This page is for reviews of Monte Nido’s IOP and PHP locations. For reviews of Monte Nido’s residential locations, click here: Monte Nido, Multiple Locations
Monte Nido changed ownership a few years ago; it now has new leadership, new clinical directors and more locations. It was founded in 1996 by Carolyn Costin, who left after 20 years in 2016.
Monte Nido currently has PHP and IOP locations at:
- California: Los Angeles, Newport Beach
- Massachusetts: Boston
- New York: New York City, Westchester
- Oregon: Eugene, Portland
- Pennsylvania: Philadelphia
Some of the locations offer transitional living.
We would love some updated reviews!! You can check out the FAQ and Guidelines for suggested questions, and post your review below.
Please be sure to specify which location you are reviewing. Thank you!
Will there be an update for the Monte Nido IL location?
Doing an intake for VIOP on Monday and it’d be helpful to have some patient perspective as opposed to the sanitized version from the intake person. Questions that would be helpful:
TIA!
I have these same questions if anyone can answer!
Debating about doing the adult virtual program. There is no information on their website I feel like. Are there any pros & cons? Can I switch to the LGBTQIA+ program when I step down to IOP if I end up starting in PHP? Any reviews on how they treat adults with ARFID & history of AN?
Has anyone done their virtual IOP recently?
in it now – do you have specific q’s?
I’m also considering the adult virtual IOP – how do they approach medical monitoring, what are meals like, how often do you meet with your team?
does anyone have information on the MN virtual IOP for LGBTQ folks? I’m super not looking forward to it after my experience in PHP in person + how they present the iop track on the website. I’ve heard not great things about the virtual treatment generally but I don’t know if this one’s different? also, is any of the staff actually queer?
can confirm that there are some queer staff who are really wonderful
yes I went at first and switched to in person. virtual didn’t help me at all. Was cookie cutter and I didn’t feel connected to ANYONE. Go in person if you can, it made the ENTIRE difference
Can anyone provide any updated info about MN’s Villanova location?
varies greatly depending on what your dx is. good for uncomplicated anorexia if you’re an affluent teenage girl with involved parents. bad for basically anything else. do you have specific logistical questions like when program is or do you want the juicy stuff?
everything! ty!
Wondering if anyone has any recent experience with virtual php
Location: Parssipany, NJ
I was at MN’s NJ parssipany location early this year til the end of summer. I can’t believe I’m saying this but i absolutely loved it. I can’t recommend this location enough. As someone who was there for many months, I got to know the staff, program, and environment well. There’s literally nothing negative I have to share. Maybe insurance/admissions but where isn’t that an issue. All of the staff are wonderful, intelligent, and personable. Groups were phenomenal and relevant. The staff always listened to me and considered what I had to say. I honestly miss the team sm! I hope to return as their trash lady or smth someday so I can see them again lolll
If you want a more detailed review lmk!
Hi! I actually was recently considering their PHP program. A more detailed review would be really helpful if you don’t mind! Thank you so much!
Sorry, the holidays had me busy!
if you have any specific questions let me know ☺️!
The schedule for PHP was 9 to 3(?). I know they recently had to undergo some changes due to MN rebranding themselves but when I was there it was group -> am snack -> group -> lunch -> group -> pm snack then you went home. The groups were 1 hour 15 minutes and on topics like DBT, CBT, process, art therapy, etc. We had yoga once a week with a wonderful teacher and process 3 times. Once a week we would do a restaurant and the staff would pick a snack on Friday. You had your therapist twice a week and the dietitian and psychiatrist once. I’ve had both of their primary therapists (one who is an art therapist and the other a movement therapist!) and did check ins with their like “extra” therapist and felt like I was always heard and made great progress with all of them!
for iop the hours are 11-2, so you just have lunch there and miss the first group.
we played a lot of card games while I was there! ? if they are still playing nertz 24/7 that’s bc of me lol
srs i love all of the staff and have so many great memories with them bc they are all so wonderful. I was there a hot minute and I never experienced or heard of anything with another client that was negative.
I know it’s sooo hard to make a choice and even more scary but I’d recommend this location 100 times over. I literally wish I could go back and say hi so bad ?
No worries totally get it! This was super helpful thank you! I guess my last question was were they able to take insurance here? I had heard since this location was newer that they weren’t able to take insurance.
For me they did a single case agreement. They fought so hard to get me in there without even meeting me. I have BCBS horizon. I’m not sure if the location has made agreements w insurance companies yet (that’s the problem w it being a newer location, have to set up insurance deals). I was there for many millues and there was only one person who was forced to step down to iop prematurely. Compared to other locations I’ve been to, parssipany seemed to have the best success w accepting insurance! When you do the intake and before they admit you they should work with you to step up a plan for payment. So yes they do accept insurance, it might just have to be under a smth like a single case agreement.
again I absolutely love this location and the staff! I really hope you can get the care you need❤️❤️ you deserve the support and love
Hi! Sorry to ask again but I actually was recently considering their PHP program. A more detailed review would be really helpful if you don’t mind! Thank you so much!
hi! i’m considering going here for iop this summer and was wondering if you’d be willing to answer some more questions about the iop? thanks!
Hi!
I’m heavily considering stepping down to the Parsippany program. Would I be able to ask you some questions? Also do you know any details about the housing they offer? I appreciate any help. Thank you!
Does anyone have thoughts on the Philly/Villanova site? My team is recommending a hloc so I’m trying to figure out where to go. Any thoughts would be appreciated!!! Also, what was the PHP and IOP schedule like? What were the groups like? Were they helpful?
I was there a few years ago. Idk if my experience would be helpful to share because it was during COVID so treatment was still virtual. I’ve posted a review on here in the past so I won’t go through the entire template again but can answer specific questions if you’d like to post them here. I can say that the php and iop schedules each changed multiple times while I was there, so I feel certain they would have changed again since then and my info on the schedule would no longer be accurate. Groups were very okay, as in mediocre/fine. Usually not overly helpful imo- really depended on the therapist running the group and the specific milieu at the time too- but I felt like they had good intent for what it’s worth. There’s been a lot of staff turnover since I left which I know because I had friends who were still there and/or have gone back again since discharge and they’ve told me. All the therapists I most liked left which is sad, though it is possible that they replaced them with equally good ones, I just wouldn’t know. There are definitely worse options out there for treatment, but there also are better ones too. I didn’t find recovery here and I gave it a solid go, but that’s not to say I didn’t experience some positives and growth while there.
Has anyone been part of the Free to Be virtual IOP for binge – compulsive – emotional eating? I’d appreciate any feedback on your experience.p
second this! I can’t seem to find reviews anywhere.
The Admissions process is BS. Was on the PHP waitlist for 3 weeks and then told I had to complete residential first- which has a several week waitlist. Out of work, not allowed to do PHP in the interim. They are creating barriers to care, not reducing them.
Looking for feedback on Monte Nido Westchester IOP for adults. Anyone been recently? Looking for IOP to start beginning of may in southwestern CT or westchester county NY.
I’m looking for a full review of Monte Nido PHP/ IOP *virtual* programming.
At the least, I would love to know the following:
Do you purchase and prepare all of your own meals?
How often do you have to go to your primary care provider for medical monitoring (I.e. minimally, best case scenario)?
is there a set group schedule for everyone or do you sign up for classes based on your needs and schedule?
How often do they offer holistic groups and interventions (I.e. content beyond psychoeducation and worksheets)?
I’m looking for the same info! Any update?
I don’t have a review but I just completed and assessment and have a few answers. I only know about virtual php but it’s 8:30-2:30, Monday-Saturday. It looks like a set group schedule but maybe a couple of options for group in the afternoon. You prepare and purchase your own meals.
I cannot remember how often check ins are with your PCP…(I also did a veritas assessment and they require weekly).
Their virtual admissions process is absolute crap. They said I could start and then the day before asked that I go to my PCP weekly which isn’t possible due to high demand of medical services and not enough providers, as well as limitation in transportation options.
Recently completed PHP virtual.
Yes, you purchase and prepare all of your own meals. I felt a bit on my own in terms of meal planning.
I was told before admitting that I’d need to go to my PCP weekly but I didn’t for a while and no one said anything.
For PHP, it’s a set group schedule. Sometimes you may get pulled for groups.
Location: Houston, Texas
Does anyone have any updated reviews/experience with the Houston PHP or IOP and the quality and types of groups, individual therapy/dietician support and how individualized it is? Also any information in general would be greatly appreciated!
Has anyone been to the new PHP/IOP location in Tysons Corner, VA? TIA!
Has anyone been to the Chicago PHP yet? It just opened.
Bump on this ! I’m considering going there as I heard that skyway doesn’t offer a full Ed track anymore.
It’s sad Skyway removed their full ED track. I went there from Nov 2024-Feb 2025 and being in an integrated track caused my recovery to suffer
Does anyone have any information/thoughts about the Atlanta (Alpharetta, GA) location? If applicable, any thoughts about this program vs other Georgia programs (e.g. Veritas, Renfrew, etc.)?
