Monte Nido is a national eating disorder treatment center with a number of locations across the country. This page is for their five California locations (located in Agoura Hills, Lafayette, Los Angeles, Malibu, and Newport Beach). For reviews of their Oregon locations, please click here. For reviews of their Chicago location, please click here. For reviews of their other residential treatment locations, please click here. For reviews of their PHP/IOP and virtual programs, please click here.)
Monte Nido is known for its focus on body and soul. They mostly focus on residential treatment, however some locations do offer PHP, or PHP with housing. It was founded in 1996 by Carolyn Costin, who left after 20 years in 2016. Monte Nido changed ownership a few years ago; it now has new leadership, new clinical directors and many more locations.
Monte Nido has both residential eating disorder treatment centers and day treatment centers in California. The residential locations only treat adults, while the day treatment centers have programs for adolescents in addition to adults.
- Agoura Hills, CA (aka Monte Nido Vista) – Residential, all genders
- Lafayette, CA (aka Monte Nido East Bay) – Residential, all genders
- Los Angeles, CA (aka Monte Nido’s Eating Disorder Center of California) – Day treatment, all genders [*As of Sept 2022, PHP and IOP are still conducted virtually]
- Malibu, CA (aka Monte Nido Mountain Nest or Little Nido) – Residential, female-identifying [*Original Monte Nido location*]
- Newport Beach, CA (aka Monte Nido’s Eating Disorder Center of Newport Beach) – Day treatment, all genders [*As of Sept 2022, PHP and IOP are still conducted virtually]
Any current reviews of Monte Nido’s California locations? Please be sure to specify which location you are reviewing. You can check out the FAQ and Guidelines for suggested questions, and post your review or experience in the comments below!
Thank you!
LOCATION: Lafayette, CA
A family member was admitted to Monte Nido in Lafayette, CA for ARFID treatment in early February 2025 and this is a summary of what she experienced as well as my review as the primary caregiver:
All on-site staff members are courteous, kind, and supportive. The nurses and RCs were exceptionally understanding and available for problem-solving. The clinical director is prompt and responsive. The facility is welcoming, clean, and sits on a piece of land that has a natural setting.
This program is mainly behavior modification based (think points earned, refused, and used to motivate choices). There are levels of progress and privileges are earned (such as access to your personal phone or outings to nearby locations).
There is a binder of information on rules and expectations- read that first thing as there are a lot and breaking one, even if you are unaware of it, will result in a loss of points, verbal correction, loss of access to an outing, etc. Ask how recent it has been updated because it was not a current version for her.
The focus is on meal completion, including liquids. There are quite a few rules and social interaction expectations surrounding mealtimes. Every meal is closely monitored and points are earned or refused based on full completion (zero points if any food or liquid is left unconsumed).
Exposure therapy is at 100%. There is not a gradual introduction of foods either by type or amount.
Safe foods are surveyed but other foods are assigned and expected to be consumed.
There was not an active chef during her stay but the food was edible for the most part.
Movement of any kind (standing for short periods of time, walking around, spinning, dancing) is strictly prohibited. Attendees are expected to sit and conserve their metabolic state the entire time.
The therapeutic piece involves group therapy and one-on-one sessions planned throughout the week.
Group therapy is mainly personal check-ins, studies on self-care and discussion of general topics like self-esteem.
Personal therapy begins with a biopic and includes a life map. A care plan is established.
Due to the following issues that arose, voluntary discharge happened on day 8:
1. Therapists are not entirely informed on research-based treatment for ARFID. There is no education sheet available for review. Staff only shared basic coping skills (deep breathing, humming, temperature changes) when support was needed.
2. Complete movement restriction was counterproductive. Per the National Alliance for Eating Disorders: “There are different expectations for ARFID patients compared to those with other eating disorders. Our staff recognizes that body movement/physical activity often serves a different purpose than its compensatory functioning for those with anorexia or bulimia” (www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/arfid-best-treatement).
**If you are also Autistic or have ADHD, the removal of movement creates a major challenge in the healing process because it inhibits nervous system regulation.
3. The meal plans are not in alignment with best practices for treating ARFID. Food discovery and enriched exposure were not expressed as part of the initial treatment plan. 100% exposure was used instead. Even foods that were known to cause a physical reaction like nausea or abdominal pain were introduced and expected to be consumed. Again- without teaching the coping skills for managing those symptoms.
4. Her stimulant ADHD medication was removed after her consent but was done cold turkey- so the withdrawal symptoms were severe enough that it led to multiple dysregulation episodes (with limited support from staff). The psychiatrist could have weaned her off from 20 to 10 to zero over a period of weeks but chose this method which greatly influenced her trust in future medication management.
The bottom line is that we strongly encourage you to ask defining questions about the treatment process before admitting, and be aware that there are currently some weaknesses in the approach to addressing ARFID symptoms in this location.
CURRENT REVIEW OF MONTE NIDO EAST BAY IN REPLY
Is anyone at Monte Nido East Bay right now? If so, is the general milieu in a recovery-oriented space or is the vibe more like a bunch of people at the table not eating? Are the therapists and dietitian decent?
