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Any reviews? Please post in comments below. You can check out the FAQ and Guidelines for suggested questions. Thank you!
The University of California San Diego (UCSD)’s Eating Disorders Center has:
- Pediatric inpatient, partial hospitalization (day treatment), intensive outpatient and outpatient program for children from ages 7-13.
- Adolescent inpatient, partial hospitalization (day treatment), intensive outpatient, and outpatient program.
- Adult partial hospitalization (day treatment), intensive outpatient and outpatient program, with supportive housing option.
The pediatric/adolescent inpatient eating disorder treatment program is at Rady Children’s Hospital. It’s focus is medical stabilization and it takes place on a specialized Medical Behavioral Unit.
UCSD also offers week-long intensive eating disorder treatment programs, attended by clients with eating disorders and their families from around the country:
- Five day intensive young adult treatment program. This program is for adults 18+ and either their family or alternate support system of choice (e.g. significant other, best friend, roommate)
- One week Intensive Family Treatment (IFT) program. This program is for adolescents and their families.
Jan-April 2024
What level(s) of care did you do (e.g., inpatient, residential, PHP, IOP)?
PHP/IOP
If applicable: Is it wheelchair accessible?
I never saw anyone in a wheelchair, but I believe that it is.
How many patients are there on average?
Around 20. I’m not totally sure.
Does it treat both males and females? If so, is treatment separate or combined?
Yes. Combined.
How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, etc?
They set you up with an outside medical doctor. Psych 1x/week, Therapist 1x/week, Dietician 1x/week.
What is the staff-to-patient ratio?
No idea.
What sort of therapies are used (e.g., DBT, CBT, EMDR, etc.)?
The majority of groups are based in DBT principles. You are assigned to a basic DBT skills group that will meet 2x/per week.
They had speciality groups (ex. breath work, body dissonance) that ran on cycles. Your therapist could sign you up for them.
What were meals like?
Meals are 30 mins. Snacks are 15 mins.
After a few days, you are able to prepare your own snack and they have lots to choose from. You have to do a sanitation training and show proof of a hep vaccine in order to make your own snack.
Two therapists were always present to provide coaching and support. Out of all the places I have been, UCSD definitely has the best/most effective meal support.
Did they supplement? How did that system work?
Yes. I believe 1 boost for 50% complete and 2 for nothing. Boost refusals resulted in moving down a level.
What is the policy of not complying with meals?
They will eventually refer you to residential treatment.
What privileges are allowed?
Level two: Coffee or Tea w/ meal or snack
Level three: Can be left alone in group rooms, can go to the bathroom independently
Does it work on a level system?
Yes. Levels 1-4
Completion, showing up on time, participating, not loosing weight.
What was your favorite group?
DBT in Action
What did you like the most?
The therapists are incredible and very well versed in EDs. There also doesn’t seem to be a large turnover rate. I believe that you can definitely make huge progress in ED recovery with them.
What did you like the least?
• It is VERY strict and intense for a PHP level of care. You are never left alone until you reach level 3. You cannot just go outside when you’d like, etc.
Nursing is extremely dramatic. They constantly referred to the ER over situations that did not warrant that attention.
• The Out-of-State Housing situation. They have an apartment that holds up to six other patients. It gets extremely complicated because people are constantly being kicked out or threatened to be kicked out for using behaviors. There is a zero tolerance policy for substances, although they say that they treat those with active substance use disorder. People were often kicked out with no notice. There are not affordable alternatives in the area. Additionally, the housing is run by therapists. It was incredibly awkward having my therapist as my landlord and got in the way of me being honest with her about my behaviors/urges.
• I do not recommend this program for those with severe substance use disorder. They promote dialectical abstinence and harm reduction, both of which do NOT work for people with serious addiction issues. The therapists lack basic knowledge of 12 step programs and there is extremely limited access to outside meetings in the area if you do not have a car.