Any info is appreciated! Thank you 🙂
is it correct that monte nido gives you a water bottle that you have to drink out of? would they be willing to do a non-reusable water bottle or allow you to use their regular drinking glasses?
i have contamination ocd and do not have issues with hydration, but know that using that reusable water bottle would lead to issues with hydration in treatment
Wondering if anyone has recently been to the Miami location for PHP and can provide a review. Thanks!
I’m applying for a single case agreement for virtual PHP at MonteNido. I have Medicaid fee for service, not managed care medicaid or medicaid advantage. Does anyone who has original fee for service Medicaid get approved for a single case agreement for PHP or IOP? Thanks so much,
(I wish I had private insurance to pay for ED treatment, there are so many more options)
appreciate any feedback on this, thanks in advance
Wondering if anyone has any thoughts or reviews on the virtual only PHP?
I did the MN virtual PHP program last August-October. It was when the PHPs were all still virtual. I thought they were well organized and beneficial. You have to be able to hold yourself accountable for meals and snacks. They are on camera and you show them your food, but I saw many behaviors that went unnoticed. If you are tempted to restrict or have behaviors I would advise you do one in person. Overall though, I thought it was helpful. Some therapists were much more helpful than others as you find in all programs.
Thank you for the information. Can you provide more information on the sessions and how meal planning works and basically what the average day looks like.
We would gather in the morning online for breakfast, then have about five minutes to clean it up and put it away and come back online to do a group then go prepare snack, then come back and eat snack together. Have another group, take about 15 minutes to prepare lunch come back, have lunch together and then have another group. We would then finish out with a mindful activity. One day a week we had yoga online and then we had the typical CBT, DBT, and other similar groups. You would get pulled individually to meet with your dietitian and therapist once or twice a week. They used the basic montenido meal plans, and you check off with the person leading the meal or snack. They would either allow you to eat what you had or ask you to go back and get more. Do you have any specific questions?
Hi! I’m wondering if anyone can provide more recent updates on the NYC location of Monte Nido, particularly its PHP location? I’ve seen a sample schedule which looks kind of sparse and was wondering how much depth work there is?
Also what the criteria for being admitted residential vs. PHP are?
Thank you in advance!
I would also love more information on the virtual program. I am going through the admissions process now, and yes, the schedule offers basic information, but I would like to know more about what the sessions are actually like. Also, how does the meal planning and prep look?
Are any Monte Nido IOPs still virtual?
As far as I know, the individual sites are not virtual anymore (someone can correct me if I’m wrong), but Monte Nido instead recently launched a whole separate virtual program that has PHP and IOP… I haven’t done it so can’t speak to if, but I put the website below!
https://www.montenido.com/for-the-client/virtual-programming/
I completely missed this- thank you so much for sharing!!
Hi! I recently “graduated” from IOP, I attended virtually before the hub was created and then attended once weekly in person once the switch to imperson started and they basically kept everyone that started before the hub and let us see our treatment through but yes the virtual hub exists for IOP and PHP. Last I knew from what was discussed during treatment, they were doing the hubs by region? Otherwise, the individual sites weren’t super familiar. Hopefully that has changed… good luck!
Thank you so much!!
Has anyone recently been to the Newport Beach PHP that could provide a review?
Has anyone been to the Manhattan NY PHP since it’s been back in person and willing to do a review or answer some questions? (How do they manage accountability for meals outside of the PHP hours? Are they willing to accommodate ethical vegan diets? What are their protocols around meal compliance?) I would really appreciate any further info!
Has anyone been to MN EDCW (Westchester PHP) lately? Has anyone done the transitional living apartments?
I did EDCW and the transitional housing, but back in 2019… I’m sure a ton has changed (I doubt the same clinicians are still there) but I might be able to speak to the apartments if you have questions
Could you please share more about the apartments? How far are they/how do you get to programming? How many people per apartment/room? Is there a kitchen (I’m assuming lol)? Were they covered by insurance? Thank you so much, I appreciate any and all insight you can give!
So assuming they haven’t moved, the apartments are basically down the street from the building where programming is. It’s like a 10 minute walk but for the most part you’re supposed to drive there. I had my car and a lot of the time I was sort of expected to give rides to any roommates who needed one, which made sense for the most part but was hard if I had plans before program or didn’t want to go straight back to the apartment after. Someone 100% COULD walk if they had no other choice.
It’s a 2 bed/2 bath apartment with 4 beds, 2 per room. Most of the time I was there I just had 1 or 2 roommates but at one point there was 4 of us (only for a couple nights). 4 people definitely felt cramped but we would mostly hang out in the living room meaning you could definitely ask for space if you need it and go into a bedroom., There’s also a lounge in the building that I would go to a lot when I needed a break. There is a kitchen, which again with 4 people was cramped but for the most part was fine, especially since you probably won’t be doing a ton of cooking since most lunches and dinners are at program. The apartment is fully furnished including appliances, dishes, silverware, bedding, etc. You have to do your own grocery shopping but an RC can usually go with you. There is a Whole Foods down the street and a stop and shop that I thought was in walking distance but I got some pushback on that lol. I’m sure you could order groceries if you had to.
There is supposed to be a recovery coach at the apartment every night basically just to supervise. Some of them were great and really supportive and others were well intentioned but not that educated on EDs. Every now and then there wouldn’t be an RC on for whatever reason, and on Sundays you’re on your own (no programming) until 6 or 7 when the RC gets there. The RCs couldn’t really force you to do anything but would report whether you had your snack or if anything significant happened- again some were more encouraging than others and would make sure everyone was doing what they needed to.
They are not covered by insurance but I know MN works with you to try to make it accessible. MN wanted me in res but my insurance wouldn’t cover it, so the compromise was for me to live at the apartment. They made sure it was at a rate I could afford, but still, it added up.
I have a lot of complaints about the apartment BUT they are all related to the former clinical director who is no longer there, so I would hope that changes have been made- i.e. the clinical director knew a roommate was medically unstable and allowed her to stay- I ended up having to take her to the ER in the middle of the night and couldn’t reach anyone from program to tell them. I was then told the next day that I needed to “focus on my own recovery” and should not have brought her to the ER even though she very clearly needed medical attention. In general it was hard when a roommate was consistently engaging in behaviors, especially with the “focus on your own recovery” response when concerns were brought up. I will say, though, that those roommates typically did not stay for long and ended up at a HLOC or discharged, but it was frustrating that my concerns were usually brushed off (again, this was all by the clinical director since she was in charge of the apartment, and she left over a year ago).
Overall, I didn’t think there was as much support as they advertised, but being there took me out of an environment where I was staying sick and where it was really hard to implement any of the changes I was trying to make (I didn’t move into the apartment until about a month into treatment). Living there was challenging but being at home was also very challenging- overall I don’t regret it and think it’s a good option, just don’t go into it expecting 24/7 support. Let me know if you have other questions!
Thank you so much!!!! Were you allowed to walk to Whole Foods etc? Like did an RC stop you from leaving? I won’t have a car/can’t drive for medical (non ED) reasons.
Would you mind sharing the price? I haven’t been able to get anyone at MN to tell me yet, which is making me nervous as I’m on the waitlist for PHP. Maybe Rachel could connect us if you don’t feel comfortable sharing publicly? (If you don’t feel comfy sharing at all, that’s ok too!!)
Im sorry to hear about some of your experiences, that sounds terrible. I hope the director leaving means things have changed / improved!
in all honesty i can’t remember the price exactly but i want to say it was a few hundred a month? it was not cheap but it was doable. they based it on my income as well as what I’d end up paying with my co-insurance for PHP. they will pro-rate it depending on how long you’re there for (so they partially refund you if you pay for a month and only stay for 3 weeks) RCs can’t actually stop you from doing anything haha and they also didn’t really ask us where we were going- we just had to be back by curfew. i walked to whole foods all the time and was also always at the mall across the street. your team might tell you to get a ride with a roommate if you have one with a car, but I think if you’re clear with them that it won’t always be possible and sometimes you’ll have to walk, they should work with you around it and put it down as your exercise privilege- i know that’s in an ideal world, though, and treatment centers are not always that logical or reasonable. In all honesty, I had no reason not to drive and struggled a lot with compulsive exercise so that’s partially why they were particularly strict about it with me
Has anyone been the NYC in person PHP recently? What is it like?
Does anyone have any familiarity with Monte Nido’s ARFID protocol at any level of care and could you explain how it worked? TY!
I was on the arfid protocol at Clementine, basically the kids one. What I had was a sub meal, which can be any safe foods you want that make a meal. I had a pb&j, with apples, chips. If you knew a meal was a problem, you could request the sub meal. Also I had individual exposures with the dietician.
Thanks for sharing! We’re there any limits to how often you could use the sub meal?
Update from Monte Nido: As of November 2022, Monte Nido’s PHP programs in the Northeast are going back to in-person!
If anyone has more information or experiences to share, please post it here!
this is great! do you know when this change is going to occur?
I’ve been skeptical of them ever returning because they have been keeping people in virtual for up to 10 months, which wouldn’t happen in an in person program. This only interests me because I hope that means the west coast will follow and THEN the alumni groups can go back to in person. There is next to nothing as far as in person support groups out here.