This is a review for the East Bay location
When were you there? Oct 2024-Jan 2025
What level(s) of care did you do (e.g., inpatient, residential, PHP, IOP)? residential
Is it wheelchair accessible? no, the group room and majority of the bedrooms are upstairs. front door and door to backyard has a couple steps
How many patients are there on average? up to 10
What genders does it treat? all
Do they support the gender identities of transgender and nonbinary people? yes, sort of? some of the staff don’t respect pronouns
How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, nurse, etc? there is a nurse available 24/7, the therapists run daily groups and you have 1:1 sessions with them 3 times a week, you meet the psychiatrist, physician and dietitian once a week. if the provider is there, you can always knock on the office door for a quick check-in
What is the staff-to-patient ratio? minimum 2 RCs at all times
What sort of therapies are used? DBT, CBT, and ACT groups throughout the week, yoga twice a week, and a couple various topics, like body positivity, depending on who’s leading the group
Describe the average day:
What were meals like?
breakfast and lunch 30mins, dinner 45mins, snacks 15mins. lunch outings on tuesday
• Wake up, weights, vitals between 6am-7:15am
• Breakfast 7:30am-8am
• Snack 10:30am-10:45am
• Lunch 12:15pm-12:45pm
• Snack 3pm-3:15pm
• Dinner 6:15pm-7pm
• Snack 8:15pm-8:30pm
What sorts of food were available or served? meals were on rotation and snacks are listed on a sheet and are chosen by the client before breakfast. usually the weekends have very similar, easy-to-prepare meals since the chef is not in. (i have a pdf with more specifics if anyone would like to see it)
Did they supplement? How did that system work? supplement counts for completion but you can only ask at half time and must ask before 5 mins left to ensure enough time to finish
What is the policy of not complying with meals? no level up, i believe administrative discharge or higher level of care after a certain amount of refusals
Are you able to eat vegetarian? Vegan? vegetarian yes, vegan no. however, the dietitian gave me a hard time for requesting vegetarianism and didn’t relent until i went to the clinical director, so be prepared to fight for it. the dietitian said i wasn’t allowed any dislikes/exceptions either because the vegetarianism was ‘accommodating too much.’
What privileges are allowed? communal computer but social media sites are blocked. occasionally if you need your phone for a password or to do something important like pay bills they will let you use it under supervision.
Does it work on a level system? entry level for 72hrs, level 1, level 2, level 3. you can only request to level up once a week during contract group. the requirements for each level are listed in the handbook but are honestly subjective and dependent on whatever the treatment team deems fit. someone can stay on level 1 for 9 weeks despite completing consistently
How do you earn privileges? meal compliance, group participation, level of ‘motivation’
What sort of groups do they have? ACT, CBT, DBT, nutrition, cooking, yoga
What was your favorite group? cooking i guess
What did you like the most? nothing.
What did you like the least? all of it; they also kept missing little things, which made the experience uncomfortable and feel unstructured. for example, i ran out of my morning meds one day and the nurse didn’t inform the other nurses or me, so they had to make an emergency run to the pharmacy to pick up a refill so i would have them for the next day.
Would you recommend this program? definitely, no. the rules are stupid, the staff feel very surface level, the groups are like pulling teeth. some of the staff are so rigid, like they were on a power trip, while others are more understanding. a lot of new RCs with little to no training or RCs calling out and registry would have to be called in, resulting in meals and snacks being prepped late and no support. the chef quit during my time there (never got a new one) and the already difficult meals became even harder to deal with. a lot of the time it felt like the team swept all the issues clients brought up under the rug. or they chalked it up to our EDs speaking for us. ‘see this as an opportunity to challenge your ED’ is something they often said. maybe it was just the client group i was with but there was also a lot of drama between everyone. this place is quite honestly a joke.
What level of activity or exercise was allowed? once cleared: walks, stretching, and/or yoga depending on the day. otherwise you’re expected to sit on your ass all day and do nothing. no “unnecessary standing” allowed.
What did people do on weekends? visiting hours on Fridays and Sundays, outing on Saturday afternoon before dinner if level 1 and above and meal compliant the day before. more TV time and less groups on the weekends, overall more downtime
How fast is the weight gain process? depends on the client’s needs, not everyone is required to gain but the staff almost always say they “lovingly” aim for weight gain (even if you don’t need it)
What was the average length of stay? they say 30 days but it’s more like 90+
What was the average age range? adults but most people were between 20-40 years old?
How do visits/phone calls work? community phone available, there is a sign up sheet but you’re basically allowed to use it whenever it’s available
What is the electronics policy (e.g., cell phones, iPods, Kindles, laptops, tablets)? personal electronics available at level 3 at certain days and times otherwise no electronics allowed
For inpatient/residential: Are you able to go on outings/passes? outings allowed if level 1+ and meal compliant the day before. passes can be requested once level 2
What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an outpatient treatment team? they work with your insurance to step down to PHP. this program almost never steps people down straight to outpatient (words from the clinical director)
Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country? n/a
How is the program responding to COVID? COVID policy here is non-existent. the house is almost always full, masks aren’t enforced even when multiple clients are experiencing some form of symptom.
Other? do NOT give these people your money. they claim to prioritize recovery but they just want money. one client was never completing and always calling for supplement yet they were able to “complete the program” and discharge. they told me they had to leave earlier than they wanted because their insurance could no longer pay for their stay.
Could anyone help weigh the pros and cons of Monte Nido East Bay with other res programs in CA, like Sunol Hills and Alsana? Honestly open to IP recs too. I am in urgent need of placement, not medically unstable, but worried that I will be soon if I don’t admit. One of the largest barriers I’m facing is that most programs are for kids or females only. (Trans man, 19). Thank you!
Can anyone help me compare Sunol Hills Ridgeview and Monte Nido East Bay?
vista- if you get s***** as a therapist run…. she’s so condescending and made my stay miserable
*most of name redacted by admin per site policy
I left this google review for Monte Nido East Bay a few months ago, but it looks like my review got deleted:
My experience at Monte Nido East Bay involved an intertwining of both care and harm.
