Monte Nido is a nationwide eating disorder treatment program known for its focus on body and soul. 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. We would love some updated reviews!!
This review page is for their Oregon locations:
- Eugene (aka Monte Nido RainRock)
- Portland (West Linn).
— RainRock is a Monte Nido residential program in Eugene, Oregon. RainRock was one of the very first Monte Nido locations.
– Monte Nido recently opened a second Oregon location in Portland (West Linn).
You can check out the FAQ and Guidelines for suggested questions, and post your Oregon reviews below!
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Monte Nido also currently has residential locations at:
- California: Malibu (Little Nido), Agoura Hills (aka Monte Nido Vista) & East Bay. They also have Los Angeles and Newport Beach locations with PHP & Supported Living.
- Illinois: Chicago (opened 2020)
- Massachusetts: Boston (aka Monte Nido at Laurel Hill)
- Maryland: Glenwood
- New York: Glen Cove & Irvington. They also have New York City & Westchester locations with PHP & Supported Living.
- Pennsylvania: No residential, but they have PHP.
Reviews for the other Monte Nido residential programs can be found here:
Reviews for Monte Nido’s PHP/IOP programs can be found here:
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Any current reviews? Please post in comments below. You can check out the FAQ and Guidelines for suggested questions.
Please be sure to specify which location you are reviewing.
Thank you!
Location: Portland, OR (West Linn)
Jun 23 – Aug 28, 2026
residential, php, and virtual php/iop. this review is focused on residential
the clinical floor, main floor, and west wing rooms are accessible by elevator, however the elevator broke a couple times during my stay. was fixed in an okay amount of time and i’m sure would be faster if there was a wheelchair user staying there. the yoga room and east wing rooms are stair access only.
i believe there were 15 beds, but it was not always at capacity. it was the best when there was about 12 people in my biased opinion LOL
all genders
yes! i actually readily sing its praises for queer inclusivity. there were multiple queer staff members and i’d say at least half of the milleu during my stay was queer in some way. only criticism was deadnaming and misgendering from one of the nurses and agency staff at times. i never felt directly at risk for my identity though.
doctor, psychiatrist, and dietitian were once a week (dietitian actually could’ve been twice?) and therapists 2-3 times a week with short check-ins if needed. nurses are always on call.
not quite sure what it was supposed to be on paper but we were definitely short staffed. they aimed to have at least 2 RCs working at a time, and mostly lived up to that, but you could tell it was rough trying to fulfill that. agency was often called in at a point and were not knowledgeable about eating disorders or what the job required at all 90% of the time.
primarily CBT, DBT, talk therapy, and sometimes ACT. they are almost all trauma informed but not trauma specialized.
Describe the average day:
3 meals, 3 snacks, about 2-3 hours apart. i think they were all two hours apart except for pm snack and dinner, which was closer to a 3 hour gap. everyone was required to sit, obviously, but there are table games and lots of socializing whi ch made meals much easier. everyone gets to make their own placemat and have a couple fun trinkets at their spot as well as a nametag. there were also a couple visual-oriented stim toys around. no food/body talk, no triggering topics, and there was a safe word in place if you needed to swerve a conversation. this went over smoothly the majority of the time.
there was a rotating menu, the breakfasts tended to have more repeats but dinners were very varied and you wouldn’t really see any repeats until a couple months in. every tuesday was a meal outing and every saturday (?) was pizza night, which was surprise ordered by the dietitian. snacks were ordered on a snack sheet you’d fill out the night before, with the exception of fridays which had movie night evening snack planned out for you and were the same for everyone (with the exception of allergies/dietary restrictions.
yep. if you didn’t complete you would get a serving of ensure in an opaque cup, and less than 50% was two servings i believe. it was served room temperature and only vanilla was available, apparently to keep us from enjoying it too much. didn’t stop me from liking it though 😉
you need to have full completion for 24 hours before movement, coffee, or weekend outings in order to participate. if you complete your supplement it counts as completion. most people completed most of their meals/snacks but there was little to no judgement from peers or RCs about completion.
they do, and there is a specialized ARFID meal plan. there are sometimes certain accommodations around food sensitivities but they were not great with that if your main diagnosis wasn’t ARFID. everyone gets 3 exceptions, but i was able to get 5 due to autism sensory issues/low level ARFID.
yes, but they make mistakes around serving the right food/supplement and apparently the tempeh wasn’t great.
with consistent meal completion you would be allowed yoga/walks/MNA move (just dance/an extra walk). at level 2 you can request a solo outing and at level 3 you can have phones/tablets/laptops from end of dinner to bedtime as well as access to the media room.
yep. entry level, level 1, level 2, level 3, and discharge level. these are earned based on completion and cessation of behaviors with the exception of entry level and discharge level, those being handed out the week of entry or discharge. observation levels generally became less strict the higher you went in level, however they were technically decided separately so they didn’t necessarily have to line up. mileage may vary.
completion and leveling up.
the ones i can think of off the top of my head are process group, DBT, CBT, yoga, body and soul, expressive group, and recovery reading. there’s also community meeting every monday where you fill out your weekly contract (this is where you request level-ups and set goals for the week) and bring up any facility related issues.
i loved process group as i found the layout structured and supportive and the clients extremely accommodating and supportive as well. we got a lot out of these process groups. i also loved yoga, the instructors were SO accommodating and size/ability inclusive as well as kind. one of them has essential oils they bring in and you can mix and match scents. freaking awesome. love them dearly
mostly…
the clients, the RCs, the layout, and the activities available. they had lots of craft supplies, puzzles, books, games, and a TV with most streaming services. bop-it, bracelet making, and henna were the hallmarks of my summer. the outdoors are also very beautiful.
the understaffing and poor management. some of the higher up staff were ignorant and best and negligent/enablers at worst. it was easy for things to go wrong with one or two bad apples staying there. the clients make the experience and there is poor oversight for how that can go. i got lucky the first half of my stay and very unlucky the second half.
at this time, no. but also yes. they are definitely more lax and supportive than other treatment centers but the ways it went wrong during my stay are enough to make me avoid this location like the plague. if you come at the right time it is lifechanging but if at any point you feel unsafe or unsupported it is totally okay to dip out and find a different clinic. don’t let a bad treatment experience scare you away from recovery. i came out emotionally scarred but considerably less anorexic. LOL
light exercise. yoga, walks, and just dance on the media room TV are kind of your only options but still fun nonetheless. exercise outside of that, especially if you are on rest, is heavily discouraged. they will intervene if you are pacing or just a little too excited and run up the stairs or jump around. this happens more than you think
saturday was outing, which you would vote on, and sunday was an inning, which you would also vote on. the outings were usually shopping or a park and the innings were usually craft related. they would purchase the items needed for the inning and they would remain available to use until they ran out for the most part. if they were especially messy they would be kept in a locked closet (glitter tattoo stencils….)
noooooope. blind weights and no visible records. vitals were visible though.
2-3 lbs per week as others have said. mileage may vary but they were pretty good at keeping this consistent.
i would say 2-3 months. the 6 week average on the website is a bold faced lie and i am convinced they are including AMA discharges in that estimate. i did not know anyone discharged that early. i’ve heard it rumored that that’s when you start to medically stabilize but i’m not sure about that and can’t verify it.
very wide. i’d say it was about 60% young adults and 40% moms. they tended to group together but i didn’t notice any real cliques forming during my stay. i am a young adult and one of my best treatment friends was a mom in her 30’s. 🙂
two days out of the week were designated visitation days. there was a phone sign up sheet but for most of my stay people would just pop into the phone booth when available. pets were not allowed to visit ON PAPER, but we definitely had some furry visitors stop by with no pushback from staff. they loved them. don’t tell monte nido corporate.
no electronics with internet access. exceptions are if you need to check them out for a few minutes to get access to passwords or verification codes or something, or designated phone time during level 3. this was totally abused though and RCs would often forget to check them back in until they really cracked down and would have to supervise you using them. it was absurd how much you could get away with keeping your phone for a bit but honestly i’m glad i got to experience that period of chaos…
yes, once you’re level 2. you fill out a pass request on your weekly contract during community meetings and a proper outing pass once approved. be sure to request outings at the very least a week in advance.
overall, a very mixed bag but i do not regret going. there are worse places to seek treatment for sure. just be very wary and keep your wits about you. lean on your peers and let them lean on you. if things go wrong they are an invaluable support and an essential to treatment and recovery. i have experienced extreme mental duress here and have also made lifetime connections with absolute angels i would take a bullet for. if your eating disorder has taken away your life, expect this to be like 5 years of lesson learning crammed into a few months. don’t let anything scare you out of recovery. bye bye sorry this was so long i hope this helps any extremely detail-oriented people <3
Looking for a recent reviews of either the West Linn location or the RainRock location. I also have complex trauma so wondered about the level of trauma informed care either place.
Having been to both and unfortunately looking to go back somewhere, they do not deal with complex trauma like dissociation or flashbacks, at least according to the people who experienced that. They hire entry level therapists not trained in any modalities.
That’s unfortunate, but thank you for your reply!
(West Linn) This place is a living hell. All the directors are the most awful human beings l’ve ever met.
They’ve treated one client like their child, while treating all of us like absolute garbage – While she threatens each and every one of our recoveries. After multiple attempts of trying to reconcile this behavior it was never handled. They demeaned us like children with the way they spoke to us. In the end I was overtly disappointed with the care I was provided, and had to leave two weeks into my stay. I highly recommend any other facility.
to expand on this a bit as my treatment overlapped with this commenter, there was a client who was directly verbally and emotionally abusive to almost every single other client and despite multiple attempts to reach out to staff for help through our therapists/the RCs/the program manager directly it went unresolved for weeks until the situation completely blew up. the main offender during my stay was the most laughable excuse for a “mediation”, wherein we were lectured about our failure to get staff involved, gaslit (and i mean this word in the most literal, objective, textbook sense possible) about specific events, interrupted, and talked to like children. from what i gather the offending client has a behavior contract throughout their entire stay (doesn’t seem to have been enforced…) and was kicked out in the end (shocking!) but i and many other clients endured trauma and extreme stress from this situation and no sort of closure has been given. every member of staff involved still works there, no significant restructuring or repair has happened (to my knowledge) and no apologies given. obviously. i know at least one client left AMA largely due to this happening. i’ve tried escalating the issue through my therapist in PHP but i don’t think it went anywhere. no longer in monte nido so nothing to do now but complain here :shrug:. my stay during the start was very positive and helpful and changed my life but i am avoiding this place like the plague now because of my experience with the way this situation was handled. i don’t want to scare anyone away from treatment but i would avoid this place until some major restructuring happens, especially regarding the current clinical director… that’s all 🙂
Any recent reviews for Rainrock? Considering admitting sometime soon.