Has anyone been to the NYC in-person PHP recently and knows if they ever allow a vegan diet when it’s truly for ethical reasons? I’m an adult and have been an ethical vegan for many years if that makes any difference…
As far as I know they’re still virtual
I’m looking into MN PHP in NYC and I think they are finally in person. I’m a vegetarian but ik that’s different than vegan esp when working with professionals who want to make sure your diet choices arent ED choices. If i find anything out I can def let you know!
hi! has anyone done the nyc virtual iop program recently who might be willing to comment on it? mostly just want to know whether or not it’s one i ought to avoid. thank you
I am looking for a program that helps my 20 year-old daughter with BED. Would prefer NYC. Does anyone have experience they’d like to share?
I’ve been to all the programs in NYC (Monte Nido, Balance, and Renfrew). In my opinion, the only one that is worth doing is Balance. They have PHP and IOP and they’re much more individualized and caring than the other nyc programs. I was there pretty recently and all the dietitians were amazing, which is so rare to find in treatment. BED isn’t my diagnosis, but there were several people with BED when I was in IOP there, and I think they found the program helpful for their personal struggles. I definitely wouldn’t recommend Monte Nido for BED. I know several people who had bad experiences at Monte Nido because they were treated as less important due to their weight/behaviors. Balance was much more inclusive of all diagnoses in my opinion.
Very curious about Balance because everything I have heard says they do not take any insurance whatsoever, and can only reimburse up to 80% of out-of-pocket expenses, which is wildly unrealistic for many people. Is this true? Have they changed their policies?
I don’t want to deter anyone from treatment, but this has been a huge barrier for me accessing any care.
PS. So glad you found a program that truly helped you, OP <3
So if you have out of network benefits they usually cover 70-80% of usual and customary charge until you hit your out of pocket maximum. Most plans have an annual out of pocket maximum from 5-10k . Once you hit that, your plan will cover 100% . So there is a limit to what you end up paying . I’m not sure if I did a balance review but I was there in 2018 and can answer questions
Does traditional Medicare have out of network benefits?
It does, but it will still only pay the Medicare approved rate, so you have to get the treatment center to agree to take that rate. In 2013 I was able to use their out network option(I forget what it’s called) to pay for an op therapist.
Also some treatment centers will ‘opt out’ of taking Medicare in any circumstance.
I haven’t been to one of their residentials personally, but I’m doing a Monte nido partial hospital program and finding it helpful and lots of the others doing partial with me now were previously at various of their locations for residential and have talked about having good experiences.
*cross-posted from client general forum: https://edtreatmentreview.com/client-general-forum/comment-page-8/#comment-17660
I haven’t been to one of their residentials personally, but I’m doing a Monte nido partial hospital program and finding it helpful and lots of the others doing partial with me now were previously at various of their locations for residential and have talked about having good experiences.
*cross-posted by admin from client general forum: https://edtreatmentreview.com/client-general-forum/comment-page-8/#comment-17660
As of September 2021, Monte Nido now also owns Walden Behavioral Health. However Walden’s name won’t change. Here is an article about the acquisition:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210913005248/en/Levine-Leichtman-Capital-Partners-Portfolio-Company-Monte-Nido-Affiliates-Acquires-Walden-Behavioral-Care
Location: monte nido villanova in-person
(i’ll try to be less angry on this one, read both reviews with the knowledge that this is just my experience… I have resentments and I’m burning bridges in a sense here, but you could have an amazing time)
When were you there? 2019 & 2020
How many patients on average?
about 16 max for php, been in as few as 5 clients though, iop was usually smaller, like 10 or less
Does it treat both males and females?
anyone over 13 or 14 can be treated regardless of gender
How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, etc?
they don’t really manage your health doctor-wise, they asked if you saw a doctor and would communicate with them if you did, but otherwise they didn’t really push it if you didn’t have one (and could access one easily). I struggled to even get referrals
php: psychiatrist once a week (she’s awesome), therapist twice a week, RD once a week. all roughly half an hour, unless you don’t need medication and then it’s 5 minutes for the psychiatrist
iop: therapist once a week (30minutes), RD once a week (15 minutes). they also want you to work with your outpatient team along with them. they don’t really push you to do so or set up anyone else unless they don’t have a choice — they can give you referrals but the usually support ends there and you have to figure it out yourself.
What is the staff ratio to patients?
2019: Clinical director was in sometimes, there were 4 therapists, an intern, 1 RD (the second was on leave), 3 recovery coaches. They were all in most days, but usually you wouldn’t see more than 2 of them supervising clients.
2020: a different clinical director, 4 therapists, 2 RDs, an intern, 2 recovery coaches
What sort of therapies are used? (DBT, CBT, EMDR) etc?
CBT, DBT, CPT, maybe others depending on your therapist
Describe the average day (this may be fuzzy):
php ~7hrs/day (M-F):
Mon (11:30 – 7:45): arrival at 11:30(11am if you have a therapy / RD session) for weights + vitals, lunch, primary, individual sessions / free time, portioning / snack, precontract / community meeting, individual sessions / free time, dinner, relationship/family group (with actual supports). long ass day
Tues (9:30 – 4:30), arrival at 9:30 for vitals / portioning, snack, primary, lunch, nutrition group / food and feelings, yoga, snack (bring your own), contract group. might end earlier
Wed (11:30 – 6:30): arrival at 11:30 (11am if you have a therapy / RD session), lunch (byo), primary, individual sessions / free time, portioning / snack, shop and cook prep (2clients and 1 RC shop and cook dinner for the clients) / free time, dinner, food and feelings. you’ll see the psychiatrist this day
Thurs (11:30 – 5:45): arrival at 11:30 (11am if you have a therapy / RD session), lunch, primary / skills, individual session / free time, portioning / snack, special topics (randomized), individual sessions / free time, dinner. you could leave right after
Friday (9:30 – 4): arrival at 9:30 for vitals / portioning, snack, primary, food outing, food and feelings, individual session / free time, check-ins and weekend planning
you would have snack sessions too sometimes depending on your needs and your therapist’s schedule. free times were more often than expected and if you didn’t bring anything to do it was rough… or you just played bananagrams
iop 3hr/day (MWTh, all 4:30-7:45):
Mon – 4:30pm arrival (maybe earlier for a session), weights / maybe vitals (only once a week), primary / precontract, dinner, multi family group with php, leave
Wed – 4:30pm arrival (maybe earlier for a session), maybe vitals (only once a week), nutrition group, meal outing, food and feelings, leave maybe slightly earlier
Thurs – 4:30pm arrival (maybe earlier for a session), maybe vitals (only once a week), body and soul, dinner, another group that i forget, leave
What were meals like?
I’ll talk about both meals and snacks. Baseline, there was always a vegetarian option. Overall, people talked and played table games. You got redirected if you were delaying eating or said something verging on inappropriate. No one really said ED-triggering stuff, just moreso partying or substances-talk that they didn’t want influencing the teens. If you had kitchen privileges, you were able to take your plate to the kitchen and put it in the dishwasher which was strangely comforting. You didn’t get to choose your seat, staff would put down your nametag in a specific spot based on how much support they thought you’d need.
Snacks: chosen the day before based off of a set menu. If you forgot, they chose for you. If you were on a high enough level, you would portion them (supervised) going from using measuring tools to guessing and checking with the measuring tools and then just eyeballing it. Also you could earn the privilege to pick your snack in the moment or have off-menu snacks. The crowd was typically kind of smaller because a lot of people would have session. You got 1 glass of water, and had ~15 minutes to complete, otherwise you’d be given a supplement to be finished within 5 minutes.
One of Tuesday’s snacks were BYO and could be pretty much anything that met your meal plan, and if it was over they’d portion for you. If you forgot it, supplement.
Fridays afternoon snack was part of the outing. It would be either at the restaurant, a cookie place, an ice cream shop (sometimes ritas), starbucks, shake shack for milkshakes, etc.
Examples of in-program snacks: apple or banana + nut butter, chips + juice, m&ms, crackers + cream cheese, grapes + string cheese, poptart(s), etc.
Meals: You were never allowed to portion this, even on higher levels. It would be set up for you. In php you were able to have 3 food exceptions (not allergies, preferably not fear foods either) that you didn’t like. But these exceptions “didn’t count” on Wednesdays for Shop and Cook so you had to suck it up lol.
The meals were catered on Mondays and Thursdays (I don’t remember a lot of them but a lot of lunches were salads, sandwiches/wraps; dinners were salmon + rice + veggies, pastas, soup, whatnot). Tuesdays were takeout days (bagels, pizza (Jules), panera, Indian food).
Wednesdays PHP did BYO lunch (PB&J + chips + fruit, OR pizza + salad, OR mac-n-cheese + salad or fruit) and Shop & Cook for dinner (mac-n-cheese + chicken nuggets, grilled cheese + tomato soup, pancakes + sausage), IOP had a meal outing but they were usually quick places like Chipotle, Shake Shack, etc.
Fridays PHP had their meal outing. Examples for PHP outings: PF Changs, Zoe’s Kitchen, California Pizza Grill, Chiptole/Qdoba, Shake Shack, Local Diners, etc. Snack immediately followed.
What sorts of food were available or served?
I kind of answered this above
Did they supplement? How did that system work?
Yes! Typically ensure I think, choc or vanilla. If you didn’t complete more than 50%, you had to drink 2 supplements. If you had less than 50% left, you got 1.
