23. I believe the youngest person there during my time was fourteen or fifteen which was a challenge for me due to the level of maturity.
They were understaffed in terms of therapist and groups often suffered for it. There was a lot of dead time, especially as an adult who had already completed high school and college.
I will say they offer a lot of school time for those still in school if this is a concern for you. You have full access to the internet during school hours (supervised by the direct care staff).
The head of the home at this point is a woman who genuinely cares for individuals suffering from eating disorders. I trust her immensely and wish she would’ve been the program director during my time there. She was the head of nursing during my time there.
You also have access to your cell phone every evening after reaching a certain level.
I will note that my biggest challenge during my time there was attempting to weight restore and to not restrict. Due to the more relaxed environment, you really have to have a strong internal motivation to recover because there are not as many safeguards to prevent you from acting on behaviors if the urge arises.
At a previous treatment center I attended, weight restoration was extremely rapid and in a way, traumatizing. It was the opposite experience here. I ended up graduating the program without being weight restored. I stepped down to PHP after, so there was a continuing opportunity to reach full medical restoration after, but I wish I would’ve been better set up for success at residential. I was there for about four months which is a bit longer than the usual stay. Thankfully, they didn’t have trouble with my insurance.
I will also mention the house is extremely nice–definitely one of the premiere treatment centers, facility wise, in the country.
Overall, if you are highly motivated to recover I think this would be a great treatment center for you. Also, if you have been to previous treatment centers and faced trauma as a result, I think you will find that this center will quell your fears as they do not use methods of punishment and control.
Milwaukee location is now closed. It’s so sad how few treatment options there are in WI right now.
I went to CFD MKE twice. I heard they lost their lease. It wasn’t in a house it was in an office building. The staff was phenomenal and I would recommend anyone to go there.
Hey, can anyone provide any info about CFD in Kansas? I’m headed there Wednesday…
How was it? Im considering going to that program
I didn’t end up going due to insurance. I did Opal in WA state instead, and it was challenging, but just what I needed.
I hope your experience was better than mine :/
Would you be interested in sharing ??
Also interested in Kansas location
Hi, can anyone provide a review of the Center for Discovery Spring Valley TX/Houston location?
I haven’t been to the Spring Valley location in a few years, but it was a mess when I was there for IOP. When I discharged from residential/PHP at another program, I was told I could continue using that meal plan. They changed their minds after I admitted and my team only agreed to let me use my original meal plan once I decided the program wasn’t for me and put in my notice to leave. The director of the program was manipulative and tried to convince me to stay for the benefit of the other patients. I’m not sure if the director and clinical staff are the same, as I know they had high turnover. I’ve heard better things about other CFD locations.
FYI: locations in Atlanta, Wisconsin abruptly closed.
FYI: CFD closed their adolescent Bellevue, WA PHP/IOP and Bellevue, WA adult RTC.
How did you hear that the adult RTC in Bellevue closed?
They did close, unfortunately. I know people who have been there/were going there (I live in the area). The location has also been removed off of the website.
I really liked CFD. I did their PHP program and it was super helpful. At the time they had adolescents and adults together since there was only 1 child but I really liked the program. They are super queer and trans friendly and educated. Everyone was super nice and supportive (and I don’t say that about a lot of programs).
Bellevue, Washington
Looking for recent reviews or any info about this location within the last year? Thank you!
CFD Chicago residential experiences? Would you recommend it? Why or why not? How do meal plans work? What is a typical day like?
Hi! A recent comment below said about Chicago: “It’s been very understaffed and unstable for most of this year. Not sure how much they’ve rebuilt it in the most recent few months, if at all. I recommend asking about staffing levels and experience of the current staff (they might all be brand new). Maybe inquire and compare to Milwaukee if you are interested in the same geographic area.”
Hi, I know this is a little late but I just left CFD Chicago. I was only there a few days and I chose to leave due to understaffing. The day I admitted they couldn’t do any groups at all because they didn’t have enough staff to admit me and do groups. Also nursing has a two-three hour gap where there are no nurses (they said it was due to census but there were 8/12 patient beds full). This gap was between like 6am-9am (which is odd to me because so many people need meds at that time). Also I had to watch the nurses give my meds like hawk, I consistently did not get the right meds. Can’t say much else about the program as I wasn’t there long enough. But one thing to note, because of understaffing getting away with certain behaviors in bathrooms was not difficult. If you need strict bathroom monitoring, this may not be the place for you. The main floor bathroom is monitored well, the rest not so much. Also not wheelchair accessible and all but one of the bedrooms are on the third floor.
Hi! I know it’s been a while since you reviewed, but what was the process for leaving ama like? I am really concerned that they won’t tell me transparently what that process is.
if you go to a treatment center with the intention of ama-ing there is no purpose in going
don’t recommend the most groups that were had were three on one day. Constantly people were being fed food they were allergic too, there was gaslighting from the higher ups, understaffing, I would look into a different location if able. The techs on staff are amazing tho.