The good parts: The program offers firm boundaries and containment around eating disorder behaviors which helps create a strong recovery-oriented atmosphere amongst clients. They do not let you flounder for long without recommending you go to a higher level of care. If you want to stay there, you will eat and have to challenge compensatory urges. You will gain weight (if necessary for your recovery journey). A good portion of staff were kind and well-intentioned while working within the confines of an imperfect system. People check in with you if you’re crying and at times I felt a lot of love and warmth from people. The house itself is clean and well-maintained. We finally got a chef during my time there, and she was amazing. Groups were for the most part engaging— your average DBT, CBT, ACT but with some good process groups and body/mind stuff mixed in there too.
The not so good:
The program has little room for considerations of individual needs that lie outside of what is common for those with anorexia or bulimia. The rules are made to benefit and keep safe patients with a very certain kind of presentation. I watched neurodivergent individuals repeatedly needing to advocate for themselves and being met with little receptiveness, clients with ARFID who left due to their specific struggles not being addressed, people with chronic pain conditions received little understanding for the ways in which this impacted their ability to show up in the ways that others could.
There was A LOT of downtime. We were encouraged to use the idle time as an opportunity to challenge ourselves to rest, be still, and not constantly give in to the felt need to be productive. I of course understand the value in that, but it also felt a little overboard. I felt in dire need of stimulation and frustrated that I was paying so much for treatment to just sit around without groups for several hours a day.
I watched clients “graduate” and step down to lower levels of care after having only been granted 1-2 weekend passes out of the facility throughout their entire time in the program (several months). This conservative approach does not set clients up for success.
From my experience, most therapists working in residential treatment settings are often pretty green (two during my time at Monte Nido were just taking their licensing exams). This doesn’t diminish their credibility, but it was evident that certain therapists were perhaps not receiving quality supervision. Mistakes were made that negatively affected clients, and the stakes are high in settings like this.
Decisions about my care were often made behind closed doors and there was very little communication to patients around the clinicians’ thought process when granting privileges vs restricting them. There are not set criteria for moving up a “level,” and I was told that decisions around this were less based off of strict criteria and moreso based on “vibes.” This was demoralizing to hear and made it difficult to figure out how to “prove myself” to the clinicians and give off the vibe that I was ready to receive certain privileges and freedoms back.
What ultimately led me to leave: A lack of trauma-informed care. The “higher up” staff (therapists, doctor, psychiatrist, clinical director) failed to understand the ways in which power structures can impact the experience of a patient. I felt very unsafe here— which is not to say that any egregious acts of abuse took place or that there were any clear violations of boundaries. This feeling of unsafety stemmed from the little things:
A psychiatrist who repeatedly interrupted me mid-sentence and made it so that I didn’t have the space to express how distressing a medication’s side effects were for me. Privileges were then taken away from me due to me not wanting to comply with this medication. A doctor who assumed that my request for a stool softener was my eating disorder talking rather than asking if laxative abuse had ever been a part of my eating disorder or if I thought that could possibly be something happening in the present. A therapist who reacted defensively and with hostility when I worked up the courage to share how something she did impacted me. A clinical director who spoke with a condescending and dismissive tone when I brought this to his attention. Two women from corporate came to this location, and I attempted several times to have a conversation with them to express some concerns I had about my experience there. I was repeatedly dismissed by them and had the office door closed in my face. Aside from my own, I watched other clients’ concerns all too quickly swept under the rug. Voices expressing very real experiences were invalidated simply due to the fact that they were coming from patients with malnutrition and mental illnesses.
Kind of creepy. One of the therapists seem infatuated with the place and not in a healthy way. Claims it saved her life. Very disconcerting to say the least.
Anyone have a review of Vista recent?
In case no one has mentioned it, Monte Nido Malibu is now Monte Nido Clementine Calabasas and treats female identifying adolescent girls. So sad to see the loss of an adult treatment center especially one which had a small more intimate patient population.
Admitting to Monte Nido East Bay in Lafayette tomorrow. Have never found any current reviews for this location. They do not allow any internet access during your stay & cell phone usage is extremely limited.
At some point, probably after my release, I will write a review.
Wish me well, please.
Hello,
Any current reviews for Monte Nido East Bay/Lafayette? The most recent one is almost a year old. I will be seeking treatment here in the next two months. It’s one of the few, possibly the only Residential Treatment Center in Northern California. My Dr. is ready to send the referral, I just need to give the go-ahead.
Thank you. (I did see a recent Google review from two weeks ago, but all that was shared is “This place is a joke”.) I wish the client would have elaborated on why they felt this way.
Hey, I’m trying to decide between Monte Nino Vista (California) or Veritas Collective (North Carolina).
I did my intake call already but just wanted some honest answers. Thanks!
is the 30 day quote accurate? or do they keep you there longer? what if you decide you want to leave earlier?
how do they determine you are ok to leave?
do they let you eat vegan or is it only vegetarian?
how often can you go outside or exercise?
is the therapy actually good?
can you have a phone or laptop?
what if you don’t complete meal?