What is the policy of not complying with meals?
You get the supplement and you will sit the full 5 minutes with it regardless if you drink it or not. Sometimes staff was helpful and compassionate, sometimes they got annoyed. Some would offer to drink one with you sometimes. If you refused, they couldn’t really do anything. They wouldn’t even pull yoga, which was weird. They didn’t really have a set rule about it, and in least in my case they wouldn’t really bring it up. Sometimes they’d guilt you about “not wanting to recover” or “triggering others.” But if it’s enough of a problem they eventually send you to a higher level or boot you out. Sometimes this could stretch months though.
Are you able to be a vegetarian?
yes, not vegan though
What privileges are allowed?
No privileges in iop since it’s so few hours a week, but php you can get: portioning, pick your snack in the moment, less observations, laptop during program hours, a step down day (day off), salt and pepper, kitchen privileges, shop and cook, and some others
Does it work on a level system?
Yes, from entrance to level 3. It was fairly easy to get to Level 2, and most stayed there.
How do you earn privileges?
Not using behaviors, completing assignments and paperwork, and as the staff gets to know you you get more
What sort of groups do they have?
Primary, PreContract, Contract, Body & Soul, Food and Feelings, Nutrition, Yoga, special topics, weekend planning, etc
What was your favorite group?
Body and soul could be nice sometimes
What did you like the most?
That the bathrooms were public stalls and you didn’t have to have flush checks, the other clients and the general area the site was in, at the time I really liked the staff
What did you like the least?
They ignored a lot of red flags in clients and allowed them to continue damaging themselves without intervention, they didn’t pay attention to who came and went so many would wander off, they used obs as a punishment instead of a support tool, thinner clients prioritized, restriction put in the spotlight and other behaviors unaddressed, the “is that your ED talking?” bullshit. Transphobia.
Contracts. I think it is wildly inappropriate to force clients to share their meal plans, weight goals (maintain, heal metabolism, gain), and exercise goals. Sometimes they shared personal information without consent (ie. a client had started to open up to her therapist about self-harm for the first time ever, and the therapists exposed it to the whole group without her consent. she completely brokedown)
AND they were very transphobic and clearly were ill-equipped to deal with transgender clients. They respected pronouns but didn’t really seem to educate themselves further and said very insensitive things at times.
Would you recommend this program?
it’s better than renfrew from what I hear, but it was very hard to go here for your first introduction to treatment. It’s evident it’s designed for people who went to residential first. They expected me to know a lot more than I did, and I had practically no idea what I was supposed to be eating outside of the program. if you have a strong outpatient team, you need them, because a lot of the time they won’t trust your word and they will need to advocate for you (and even have to step in and send you to the hospital themselves if need be… yup). It was loads better than virtual but still not amazing. As it was pre-COVID, maybe. I don’t know otherwise.
What level of activity or exercise was allowed?
Yoga in program once a week and two 15 minute walks a week. Anything else discussed with your RD
What did people do on weekends?
Everyone was off, so anything really.
Do you get to know your weight?
they would never show it to you, but i encountered it in paperwork once (RC who didn’t know what to do when I asked to see what I was signing)
How fast is the weight gain process?
very individual, but it didn’t seem fast for anyone. It didn’t really seem like a major part of the program
What was the average length of stay?
it depended. If you were stepping down from residential in a really solid place – maybe 3-4 months from php to iop? Sometimes they rushed people out who had been there before. If you were really having a rough go… 8-10months.
What was the average age range?
16-22, with a couple mid-20s or an adult over 35.
How do visits/phone calls work?
No visits and you had to hand your phone in. but there was a phone you could use, or you could request your phone briefly depending
What is the electronics policy? (ex: cell phones, iPods, Kindle, laptop, tablets)
No technology: phones, laptops, apple watches, airpods, etc. Students could do homework on their laptops with permission though. There also was a computer in the communal area
Are you able to go out on passes?
N/A
What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an outpatient treatment team?
They encourage you to get a full outpatient team but don’t really push the issue for a doctor or psychiatrist (maybe they do with teens?). they offer ED alumni groups in person once a month (now online), and all monte nido sites are supposed to check up on you after 1wk., 1mo., 3mo., 6mo., and 1 year after discharge (some therapists do it, others don’t). They also told you you could call the site whenever for support but that’s more conditional and if they like you.
Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country?
No, you have to figure that out by yourself. There aren’t any apartments so some people had to get airbnbs.
Other?
It was better in person than online. Support was so much more available (even if they told you to deal with it yourself). But it still stands that the staff is flawed and a lot of clients were missed. The team always came absolutely before anyone, even if one of them were wrong, and the lack of personal accountability on their part was disheartening. They really need to work on their transphobia as well because they engage in a lot of microaggressions or downright say wildly inappropriate things. AND I used to love my time there, and other people still do. I’d say if you are white, cisgender, a teenager/early college aged student, emotionally stable, and mostly kind and compliant – you will probably be the most likely to have a better experience and miss the unpleasantries
I did the virtual php at Monte Nido Westchester. I don’t want to be too specific about certain things because it might be obvious who I am. Let’s just say I was there during this calendar year, and had stepped up from the community (meaning I hadn’t already been in their residential). For context, I’d previously done php twice at a smaller treatment center closer to home, so I had something else to compare it to.
How many patients on average?
9-10
Does it treat both males and females?
Yes
How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, etc?
NP visit once per week, therapist 2x per week, psychiatrist one per week, dietitian once per week.
What is the staff ratio to patients?
Usually 2 RCs at each meal/snack, 1 or 2 staff members during groups
What sort of therapies are used? (DBT, CBT, EMDR) etc?
It seemed to be a mix, there was DBT, CBT, etc.
Describe the average day:
This was Monday-Saturday.
10:00 log on for am snack
10:30 break
10:45 primary group
12:15 prep lunch, then do intentions, then eat, then play games or reflect
1:45 break
2:00 group
3:00 pm snack
3:30 group
4:30 end, sometimes would have an individual therapy session from 4:30-5:15 (or at 9am)
What were meals like?
You would decide what you were going to have, plate it, then send it in the chat to an RC. The RC would then have you show them your plate and/or all components of your meal. If you needed to add more, the RC would chat you privately and then you’d show them your plate again after you added. This was all done in the main zoom room, so everyone could see what you were eating (and it was pretty obvious if you were asked to add more because you’d leave then be showing your plate again). After everyone was approved, we’d go around and say an intention, or sometimes tell everyone what we were having and how we felt about it. Then we could start eating. You were supposed to have your plate in view at all times, however, some patients inexplicably got away with not doing either of these things and we wouldn’t see their plates the whole time. It was also easy to use behaviors during the meals if you wanted. After we finished, we’d show the empty plates/glasses on the screen and an RC would say “thanks, we got it.” Everyone did this right after finishing, so it would be staggered throughout. Then at the very end, the RCs would ask everyone to briefly show their empty containers again. During meals, we’d often play games because otherwise the conversation just wasn’t there. After meals, we’d sometimes continue playing or be given time to journal. We’d usually have some sort of verbal check-in at the very end.
I struggled A TON with meals. I had a lot of trouble with everyone seeing the foods I’d chosen, and I also struggled with having an RC decide if I had enough. It just felt awkward and like I was being judged, which touched on some past stuff for me regarding a family member who always judged my food choices. Their requests for adding also sometimes didn’t make sense, like one time I was asked to add when I’d literally followed an exact meal from my sample meal plan. It didn’t seem like they knew everyone’s meal plan level and were just making blanket recommendations without knowing if they really applied.
What sorts of food were available or served?
Whatever you had in the house. We were given “sample” meal/snack ideas but there weren’t exchanges or amounts or anything. I’m sure a lot of people like this, but coming straight from the community I really felt I needed more guidance. Especially because I genuinely didn’t like a lot of the sample meals and it was hard to know how to add things I would like.
Did they supplement? How did that system work?
No supplements at all
What is the policy of not complying with meals?
Literally no one seemed to care. It was nice to not have pressure to be perfect at every single meal (unlike my previous php) but the lack of any real consequences made it hard.
Are you able to be a vegetarian?
Not sure, but I’m guessing yes?
What sort of groups do they have?
There’s primary group for 90 minutes every morning. Then two groups in the afternoon, could be DBT, CBT, menu planning, body and soul, yoga, values group, family and relationships, etc.
What was your favorite group?
I liked the idea of primary group, but didn’t feel it was executed very well. Other than that, the groups overall would be hit or miss.
What did you like the most?
The RCs were cool and easy to get along with. The other patients were recovery-oriented and very supportive. It was nice to not have to show my full body because I struggle a lot with comparisons.
What did you like the least?
I’ll be blunt here, this program felt like a joke. My previous php had daily check-ins where we’d tell them how we’d done with behaviors the previous night (or what % of our meal plans we’d met over the weekend when we weren’t in program). The monte nido php didn’t have any of that, so I continued to use behaviors without anyone seeming to care. The only time I talked about how I was doing with my meal plan was during the weekly dietitian appointments, and even then she didn’t care that much. Also, I’m not sure if this was because of it being virtual, but there just weren’t many opportunities for one-on-one support outside of individual sessions. I struggled a lot with this because staff at my previous program had an open-door policy where you could check in with one of them at any time you were having trouble. At the monte nido php I just felt alone whenever I was struggling. I also felt like I was in a different place than most of the others since I hadn’t been in res, and the program wasn’t designed to support people in my situation. Also, a lot of the groups and feedback from peers and therapists alike seemed to be pretty surface-level. As an adult who’s been in treatment many times, it felt very repetitive and not helpful. Especially for someone struggling a lot with trauma and depression–I just didn’t find any of it useful.