Looking for a recent review for the West Linn [Portland] location. Specifically, what the staffing situation is currently, updated meal guidelines (are they allowing substitutions, is there currently a chef or are RCs preparing meals, are Sunday brunches still discontinued), are weekend outings taking place or are they still sticking to “innings”? How was the vibe of the milieu? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Apprehensive about going back because I know the staff has completely turned over since I was last there.
Substitutions are allowed, as long as you talk about it with your assigned dietician first. Over the course of the week, we have a professional chef who’s in the kitchen, preparing our lunches and dinners for us (on Monday nights, the clients get to help him in the kitchen for the dinner we’ll be having). For the weekends, it’s the recovery coaches who are in charge of cooking for us, including warming up dishes the chef prepared beforehand. Lunches always take place at 12PM–is that what you mean by “brunches”? Every Saturday, we can go on an outing, as long as we complete; innings are for Sundays.
For me, the milieu has been a positive experience, particularly with the table games we’ve played (it helped calm my nerves when I first stepped in here). I generally really appreciate the staff here, finding them very patient and understanding–but lately, I’ve noticed the clients complaining about one particular staff member who appears very unprofessional with her lack of empathy and being visibly high on cannabis.
Thanks for responding! In the past, Monte Nido tried to incorporate a brunch on Sundays instead of the usual breakfast/snack/lunch, but then stopped so I wasn’t sure if it had made a comeback. I’m glad to hear the milieu is into table games as those really help me during meals/snacks. Have you been going on restaurant outings or is food still being ordered in? And I’m assuming pizza night is still once a week (Saturday?)
Restaurant outings are on Tuesdays for lunch; people who are on Level 3 will get to order their own food. And, yes, we have pizza every Saturday for dinner.
I am currently IP and my treatment team is planning on stepping me down to residential after Christmas. Has anyone been at either Rain Rock or West Linn that could provide some insight into how things are running right now? The last time I was in West Linn there had been 90% turn over of the entire staff from my previous admission. From clinical director all the way to the RCs. Do the current milieus seem recovery focused? Are any meal substations allowed each menu planning period or has that been done away with completely? My last, very brief stay, was in September of 2022 so I don’t know how much has shifted.
Ex-staff at Rainrock, I’ve worked there in the past couple years. Would not recommend Rainrock. High turnover, almost every day shift is short staffed, RCs are trained for one single day and then left to do their jobs without adequate support and resources. Management is dishonest with clients about safety and public health concerns. Therapists are stretched too thin here and often can’t see clients as often as their care plan requires.
does anyone know if they would take/single agreement on California Medi-Cal? I’m in desperate need of treatment and I can’t afford better insurance. I live in northern CA (very close to Oregon border)
Any recent reviews on either portland or rainrock?
Any current/recent reviews for Rainrock?
Has anyone recently been to Monte Nido’s Portland residential location recently that would be willing to answer some questions for me? I would greatly appreciate any recent info. Thank you!
Yes, I just discharged a few days ago
Please share. Considering treatment there for my 21 y/o son. Thank you
Does anyone have a review for Rain rock or west linn in the past 2~ months? getting admitted at the beginning of december. what was your experience and what are you allowed to bring/supposed to pack?
Do they treat males at Rainrock?
Yes
Bad place didn’t recognize allergies and celiac disease
Could you please write a review using the template provided by EDTR?
Saying “bad place” is subjective and fear inducing. It is not helpful to people visiting the site looking for objective information about how the program operates and what to expect if they attend. What you’ve written is not pro-recovery and is not helpful to the community. EDTR is not the place to vent about your bad experience at a program. Please seek support from your therapist.
Saying the program didn’t respect celiac disease and allergies if you provided medical documentation would be helpful information in the context of an actual review of the program.
Does anyone have any experience at the residential in Portland (West linn)? I am going soon and don’t know what to expect. Any help would be sooooo helpful!
I’m currently at Monte Nido Portland and wanted to give a heads up that this place is experiencing an insane amount of staff turnover and general dysfunction right now. There are a few great staff members but most of the therapists are brand new as is the main dietician and it looks like there is more turnover to come. The chef is a huge issue and is woefully bad at his job and needs to be fired, I have no idea why he still works here. I would say this place can help you if it’s your only option, but also if you have the option to go somewhere more functional right now, definitely do that instead.
Oh no! I was there last summer and I’ve been talking to Monte Nido about admitting again… the dietician was great when I was there so that’s definitely disconcerting to hear. Maybe I’ll try to see if they have space at Rainrock instead…
TIME SENSITIVE: Anyone have any recent reviews for either Oregon location (or Vista, the Southern Cali one)?? I need to decide which I want to go to ASAP and would love if anyone has info on whether the staff is particularly good/bad at any of them right now, or know what the population is like at either Oregon location right now and any other info you can provide would be great!!
I know someone who was in residential at Vista a few years ago and she told me she’d absolutely recommend it to others and wouldn’t hesitate to go back if she ever needed residential again.
I would recommend rainrock. Not montenido in west linn. Really rocky there right now
Hello,
I was wondering if anyone had a recent review for Monte Nido Portland. I’m working with insurance to see if I can admit there or not.
I was there twice and can answer questions.
Are you able to provide a breakdown of what a typical day / week was like? What was the situation like with COVID? Was your experience individualized at all? Did you like your therapist / dietitian / other staff? Anything else that you think would be helpful to know? Thanks in advance for your help!
You can email me and I’ll answer your questions
lovelyladysarz4@gmail.com
What were days like? How did meals work? What were the staff like?
I’m at RR right now (been here about two weeks) and am in the middle of compiling a list of the good, the bad, and the ugly. Right now there is a temporary dietician to replace the one that just transferred to another location. He has been here a week and a half and has wreaked havoc. I’m really stressed out but I want to be able to give a full picture to potential clients. Ask me anything and I’ll post back soon with my list.
Hey, bee! Can you share some more info? I might be admitting in the coming days and want to know what it’s like and if I should look at another location.
Hey there! Wondering if you can give us an update on how it is going there- good bad ugly, etc
Hi there, considering Rainrock right now and wondering if you have an update on staffing stuff and what’s going on there right now? Thank you!
update please!
On which location, RainRock or Portland? I know someone just posted a Portland update a couple days ago, if you scroll down!
bee’s RainRock update – I was at RainRock earlier this year and may have to go back, so I am interested in hearing the changes since I left 🙂
Gotcha! That’s a smart idea to follow up, I’m glad you did!
Is there a recent review for this location? how does it compare to the other Monte Nido locations or Portland? I have experience being at East Bay, so I know how Monte Nido operates. Are the pictures on the website of the facility accurate or has it been redone to match their overall “vibe”?
Location: Monte Nido Portland (West Linn, Oregon)
When were you there?
January 18th-February 26th
How many patients on average?
They started out at 3 (I was the first client) and they got up to 11. The plan is to quickly fill up to 15 beds.
Does it treat both males and females? If so, is treatment separate or combined?
They treat both males, females, and non binary. There is no specialized programming/groups for any one gender, which is unfortunate
How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, etc?
You meet with a nurse practitioner, psychiatrist and dietitian once per week. You are supposed to meet with your therapist 3x/week but that wasn’t happening with everyone. You can also check in with the clinical director as needed and she tries to make time for this
What is the staff ratio to patients?
Well…it states on the website that it is supposed to be 1:5, but this was often not happening. When this was brought up, we were told that a nurse can count as support for when they are short staffed. A lot of clients complained about htis to upper management and that’s when (I) was told that 2 staff would be on but that a nurse would count in the event that an RC called out or was off site. To remedy the Sunday issue with staffing they are having therapists come in earlier but this doesn’t erase the issue of one RC preparing snacks and brunhes for 11 (soon to be 15) people. The therapists aren’t going to roll up their sleeves to help with meal prep or dishes.
What sort of therapies are used? (DBT, CBT, EMDR) etc?
They have DBT, CBT, and CPT but the lack of experience in these modalities left much to be desired. It is mostly worksheet based and super introductory. Some people benefited, but some of us did not. My experience is coming from over a decade of the same classes so I was hoping for more open ended, organic discussions. This is not a slam on the program, but a preference.
Describe the average day:
Wake up starts at 6. Showering and such needs to be done in time for medication passes, vitals and weights (M/W/F for weights). Breakfast is at 7:30, walks are 8:15 on M/W/F, otherwise it’s free time, often until snack at 10:15. On Thursdays and Fridays there are groups at 9am. After AM snack there is primary at 10:45-12 and often more free time when you may or may not be pulled for sessions with your team. Lunch is at 12:15 and there is sometimes a group afterwards. There is actually a lot of free time and there are mostly only 2 groups per day except Sundays.
What were meals like?
Meals follow a 6 week rotation. The meals are A, being the smallest and only assigned for refeeding; B which is the standard if not needing to gain significant weight; and C for people who are not gaining on B. Snacks follow a color system: green (which nobody started on because the dietitian is super aggressive with meal plans; teal which is average for most not needing to gain much; navy, which was often skipped unless you were on maintain; and pink which was often pushed without being able to try navy for weight gain.
What sorts of food were available or served?
They have pastas, PB sandwich days, cereals with nuts, overnight oats, yogurt bowls, sausage and waffles, english muffin sandwiches. Wednesdays are dine in days where you order in from a restaurant and they did thai, chinese, sandwiches, pub food, pizza, Panera. There is something called local fare which is chef’s choice. They also have “shop and cook” which is irrelevant. Before COVID a client could come up with a meal with the chef. Now it is just the chef’s choice. Friday is pizza night and Sunday is brunch which includes a lot of egg based products, breads and muffins. Brunch was served at 10:30 in lieu of breakfast but you started your day with AM snack. Each morning you are allowed one cup of coffee pending 100% completion for 24 hours and I guess no group refusals.
Did they supplement? How did that system work?
Two bottles of ensure for less than 50% completion and one bottle for more than 50% completion.
What is the policy of not complying with meals?
You either supplement or take a refusal. They aren’t quick to refer you to inpatient because that is more of a clinical decision based on weight and medical stability. The RCs will attempt to convince you to eat or supplement.
Are you able to be a vegetarian?
Yes, but not vegan.