I know this place is well known but I want to make sure it is actually good before I commit to going. Thank you!!
was In vista, discharged yesterday. the rest of the client group were so sweet and caring and understanding, much more supportive than most staff. most staff were nice but clearly didn’t know how to perperly tend to someone who is clearly in the middle of immense distress. a few main staff were so standoffish and disregarding to all of us, made all of us feel very judged and unsafe. i felt so uncomfortable with staff i discharged not even 3 days into my treatment. you would think as someone who signs up to work with people who are going through the most painful vulnerable experience they’ve been through you’d be more tending and understanding, but instead some were judged for certain triggers/behaviors. misgendering also very prominent for those who use they pronouns. the meals were ok, im aware balance is important to practice in recovery, but you’d think the meals themselves would be balanced rather than the plan as a whole. some meals were so jarring but the supplement hurt so bad i felt trapped almost because i knew id be in extreme pain either way. Milk given to lactose intolerants. could easily accommodate to those who have issues revolving utensils, choose not to because of their set plan written by 1 woman. beautiful location, but feels more like a glamorized prison with a garden you can’t even go to, just look at from afar at a table. worst of all, in a time of great distress for me, the staff lied to my dad about my wellbeing. while I was actively having a meltdown after being made extremely visibly uncomfortable by a staff member my dad had called asking about something they asked for for health records and when he asked how I was doing, they said “she’s doing great! acclimating well” despite the fact i also had a breakdown after every single meal. i had to call my mom sobbing to get out of there and apparently when she called to ask about me, no one answered. my dad called to ask about me again and say he was coming to get me, no one answered. when he got there they ignored him till finally letting him in, no one told me he was there till very last minute. one of them asked my dad what the reasoning for my discharge was and he explained my distress, they said because of my early discharge they’re going to take insurance away from any future treatments but kept quiet after my dad mentioned his lawyer. how are you going to lie to someone’s parents about how they’re doing in your program? that’s the most bizarre slimy shit ive ever seen from a healthcare facility. admission process also felt so unprofessional and got told so many important things so last minute, the lack of communication made everything so much more stressful than it needed to be. honestly fuck that place but my heart goes out to the group of other clients, they were super chill
peace and love tho lol
Do any of the Monte Nido locations take people with g tubes?
*admin note: this post is from a parent of an adult client, not a client
according to staff everything is apparently a behavior one time a girl got really shaky and they said it was just because she hadnt eaten enough but turns out it was mercury poisining from the fish 2 weeks ago. poor girl got so shaky that she fell down the stairs and almost cracked her head open.I heard this story from my daughter who was previously a client here, her and that girl were becoming friends until this tragedy happend. the girl got sent to the hospital.
Hi! I was wondering if anyone knows the smoking/vaping policy at the Agoura Hills/Vista location?
Location: Agoura Hills, CA (Vista)
This is a review for the Agoura Hills location (Vista)
When were you there?
currently
What level(s) of care did you do (e.g., inpatient, residential, PHP, IOP)?
Residential
How many patients are there on average?
It houses up to 12, but I think between 6 and 8 is pretty typical. Hella people just got discharged, so there will only be 4 pple, including me, so plz come.
Does it treat both males and females?
Just females
If applicable: Do they support the gender identities of transgender and nonbinary people?
Yeah they are chill with that as far as I can tell. There aren’t any clients who are transgender or nonbinary right now, but one of the therapists is nonbinary, and the rest of the staff is respectful.
How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, etc? Therapist 3x a week, dietician 1x a week, psychiatrist 1x a week, medical doctor 1x a week
What is the staff-to-patient ratio?
I dont know exactly but there’s always at least like 2 RCs (which are just like basic staff) and usually more during the day, and then there’s usually other staff like therapists and other people there during the day. And theres a 24/7 nurse. It doesnt feel short staffed
What sort of therapies are used?
CBT, ACT, DBT, expressive arts, talk therapy. the usual stuff
Describe the average day:
wake up between 6-7 to get vitals
breakfast at 7:30, 8:15 on weekends
2 groups usually
AM snack at 10:15
another group
lunch at 12:15
2 groups or free time/sessions depending on the day of the week
3:00 PM snack
free time until 5
group
6-6:45 dinner
free time
8:15 night/HS snack
free time
you can go up to your room at 9 or 9:30 depending on your level, you need to go up by 10
lights out is 10:30 but it’s not enforced, you just need to be done getting ready for bed so they can lock your bathrooms by 10:30
What are meals like/ What sorts of food were available or served?
3 meals and 3 snacks for everyone. The food is usually pretty good, made by our chef. I wish there were more vegetables and there’s not a whole lot of protein either which I don’t love, but other than that not too many complaints. Some days the meals are more ***/balanced, but sometimes it’s just like a big bowl of pasta. The chef isn’t here on the weekends, so on Saturdays for lunch you always get a pb&j with chips or cookies and fruit, and Saturday dinner is pizza takeout. The breakfasts are a week rotation. It might change occasionally, but right now it’s cereal, yogurt bowl, oatmeal, overnight oats, fritatta, and eggo w sausage. The lunches and dinners are on a 6 week rotation. You get 30 minutes for breakfast and lunch, 45 minutes for dinner, and 15 minutes for snacks. Every week they hand out the menu, but you don’t really get a choice. It’s usually just vegetarian version or regular version, and if you’re not vegetarian I think they give you the regular version no matter what you pick. You also can do 2 sub meals I think (1 preplanned, and 1 spontaneous) and the sub meal is just pb&j, oreos, and fruit. We go out on a lunch outing every tuesday to places likePanera, Chipotle, El Pollo Loco, etc. You choose your snacks from a list of options every day. The snack menu doesn’t change, but you can request a special snack as a group. The snack options have a pretty good variety. Ice cream, reeses, poptarts, granola bars, yogurt and granola, carrots and hummus and pita chips, dried fruit and nuts, apple and pb, fruit and cheese, chocolate covered almonds, chips, cereal, and some more. The vibe of the meal varies depending on the day, but usually we play games or just talk. Sometimes dinners are boring because they are so long. But usually it’s a positive atmosphere
Did they supplement? How did that system work?