Would you recommend this program?
I think it’s a good program for people stepping down from residential. Most of the other people in my millieu seemed to have done this, and I honestly think that’s what the program is designed for (as a step down rather than being an intensive program on its own accord). So if you’re already weight restored, and have been consistently on track with behaviors, I think it’s a helpful way to start adding more flexibility into your life while maintaining recovery. However, it was not helpful at all for someone stepping up from the community like I did.
What level of activity or exercise was allowed?
There was yoga once per week, and I’m sure other exercise was allowed via your dietitian. I struggled a lot with overexercise during my time there and was never really asked to reduce it, so I’m not sure how strict they actually are.
What did people do on weekends?
We had Sundays off, so people would do whatever they wanted on that day.
Do you get to know your weight?
Yes, because I was literally weighing myself at home and self-reporting it to my dietitian. Other options of being weighed elsewhere would have still required me to report it myself, and my dietitian didn’t seem to care much that I had a scale at home.
How fast is the weight gain process?
Not sure, they didn’t really talk about their goal weight gain rate with me. I only ended up gaining a little during my time there because I just wasn’t doing very well, so I had more to restore after discharge.
What was the average length of stay?
Some were only there 2 weeks, others 6-8.
What was the average age range?
They have adolescents and adults in the same group. We had some patients as young as 12-14, a few late teenagers, and a couple early twenties. As someone in my 20s, I actually felt a little left out because it seemed to lean toward the younger population.
What is the electronics policy? (ex: cell phones, iPods, Kindle, laptop, tablets)
People were on their phones a lot, it wasn’t encouraged but there wasn’t really a way to stop it.
What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an outpatient treatment team?
Not sure, I already had an outpatient team I’d been working with for a long time, so I didn’t need any help setting that up.
Other?
I think the staff members have good intentions, and I know that it being virtual probably didn’t help, but I just don’t think the program in general was set up very well. Definitely designed for people who had already stabilized with behaviors in residential. And I wouldn’t recommend it for someone with major co-occurring issues like PTSD, OCD, etc.
Location: monte nido villanova virtual
When were you there? 2020 (i was there in person the year prior though)
How many patients on average?
i think around 16 for php , 10 for iop (definitely less). it’s been awhile
Does it treat both males and females?
anyone over 13 or 14 can be treated regardless of gender
How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, etc?
you’re on your own for a doctor, they don’t even really encourage you to see one unless you complain of issues (i think everyone with an ed should be seeing a doctor often) or you’re real thin. but they brought in a nurse practitioner for virtual php
php: psychiatrist once a week (she’s awesome), therapist twice a week, RD once, NP once. all roughly half an hour, unless you don’t need medication and then it’s 5 minutes.
iop: therapist once a week (30minutes), RD once for 15 minutes. they don’t really push you to set up anyone else unless they don’t have a choice — they can give you referrals but the usually support ends there and you have to figure it out yourself.
What is the staff ratio to patients?
2 staff members in a group MAX. Usually just one.
What sort of therapies are used? (DBT, CBT, EMDR) etc?
CBT and DBT. they did CPT in person but i’m not sure if they did that when it went to zoom
Describe the average day:
php 7hrs/day (M-F): 9:30 log on, snack, 15min break, primary, pre-lunch discussion + lunch + reflection, 15min break, varying group based on day of the week (goal planning / nutrition / body and soul / special topics / meal planning), snack, varying group based on day of the week (relationship / yoga or mindfullness / skills / meditation or grounding / relapse prevention), 4:30 log off. you’d meet with your therapist or RD anyday sometime between 8-10am, during a snack, or sometime between 4:30-6:30, psychiatrist usually during program hours on W, nurse during program hours on F.
iop 3hr/day (M/W/Thur): honestly i don’t remember much about this because i was in a very bad place, but i think it was 4:30 log on, some sort of primary, dinner, and a varying group like relationship / body and soul / nutrition. you could see your therapist or RD any day of the week, it was very sporadic. I sometimes had session on days I didn’t have program.
What were meals like?
for me, a shit show. you are fully accountable for what you are eating and how much to portion. your only guidance is maybe if you bring it up in session, or they may tell you to get more of an item. otherwise, everyone tries and fails to keep the conversation going. as the unofficial source of all socializing, if i was having a bad day, no one spoke. you could [use behaviors] super easily and no one would know or care. you just showed your empty plate when you were done. if you had food left, there weren’t really any repercussions at all. just a solemn nod.
What sorts of food were available or served?
whatever you had in your home. i think they offered php a bag full of snacks but i never signed up for it.
Did they supplement? How did that system work?
not online
What is the policy of not complying with meals?
maybe a brief mention in a session. a threat to discharge you to outpatient because it “wasn’t your time”
Are you able to be a vegetarian?
yes, and probably vegan in this circumstance because you have full control of your food
What privileges are allowed?
everything and anything. the freedom to go to the bathroom whenever was nice. the only thing they could really grant you for good behavior was a day off
Does it work on a level system?
not virtually
How do you earn privileges?
you could earn that day off by complying? or struggling so much that they just titrate you off to outpatient
What sort of groups do they have?
Primary, Body & Soul, Food and Feelings, Nutrition, Mindfulness, Yoga, Skills, Creativity, goal planning, special topics, meal planning, etc
What was your favorite group?
the relaxation ones — you’d just color in silence or something and there was no watching everyone struggle to communicate
What did you like the most?
the lack of bathroom obs (i didn’t purge though), meeting other clients
What did you like the least?
how it’s designed for the thin, precarious health, compliant teen or college age clients.
personally, i was there for atypical anorexia and got away with so much, they let me lose like [number redacted]lbs in IOP and didn’t even mention it, normalized what i was doing and never really explained that what I was doing could hurt me, and were terrible with establishing and explaining boundaries. the staff could do no wrong. so much blame and judgment was placed on me for struggling, and I never felt like I was allowed to ask for help or use my voice because I was mostly ignored or told it was my ED talking. they eventually discharged me for lack of progress but made it seem like i was doing well enough to discharge — to the shock of my outpatient team. what hurt the most was being told they would be there for me when i left, believing them, and then having them ignore my attempts to reach out. that anger fuels a lot of this, if i’m being honest, because i still hold a lot of love for them despite them not respecting me in the way i deserved. in part they’re the product of a flawed system. i don’t blame them for my complete relapse a month or two after discharge, but i do attribute my unwillingness to go to a needed HLOC to their treatment of me. i can’t go through that again.
also, the staff is terrifyingly clique-y for women in their late 20s-30s
Would you recommend this program?
it’s better than renfew, and it can be really helpful if you are stepping down from residential in a good place or are very motivated. but for the new to treatment, struggling, attachment issues client: absolutely not.
What level of activity or exercise was allowed?
Yoga in program once a week and two 15 minute walks a week. Anything else discussed with your RD
What did people do on weekends?
whatever they wanted to lol
Do you get to know your weight?
they would never show it to you, but i encountered it in paperwork once
How fast is the weight gain process?
very individual. i don’t know how it worked virtually because they ignored my weight loss
What was the average length of stay?
it depended. i was in virtual iop from the start of it (april) until i stepped up to php in late june, then in php for a bit over a month.
in general, it seems to be 6 – 10 weeks for php, iop maybe shorter.
What was the average age range?
16-22, with a couple mid-20s or an adult over 35.
How do visits/phone calls work?
you don’t really need them… but if you get an important call you can take it with permission
What is the electronics policy? (ex: cell phones, iPods, Kindle, laptop, tablets)
technically you aren’t supposed to use your phone during program hours, but every single person did haha
Are you able to go out on passes?
N/A
What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an outpatient treatment team?
they say “you need a therapist, RD, and maybe a psychiatrist” if you don’t do this due to being overwhelmed or not knowing how, they say “do you need referrals?” and then dust their hands off and leave you to it
Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country?
i think they can just let you join the zoom since there’s no traveling involved. but i don’t know how they get your HWVs if you don’t live near the site.
Other?
i used to utterly love this place. tread with caution. the clinical director actually cares and will fight for you (seemed like the only one who did for me there)
* number and behavior redacted per site policy
Hey anonymous, any chance you’d be willing to answer a few more questions if I post my email? You are legit the only person I’ve come across who’s been to the villanova location, and it’s the only higher level option I’m really considering right now.
yeah totally – op
thanks so much, I really appreciate it! it’s [redacted]
Hey Rachel, could you please take down my email address? I’ve been getting spam.
Wow that is ANNOYING. Spammers are so desperate these days! Anyway, done!
Totally agreed… thank you!!
This is SO helpful, thank you!! Would you be willing to do a review of the in person Monte Nido Villanova program as well? Obviously it would be with the understanding that it was a couple years ago, but I think a lot of people would LOVE any bit of information about that program pre-COVID.