What privileges are allowed?
ipod, ipad, laptop, and Kindle access. Phone access on Monday, Friday, and Sunday for 2 hours. Certain approved exercise based privileges like basketball and punching bags. There really isn’t much as far as privileges went since there are a lot of restrictions because of COVID. This doesn’t mean you can’t ask for things; I just never saw creative asks.
Does it work on a level system?
Entry level, level one, two, and three. You move quickly orm entry to one. After completing assignments and eating 100% you are advanced to level 2. Level 3 is more for people really engaging and not supplementing and it’s meant to allow for more independence prior to discharge. They also have a discharge level for people who don’t make it to level 2 or 3.
How do you earn privileges?
Asking for them?
What sort of groups do they have?
CBT, ACT, DBT, special topics, primary (process),transition groups, body and soul, “innings”, life skills, experiential
What was your favorite group?
I’m not a group person, but I think primary was my favorite because you were able to process things and hear people’s assignments, which was a bonding experience.
What did you like the most?
The fact that they were willing to make accomodations and take my issues seriously and put certain things into action.
What did you like the least?
Sundays were really difficult. It was a longer day and brunch was hard as well as afternoon snack due to the volume of food required. As I stated before the meal plans were aggressive.
Would you recommend this program?
I would. They is still having growing pains which may take a couple of months to iron out. There are definite benefits over Rainrock, which a lot of people came from. You will learn very quickly who you prefer as a therapist and while this isn’t necessarily a complaint but 2 of the 3 therapists were highly inexperienced with one coming from more of an administrative role. Half of the clients had complaints about their therapists and I don’t think clinical supervision could change the way they conduct therapy or groups.
What level of activity or exercise was allowed?
The only thing I was so grateful for is that they don’t really do rest unless you are extremely emaciated and needing to conserve energy for a couple of weeks. Had I gone to Rainrock I wouldn’t have been allowed to walk for 6 weeks. There are 25 or so minute walks 3x/week plus restorative yoga. Other exercise was granted on a case by case basis.
What did people do on weekends?
Because of COVID we didn’t have outings but “innings”. During my time they were all craft based. Participation wasn’t mandatory. You mostly had free time and one or two groups. Sundays had multiple groups.
Do you get to know your weight?
Nope.
How fast is the weight gain process?
On the admit paperwork it says 2-3 pounds and I think that was accurate.
What was the average length of stay?
Almost everyone was on Medicaid and they cover up to 4 months. My insurance may have only covered 8-10 weeks but I left ACA.
What was the average age range?
The age range was much more palatable than at Rainrock. They took people in their upper 20s-50s. We had a couple of 18 year olds that were there 1-3 days. I wish they would designate this program for the more mature population so it would feel less like summer camp like it was at RR.
How do visits/phone calls work?
NO visits. Phone calls worked with a sign up sheet for 15 minutes at a time. They were just starting to implement a facetime, Zoom to be allowed.
What is the electronics policy? (ex: cell phones, iPods, Kindle, laptop, tablets)
Stated above. All electronics allowed as privileges during free time.
Are you able to go out on passes?
No.
What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an outpatient treatment team?
They help with that soon after arrival to make the transition smoother. You usually step down to a local PHP in the area or the area you return to
Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country?
You have the option of continuing treatment in their local PHP programs while staying in apartments.
If applicable: Do they support the gender identities of transgender and nonbinary people?
I wish there would be more targeted treatment as I witnessed outdated pronoun usage in worksheets and female driven conversations. They even had discussion cards only targeted towards females in body and soul. There were no supports for them in group settings.
Other?
I wish they would have had any/more conversations/groups about body image. The most helpful suggestions and feedback I received was from the regional director who only comes once per month.
Hi Sarah! I was just wondering why you left ACA if you’d recommend the program? I know there are a lot of reasons why one may do that, but just wondering if you found something else more beneficial. Thanks.
I left because I was triggered by something and while I’d still recommend the program to the average consumer, I felt the program couldn’t help me with some of my issues. They do not have the experience to manage more than mild co occuring issues, such as trauma. When I asked to return after 5 days the head of clinical services told me I needed a different type of treatment. Had I stayed I’d still be there, but probably not thriving. The program is good for containment and that’s what I needed. The rest of the work will be done at the OP level.
What’s the deal with caffeine or coffee?
no coffee except for 1-2 Starbucks outings a week (only 1 you can get caffeinated coffee)
Location: Eugene, Oregon (RainRock) & Portland, OR (West Linn)
It depends on the location. At the 2 facilities in Oregon you get a cup of coffee every morning contingent upon no refusals (meal or group) for 24 hours. They are not doing outings for coffee (no outings period).
What is the treatment care like for over eaters?
treatment is the same for everyone 🙂
When were you there? December-March 2020
How many patients on average? They were always at capacity at 16. I have a lot of mixed feelings about this. In 2013 the cap was 12 and they were adequately staffed. The current client-staff ratio is 2:16 most days. Since the Medicaid expansion more state funded insurance clients are seeking treatment. I believe this is why they increased capacity. 80% of the clients were on Medicaid. The few of us with private insurance had to be fought harder for because our insurance reviews were every 7 days and not 30 as with the case for OHP (Oregon Health Plan). They are ill prepared for 16 clients.
Does it treat both males and females? If so, is treatment separate or combined? They now treat men, women, and transgendered individuals. The treatment is combined and you will have to share a room with a male (if you are in the suite; not sure with double bed rooms).
How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, etc? You meet with your therapist 3x/week and everybody else 1x/week.
What is the staff ratio to patients? As previously stated, 2:16
What sort of therapies are used? (DBT, CBT, EMDR) etc? They have “CBT/DBT” but the group is mostly useless unless you have never been in treatment before. My therapist was trained in EMDR (only 2 are, and unfortunately they are the clinical and assistant clinical director who are slowly transitioning back to oversight of the facility and not taking clients)
Describe the average day: vitals starting at 6, ending at 6:30, breakfast at 7:30, free time/circuits until 9:45, snack, primary, lunch, group, snack, free time/therapy/dietitian/psych. sessions, dinner, free time or group, snack, in bedroom by 10:30. You could get pulled from any group for sessions.
What were meals like? Meals start with a blessing and then usually followed by table games. Some meals were silent, others were chatty.
What sorts of food were available or served? Things have taken a nose dive with regards to the quality of the food since 2013-2015. The food fit the caloric requirements. I really enjoyed the home made pizzas and thai food. They used a god forsaken amount of rice dishes– which could be beneficial if rice is a challenge. It definitely desensitized me. They had typical fare, such as Mexican, Chinese, Thai, pastas, Falafel, Mediterranean vegetable plates. Breakfasts are no longer client choice and they were the worst meals of the day. Your food was cold, stale like, fresh “from frozen quality”. The recovery coaches prepared breakfasts.
Did they supplement? How did that system work? You can “boost” with ensure. Calorically, it doesn’t make sense. For instance, if you boost spinach, you get a half bottle of ensure. If you boost the entire meal, you get 2 bottles. With rare exceptions, you can boost with Luna bars (I did) but 95% of clients will not be granted this exception.
What is the policy of not complying with meals? In the past if you refused 3 times you’d be sent to a higher level of care, but now I’ve seen people refuse for 2 weeks straight with no consequences. If you are at a lower weight/more medically compromised they will follow through with the referral to inpatient.
Are you able to be a vegetarian? You can be vegetarian, but not really vegan. In PHP a couple of years ago, there was a vegan
What privileges are allowed? You start out with very few privileges and are on an observation period of 2 hours after meals and 1 hour after snacks, which essentially means you are observed most of the week days since meals and snacks are with within 2 hours of each other and there are groups. During the weekend you have ample free time and can escape to the “new milieu” away from peers and staff.
Does it work on a level system? Yes, entry level, level 1, level 2, and level 3. You move quickly up from entry to level 2 once you complete the 3 basic assignments. Level 3 is rare because insurance rarely covers someone to that point (unless on Medicaid). Also, you will not get level 3 if you boost. This was one of the cons of the cookie cutter level system. I boosted olives, mustard, and anything with vinegar (non ED taste aversions).
How do you earn privileges?
Every week you fill out a contract where you and/or your therapist determine assignments/goals for the upcoming week. You also request exercise and privileges. Examples of privileges include: open access to gum/candy (if level 2). They do have calls for gum after meals but that is the only time you have access until level 2. You can request your ipod during check out times, or if approved by your therapist, during all free times and overnight. You can request walks to the river with your therapist, peers, or independently. You can also request to purchase clothes on outings or online but they have to be approved (you have to try it on and show a therapist). This is to dissuade people from purchasing small, ill fitting items (“sick” clothes). You can request cell phone access for specific reasons (banking, getting access codes for sites that need to verify identity) and you are monitored by your therapist or recovery coach.
What sort of groups do they have? CBT/DBT, primary (process) group, family/alumni group, food and feelings, expressions group (art, writing), movement group, nutrition group.
What was your favorite group? I liked food and feelings and we have that 3x/week
What did you like the most? Honestly, the main redeeming quality of the program was my therapist, who is actually the clinical/regional director. He had to take on a few clients due to therapist turnover. He is amazing and I can’t speak highly enough about him. I wouldn’t have stayed if it weren’t for him. I also appreciated the opportunity to be able to go on passes once I was deemed ready. Note, no community passes or outings are permitted due to the pandemic.
What did you like the least? I disliked the dietitian. There is one dietitian for 16 clients–which is insane. She didn’t know how to communicate beyond saying “Mmhmm” and nodding her head. Also, she, along with some interns, therapists, said “right” after every sentence. She also had poor physical boundaries, which made me uncomfortable. If she was frustrated, she would do passive aggressive things such as loudly close doors or in my case, pull the door open from my hands. I feel like I was the only person that didn’t get along with her. I should also just say that I’m not a fan of dietitians in general. The psychiatric nurse practitioner was useless. She was supposed to go into retirement but somehow landed at Rainrock. She should not be working with eating disordered individuals. I also disliked the groups. The therapists were super young with very little practical experience. All of them used basic active listening techniques, which meant a lot of reflections “So, what I’m hearing you say…” and my favorite, “That sounds frustrating”. While I deeply respect the clinical director, I feel that hiring practices were lacking and the therapists were not vetted very well. If they passed the screening process/interview, they became un firable, despite the evident dearth of therapeutic experience. Rainrock is a stepping stone to private practice.
Would you recommend this program? I am not sure. If you’ve never been in treatment before, click with your therapist, or you are considered highly compliant, it might be a good fit.
What level of activity or exercise was allowed? This depends on weight and medical stability. You will eventually have the option to do floor or standing yoga, 15-30 minute walks 2x/week, and circuits (weight machines). Once you’re stable and the team feels you’re ready, you can request independent walks and fun exercise. I was able to do line dancing practice with one of the therapists.