They supplement with ensure. It’s in quarters I think, so it’s not measured exactly to match what you’re not eating. I don’t know any more specifics. I’m assuming they don’t do 1 for snacks and 2 for meals and have replacing for 100% of anything be pretty close to accurate, but I’m not sure, they’re not super up front about it. You can ask for a supplement in the last 15 minutes of a meal and 5 minutes of a snack, and you’re not penalized at all for supplementing.
What is the policy of not complying with meals?
if you have 3 refusals in a week you can’t go on the outing on Saturday, and you can’t do yoga or go on walks or have tea or coffee. This also applies if you’ve had 1 refusal within the last 24 hours. Other than that you’re not really penalized, but if you refuse too much they will have to discharge you or send you to IP.
Are you able to eat vegetarian?
Yes
What privileges are allowed?
you earn more privileges as you level up, like using your phone, having less observation in the bathroom, portioning your meals and snacks, and going on passes but I’ve never seen anyone do that. Also depending on meal completion and medical status you can go on walks or do yoga, get coffee in the mornings, or tea in the morning or at night, do a higher level exercise group that’s like just dance I think, you can maybe use the pool, but it’s not super common. Also everyone gets to choose their snacks from a list of options.
Does it work on a level system?
Yes
How do you earn privileges?
Every week you fill out a contract where you request privileges and request the level that you want, and the treatment team talks about it and then tells you whatgot granted
What sort of groups do they have?
dbt, act, cbt, yoga, expressive arts, body and soul, relapse prevention, life skills, family and relationships, process, community, mindfulness, cooking, nutrition, and some more
What was your favorite group?
it depends more on whos leading the group than what the actual group is. I like art focused groups, and many of the group leaders try to do stuff that we like, so theres a lot of art and games and stuff in most of the groups. Body and Soul is a cool group that is kinda spiritual and we go outside a lot for that.
What did you like the most?
I like the other patients, the staff are all amazing for the most part. The RCs and nurses care so much and they really help. I like that they don’t force you to eat, and even as you progress through the program, they still understand that you will have bad days and you never get reprimanded too much for refusals. I also like that you can choose the snacks, and I’m excited to get to portion. I also enjoy the lunch outings, even though they are scary. I also think that the meal plan is pretty reasonable. I’m on a lower meal plan right now because I have just started complying more, so I might disagree in a couple weeks if it gets increased, but the portions seem normal and I think it’s a pretty good example of healthy eating because it’s a mix of stereotypical healthy balanced foods and foods that are more fear foods, but it’s not totally over the top. I also like that there’s a cooking group, though I wish it was more involved.
What did you like the least?
I wish I could use my phone more, and I wish the pool was actually used. Also, the therapists are kind of mid. I also wish there was more vegetables, but maybe that’s just my ED. I thought I wouldn’t be able to adjust to the early mornings and early bedtime, but it hasn’t been a problem.
Would you recommend this program?
yes
What level of activity or exercise was allowed?
Yoga and walks if you’re approved, and possibly just dance but I’ve never seen anyone do it
What did people do on weekends?
There are still some groups on the weekends, but there’s more free time. During free time, people read, crochet/knit, play cards, tan/go outside, talk, go on the computer, nap, and watch tv (which is allowed all day on the weekends but only after dinner during the week)
Do you get to know your weight?
No
How fast is the weight gain process?
it’s probably different for everyone. For me, it hasn’t felt unbearably fast
What was the average length of stay?
I think it’s 6-8 weeks
What was the average age range?
While I’ve been here it’s been mostly late teens and early 20s, but theres been a couple women in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s
How do visits/phone calls work?
Visitors are allowed for a couple hours on Fridays, and there’s a house phone that you can use to make calls whenever there’s free time.
What is the electronics policy (e.g., cell phones, iPods, Kindles, laptops, tablets)?
You’re not allowed to have your phone or other personal electronics, but you can use them for an hour on Fridays if you don’t have visitors, and if you need your phone for a bit to do something or make an important call, they will give it to you. You’re also allowed to have a music device or mp3 player if it doesn’t connect to wifi
For inpatient/residential: Are you able to go out on passes?
On level 2 I think you could possibly go on individual passes (separate from group outings) but I think it rarely gets approved
For PHP/IOP: What support do they provide outside of programming hours?
I have only done res so far, but I think they have supported housing for php
What kind of aftercare do they provide?
Do they help you set up an outpatient treatment team? They try to help you get set up with a php program to the best of their abilities, and don’t like to discharge people until they have a place to go.
*This review is for MN Vista*
Describe the average day:
I honestly can’t remember the exact times of times, but I’ve listed a general overview/outline for the average day:
Anyone who’s recently been? What was your experience, what was the schedule and food like, providers, staff? What to bring, what not to bring?
I am looking to admit to monte Nido malibu-little Nido can anyone who was there recently leave a detailed review? Also what’s the electronics/visitor policy.
Thank you
Hi, does anyone know what happens if a meal isn’t completed?
Do they do holds or certs at this location?
Do not go to vista. I can’t speak to other programs but vista is understaffed and not client centered. I was admitted on a Friday morning and then they told me there was no therapist for me to talk to until Monday. The food is awful and the staff underwhelming. I don’t have a better suggestion — maybe the Malibu center is better — but Agoura hills? Stay away.
Review of Monte Nido’s PHP/IOP program in Los Angeles called Eating Disorder Center of California:
Would not recommend this program. I was at Monte Nido Malibu from January to March 2022, and had a relatively positive experience focusing on deep trauma work and self introspection. I healed a lot of my behaviors and found peace with food and exercise while in residential. I stepped down to PHP in March 2022 at EDCC and it was there where I was aggressively overshot, was put on complete bed rest despite having movement privileges in residential, and was on a higher energy meal plan despite having been weight restored in residential. I stepped down to IOP at the beginning of April and was there until the end of May 2022. IOP was arguably worse; I was still with the same ineffective therapist and dietician and both were extremely misinformed about my medical history as well as my ED history. I’ve currently been out of treatment for almost 6 months, and while I am stable in my recovery, I am still dealing with the aftermath of my case being so drastically mishandled. I would not recommend this program.