Also fyi I am going to cross-post this virtual tx review across a couple of our Monte Nido pages, so as many people can see it.
yes I can do that -op
Does anyone have an insight on Virtual PHP?? Thank you
I came to ask the same question
It’s horrible it’s 7 days a week barely any breaks and they micromanage
Any word on when in person PHP/IOP will resume?
I hear the fall!
Can people give some info on the virtual program? How are the providers ? Groups? How to they do weight checks?
Some but not all clinics have you come into the physical building for weight checks and vitals. It’s otherwise being monitored by your PCP. You really need to have intrinsic motivation to do virtual programming. Portion sizes are checked via Zoom by a recovery coach and they either approve or ask you to add. It’s 7 hours of back to back groups with 10-15 minutes in between.
Thanks! How were the groups and providers?
How often do you see therapist/ dietician?
Could anyone share recent insight into Monte Nido’s Philadelphia-area program? Been going back and forth on it for a few months but thinking it may be time… just hoping for me details than I can find on their website 🙂
Location: Virtual PHP
I’m going to start Monte Nido’s virtual PHP soon. I’m wondering what the general feel of the groups is like. Do people seem focused on the groups and motivated? What are meals like? What are consequences of struggling or not finishing meals?
Hey! I’ve found that Monte Nido has been by far the best place I’ve been (I’ve also gone to CFD and ERC). The other patients are really motivated and I feel like the therapists put more focus on digging into the emotions instead of learning CBT for the 50th time.
I have tried to get into Monte Nido’s PHP programs a few times, and every time, they have pushed me to do residential instead. I understand if they think I need a higher level of care, but it seems like they push hard for residential. When I called recently to inquire about PHP, the person from admissions told me in detail how beautiful one of their residential centers was. Has anyone else experienced this?
This is not uncommon. They are trying to fill beds in new centers and generally disregard treatment preference (PHP vs. Residential). They are financially driven to refer to the highest level of care. I would remain firm in your choice if you’re not wanting to do residential.
I think right now too their PHP is all virtual, so if you need any sort of accountability, they’re going to ask you to do residential so you can have in-person programming. Right now PHP really feels like extended IOP, and most people who usually need regular PHP just won’t do well with virtual PHP. Of course I don’t know your situation, but that would be my guess.
Has anyone done or have insight on the virtual Monte Nido php program that is currently going on?
Virtual PHP is 7 hours a day with minimal breaks. For meals and snacks you portion and then show the RC on Zoom who will either approve or ask you to add on. This is not a program for people actively struggling as there is little oversight in the real world. This is meant to garner success for those stepping down from residential. You have to be highly motivated and have accountability with friends or family. IOP is 5 days a week, weekends off. If there is a program in your area that offers in person programming, I would recommend that. I’ve yet to meet someone in the PHP program who didn’t end up back in residential or has stayed with Monte Nido for 10 months cycling in and out. I don’t know if this is a programmatic flaw or just the product of COVID and the lack of motivation for recovery. I did not do PHP after leaving residential but I’ve witnessed about 75% relapse rate. Take of that what you will.
Yes! I spent a few months in virtual php/iop and it was a good experience for me WHEN I started doing the work. Its a lot less accountability being virtual and thus really easy to get away with stuff, however, I’ve found that when I started to really work with my team and be honest I made a lot of progress. The staff (at least where I was) are absolutely wonderful and the environment is generally supportive. I think you’ll get out what you put in. But the biggest thing is being motivated or at least willing, especially in virtual where there’s no one who can actually physically stop you from engaging with your ED. Its definitely weird doing it through a screen because its a lot of time on a computer, and I would absolutely recommend monte nido to anyone who needs that level of care
Thank you for this. Are you willing to share which location it was? Did you live in their housing? Thanks!
When were you there: 5 months 2019-2020, PHP and IOP; don’t want to disclose the location because it will be pretty obvious who I am
How many patients on average? PHP was 6-8 and IOP had around 3-5
Does it treat both males and females? If so, is treatment separate or combined? Both, combined
How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, etc? No medical doctor on site, you have to find your own in the area or connect with the one you have from back home. 15-30 min psychiatrist appointment every week. 2 meetings with your therapist (usually 30-45 mins depending on how much support you need), 1 meeting with your dietitian (30 mins) every week.
What is the staff ratio to patients? 2 RCs for all patients
What sort of therapies are used? (DBT, CBT, EMDR) etc? CBT, DBT, lots of emotionally-based psychotherapy, family, expressive
Describe the average day:
What were meals like? Awesome, in retrospect. Rules were enforced but always explained why they were so, instead of staff simply saying, “These are the rules, don’t ask questions.” We were allowed to talk about food if it was positive. Redirection was subtle but supportive. RCs and therapists eat with the patients. No table games allowed, but conversation was always encouraged. If you refuse to come to the table you have to leave for the day.
What sorts of food were available or served? The food was hand cooked by a chef so it was DELICIOUS compared to some other facilities I’ve been to. There’s a rotating menu (I think every 4 weeks?) with two choices for each meal. Snacks include packaged foods (chips, cookies, etc) in addition to fresh fruits/veggies.
Did they supplement? How did that system work? Yes. 1 Boost if you finish less than half, 1/2 Boost if you eat more than half but don’t finish. You have 5 minutes to finish the Boost.
What is the policy of not complying with meals? You can refuse without immediate consequences – it usually just means you don’t get to level up as fast.
Are you able to be a vegetarian? Yes. Cannot be vegan unless you have a medical reason (e.g. allergic to dairy).
What privileges are allowed? There weren’t many – it’s PHP/IOP, so I mean, you can really do whatever you want after you leave for the day. Higher levels just mean more passes.
Does it work on a level system? Yes. Everyone is on entry level until they finish their intake paperwork/assessments. Then you get put on Level 1 and can go up to Level 3. Higher levels mean less obs, kitchen privileges (you get to portion your own foods), cooking class, more passes.
How do you earn privileges? Eat the meals, participate in groups
What sort of groups do they have? Primary (also called Process at other facilities, it happens every day for 1.5 hours), CBT, DBT. Body and Soul, Family, Art, Nutrition, Community, Outing, Weekend Planning, Life Skills, Food & Feelings
What was your favorite group? Primary. I haven’t seen any other facility have something like this. Most other places only have Process maybe twice a week. MN does Primary every day for 1.5 hours, so you are constantly sharing your struggles and getting support. I liked this, because speaking about my emotions and the “tough stuff” is what helped me recover, not doing worksheets in CBT *eyeroll*
What did you like the most? Everyone is really recovery focused. RCs genuinely care and will come hang out in the milieu to interact with us.
What did you like the least? Weekend PHP. A lot of places do Mon-Fri programming, but MN does Mon-Sat PHP (so only Sunday off), and IOP was Mon/Tues/Thurs/Sat for 3-4 hours each, which is a LOT of IOP compared to other places.
Would you recommend this program? Yes. It’s a genuinely positive program and the MN style of treatment is really nice. There is a lot focus on trying to get you back into your life and pursue your goals. For example, my therapist helped me apply for college and financial aid because it was my motivation for recovering.
What level of activity or exercise was allowed? Yoga once a week for everyone. As you go up the levels you can ask for exercise privileges, and your therapist will approve it if they think you can do it responsibly. By the end of PHP I was doing 1 hour of dance classes a week for my exercise.
What did people do on weekends? Saturday is program. PHP stays from 8-3 and IOP is 8-12. Sunday is off. If you live in the transitional living apartments you will have an RC hang out with you in the evenings and part of the day on Sunday, but they are pretty hands off.
Do you get to know your weight? No, not at all.
How fast is the weight gain process? 1-3 per week, but obviously depends on what weight you’re coming in at and your specific circumstance
What was the average length of stay? 6-12 for PHP, varies a lot for IOP
What was the average age range? 16-30, we had a lot of 20-somethings
How do visits/phone calls work? It’s PHP/IOP, you can visit with anyone anytime lol. No phones in program (locked up in closet).
Are you able to go out on passes? Yes, but needs to be requested on your weekly contract.
What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an OP treatment team? Part of the requirement to get from PHP to IOP is to find an OP team. When you are in IOP you will be seeing your OP team in addition to your IOP team. They have an alumni group once a week.
Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country? Transitional living apartments nearby (ED-approved walking distance to facility). You can stay in them for PHP or IOP. They are expensive as all hell though!
hey, if i give you my private contact info would you be able to tell me more about which location this is?
If so, I can pass on contact info via email so that it doesn’t show up on the website.
Location: Philadelphia, PA PHP/IOP
I went to the php and iop in philly and it was awful. They discharged me from iop when I wasnt doing my meal plan and had no outpatient team. I was basically left to the wolves. Some people love it but if you have **** as your therapist you most likely will hate it(I’m not the only one who hates her).
name removed by admin per site policy
When were you there? Summer 2019 at the Manhattan location
How many patients on average?
6-12 in PHP and 5-16 in IOP depending on when you’re there (usually more in summer)
Does it treat both males and females?
Both, but it was probably 95% females.
How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, etc?