What did people do on weekends? You have a lot of free time which is great for visitors (visitors are not currently allowed). A lot of people napped, worked on art, read, watched Netflix. You may have a therapy session if your therapist works during the weekend. Sundays are outing days (suspended for now) but when they resume, you vote as a community to decide. You are also able to purchase coffee/caffeinated beverages. Currently, Starbucks coffee is ordered in while the pandemic precautions are in place.
Do you get to know your weight? No, however your contract will indicate if you are on a gain or maintain plan.
How fast is the weight gain process? It depends on your body, hydration status. I would guess around 2-3 pounds a week.
What was the average length of stay? This is solely determined by insurance. I saw stays as few as 4 weeks, and as long as 14. I had Kaiser and was there for 12 weeks.
What was the average age range? 18-50s
How do visits/phone calls work? Visiting hours are between 8 ish to 9:30am, free time from 3-5:30, and 9-10:30 pm. There are 2 community phones, however the private phone booth is for clients not on observation. There is a 20 minute limit but this is rarely enforced unless someone complains.
What is the electronics policy? (ex: cell phones, iPods, Kindle, laptop, tablets) You can request ipod/MP3 access as long as it does not have internet capabilities. You can also use a non internet kindle. Laptops were approved for school only. No tablets.
Are you able to go out on passes? You are able once on level 2 and the team agrees it’s therapeutically appropriate. Passes are currently suspended.
What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an outpatient treatment team? Almost everyone steps down to PHP in Eugene or Portland, unless out of state where PHP is an option. Most clients were able to set up their own treatment team without assistance.
Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country? If from out of state/country and you want to complete step down treatment in Oregon they have apartments you can rent while you’re in PHP. Once you’re in IOP you will need to transfer to a program in your state/country.
Other?
Is it really over crowded? I’ve only been in smaller programs. How are the RCs? Are they helpful or just there for a paycheck? That sounds awful to ask but believe me when I say this is a thing.
Honestly, I would look into their smaller programs in California or their east coast facility in New York (someone called it a “mansion”). In my opinion it was overcrowded and that had to do with the physical space. It can’t accommodate 16 people, especially if you’re sectioned into one room. As of late, they are dividing the group due to pandemic protocol. Instead of expanding their brand, they should work on building up existing facilities. My main grievance about the program was the capacity and staffing ratio. I was at CFC and while they serve a higher number of clients in residential they also had something like 6 or 7 couches, so you weren’t constantly tripping over people. I don’t know if that helps at all. It didn’t bother everyone, and I eventually adjusted.
As far as the recovery coaches, I think that the majority of them actually care. A lot of them are using the job as a stepping stone to graduate school or to gain experience in the field to do something bigger, like work somewhere with advancement opportunities. They are quite young. Their training appears to happen on the job by other recovery coaches and this can be problematic. It doesn’t seem like there is much oversight unless something egregious happens. I worked in mental health residential in a similar role as the recovery coaches for 7 years and we had monthly trainings in addition to individual and group supervision by a clinician. I thought this was an Oregon mandate. They are doing most of the work for clients and yet there seems to be a disconnect between them and management. Change and “momentum” (my therapist there liked to use that word), start from the bottom up (recovery coaches, then therapists, then clinical directors) but it appears they take more of a top-down approach. The only real issue I had with an RC, other than with one who didn’t seem to like the job very much, was with one who inappropriately self disclosed about her psychiatric history. I couldn’t look at her the same way after that because I knew things I shouldn’t have been exposed to. Had there been a decent training on boundaries, maybe her self disclosure would have been watered down and easier to digest. It’s not a job with longevity and there are only a couple of exceptions to that. This is pretty universal with any mental health program, though. They are good people and with the right training (and more of them) they could be better equipped to handle 16 different personalities. I’m sorry if you were in a treatment program where you felt the staff were unsupportive and only there for a paycheck. I hope you find a program that works and if you have any other questions or concerns, feel free to ask.
Thank you for the feedback. I’m looking to have my last go around in treatment and I want to be sure I go somewhere supportive. I’m from Idaho so I was also looking at CFC. I’ve read some of the reviews. Both facilities take on a large number of clients and I’m not sure if I could tolerate that. I’ll continue to look at my options. Thanks for the candor. It seems like your experience differed from others but I tend to look at the more dissenting reviews because they seem more honest. I do like the Monte Nido philosophy and bought the 8 Keys to Recovery a while back. If I have more questions I’ll come back. Maybe other people will have input as well.
The RR facility is huge. While it is a large census, I never found the building to be crowded and I always felt like the ratio of clients to staff was fine. If I needed a staff member for something, I always felt like someone was available. I also liked the RCs. Some were more helpful than others. Some didn’t know what to say, and some just seemed trite. All really wanted to help, though. I don’t think anyone is paid enough they’d do it unless they wanted to do it, you know? I got the feeling their hearts were in the right place. That doesn’t mean they were always great at being useful, but I always felt like they were doing their best to be validating.
I’m from Idaho too 🙂 Rainrock is nice because it’s about as close to Idaho as you can get, although I think CFC is closer. They are both good programs. CFC is much bigger, but the building is bigger, with a lot more staff, so it’s a different vibe. If you find the “8 Keys” book helpful you will likely like Rainrock, because it’s focused a lot on Carolyn Costin’s philosophy, which is the cornerstone of the book.
I’d say wherever you go, go with an open mind. If you really want it, and try to focus on the positives, I think that helps a lot. All treatment centers suck for one reason or another, and you simply can’t use that as motive to leave, or dismiss what good they have to offer. Best of luck to you!
Do you know the %IBW they try to get you to? Do they make accomodations for people who are ethically vegan? Do they work with people who have severe PTSD (panic attacks, dissociation)?
I want to say 95% IBW. This could vary between people and even facility, though. I wouldn’t let the weight goal be a determining factor of where you choose to go if the end game is recovered. They do not accommodate vegans. I was with someone who lied about having a dairy allergy (actual allergy, not intolerance) to remain vegan. I wouldn’t suggest lying, though, since maybe you need to have those things medically verified now. They do work with people with PTSD. I don’t know how they treat dissociation and panic attacks, though. A lot of the therapists use CPT for trauma. A couple of them used EMDR but have since moved into different roles.
I’ve been going down the rabbit hole of reviews of my top choice centers and I’ve landed with Monte Nido. I’m undecided about Rainrock vs. Malibu location, and possibly even Chicago (which I know just opened up). My parents are paying out of pocket because I’m no longer on their plan (I’m 27) and I’m not doing anything with my life at the moment. They’ve also been doing their research, which I have gathered to be a lot of Glass Door reviews for vetting purposes. The feedback seems to be variable as to how helpful treatment was for any one person and it could largely depend on who you’re assigned to. Is there a way to make requests? Could I request to be placed with a senior therapist or director or will I need to fail with the graduate students? Also, gaining 2-3 pounds per week seems outrageous and unethical. I understand that bodies are unique, but is it expected to gain that much? What kinds of COVID privileges are there if no passes or visitors are allowed? Are you allowed to have your phone in lieu of no visitors? I’m okay with lackluster groups. I just need to be surrounded by supportive individuals and I NEED to have a decent therapist. I can work with the rest. If anyone has any feedback or can answer my question, I would greatly appreciate it.
I would discourage people with severe trauma going here. How they deal with trauma in my case was leaving me alone as I dissociated for sometimes hours, and reprimanded me for being non-compliant with meals/groups/whatever while I had flashbacks.
Wow, I’m sorry you had that experience. That sounds awful and unsupportive. They tout their ability to handle co morbid conditions and have taken on extreme mental illness like severe self harm/suicidality and extreme OCD with no success. The RCs aren’t equipped/trained for anything other than mild conditions and the therapists are just too inexperienced. I feel like severe trauma is a condition most ED facilities can’t effectively manage, tbh. You could reach out to the head clinical coordinator of Monte Nido and express your concerns. I think her name is ***.
*Name removed by admin per site guidelines
This was my experience as well.. Left alone in the back corner of the room having a Autism/PTSD meltdown frequently, trying to hide, but not allowed to leave the room that everyone else is in..
**posted from a user who would like to remain anonymous
Rainrock (Monte Nido facility in Oregon)
When were you there? November 2018 through February 2019.
How many patients on average? Max of 15. It got down to nine or ten over the holidays, but after New Year’s, it was always full.
Does it treat both males and females? Just people who identify as female (including trans women). I think Monte Nido is going to start including males, though, so stay tuned…
How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, therapist, nutritionist, etc? Medical doctor and psychiatrist once a week. Therapist three times a week. Dietitian once a week.
What is the staff ratio to patients? They were pretty understaffed while I was there, but they had just switched to a new clinical director and a handful of staff had left at once for unrelated reasons (injury, family stuff, etc.). But they were hiring a bunch of new people when I left. Usually like two RC (recovery coaches…like milieu counselors) for the 15 patients, plus people get pulled for various appointments.
What sort of therapies are used? They have a DBT/CBT group that wasn’t terribly informative. I would say they primarily use the Monte Nido philosophy, which involves viewing your eating disorder as a way to get certain needs met, and then thinking about how to combat your eating disorder voice with your “healthy self” and get those needs met in other ways. For instance, if your ED gives you a sense of control, you can learn coping skills to manage anxiety, find areas of life where you do feel capable and confident, set boundaries to improve relationships, etc. They emphasize choosing to act based on your healthy self and challenging your eating disorder whenever you can. If you read The Eight Keys to Recovery, that’s by Carolyn Costin, who founded Monte Nido, so it gives a pretty good sense of what the philosophy is like.
Describe the average day. Wake up around 6:30 for vitals. They come around and do vitals while you’re lying in bed, then standing, so a lot of people just go back to sleep after that, which you’re allowed to do, as long as you’re at the table for breakfast at 7. A couple mornings a week, they have circuits (strength training) from 8:30 to 9:30-ish, if you’re approved for that. Snack around 9:45. Then primary group from 10:15 to 11:45, and lunch at 12:15. Another group after that. Snack at 3:15 (I think?). Free time/sessions till dinner. Dinner at 5:30. Group after dinner. Snack at 8:45. Bedtime depends on your obs. If you’re on 2/1 (two hours after meals, one hour after snacks), you have to wait till an hour after snack was done, so usually like 10:10 at the earliest. If you’re 1/1, same, but if you’re 1/30, you only have to wait 30 minutes, and if you’re 30/0, you can go straight to bed.