My insurance only covers MN Vista. Does anyone know if they will accommodate vegans and if they will do tube feedings instead of supplements?
Hi, there I’m looking into Monte Nido East Bay and/or Malibu. I’m wondering if anyone has any recent reviews on either or both?
does anyone know if monte nido accepts anthem blue cross medi-cal? I am currently in the process of getting back on my moms insurance (its a process because I am disabled and over 26) but it most likely will be approved. However if not I was wondering if they take state insurance. Thanks in advance!
I am curious if anyone has any advice on how it “works” location-wise when starting the treatment admissions process with MN. Specifically…
I ask because when I was at Alsana/Castlewood a handful of years ago, when you did your intake you could share your preference of location but it wasn’t guaranteed and they said they had “reasons” and a “process” for placing clients at specific locations and the whole thing was intentional. Wondering if MN is the same.
Thanks!
TIME SENSITIVE.
admitting to monte nido vista, can anyone share how it was? electronics? meals? is it a good program?
We finally have a separate review page specifically for Monte Nido’s five California programs. It’s about time, I know! ? If you have been to any of the California locations in the last 2-3 years and haven’t posted a review yet, please post one here. There are locations in Agoura Hills (aka Monte Nido Vista), Lafayette (aka Monte Nido East Bay), Los Angeles (aka Monte Nido’s Eating Disorder Center of California), Malibu (aka Monte Nido Mountain Nest, formerly called Little Nido), and Newport Beach (aka Monte Nido’s Eating Disorder Center of Newport Beach)
I am in the process of moving all California threads and reviews to this page. Hopefully this helps keep the California posts from getting buried on the main Monte Nido review page.
You will notice that there are also a LOT of yet-to-be-answered questions and posts below from awesome EDTR folks who are considering admitting to these locations. If you have been (or know the answers) but aren’t able to write a review please help out by replying to people’s questions. Just like when posting reviews, you can answer questions anonymously too!
Hi can anyone please tell me about any of the California locations?
Hi there i am looking to admit to Monte Nido in augora hills and i was just wondering if anyone could give me a quick run down on how it is?
Has anyone been to MN East Bay location recently? Do you have a reviews or information? Please let me know
anyone been to Vista lately?? recent reviews greatly appreciated!!!
Monte Nido East Bay vs Malibu locations?
What is the current electronics policy?
Thanks
This is my first post and I just wanted to put a TW out there (not sure if this needs one but I just want to be mindful to everyone here!)
Anyways, hello! I am admitting to Monte Nido res this week… I will be in the east bay or Malibu location. If anyone knows if one is better please let me know!
I struggle with restrictive eating and have lost weight in the past, however, in the past month, I have been binging at night. Consequently, I am living in a bigger body.
Basically, since I am at a higher weight now, what does this mean for me at Monte Nido? I am not underweight, so will I be expected to gain weight since I have a history of restriction? I am at the highest weight I have ever been so I just wanted to know what other people’s experiences have been like for those who now live in bigger bodies.
heyy – can anyone comment on their recent experiences at monte nido’s CA or OR locations for res? I’ve only ever had really negative experiences at other treatment centers and subsequently am very afraid of the idea of going back to treatment in general. Please be frank/objective<3
I am planning to be admitted to Monte Nino Nest or Vista in a few weeks. I am familiar w Carolyn Costin’s framework, but am wondering if things have changed a lot since it became corporate. Has anyone been in the last year, 2022, who could comment on…
Staffing- looks as though both places are without a permanent clinical director. Is there enough staff in general? Do they seem well trained in ED or newer w a high turnover rate?
Quality of food- are the meals fresh, organic fruits veggies, etc. Can you avoid processed food? Do they force a lot of food right in the beginning?
Exercise- I am an athlete and am wondering can you really exercise, or is it more walking, restorative yoga, etc.
Fees- are there any extra fees outside of those quoted?
Length- how long did most clients stay? What caused clients to need to stay longer?
Thank you so much for taking the time,
Melissa
Has anyone recently been to Monte Nido Vista?? I’d really appreciate a recent review, I am trying to decide if I will be going there next week! I really appreciate any and all information!!!
Time sensitive! I’m admitting to Monte Nido Mountain Nest/Malibu on Monday!! Any info on that specific location or your experience there would be so helpful! Thank you!!
Location- Miami
How is this location
Hi! Does anyone know what the meal plans look like for Monte Nido programs? Basically if they are individualized or if everyone is required to eat the same thing? Also what is the policy for lactose intolerance. Do they make you eat dairy with lactaid or will they provide alternate options to accomodate?
Location: East Bay
Any recent reviews for the East Bay residential location?
Does anyone happen to know what the availability at the East Bay residential location is right now? Like if anyone has recently inquired and they gave a waitlist/time frame? I can’t get ahold of them until the admission office reopens on Monday, but I’m trying to figure out my options in the meantime.
I’m looking at the following locations… Any recent reviews would be really helpful!!
– Western NY (Victor, NY)
– Rivertown (Irvington, NY)
– Glen Cove (Glen Cove, NY)
– Vista (Aguora Hills, CA)
– Nido (Calabasas, CA)
– East Bay (Lafayette, CA)
Does anyone have a recent review of Little Nido in Malibu?