In PHP, you see your therapist 2x a week (45 min), dietician 1x a week (30 min), psychiatrist 1x a week (5-15 min), and NP 1x a week if needed. In IOP, you see your therapist 1x a week (30 min) and dietician 1x a week (15 min), and you don’t see the psychiatrist or NP. You are required to have a full outpatient team (therapist, dietician, psychiatrist, doctor) one you’re in IOP.
What is the staff ratio to patients?
It depends on the day, but it often felt like there were more staff than clients. There were 9 therapists in total, so each only had 1-4 clients at a time. There were 4-5 therapists there each weekday and 2 therapists there over the weekends. There are 2 dieticians, and at least one of them is usually there every day. There are a lot of RCs, and usually 2 of them are there at a given time.
What sort of therapies are used? (DBT, CBT, EMDR) etc?
Mostly CBT and also some DBT. The type of therapy used in individual sessions really varied based on the client’s needs but ALSO the therapist’s preferred method. One of the therapists was heavily DBT and skills based, some use CPT for trauma, and some use more general talk therapy.
Describe the average day:
PHP is 7 days a week – Monday 12-8pm, Tues-Thurs 12-6:15pm, and Friday-Sunday 10am-4pm. Monday-Thursday starts with lunch and Friday-Sunday start with AM snack. After lunch, there is usually a group, then afternoon snack, then another group, then dinner at 5:45 (except Tuesdays when there is yoga and no dinner). Monday is pre-contract and community meeting, and Tuesday is Contract group where your therapist reads your contract in front of the group. Friday is AM snack, primary group, then lunch outing followed by a challenge snack, food & feelings, and weekend planning. Sat and Sun is AM snack, primary, lunch (bring your own), another group, then afternoon snack. Your therapist will usually pull you out of group twice a week for individual sessions and your dietician will either pull you out of group or meet with you during a break. You come in early on Tuesday to meet with the psychiatrist.
IOP is Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday from 5-8:30pm and Saturday & Sunday from 10am-2pm. It’s always primary, dinner or lunch, then another group.
What were meals like?
Meals were mostly pretty good. They ordered in from local restaurants. Meals are 30 min and snacks are 15 min. In PHP, we played a lot of table games as a distraction, and we also just talked (but keep it positive and no food talk). In PHP, there are 2 staff members at either end of the table and new clients or those who are struggling sit next to the staff members so they can watch you more closely. Some staff made the meal experience more enjoyable than others, as did the clients there that day.
What sorts of food were available or served?
A lot of variety! Mostly pretty health food too (a lot of salads), which was nice. Portion sizes were usually pretty manageable unless you had a mandatory side (like me lol). They ordered from places like Sweetgreen, Chopt, Dig Inn, Chipotle, Thai (kinda gross), Bareburger, sushi, etc. There was also pizza for dinner once a week. There was always a vegetarian option and a meat option, and you filled out a menu for the week and chose which option you wanted. You can choose 3 dislikes at the beginning and won’t ever have to eat those foods. THey’re not supposed to be fear foods though, just general dislikes. On level 1, you can have 2 sub meals a week if you don’t feel ready to eat something on the menu, but one you’re on level 2, they only allow sub meals if one of your dislikes is in the meal.
You fill out a snack menu each day, and there are a good number of options. Apple & peanut butter, granola & yogurt, nuts & dried fruit or m&ms, ice cream, graham crackers & pb or nutella, cookies & milk, grapes/apple/pear & cheese sticks, chips/chex mix & juice, etc. But, if you kept picking the same things, they might put you on staff pick for a week where they choose for you.
Did they supplement? How did that system work?
Yes. If you don’t want to finish or don’t think you can finish in the allotted time, you can ask for a supplement. They use Boost or Ensure (chocolate or vanilla) and Orgain if you’re dairy free. If you finish less than 50%, you have 2 ensures, and if you finish more than 50%, then you just have one. Some people supplement often, and the staff don’t shame you if you need to supplement.
What is the policy of not complying with meals?
If you haven’t asked for a supplement yet and staff don’t think you’ll finish in the last 5 minutes, they offer you a supplement. You have to finish it within the regular meal time limits. If you refuse, you have to fill out a behavior chain (although they never made me do it when I refused). If you refuse more than 3 times, you get staffed, and they might put you on a contract and if you continue to refuse then they’ll step you up to residential.
Are you able to be a vegetarian?
You can be vegetarian but not vegan, and expect A LOT of tofu if you’re vegetarian.
What privileges are allowed?
Portioning snacks and/or meals, days off, no observations, phone after primary, interview a recovered staff member, snack out with your therapist or solo snack (rarely).
Does it work on a level system?
Yes. You’re on entry level when you come in, level 1 until you present your life map and letters to parents, then level 2 for most of the time, and some people make it to level 3 if they’re weight restored and not supplementing. I was there for 10 weeks and was on level 2 for 8 of them.
How do you earn privileges?
Comply with your contract, complete meals, gain weight consistently if you need to, do assignments, and participate.
What sort of groups do they have?
Primary, Body & Soul, Food and Feelings, Nutrition, Mindfulness, Yoga, Skills, Creativity, Weekend planning, Assignments, Pre-Contract/Community, and Contract group.
What was your favorite group?
Body & Soul or Mindfulness!! Mostly because I loved the therapist who ran them, and they were really chill and not super serious.
What did you like the most?
All the therapists are amazing, but mine was definitely the best (others agreed haha). She was without a doubt my favorite therapist I have ever had! Also, I met some really amazing people there who made the experience so much better.
What did you like the least?
My dietician upped my meal plan really quickly even though I was gaining weight, so I gained really quickly, which was incredibly hard mentally. But, I did have a lot of weight to restore in a pretty limited time frame, so I get it. Also, they wouldn’t give me any days off in the beginning even though others got them, but it was purely based on weight, which sucks.
Would you recommend this program?
Absolutely, 100% without a doubt. Monte Nido is the best place I’ve ever been for treatment.
What level of activity or exercise was allowed?
Yoga in program once a week and otherwise, literally nothing until you’re weight restored. I wasn’t even allowed to walk to and from home, even though I lived really close. Once you’re on maintain, then they start letting you incorporate a little exercise.
What did people do on weekends?
Came to program or had days off.
Do you get to know your weight?
No. Although, you could technically have a scale at home, but they really discouraged it.
How fast is the weight gain process?
It depends on the client. If you have a lot to gain, they’ll try to do it a little faster because insurance likes to cut people. My body was doing weird things, so I gained weight way faster than they expected.
What was the average length of stay?
4 to 10 weeks.
What was the average age range?
16-30, but most were college-aged.
How do visits/phone calls work?
No phone in program, but obviously you can do whatever you want at home.
What is the electronics policy? (ex: cell phones, iPods, Kindle, laptop, tablets)
They lock your phones away during the day.
Are you able to go out on passes?
N/A
What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an outpatient treatment team?
Yes, they can give you referrals, and they make sure that you have a team in place before you leave. They also have an alumni group once a week.
Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country?
They have an apartment nearby that has 6 beds.
Other?
I highly recommend this program!
Monte Nido – Eating Disorder Center of Westchester PHP/IOP
When were you there? 2018 and 2019 for several months in PHP and IOP
How many patients on average? While I was there it ranged from 5 – 14 in PHP, and 2 – 11 in IOP. They don’t technically have a capacity on the program and the number of clients can fluctuate greatly.
Does it treat both males and females? If so, is treatment separate or combined? They treat all genders together in the same milieu.
How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, etc? In PHP you see the psychiatrist 1x per week (5-20 mins), your therapist 2x per week (45 mins), your dietitian 1x per week (30 mins), and you see the Nurse Practitioner 1x per week if needed (5-30 mins). In IOP you see your therapist 1x per week (30 mins), and your dietitian 1x per week (15 mins)…they expect you to have a full outpatient team in IOP(Therapist, Dietitian, MD or NP, Psychiatrist) so the number and length of sessions are lowered significantly. You do not see on-staff psych or NP while in IOP.
What is the staff ratio to patients? Depends on the number of clients in program. Typically in PHP its 1 RC (recovery coach) to 4 clients. The therapists have 1 – 5 clients each, and the dietitians have 2 – 8 clients each. But again, this all depends on how many clients are in the programs at any one time.
What sort of therapies are used? (DBT, CBT, EMDR) etc? A few different modalities, it depends on who you have as a therapist. Mostly they use CBT, DBT and CPT during sessions. One clinician is trained in EMDR.
Describe the average day: For PHP – 11:45 – Arrive and have weight/vitals taken (usually just on Mondays unless medically indicated). 12:00 – Lunch (35 mins). 12:45 – 2:15 – Primary Group. 2:15 – 3:00 – Individual Sessions (sometimes…a lot of times you’ll get pulled during other parts of the day…if you don’t have session, this is downtime). 2:45 – 3:05 – Afternoon Snack (if you’re in a session during snack, they’ll bring it to you and you’ll eat with your clinician). 3:05 – 3:50 Group. 4:00 – 5:00 Group. 5:15 – 5:50 Dinner. 6:00 Departure. The days that this varies are Tuesdays (11:15 arrival for Yoga before lunch), Saturdays (9:00 AM arrival, with morning snack, 2 groups, lunch, down time, group and then afternoon snack…departure at 4:00), and Mondays you stay until 7:00 PM for Multi-Family Group. IOP comes in from 4:00 – 7:00 PM on Mondays, 3:00 – 6:00 PM on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM on Saturdays. IOP generally follows the same schedule as PHP while they’re there, except they don’t have snacks at program. There is no programming on Sundays, which is a blessing when you’re doing well, and a challenge when you need the extra support.