What were meals like? Pretty chill. Everyone eats at the same table with one staff member at each end. They will redirect you if you’re using behaviors. You have to show them your ramekins and bowls and whatnot before they call time so they can make sure you scraped them appropriately. You get 30 minutes for breakfast and lunch, 35 for dinner, and 20 for each snacks (3 meals, 3 snacks). The staff try to give you time warnings midway through and when you have 5 minutes left and then 1 minute left, but there’s a clock in the room and you can have watches, so even when they fall behind on the warnings, it’s not a big deal. When you come in, they plate your food for you, and then you can work up to portioning snacks and then meals. Everyone starts on measured portioning (pretty self-explanatory), but if your team thinks you’re ready, you can move to reverse portioning (you eyeball the amount, then measure it to check) or intuitive portioning (no measuring at all). Once in a blue moon, they’ll give someone pick-at-the-time, where they can choose what they want for breakfast and snacks when it’s time to portion, but usually, you choose breakfast and snacks on a menu the night before at the end of PM snack.
There’s a meal outing once a week where you go to a restaurant with the dietitian and a therapist and RCs and order lunch, and then you have dessert either there or somewhere else, and that counts as your afternoon snack. The dietitian tells you how much of what you order you need to eat to complete your meal plan — so like 1/2 the main, 1/3 of the side, and then 3/4 of the dessert. Usually it’s in halves, thirds, and quarters, and there are rules about what you can and can’t order (can’t get a salad or soup as a main, no lite/low-calorie stuff, things like that). They encourage you to have “fun drinks” (i.e., drinks with calories) to challenge yourself. There are also two non-meal outings, one on Friday night and one on Sunday morning. On Friday, you go to Dutch Bros, where you can get a decaf coffee or non-coffee drink, and on Sunday, you can get one with caffeine. If you ask, your dietitian can write an order for you to choose a snack from wherever you go for coffee on Sunday (as opposed to packing one). People would get cookies and muffins and stuff from Starbucks.
You fill out menus once a week to select things like whether you want tofu or chicken for a meal, sour cream or avocado, ranch dressing or Italian, optional lettuce/tomato/onion, what kind of cheese on a hamburger, etc. You get to have three exceptions, but if they’re fear-based, they’ll push you to challenge them. On Entry Level and Level 1, you can have two sub meals each week. Sub meal = PBJ, dairy (milk, soy milk, or yogurt), and fruit. So you can do that if there are meals that sound really scary or unappealing, but then that’s not an option on Levels 2 and 3.
What sorts of food were available or served? A very wide range. I think they had lunches and dinners on a six-week menu, and there were all sorts of things: quinoa salad with tofu and an ice cream sandwich, Moroccan chicken with rice and vegetables, homemade pizza, pancakes and bacon (breakfast for dinner), chicken or bean and cheese enchiladas, mushroom sandwiches, burritos, lasagna, mac n cheese, soup and a bread stick and salad, a ton of different things. Like I said, you can have sub meals on certain levels.
For breakfast and snacks, you picked off a menu. Breakfast had to be 2 grains, 2 fats, 1 protein/dairy, and 1 fruit (some people had 1 grain, if their dietitian approved it). Grain = whole-wheat or white bread, 1/2 bagel, Eggo waffle with syrup, All Bran, Raisin Bran, “fun” cereal (like Lucky Charms or something chocolate-flavored), Pop Tart (counts as two), oatmeal (can only have one a day), cream of wheat, muffin, maybe others I’m forgetting. Fat = 1 tsp. butter, 1/2 tbsp. nut butter, 1 tbsp. cream cheese, 1 tbsp. nuts or sunflower seeds, 1 hard-boiled egg. Protein/dairy = 1 hard-boiled egg, 1 cup milk or soy milk, 1/2 cup greek yogurt, 3/4 cup regular yogurt, cheese stick or slice. I think they might have sausage too? Fruit = juice, dried fruit, or fresh. They had a ton of different fresh fruits: apples, bananas, oranges, kiwi, melon, grapes, pineapple.
I’m just going to list types of food they have for snack, since I hear all of Monte Nido recently redid the format of the snack menus. Ones I remember include: cheese and crackers, apple/banana and peanut butter/almond butter/Nutella, chips, candy bar, carrots and hummus/ranch, cereal and milk/soy milk, Ritz crackers and cheese/peanut butter, trail mix, dried fruit and nuts, fresh fruit and nuts, just nuts, ice cream, cookies and milk, Fig Newtons, balance bar…and then they also have “fun” snacks that are off-menu, like circus cookies or different flavors of pop tarts or chocolate-covered mango.
Level system/privileges? There are four levels: Entry Level, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3. The levels work with contracts. Every Wednesday, you fill out a contract; it has sections like nutrition goals, mood/cognitive goals, family/relationship goals, requested exercise, requested privileges, meal plan, weight goal (gain, maintain, heal metabolism). Then those get taken to the treatment team meeting, where they scratch out/rewrite anything they don’t like and add in other stuff if they want, and then your therapist reads you your contract in contract group later that day. It’s on those contracts that you can ask to level up. You go from entry level to level 1 automatically after you’re there for a week or so.
Level 1 is just the baseline set of privileges. They have two phones you can use, so you can make phone calls, you can go outside (within supervised areas), you can use the two shared desktop computers, you can go on outings, you can watch TV within designated times. On level 1, bathroom obs are usually 2/1 (meaning that for 2 hours after meals and 1 after snack, staff has to flush the toilet for you, and you have to stay in areas where they can see you). Sharps approval operates independently of levels. Either you have sharps with obs (they watch you use them), or sharps (you check them out and use them on your own). No cell phones or computers. Sometimes they’ll let you have iPads during free time if they don’t have internet access.
Level 2 is when you start portioning your meals and they start redirecting you for table behaviors. (They’re more lenient with that on Level 1.) You have to complete a handful of assignments for Level 2, and you have to be cooperating with the program in general. You can go on brief passes with family when they come to visit. You can help out with kitchen chores (doesn’t sound like a privilege, but once you’re bored enough, it is).
Most people don’t get to Level 3 cause insurance usually cuts out before then, but once you do get there, there are a lot of perks. You can have your own laptop during certain times. You can do independent meals and snacks and passes on your own. You can do a pass to the grocery store with your dietitian, help the chef prepare a meal, be in your room on your own, go and eat somewhere separately while everyone is on the lunch outing, and probably other stuff that I’ve forgotten. Like I said, it’s not too common.
Supplementing policy. They supplement with boost (regular, not plus). You can choose chocolate or vanilla. If you eat <25% of the meal, you get 2 cans. 25-50%, you get 1.5 cans. 50%, you get 1 can. 50-100%, you get 1/2 can (roughly). If you don't finish a meal or supplement, it's a refusal. Three refusals and they transfer you somewhere else. You have to be able to complete 100% to be in the program.
What sort of groups do they have? Primary group four times a week, which was like a process group where people also shared assignments and life maps. A life map is what it sounds like, an autobiography, and it's supposed to take 15 minutes plus time for questions at the end. Some people's went on forever, though. The assignments people shared were sometimes art (collages, often), but usually written. They were really big on assigning people letters: letters to exes, parents, family members, your eating disorder, your depression, your trauma, your body, your children, your future children, your future self, your past self, and then sometimes really abstract concepts like "letter to trust" and "letter to anger." Lots of letters. They had nutrition group once a week. That was a bit of a fiasco while I was there, because the RD who was running it just could not contain everyone's eating disorders and it ended up being a flurry of everyone's unhealthy thoughts and misinformation. CBT/DBT was kind of a joke, we played a lot of stupid games, but sometimes it was educational. In Body and Soul, people presented "altars," where they would collect stuff that was important to them/represented who they are and share it with the group. I thought that was cool, and a good way to get to know people outside their EDs. We had transitions group, where we talked about transitioning to PHP, IOP, etc. Multifamily group could be okay, but it would get super awkward when there were family members who didn't know anything about EDs and kept making triggering comments.
What was your favorite group? I liked primary because it usually sparked interesting conversations. It involved a lot of work on interpersonal dynamics and reflecting on relationships, which has been helpful in my recovery because connecting with other people pulls me out of my ED.
What did you like the most? The staff were incredibly compassionate, and even the ones I didn't like (only a couple, really) were very kind, and it was just a matter of our personalities not going together. I liked how tight-knit the community felt, though it did get wildly clique-y at times. But for the most part, everyone supported each other and was really welcoming to new folks. I think the Monte Nido philosophy does a great job of seeing people as people, not diagnoses, and working on recovery holistically.
What did you like the least? As I said, it was very clique-y, especially towards the end of my time there. I don't know that there was anything about Rainrock in particular that made it that way, because I think that dynamic can come up in any treatment center, and I don't think that's the norm. The biggest issue for me was that the staff weren't terribly well-equipped to deal with any significant co-occurring diagnoses. I had a severe depressive episode while I was there and they were kind of stymied as to how to help me, and another girl had PTSD and would dissociate frequently and they didn't seem sure what to do with that, either. If you're just dealing with an ED and mild-to-moderate anxiety and depression, Rainrock could be a great choice, but if you have other significant mental illnesses that need to be addressed alongside the ED, I would look at a place that has the resources to handle that (Rogers, maybe Center for Change, ERC).
Would you recommend this program? Yes, with the caveat described above.
Exercise? You start out with no exercise (as with most programs!). Then they gradually layer it in week by week. So first you get to do Level 1 yoga, meaning you can do the poses, but you have to modify the standing ones so you stay on the floor. Then 15 minute walks 2-3 times a week. Then you go to Level 2 yoga (you can do standing poses). Then 30 minute walks. And then, assuming you're still stable, they'll add in 1 round of circuits (equivalent to about 15 minutes of strength training). The most exercise you can get is level 2 yoga, 30 minute walks, and 3 rounds of circuits. All of this is based on medical stability and weight and whatnot, of course.
What did people do on weekends? We had an outing on Sunday and we voted each week on where to go. We did things like Michael's, the bookstore, a garden store and essential oils shop, a mall-type thing, the Duck store on the U of O campus. Lots of shopping. And we got to get caffeinated coffee on that outing, too. Aside from that, people mostly relaxed. Had visitors. You get to watch TV all day on the weekends, so Netflix. There's a Saturday movie night. Nothing too exciting.
Do you get to know your weight? Nope. But they'll tell you general information like if you're gaining, maintaining, losing.
How fast is the weight gain process? Pretty slow. I don't know exact numbers, but I think slower than a lot of places, like maybe 1-2 lbs per week? It probably depends on the person, too.