Looking for information on residential Monte Nido in California (assuming Malibu?) I’ve never been to residential before.
What was the food like?
How were the groups?
Did you have any panic/anxiety attacks while you were here or overwhelming emotions come up not being able to act on your behaviors and how did they handle or help you through that?
Did they encourage you to make friends with the other clients? Did you get bored frequently?
Location: Monte Nido East Bay (Lafayette, California)
When were you there?
Feb-March 2021 (3 weeks)
How many patients are there on average?
We had 6 at most during my stay, usually fewer people
Does it treat both males and females? If so, is treatment separate or combined?
Yes, and treatment is combined.
What were meals like?
They were at the dining room table (plexiglass dividers for covid), or sometimes outside if it was nice or you asked an RC early enough. The meals were usually prepared by the chef (who is great) but the RC’s do breakfast, and we ordered in once a week. They brought a rolling cart out, everyone washed up, and we could usually help give people their food or pour the water. We had to wait for the RC or therapist to sit and then we sat and shared intentions. We often listened to music of played table games. By the end of my stay the milieu was really wonderful and we had very lighthearted meals. Meals were with an RC, the dietitian, or one of the therapists. Sometimes the nursing staff would also hang out with us. 30 mins for meals/ 15 for snack. Honestly things were pretty lenient in that you could use behaviors and also restrict without much interruption.
Did they supplement? How did that system work?
Yep, they check in with you 5-10 mins before the meal is over if it looks like you won’t finish. You’ll be encouraged to eat the food, but otherwise chocolate or vanilla ensure was given and you had 5 minutes to complete that. They don’t shame you for supplementing and count it as a completion.
What is the policy of not complying with meals?
You don’t move up levels, a few people had movement restriction based upon their completion, and you don’t get coffee.
Are you able to eat vegetarian?
Yes, each meal has at least 1 vegetarian option. They were pretty similar to the non-veg option, usually just a replacement protein
Does it work on a level system?
Yup. Entry level, which you’re on until at least your first contract group is basically eyesight and all bathroom obs (door cracked, talk, flush checks). Level 1 you have bathroom obs 2 hours after meals, and 1 after snacks and then you can have the door shut and flush yourself. You also get cleared for yoga and walks on level one. Level 2 observations are lowered to 1 hour after meals, 30 minutes after snack. You could go to bed at night after your obs were up after evening snack. No one got to level 3 while I was there. Discharge level is basically what they give if insurance pulls on you, and it gives you less (or no) obs to prepare you to go. As KiKi said, staff vary on how they follow bathroom protocol. Some make you talk/sing/whistle and others don’t. You usually had to tell the staff that you could indeed shut the door.
How do you earn privileges?
Finish meals and snacks, do assignments, participate in groups. And asking for things on your contract (supervised sharps, movement, different phone times).
What was your favorite group?
Body and Soul was run by an expressive arts/drama therapist and she was incredible. We did drama therapy once a week, and then body and soul expressive arts once a week. I think we all got the most therapeutic work done with her. She was so supportive.
What was the average age range?
late teens to early forties, but mostly on the young side
How do visits/phone calls work?
COVID protocol meant no visits so we got our phones after evening snack everyday, and for part of the afternoon on weekends.
What is the electronics policy (e.g., cell phones, iPods, Kindles, laptops, tablets)?
Cell phones as stated above. I asked for my computer on my contract every week but that was always denied. They did have a computer in the living room that anyone could use.
Are you able to go out on passes?
Due to COVID we didn’t have passes. They said they went for drives but that never happened while I was there.
What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an outpatient treatment team?
In theory they do, but my therapist did the bare minimum. I didn’t want to do Monte Nido PHP so my therapist just set me up with Renfrew (which I had been in prior to residential). I asked repeatedly for referrals to in person PHP programs and I ended up having to find them myself. I also had to ask a few times for a copy of my treatment plan, which I wanted since I didn’t have an OP team.
Would you recommend this program?
Honestly, probably not.
The Pros: really small milieu, really good client community while I was there, the nursing staff was AMAZING (so nice, and engaging, sometimes even more than the RC’s), Body and Soul, their approach to nutrition.
Cons: Inconsistent, had the ability to be quite triggering when others were struggling, the dietitian did not explain the meal plan at all, my team didn’t advocate to my insurance when they pulled, it seemed like the staff had different understandings of the rules, and also, it is just a place where you have to be really motivated to challenge yourself. I came to res because my motivation for recovery was incredibly low, I left with it still very low. Also I’d say I got next to nothing done in therapy. When I discharged to PHP with another place they discovered I had trauma that we had not been working on at all/
It’s hard: I really did love the people I met and had some amazing clinicians, but the people I needed to ‘click’ with (my dietitian and therapist) I didn’t.
Can anyone provide more information about the differences between Monte Nido Vista and Little Nido, or if they’d recommend one over the other?
Location: Monte Nido East Bay (Lafayette, California)
When were you there?
February 2021 (about 3 weeks)
How many patients are there on average?
5 but can accommodate up to 10.
Does it treat both males and females? If so, is treatment separate or combined?
Yes, and treatment is combined.
What were meals like?
They were at the dining table or sometimes outside if it was a nice day. Meals were at times pretty quiet and awkward (my experience). Sometimes they would allow music to be on in the background during meals, which was nice. They had me eat meals 1on1 at one point and they would do that in the clinical director’s office, outside, or in the corner arts table in the living room area. Also we got 30min for meals and 15min for snacks. I believe dinner was 45min and when they ordered take out for lunch it was also 45min if I remember correctly.
Did they supplement? How did that system work?