Does anyone have a recent review of the adult program in Bellevue (and maybe an idea of the waitlist times?)?
which CFD Is the best location in your guys’ opinion and why?
Does anyone have insight into any levels of care for Milwaukee’s location? I know they’re pretty new, especially residential.
Any reviews for La habra res?
Hi there, I’m looking to be admitted into the residential program at CFD in Chicago, does anyone have any recent experience with this location?
It’s been very understaffed and unstable for most of this year. Not sure how much they’ve rebuilt it in the most recent few months, if at all. I recommend asking about staffing levels and experience of the current staff (they might all be brand new). Maybe inquire and compare to Milwaukee if you are interested in the same geographic area.
Hi, do you have any experience with the Milwaukee location?
Hi, I know this is a little late but I just left CFD Chicago. I was only there a few days and I chose to leave due to understaffing. The day I admitted they couldn’t do any groups at all because they didn’t have enough staff to admit me and do groups. Also nursing has a two-three hour gap where there are no nurses (they said it was due to census but there were 8/12 patient beds full). This gap was between like 6am-9am (which is odd to me because so many people need meds at that time). Also I had to watch the nurses give my meds like hawk, I consistently did not get the right meds. Can’t say much else about the program as I wasn’t there long enough. But one thing to note, because of understaffing getting away with certain behaviors in bathrooms was not difficult. If you need strict bathroom monitoring, this may not be the place for you. The main floor bathroom is monitored well, the rest not so much. Also not wheelchair accessible and all but one of the bedrooms are on the third floor.
How do assessments work for CFD? Do you get to pick the location or does CFD place you wherever there is an opening?
They’ll ask for your preferred locations, and then will tell you if there are openings at those locations, as well as other places with immediate openings.
You can request and choose to wait for a certain location to have a bed open if you want, otherwise they just place you wherever nearby is open the soonest
Hi, someone said on another thread that Center for Discovery McLean is not a good place to be right now. Is this true? Does anybody have any information?
I would say so. A close relative of mine sought treatment there recently and they had little to no staff. Structure was lacking and the care provided was not quality or debatably ethical.
Any recent reviews for the McLean location? Looking to go inpatient and would like to know if I should go here or Laureate Tulsa.
While they teach me the skills to build and eat a plate at home?
If you’re looking for inpatient, CFD doesn’t offer it.
Laureate has inpatient and I did an extended tour, it seemed like a very good program and excellent facility. CFD does residential and would be a good stepdown option after Laureate depending on where you are at with recovery at time of discharge. CFD will absolutely teach you skills to build and eat a plate at home, as well as meal plan and prep.
Laureate has inpatient and I did an extended tour, it seemed like a very good program and excellent facility. CFD does residential and would be a good stepdown option after Laureate depending on where you are at with recovery at time of discharge. CFD will absolutely teach you skills to build and eat a plate at home, as well as meal plan and prep.
Hi! I am in the process of admitting for a residential eating disorder program, and I am deciding between Center for Discovery in Glenview and Monte Nido Chicago. Does anyone have any recent experience at either place? I am 18, so I would be in the adolescent program (14-21) at CFD but the adult program (18+) for MN. From what I have gathered, a main difference between the centers is that CFD uses exchanges while MN uses a different plate-like approach. I am independent, motivated to recover, and looking for a team who is compassionate yet will also push me to be my best. Any recommendations between these two programs?
I know this is rather late, however Monte Nido is the best program I have ever been to and cannot recommend it enough. You have group continuously throughout the day, wonderful therapists, an amazing chef who helps you learn to cook and reintegrate food back into your life-it’s such a beneficial and helpful experience. I cannot recommend enough.
Does anyone have any recent experiences at the php & iop CFD New Jersey locations?
So I was at the CFD bridgewater twice, and honestly it was one of the worst phps i’ve ever been to. Some people like it, some don’t. It’s always different for everyone. Some staff are good, and some don’t know how to do their job at all, let alone eating disorders. I struggled a lot there. I transferred over to the monte nido php and honestly it’s so much better. but that’s only my experience.
This. Avoid the bridgewater location. I don’t care if the drive is twice or three times as long, please try to go to Monte Nido parssipany they are 100 times more caring, well informed, and you will actually make progress there.
Anyone know anything or have any experience with the Path-to-peace BED program at any location?
There is a community member who wrote about it here:
https://edtreatmentreview.com/center-for-discovery-2/#comment-18695
Location: Chino Hills Mental Health Treatment Program (Adult Residental)
I was wondering if anyone have went to this location and I was wondering about the reviews about it. I am planning to go but not sure what month and what day. I was curious about everything about the schedules, the meals, electronics policy, what to bring and what to not bring, and etc. I never experience going to a treatment center for mental illnesses. it just nothing is getting better for me at home. I have been going through for years and not recovering and healing a lot. This will be maybe my first time that I need somewhere to heal.