What were meals like? They were casual. The typical table rules apply – no blankets/jackets, only 2 glasses of water per client at a meal, and 1 glass at snacks. They try not to play too many table games because they want the environment to mimic real life as much as possible, but they will play them if the conversation is faltering or the vibe is off. You would normally have one therapist, and one RC at a meal.
What sorts of food were available or served? A lot of different kinds of food. They do a lot of salads for lunches and dinners. Sandwiches, soup, curries, meat loaf, pasta with pesto, pasta with tomato sauce and cheese, chicken and waffles, and a variety of things. They’re on a monthly rotating menu. The food is pretty good with a few exceptions. They have a wide variety of snacks too – hummus and crackers, yogurt and fruit or granola, cheese and crackers, cottage cheese, pudding and nilla wafers, etc. In PHP on Fridays you go for a lunch outing to a local restaurant (they don’t tell you where you’re going until a few minutes before you leave). Mondays are pizza nights for both PHP and IOP. On Thursdays PHP has a client or two do Shop and Cook where they shop for ingredients with one of the dietitians and they cook for the other PHP clients. On Thursdays IOP clients bring in their own dinner, which has to be pre-approved by your dietitian (they will add stuff to your dinner if it’s inadequate). On Saturdays both PHP and IOP bring in sandwiches, chips and fruit for lunch (following specific guidelines). You are allowed to have 3 exceptions of foods you absolutely will not eat (these can’t be fear foods), which will be approved by your dietitian on a weekly basis on your contract. Additionally, if you are on Level 1 in PHP, you are allowed to have sub meals (PB&J, dairy and fruit) for two of the meals each week if there’s something you’re nervous about or don’t want to eat – IOP clients do not get sub meals.
Did they supplement? How did that system work? Yes, they supplement using boost. I don’t know the specific portions, but it’s based on the % completion of your meal. They will supplement in IOP, but it’s frowned upon.
What is the policy of not complying with meals? In PHP if you have 3 refusals (i.e. not completing the meal or the supplement), you will be referred to residential or inpatient. In IOP, the same thing will happen but it will be a referral to PHP or residential. You can also get down-leveled for not completing (i.e. dropped from level 2 to level 1), and have your privileges revoked.
Are you able to be a vegetarian? Yes, as long as you’re not doing it for ED reasons and your dietitian approves it.
What privileges are allowed? The main one is lowered bathroom observations. If you’re coming from residential they will try to honor what you were on when you left your facility. If you’re just starting in PHP, you’ll likely be on 24/7 obs while you’re at program which means you have to leave the door cracked and have a staff member stand outside the door while you use the bathroom. The other obs are 2/1 (2 hours after meals, 1 hour after snacks), 1/30 (1 hour after meals/30 mins after snack), 30/0 (30 mins after meals, no obs after snacks), and 0 obs (which is the goal). Other privileges are having a laptop or tablet in the milieu during down time, getting days off of program, portioning privileges, kitchen privileges, pick at time for snacks (you can pick your snack at snack time instead of at the beginning of the day), and increased exercise privileges.
Does it work on a level system? Yes. It’s from levels Intro – 3. Again, they will try and honor the level you were on in residential if that’s where you’re coming from (if your program used levels). Otherwise you start on Intro level and have to do a few pieces of paperwork to get to level 1. Level 1 you’re still on higher bathroom obs, you don’t have kitchen privileges and you’re likely still consistently using behaviors, not finishing meals, supplementing a lot or otherwise going against your team’s recommendations. Level 2 you might still have bathroom obs, but they’re lowered, you will have kitchen privileges, can start doing pick at time for snacks and you’ve likely been able to interrupt the behavior cycle significantly or completely (they don’t expect you to be perfect). Level 3 you definitely aren’t on bathroom obs anymore, you have to lead a group, you are a leader in the milieu, you are fully weight restored and you aren’t actively using behaviors/are completely compliant with team recommendations.
How do you earn privileges? By completing meals and/or supplementing (but not too much), by participating in groups consistently, by complying with team recommendations, by having a relatively decent attitude, by completing all level-related assignments, by supporting and encouraging other clients, and by being proactive in your recovery.
What sort of groups do they have? They have Primary Group (a 1.5 hour long process group), DBT, CBT, Nutrition Group, Mindfulness (essentially just meditation), Relapse Prevention, Weekend Planning (on Saturdays), Food and Feelings (after Meal outing on Fridays), Special Topics/Embody (either the Saturday therapist will lead a group on a random, recovery-oriented topic or you’ll do this positive movement group called Embody Dance Class with one of the RCs…it’s odd, google it.), Pre-Contract Group/Community Meeting (you read your contract out to the rest of the clients and a couple staff members for feedback, and talk about anything community related), Contract Group (your therapist will read your contract/privileges to you in the milieu), Expressive Therapy (generally something creative/art-related), Multi-Family Group (every Monday night), Body & Soul (MN’s version of a body image group, but you don’t talk about body image at all…it’s more of a “spiritual” group trying to get you to connect with yourself/your soul).
What was your favorite group? Body & Soul, and Primary. Body & Soul probably sounds weird, but it’s a really chill group and definitely helped me connect with who I am outside of my eating disorder…you do a lot of journaling/writing assignments in it. Plus the Therapists who lead it are awesome! Primary can be a little bit boring at times, but you find out a lot about other clients and can share your experiences in a safe space.
What did you like the most? There are some AMAZING clinicians and staff members! I can’t say enough good things about most of them…they truly helped save my life. The office suite where the program is, is nice and fairly new (opened Jan 2018).
What did you like the least? This has become the go-to PHP for the local-ish kids from Clementine Briarcliff Manor so there were/are a LOT of adolescents which can be frustrating at times because they aren’t there voluntarily like the adults, and many of them act like it. Granted they aren’t all bad, and some of them come in more recovery-oriented and motivated than some of the adults. Plus when they have a large number of adolescent clients they’ll start to split primary groups so that the adults can discuss more sensitive topics if they need to.
Would you recommend this program? Absolutely and without hesitation. I did more to combat my eating disorder at EDCW than I did in my residential treatment center.
What level of activity or exercise was allowed? Almost everyone (unless your vitals are bad) is allowed to do Yoga on Tuesday mornings. Outside of that, you tend to start with very minimal exercise (a 15- 30 minute walk or two a week), and work your way up to more as you weight restore/your metabolism heals/you’re behavior free. It’s VERY slow to gain exercise privileges, regardless of what your eating disorder is.
What did people do on weekends? As mentioned above, there’s programming on Saturdays for both PHP and IOP. On Sundays you’re free to do what you like as long as it’s recovery-oriented and is aligned with your contract.
Do you get to know your weight? No, not that I’m aware of. They’ll let you know if you’re in your range or gaining/losing if that’s what you and your dietitian agree upon.
How fast is the weight gain process? It differs for each client who is on a gain plan.
What was the average length of stay? 5-7 weeks in PHP, 4-8 weeks in IOP…though I’ve seen much longer stays and much shorter stays in both programs.
What was the average age range? 14 – 35. There have been clients as young as 12, and as old as 50s though.
How do visits/phone calls work? Most people don’t get visitors since it’s a day program/IOP, but I’d imagine they’d need to contact the main office before they came. They don’t have a phone for calls, but you can use your cell phone to call someone if pre-approved by your therapist.
What is the electronics policy? (ex: cell phones, iPods, Kindle, laptop, tablets) You aren’t allowed to have your phone during program (you turn it in to the office at the beginning of the day), so unless you have call that’s pre-approved by your therapist, you can’t use your phones until program is done. The same goes for laptops/tablets. You can ask for laptop privileges on your contract in PHP if you need it for school or work. You can use a kindle or iPod that doesn’t have wi-fi/cellular data access, but you need to have it approved by your therapist first.
Are you able to go out on passes? No, since this is PHP/IOP there aren’t any passes.
What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an outpatient treatment team? If you don’t have an OP team, or your team isn’t up to their standards, they’ll help you find one before you step down to from PHP to IOP, or before you graduate from IOP. You also have to fill out a very extensive Graduation Packet before you graduate from IOP that helps you identify potential causes for relapse, and ways to prevent relapse.
Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country? If you’re from out of country/state/Westchester County, or if you need extra support (and are 18+), they have a really nice 4-person apartment in which you can live (for an extra fee). It’s right down the road from the office building where programming is.
Other? The building the program is in isn’t quite within acceptable walking distance of the White Plains Metro North station (it’s a 26 minute walk), so be prepared to take Uber or Lyft to get to/from the train station to program (if you’re taking the train from NYC/The Bronx/Westchester/Connecticut). Bring books/knitting or crocheting supplies/puzzles/board games/coloring books/activities/homework/work to PHP because there is a decent amount of down time, especially on Friday and Saturday. Definitely come prepared with a journal and a pen/pencil, you’ll use it a lot in both PHP and IOP.
Any reviews of Monte Nido in Portland?