They did supplement and they would give you either a chocolate or vanilla ensure (you can pick). I think they only gave you a certain amount of the ensure depending on how much of your meal was completed. Important to note, I was at residential for ARFID and they have a strict ARFID protocol that they follow and that includes not supplementing even when I did not complete a meal (in my case).
What is the policy of not complying with meals?
You don’t level up
Are you able to eat vegetarian?
It seemed like they did accommodate residents who were vegetarian
Does it work on a level system?
Yes, everyone comes in at entry level, which means the bathroom door remains cracked whenever you are using it and same for when you shower. Usually you would go up to Level 1 after the first contract meeting. The staff at East Bay met every Tuesday for contract group. With Level 1 you could close the door to the bathroom only 2 hours after eating and 1 hour after snacks. For showers at Level 1 I believe the door can be shut, but staff needs to be trained on that because some staff would make me have the door cracked and others would say it’s fine that it’s shut (that was very frustrating).
How do you earn privileges?
You have to be meal compliant (finish meals 100%) and participate in groups. And be sure to ask for them on your contract.
What was your favorite group?
Body and soul was great. The therapist who ran that group while I was there is fantastic.
What was the average age range?
When I was there we had age ranges from late teens-late 30s.
How do visits/phone calls work?
We got our cell phones every night around 9pm for 1 hour (after the last snack of the day). I did most of my phone calls outside (got chilly sometimes) because that was the most private area to do them (I brought a portable charger, which was helpful with taking my phone outside for calls). They say you can do your phone call by the stairs, but it’s not very private and they need to have eyes on you at all times. I think on Sundays we get our cellphones twice during the day.
They also have a phone booth, and you can only use it during certain times in the day and usually only for 15min or so.
What is the electronics policy (e.g., cell phones, iPods, Kindles, laptops, tablets)?
Residents that needed to do homework were able to request for their laptop as needed.
Are you able to go out on passes?
While I was there you couldn’t go on passes to see loved ones in person due to COVID. They sometimes went on drives to Target, but only residents who were meal compliant (finish meals 100%) could go.
What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an outpatient treatment team?
I’m not sure since I left against clinical advice (ACA)- they did follow up with me to make sure I made appointments with my primary care provider and therapist, but other than that they were not able to offer me anything else since their recommendation for me was still residential and I left ACA.
Would you recommend this program?
I think I would recommend this program, but with caution. I think it depends on the person, diagnosis, and what they are looking for in treatment. Residents that had their stay cut short due to insurance were very sad to leave there. So I think some people have had good experiences there and maybe among a few, including myself, did not.
For me it was not a good fit and I could have stayed there a lot longer, but I would not be thriving. I made the right choice by leaving ACA when I did, because I was able to start gaining weight at the OP level after I left. I was also able to take away positive things from my experience there: I eliminated a behavior cold turkey, I discovered I liked coloring and Bananagrams, I learned that I need to be eating larger portions than I was at home, and I was able to somewhat mimic the meal schedule from residential in my transition to OP treatment, which helped push my weight restoration forward.
Overall, I would recommend Monte Nido East Bay to folks who have more common eating disorders, but for folks whose sole or primary diagnosis is ARFID make sure to ask a lot about their ARFID protocol to see if it will be a good fit for you.
What I didn’t like:
The dietician there was not a good fit for me. It took a few talks & sessions with him to get to a point of understanding and having him be more gentle and patient with me. However, during my first few days there when I was most scared, confused, and vulnerable I didn’t have that patience and understanding that I desperately needed at that time. They said some unhelpful things to me like “just eat” when obviously I wouldn’t be at a residential facility if I could “just eat.”
I also didn’t like how the staff and therapists there would say “it’s your eating disorder talking” during meal times. I didn’t agree with that statement for the residents (including myself) who clearly wanted to eat, but felt sick and nauseous. It did not help me when they told me that, it just made me feel misunderstood. (I had other medical issues that made it difficult to eat).
I kept my family in the loop on how I was being treated there and many times my family had to advocate for me in order for certain requests to be listened to. Unfortunately my agency in making decisions wasn’t always valued even if it would help towards healthy goals.
Important things to note:
It was my first time going to a residential facility and I asked many questions before admitting myself there, but I wish I would have asked about the observations. I was caught off guard and very surprised by the observation policies (bathroom door being open when in use, having to count/talk while peeing/making bowel movement.., etc.). Also the door to your room remains cracked while you are sleeping and the night nurse checks on the residents with a flashlight every 30min or so.
Also the ARFID protocol includes 1on1 food exposures with a therapist or dietician. The frustrating part with the ARFID protocol for me was if I wanted to eat what everyone else was eating they would not allow it because I had to go through the structure of the ARFID protocol (this is also a big part of why I left ACA, I didn’t see there being enough flexibility there like I have at the OP level in regards to adding more foods to my meal plan).
Also each room there has 2 beds and its own attached bathroom, except for room 2 (the room I had). That room had its bathroom across from it in the hallway (really sucked having the open door crack facing the shower). Room 1 was downstairs with its own private bathroom inside the room, room 2,3,4,5 were upstairs. Room 4 and 5 shared a private Jack and Jill bathroom inside the rooms. Room 3 had its own attached bathroom with one door connected to the room and another door connected to the hallway.
Masks are worn at all times except during meals and while sleeping.
I hope my review is helpful!
Hi there, looking at the Malibu residential, has anyone been there? what was your experience. Im at my very rock bottom and really need help. Ive heard and read so many negative things about facilities Im scared !!
Thankyou for advise.
Any recent reviews on Vista (Agoura Hills) or Little Nido (Malibu)?
Any recent reviews on the Residential California location? Also any changes with covid?