What was the average length of stay? 1-3 months. If people were there less than 2 months, it was usually because of insurance.
What was the average age range? Most people are 18-30, but it really varies. So sometimes it's 80% in that age range, or sometimes 40%.
How do visits/phone calls work? I think you can have visitors on weekends and they might do exceptions for people who are out of town, you just need a therapist's order. Phone calls are unlimited, but they sometimes did a sign-up sheet because there were so many people and only two phones.
What is the electronics policy? You can have an iPod with no internet and ask for that as a privilege on your contract, and you can use the phones and desktop computers there. No personal electronics, though.
Are you able to go out on passes? Yes, with family on Level 2 and on your own on Level 3.
What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an outpatient treatment team? Most people go to one of the two Monte Nido PHPs in Oregon (Portland or Eugene). But they'll also coordinate with your PHP at home or your OP team if that doesn't work for you.
Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country? Not really, but EDCP and EDCE (the two Monte Nido PHPs) have apartments for patients from out of state and the fees go on a sliding scale.
CORRECTIONS OF OTHER REVIEWS
-No more spirituality/sexuality group
-the sub meal is pbj now, not frozen entree/veggie burger
-they only supplement with boost (regular, not plus). 1/2 can, 1 can, 1.5 cans, or 2 cans depending on how much you ate (different for snacks, varies based on your snack size)
-15 IP beds now, not 12
-they don't do protein shakes made before meals
-they don't let you have blankets in group
-they base weight goals on history, genetics, growth charts, build, etc. -- it's definitely not just BMI
Breakfast is at 7:30am not 7.
If your parents can afford to pay put of pocket, there are probably better programs. If your parents are reviewing Glass Door, then they’ve probably raised questions, yes? I also peruse GD and know for a fact that the majority of employee reviews are negative. Save for a recent “manager” review, I think the general consensus is that the programs have taken a turn for a worst since being bought out. I know of a client who prematurely left Monte Nido, qualified for their employer insurance, and went to residential in Hawaii and had a good experience. At least there, you’re able to go out to the beach everyday. As far as “privileges”, there aren’t any. You are allotted cell phone time from what I understand, but no passes, real outings, or visitors. Also, the experiential part of the program (kitchen privileges with various levels of portioning) are no longer, so you aren’t really gaining any practical experience to help with the transition out. When I left, people were still required to do dishes, though, so if you consider that a privilege… (once on level 2 and off of “rest” you qualify) . I know of clients who asked to switch therapists when the fit wasn’t there but there are no guarantees that you will click with anyone. You will be surrounded by support with the other clients and Recovery Coaches, though. Honestly, this is such a rough time to be in treatment and I would look into places where there might be more access to activities and practical support. Also, newer programs probably have more experienced therapists since the vetting time is longer and not in the wake of a mass exodus of staff and hiring needing to be done to fill immediate slots. If you’re wanting to stay in the Monte Nido family, I would look at their Malibu location, as it seems there might be access to a pool or beach there. Regarding the weight gain, it’s probably more like 1-2 pounds, but it can be more, especially if you’re coming in dehydrated. Since your out of pocket, you won’t have to worry about an insurance company dictating your meal plan (if you’re not gaining to their liking, they will ask that your meal plan be increased). I’d say do more research. Rainrock isn’t terrible, but there are better programs.
Does anyone know what Monte Nidos (mainly Rain Rocks) lowest Ideal Body Weight percentage (IBW %) is if vitals and labs are ok??
I was VERY disappointed in Rainrock. They can not “handle” patients that also self-harm. Which is quite common with eating disorder patients. They discharged my daughter without ANY plan – no prescriptions, nothing. They lied to my face that the local hospital would get her into an inpatient program that was non-existent. That whole experience set my daughter back so far we are still reeling from it a year and a half later.
Please I need a recent 2015 or even 2014 review!!!
Can you have and use your cell phone at RainRock?
noooo not at all! you can’t have any electronics with wifi capability! no ipod touches, kindle fires, etc.
No you aren’t allowed electronics . They have a computer there you can use .
When were you at RainRock?
My 18 yr old daughter is considering Rain Rock or back to ERC in Denver.
She was hospitalized with Kartini last fall and then went to ERC for Inpatient and Residential. I wanted her to stay at ERC for PHP, but she got herself into Providence St Vincent PHP. Providence did not make her finish meals and allowed her to try to eat 20% of daily meals for a month before recommending residential after a month. She refused. I called every psychiatrist and therapist in Portland before I found anyone who would work with her to find the motivation to recover. I found one therapist who worked part time for Kartini and a psychiatrist who works for Trillium with 1 day a week private practice.It was impossible to get her to go to residential until this summer when she developed a severe cocaine addiction and committed IDentity theft to get money for drugs.Now with her therapist refusing to treat her and the police wanting to use her In a drug bust- she is motivated to return to residential. She lasted 2 days at the Rain Rock PHP in Portland this summer.
I am pushing for RainRock because they still have our $2500 deposit even though insurance paid them in full for both days and they tell us they have great success with drug addiction and depression co -diagnoses. I know it is a long road and she has come along way. She was close to death after 2 months of starving at college and also drinking to pass out on her 18th birthday at diagnosis. She was way too sick for Monte Nido last year. Also it would be nice to not have to travel to visit.
What other thoughts do you have?
Does anyone know the cost per day/night total for self-pay?
I’m in the process of getting admitted right now and I was told that self pay is $43,500 per month. So I guess you can math it out for the daily rate.
I know this seems like a trivial question but can you smoke at this facility?
Yes. There is a smoker’s hut outside which is available up to 15 minutes prior to meals or groups or when you have to enter the van for outings. They don’t want the smoke to offend the non smoking clients or be wafting into the kitchen, so they enforce the 15 minute prior to rule. On weekends, you have less groups to contend with, so clients smoke at leisure. I wasn’t a smoker but I know a lot of bonding occurred out there. I know that they were considering investing in smokeless cigarettes because they were in the process of transitioning the main common area to a new portion of the house and the hut was not within sight.
I can honesty say, as an individual who lived with an eating disorder and who has always been independent- I felt like this entire place and treatment was a joke. The whole time I felt belittled and patronized- I understood weight gain was essential but didnt find it necessary to keep me out of the entire progress of my health and treatment. When my insurance ran out- they kicked me out the next day on thanksgiving. This place isn’t cheap- and about 75% of the women I keep in touch with (who have stayed 6 months plus- and go back) still suffer from the same eating problems. The staff is great- but obviously are instructed and told to act and treat “patients” a certain way. As I see it– they just want your thousands of money-insurance or out of pocket. If they cared- they wouldn’t kick you out if you couldn’t pay for a day. Still have nightmares!
What do you mean Katie? They kept you from therapy? Didn’t you have that 3 times a week? I didn’t get the same treatment as you feel you did. I had a great experience and was always a part of it not a product of my treatment. And at different places I have had nightmare , abusive stays.
FROM ANON:
Rainrock can be a bit hypocritical. In a way they continue honoring the “perfect” patient, feeding the eating disorder, while those who are really struggling, continue to get disciplined or in a matter of days, kicked out of the program or sent to the local psych unit. Carolyn Costin, herself, the main resource of Monte Nido, Rainrock, etc. met my mother at a big NEDA conference and promised she would make sure I got the treatment I needed. Well, if that treatment meant kicking me out after a week because of medical issues which they termed “purging” then thanks a lot for that follow through. That same day of “truth and honesty” or whatever they called it, another patient admitted to purging, and stealing another resident’s candy and b/p’ing on that, but she just got more therapy and was praised for coming forward. May it be preference over what insurance is coming, the patient themselves, whatever, I am now very skeptical of the Costin programs, which is unfortunate because I have heard wonderful things. It’s not just this program, but many programs need to develop individual contracts and be as real life as possible. The cookie cutter effect doesn’t really benefit in the long run, and these programs have a lot to offer, but this was quite a bit ago, so who knows about staff change over etc. I thought I had a great opportunity, and fell into flames faster than I could unpack. No room for forgiveness or “let’s look into this…” So if you have the perfect client initiative, head on over…but it’s one of those centers like a fairy land…then you get thrown back into the real world.
How does RainRock deal with re-feeding?
When you first get there, your first three days of meals are on 50%…meaning that if you have a sandwich for lunch, you will get half a sandwich. After those three days you will meet with your assigned nutritionist and they will discuss weight goals with you.
Everyone in the program eats the same size breakfast, lunch, and dinner regardless of whether you need to gain or maintain; however, your three snack sizes are individually based. You will start on “A” snacks which are roughly 200-250 calories, then they will see whether your body gains/loses/maintains on that amount. If you need to gain and you don’t on A snacks, they will most likely move you to C or C+B or add an ensure or something. I was on gain but I was gaining each week on A snacks so they never had to increase my plan.
As far as determining your weight goal, they use the “ideal body weight” chart to get a general idea of where they want you. This is NOT BMI…they aren’t like some places that will just get you to a minimal “healthy” BMI. For example, a 5’9 woman’s ideal body weight is 135-145 so they would make that their target.
I would really like an updated review on Rainrock. I am admitting next Wednesday and there were some questions not really touched on. Can you shave? Do you have to boost for missed meals on observation? Can you go to the coffee outings even on observation? Are there days when groups are less likely to happen? Are you allowed room access during the day? Where are the bathrooms located? Is the weighing and measuring food monitored closely and tailored to patient needs? Are restaurant outings paid for? How much money should one bring for a 60 day stay?
ok i am confused.. what is the difference between rainrock and monte nido? is it all the same?
they are all under.thr same treatment lead carolyn costin. however she is down at monte mido down in california while there is a different team at rainrock located in oregon but same philosophy. she visits a few times a year.
ok thank you! so is there a difference between monte nido and the monte nido vista.. i know monte nido is in malibu, ca..and then vista is in agoura hills, ca..
does anyone have any recent reviews on any of these three? or has anyone been to both and can compare? would anyone recommened any of these places? sorry for all the questions…im just interested and knw nothing about these places..
Kris I have to say I’ve been to all three and Rainrock is nowhere near the equivalent of mn or mnv. I found the latter two had more recovered and experienced staff. Also it felt they were more accessible to talk to and treated their work as a… Well not work… It didn’t seem like a job. The staff at mn and mnv were eager to help all the time.
Also RR had too many patients and one phone. It felt crowded.
How do they calculate weight gain? Is it strictly BMI or do they factor in weight history, body frame, etc? Also has anyone gone here with a UHC Behavioral Health policy and received good coverage to stay? One more: is equine therapy used here? I thought it was, but I don’t see much about it. Thanks in advance.
I have to disagree with the poster from January…I have been four times (omg that sounds pathetic to say) over several years and was really, really happy with my experience. The last time was summer before last, however, so I can’t comment on anything recent. They DO have their problems–and maybe things have gone downhill. I don’t know. But I DO have challenging and complex problems, and they helped me more than anyone or anywhere ever has. Ever. I think they & Nido are the best program in the country.
That said, they do have their issues…I did see them not doing medical interventions that other places might be more cautious on, particularly hospital-based programs…but these patients always also came out of it fine. And there were sometimes issues with therapists being, well, shitty, or stretched thin, or new and not sure what to do, or people not meshing well with theirs, or whatever…which is true anywhere. They aren’t perfect. I had to switch mine at one point when they hired (and quickly demoted, thank God) a fucking idiot…but I always really loved 90% of them.
You do have to be willing to work and to be in a place where you don’t need constant one-on-one monitoring. That said, they watch you like a hawk 2h after meals/1h after snacks at first, so…yeah. You also HAVE to be willing to ask for the help. They don’t know what’s up if you don’t ask to talk. This was more true my last stay than my first one, which is disappointing…but they might not pry. It’s up to you to ask for it.
Anyway, I’d go there over pretty much anywhere else. They became like my family. I trust them 100%. That is not true of anyone/where else.
re: RR vs Nido- Nido is smaller and, from my understanding, a little fancier. Not as naturey (or as hippie-ish). The populations will probably be different (LA vs Oregon). I was at EDCC once and, for someone who is not moneyed, I felt fucking inadequate and ugly there, and that they didn’t understand people who don’t have all the resources in the world to get better. But I’ve also heard the therapy is better at Nido since it’s kinda the OG. I think RR had more freedom, though, to sort of not have to do things by the books…I’d recommend either. Not sure where you’d get more insurance coverage but you’d probably get in faster at RR, both of which are perhaps considerations.
Thank you for your post, it is very much appreciated. Would you be willing to elaborate on a day-to-day at Rainrock, what free time is incorporated into the program and if cell phones/laptops are permitted? I live in Pennsylvania, but am seriously considering traveling to Oregon to tour the facility, but wanted to have a clear picture of what the program might be like. Every bit of information I can obtain is very helpful! Thanks in advance!
Hi- Go. I live in NYC, God knows there is nothing here. Just go- a tour can’t show you anything pictures don’t already- being there and eating the food and so on is the work, not how beautiful it is (although it is). If you hate it, you can check out. No sense in flying across the country twice. I’ve seen some people do that and they will happily accommodate you but I think it might just freak you out/ build it up more…the admission process/wait list takes a while and is scary enough as it is.
The review above is still accurate…they would send you a schedule too, probably. Nope, no cell phones, no laptops, at least 1.5 years ago. There is a shared phone you can use with a calling card. At some point in your treatment you may be able to check your laptop out.
Day to day, people are pretty busy….or at least, there is a lot less downtime than I’ve known in other treatment centers. A lot of people have to be in eyesight of staff members when there is downtime, so you can expect to see folks in the living room/ outside at the smoker’s hut or on the lawn. You will be given journal assignments to do also, btw, some of which are really helpful.
It’s sort of hard to describe the vibe or energy, which I think is part of what you are asking. Groups of clients and staff can vary a lot…sometimes the house has felt really goofy and encouraging and practical jokes and so on get played…sometimes it was deeply sad to the point of wanting to walk around on tiptoe. It really depends who is there. Youl’ll get out of it what you put into it, in some sense…if groups are boring and people are falling asleep, don’t fall asleep too- ask people difficult questions…start some kind of a conversation, and within a couple days, the dynamic might be totally different- or simply that group might end up being really helpful.Show up. Use your time there.
People do tend to be very, very connected though- that’s true in lots of treatment centers, but particularly so there. Obviously, there’s also always drama of some kind. The connection thing goes with staff for the most part- they will treat you like an adult and as an individual, let you know a bit about their lives, etc. which I really valued. The clinical director sat on a bathroom floor with me for two hours once. A staff member STILL emails to check up on me sometimes and I haven’t been there for a year and a half. Stuff like that.
One warning is that it is pretty isolated and it can be hard to have enough time to do stuff on pass because town is about a half hour away.
They aren’t going to be perfect; I probably wasted a lot of time fighting with them or wanting privileges there was no way in hell they were gonna give me, probably for good reason. Try to focus on what they’re doing right.
RE: the below reviews: ok, it seems to me like you might have a little bit o a personal vendetta, to be honest. I don’t know, maybe things have been …not every program is for everyone, don’t get me wrong. But the clinical staff at EDCE (from what I know in the beginning at least) were, in at least 3 cases, some of my favorite staff members from RR who moved over there; my (incredible) therapist became clinical director. It’s totally possible that there are some things that are not being handled well or your daughter was somehow overlooked. But…well…maybe what your daughter needs IS space and for you not to know everything. Maybe she needs the ability to set her own boundaries and decide for herself what she does and doesn’t do as far as ‘clinical recommendations’. And that might be really hard to hear, but maybe being independent or less enmeshed is what she needs at this point. Sometimes when people change in recovery it’s hard for loved ones to take because they often aren’t as passive as they once were. I don’t know you at all, so I might be wrong, but it’s a guess. Are you in therapy? I would recommend it for any parent.
If anyone has been to Rainrock recently or is willing to share their prior experiences, it would be very much appreciated. Thank you in advance!
It would be incredibly helpful if anyone else could do a recent review of RainRock. I’m considering either it or Monte Nido/Vista. Thank you so much.
Family members, feel free to ask specifics about RR residential and RR/EDCE day PHP IOP program. Residential treatment for our loved one was very beneficial. The transition to EDCE, however, was rocky and gross errors of misinformation and lack of integrity on behalf of the intake coordinator was experienced., without any accountability/responsibility. I would recommend Residential and knowing what I now know about the EDCE treatment team I would NEVER recommend or send a loved one there. If you are interested in circuitous therapy never addressing specifics or points then it is your place. When asking our loved one’s primary therapist what the recommendations of the treatment team were she constantly turned the question back to us and never specified any recommendations other than space for our loved one. To us, EDCE is not worth a single cent we’ve spent there and I pray that one day soon our loved one will see the truth.
I was a patient at Rain Rock and found their services to be wholly inadequate both from medical and psychological perspectives. In fact, rather than providing any relief and/or treatment, my health deteriorated deleteriously despite being advised prior to participation that the program and staff were experienced and equipped to handle persons with prior and/or existing psychiatric and medical conditions. This was dangerously not the case: There were NO resources available to address persistent and acute problems; for example, I did not meet my therapist until the end of my first week, after which she remained unavailable, and I was consistently unable and denied access to medical care until my health was so perilous that emergent intervention was necessary. While my participation was brief, but if at all representative, Rain Rock is deficient, derelict, and ultimately dangerous, particularly for anyone with more challenging or complex problems, and likely also for anyone seeking a legitimate program that offers intensive and effective help. Instead, if you are interested in the adult-equivalent of a prolonged sleep-over then this may be the place for you: You will be served meals and sit around idling your time away without much therapeutic benefit or inconvenience; be wary of the staff, however, most of whom lack a basic and consistent standard of care, choosing instead to provide preferential or spiteful treatment depending upon the individual. In sum, I cannot think of one benefit from or compelling reason to participate in this program. Instead, I found the program to be useless, abusive, and ultimately dangerous. Be careful in your choice of programs.
Thank you for your thoughtful and honest assessment. As a family member, I “feel” that at RainRock Residential there was some genuine support, but saw no real progress and this was after my loved one had already participated at Rosewood Ranch in AZ. (Which I highly recommend). Now that our loved one has transitioned to Turnberry/EDCE PHP day program we’ve seen her spike in depression and agitation. She only seems angry when we speak… prior to RR she had made progress and we had made progress as a family. Now it seems that she is living in her disorder and feeding the disorder, so to speak. It’s as though a wedge is being driven between us versus encouraging therapeutic family sessions or events to practice communications skills. Blessings to you on your journey.
When were you there: Nov 2011-Feb 2012
Describe the average day:
Vitals are between 6 and 7 (the nurse comes into your room to take your blood pressure and pulse), but unlike other treatment centers I have been to, weight is only take 1-2x per week. The nurses were really sweet!
Breakfast is at 7:30, and lasts 30 minutes. If you portion your own food (usually once you get to level 2), you arrive to meals early to get it set.
AM snack is at 9:45, and the only groups before then are activity groups like AM walk, Nia (a movement group), or circuits. These are exercise privileges that may take some time to get (I wasn’t allowed circuits until my 10th week there).
After AM snack is typically primary group, which is a general group centered on open discussion. Feedback is encouraged, but in my experience there it was only one person talking at a time. Sometimes the groups were amazing, sometimes they were not. It also depended on who led the group. Primary lasts from 10:15 to 11:45ish (unless it runs over). In this group, people also present assignments like “life maps.”
Lunch is at 12:15-12:50, assuming it is on time.
After lunch there were different groups such as spirituality/sexuality, AFT walk, creativity, nutrition group, or body and soul.
AFT snack is at 2:45pm.
Afternoon groups were precontract, contract, group games, CBT/DBT, or free time.
Dinner was typically at 5:30, followed by food and feelings, special topics (which I usually found really interesting! I loved the body image groups), friday night outing (Walgreens and Dutch Bros Coffee), or free time.
PM snack is at 9.
Interspersed among all of these groups are individual appts with your therapist, psychiatrist, and dietician.
What were meals like?
Meals were usually amazing. There are three chefs there currently, and they all cook really great food! It’s also nice because each chef has his/her personal style, which really shows how much they care about what they are cooking. I hated subbing my meals because i was always so obvious how much love and care the chefs put into making their food! It wasn’t cafeteria style AT ALL. It actually seemed pretty gourmet to me.
What sorts of food were available or served?
Basically all foods. If you didn’t like what was being served, you could sub it out with a frozen entree or veggie burger. If you sub, you also need to have ice cream. I usually didn’t sub because the meals were much better than the frozen entrees.
Did they supplement? How did that system work?
Yes, with ensure or builder bars. Staff determines what portion of the food you ate, and then supplements accordingly. If you refuse to eat or supplement three or more times, you are asked to leave the program.
What privelages are allowed?
Basically anything you ask for, which is something I loved about the program! Every week you fill out a “contract,” and at the bottom there is a section called privileges. You can ask for a lot, like cooking a meal with a chef, portioning food, skype sessions with family, gum/mint after meals, outing passes, etc.
Does it work on a level system?
Yep, entry level (everyone starts out here), level 1, 2, 3, and 4.
What sort of groups do they have?
See above. I liked body and soul and special topics a lot. Oh, I almost forgot about the Sunday outings! Every Sunday everyone decides on a place to go (pottery, craft stores, bowling, mini-golf, markets, etc.) and we also went to Starbucks or another coffee shop. It’s the one day of the week that you are allowed a caffeinated beverage.
What did you like the most?
I loved most of the staff. A lot of them are recovered themselves, which made for some amazingly inspirational and encouraging conversations. I also loved the setting. It’s right on the Mckenzie river, which is gorgeous and peaceful.
What did you like the least?
Hmm. I guess Saturdays were really boring without many groups. I also hated how long I was on “observation,” although I guess that’s my own doing! And mornings before AM snack could drag sometimes, especially because I wasn’t allowed exercise for a while.
Would you recommend this program?
Absolutely!!!
What level of activity or exercise was allowed?
Yoga (regular or floor-level), walks, circuits, Nia, and Wednesday movement group (although that wasn’t exactly exercise, and everyone could always attend). Way more than any other program I have been to.
What did people do on weekends?
Not all that much on Saturdays. There is multi-family group, where family and alumni attend, and then movie night. Oh, and a walk if you’re allowed. On Sundays we had the outing, morning yoga, and Food and Feelings at night.
Do you get to know your weight?
Never, although you do discuss weight goals with your dietician (just not numbers, exactly). For example, I had three weight goals I needed to meet, and she would tell me when I hit each one.
How fast is the weight gain process?
Individualized for everyone based on metabolism, etc. They are not shy about upping your meal plan, though…the dieticians said 1-2 lbs per week, but mine was not happy with 1.
What was the average length of stay?
It really varies, usually depending on insurance. I stayed in residential for about two months and then dropped down to day treatment for six weeks. A lot of people had three months on their treatment plan, but of course insurance doesn’t always cooperate. I know some girls who stayed for five months.
What was the average age range?
When I was there most girls were in their early 20s, although it ranged from 18 to 40s. There have been clients there in their 60s, too.
What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an OP treatment team?
They just opened an IOP/partial center called the EDCE in Eugene! Some of the staff from RR moved over there. It’s really great.They also help you coordinate a team if you live elsewhere, although I didn’t feel like I received much help with that.
How many IP beds? How many patients in PHP or IOP?
12 IP beds, and it was typically always filled to capacity when I was there. The IOP/PHP program is now separate, so those clients are never with residential clients in groups anymore.
When were you there:
September 2011-October 2011
Describe the average day:
Wake up at 6:30 or 7, Breakfast, group, snack, group, lunch, group, snack, group, dinner, group, snack, group/free time
*Note the schedule varies everyday. You never actually have this many groups in one day but those are all the possible times you COULD have a group. Alternatives to group are freetime, excercise (if approved): Nia, yoga, walks, hip/hop, strength training
** groups include: contract group, CBT, DBT, sexuality, process, creativity, food and feelings… and much more 🙂
What were meals like?
The food is really good. It is on a 3 week rotating schedule (I think, don’t quote me on that). Every night you choose your snacks and at the beginning of the week you can kind of choose your meals. The let you substitute some things. For example, if you just absolutely hate the lasagna meal (or it terrifies you to think of eating pasta) you can substitute that meal for a garden burger and ¾ cups ice cream. But seriously, pretty much every meal is delicious and I would recommend you be brave and try everything even though it seems scary. You have 30 minutes for Breakfast and Lunch, 45 for Dinner and 15 for snacks. You are not allowed to leave the table if you finish early which really sucks if you are quick eater like me. Which is why the table games help and make it more fun!
Did they supplement? How did that system work?
You are allowed to boost any meal. If you don’t like part of it or just don’t feel like eating it, you can choose either a bar or a shake and the staff will supplement for you. If you ask two hours before the meal, the chef can also make you a protein shake. I personally didn’t really like them though.
What privileges are allowed?
The system works on a contract and privileges are put on your contract. Possible privileges, gum and mints after lunch and dinner, island w/ or w/out staff, laptop on weekends, cell phone (in special cases only), skype with family, pretty much anything you can think of you can ask for… that’s what I did. I’m not saying it always got approved.
Does it work on a level system?
Yes. You start on entry level and move up to level one within a week or less. On entry level is basically just your three day grace period where you do not have to finish 100% of your food. After that if you do not finish your food you will get a refusal and after three they will kick you out. Level one means you have two hour observations after meals and one hour observations after snacks. So pretty much you will be accompanied anywhere you go by staff (including to use the bathroom but it’s not as bad as it sounds). To move up to level two you must be eating most of your meals and snacks aka not boosting, and cooperating/participating in groups. Level twos get to go on meal outings once a week which is pretty fun to get out of the house. You also get gum and/or mints after meals. Level threes are harder to explain. You do not get to boost. You must do all challenge snacks which are things like doughnuts or cookies and be constantly participating in all groups. Most people discharge at level 3 although there is a level 4. I’m not sure what it is like however because I did not make it that far.
What sort of groups do they have?
primary (process) group, CBT, DBT, spirituality, sexuality, body and soul, creativity, food and feelings, nutrition, movement, yoga, circuits, nia, and walks
What was your favorite group?
I really enjoyed CBT/DBT. We did a lot of guided meditation and interesting exercises that made me think about my ED in ways I hadn’t before.
What did you like the most?
I definitely got the most out of my individual sessions. They were the most helpful for me and my therapists (I had two because mine had to leave suddenly due to family emergency) where great. I also still see my dietician and psychiatrist that I had at the facility now because I live in the same community so that is awesome!
What did you like the least?
There was way to much down time and I felt bored a lot. I did not know what to do with myself. Bring stuff to do.
Would you recommend this program?
YES.
What level of activity or exercise was allowed?
It depends on what weight/stability level you come in at. I was allowed 15 minute walks twice a week and yoga the first week I was there because I was stable. Then the second week they added nia and 30 min walks. Then the third week they added circuts, 1 rounds. Then the 5th week two rounds. And the 7th week 3 rounds. That is the maximum. Obviously though if you are severely underweight, they will not let exercise at all or they may only let you do 15 minute walks for several weeks.
What did people do on weekends?
Weekends were LONG AND BORING!!!!! That was the time to have friends and family visit if you could. Saturday morning there is an alumni group where anyone can come. Then after that it is pretty much free time all day. They want you to work on assignments or like I said for friends and family to come. On higher up levels, your family can take you on outings around Eugene or you can go by yourself. Then Saturday night they play a movie which I guess is fun. Sundays are a little better because there is an outing in the afternoon. It is the only day of the week that you are allowed caffine, either in the form of soda or coffee. Then the options are endless, beading, pottery painting, to a park, bowling, mini golf, there are a ton of different outing options that the group votes on in the middle of the week. One time we went to an exotic pet store which was fun but smelled bad.
Do you get to know your weight?
No, they will tell you when you have reached your “weight goal” but they will not tell you what that is. You usually have 3 weight goals. They can also say things like your weight is drifting down, up or stable but they will not say numbers. One of the three pillars of recovery is to never weigh yourself again and I am proud to say I have still stuck to that!
How fast is the weight gain process?
I am not sure… I did not need to gain weight.
Additional info:
Bring a blanket to have in the common area and cart around with you to group. It’s just a nice thing to have. Also bring things like books, knitting and art supplies to keep you occupied while you are observation as you will not be allowed to be in you room while on level one except while sleeping.
Foodwise, RR uses a 4 week rotating menu. There are all sorts of different foods, but for each meal there is one choice, vegetarian or meat. For example, if it was a pasta salad, everyone has to eat the pasta salad or a substitution. They would just choose whether the pasta salad had meat or tofu. You can choose up to 3 exceptions. These are foods that they will never make you eat. So if the meal choice were pasta salad you would be able to substitute for the meal without it counting toward your 3 substitutions a week. If you don’t like a meal, you can choose to eat a garden burger or Amy’s frozen entree with ice cream instead.
The menu is really diverse. There’s everything from salad to lasagna to enchiladas to pizza to veggie wraps. My first meal there was pizza. But it wasn’t nearly as scary as I expected. Everything is prepared by one of the excellent EXCELLENT chefs and portioned carefully.
In terms of snack choices there was again a variety. They had protein bars, dried fruit, nuts, trail mix, wheat thins, hummus, cookies, candy, ice cream, yogurts, cottage cheese, graham crackers, milk, soy milk, string cheese, fruit, and probably more that i’m forgetting.
For breakfast you choose 2 grains, a dairy/protein, a fruit and a fat. Grain options included bread, cereal, cream of wheat, granola, muffins, bagels, english muffins, waffles, and again, probably more that I’m forgetting. Dairy/protein included, I believe, yogurt, cottage cheese, milk, soy milk, string cheese, regular or soy cheese an egg and again possibly more that I’m forgetting. Some of the fats were butter, margarine, nuts, cream cheese and an egg. Fruits included fresh fruits (generally bananas, apples, oranges and pears), frozen strawberries and blueberries, fruit juice, and dried fruit.
The program really is spectacular. I was there from Sept-Dec 2010. It’s a loving, caring, healing environment. The day starts with a 7:30 am breakfast. Mondays and Fridays there is circuits before AM snack. Tuesdays there’s Nia. Saturday there’s a walk and Sunday there’s yoga. Not everyone gets to participate in all of the exercise, though. It takes time. After AM snack there’s generally primary group which is the main process group and it’s great. Then you have half an hour before lunch. During the week you’ll have another group after lunch. You’re basically in group all day with a reasonable amount of free time. The last group is after dinner and usually ends around 8ish, but it can totally vary. All of the groups are run by the therapists. They have primary group, food and feelings, sexuality and spirituality, body and soul, special topics, multi-family group, creativity group, movement group and contract group.
There’s pretty much always someone in the family room/living room to talk to, and if there isn’t you can always knock on the office door. There’s not a single staff member I disliked. The psychiatrist is absolutely amazing. Meeting with her was like having an additional therapy session.
My time there was incredibly difficult in so many ways, and I put my two weeks’ notice in to leave twice, but I’m so glad I stuck it out. I had already been in treatment for 4.5 months, 12 of those weeks IP, and it by far made the most difference in my treatment. I’ve been in treatment a number of times and was really starting to give up, but I really think RR will be my last IP/resi stay.