• While extremely qualified, I did not have a good relationship with my therapist. There was an early rupture in our relationship, which looking back, should have resulted in my case being assigned to someone else. She was extremely passive aggressive and distrustful of me, which led to a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Would you recommend this program?
Yes, if ED is the primary/only issue.
What level of activity or exercise was allowed?
They will try to control that, but you can do what you want outside of program hours.
Do you get to know your weight?
No. They 100% overshoot weight.
What was the average length of stay?
Too long. Some people had been there 8+ months. It was strange.
How do visits/phone calls work?
You always have your phone.
Do they help you set up an outpatient treatment team?
Yes. Unless you are kicked out of the program. If that is the case, don’t expect any help.
Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country?
Yes. I do not recommend living in their apartment, although it is an extremely affordable option.
i thought it was individuaized? What do they tell you about the weight restoration process and how quickly do they make you gain? Do you have any say in what your goal weight is?
it isn’t individual, you have to be a certain percentage of the median bmi. they make you gain at least .5 lb/.2kg per day or about 2kg/5 lbs a week. (edit i realized i answered thinking this was for inpatient. i don’t know exactly what php aims for but i think it’s closer to 2lbs/1kg a week)
They let my BMI enter into the obese category. I had never been obese in my life. That is not healthy either.
Hi! Does anyone have any information or recent experiences with UCSD? Am looking for PHP treatment.
Hi all, I am looking to step down here for PHP from a HLOC. Are there any recent reviews of the adult PHP program? I would be coming from out of state and would love to know more about the housing situation.
Also, as a patient are you able to participate in any of the research studies?
Thanks!
TW:Is it true that radys can force tube you even if your an adult and eating some food. Or they can restrain you as an adult or not let you leave
Yes.
TW for forced care:
Is this the case for PHP, or just IP?
If it’s the same for PHP, do they just forcibly refer you to IP (e.g. via a 5150), or is it still technically “your choice,” they just present it as “either comply with our treatment recommendation or get kicked out of care”? And if this is a PHP option, do they “warn” you before presenting that recommendation, or can it come relatively out of the blue? (e.g. like they force an admission after one behavior/refusal, or they tell you it may be on the table if you continue engaging in behaviors)
Yes. This is very true. They have a no tolerance rule with not completing. If you don’t complete supplement even one time-no matter the reason-they automatically tube you
Hi!
i am interested in hearing about recent experiences with this program. Recommend?
Honestly, it is an excellent program. I ended on a bad note because I’m an alcoholic and I relapsed. However, I’d highly recommend if ED is primary presenting problem.
Is anyone currently doing this program, PHP/IOP?
I am considering changing from Equip, but would love to know if it is a recovery vibe right now?
can anyone speak to how they handle vegans in php? i have major issues with dairy and am aware they only support vegetarians.
Veganism is literally forbidden. You can be vegetarian but not vegan. I had to negotiate a hard sell to be allowed soy milk in my cereal etc. because they saw my dislike of dairy at the time as a behavior.
Oh yikes! I’ve been vegan since birth and am extremely lactose intolerant and genuinely hate the way dairy tastes (I had to eat cheese and yogurt when I was at the MBU). I was really hoping they would be able to make some exceptions around dairy milk and cheese. It’s really a bummer that everything is seen as a behavior.
does anyone know what the current waitlist for the adult php is, if there is any, and how long it is?
also, any information on the php housing and general feedback on the program and their meals/menus would be appreciated!
about a month ago it was only a month! You can get an intake scheduled pretty quickly too if you contact their coordinator.
I am stepping down from IP fairly soon and my team contacted them for PHP. They were told admissions are now booked out until late July :/.
Are you ip at the radys mbu or somewhere else? I’m admitting to the mbu next week and had questions
Get on the list, it moved faster than they told me last time.
Has anyone been to the inpatient MBU as an adult? I’m 24 and I feel like it would be awful to be on a unit with children/adolescents
I have! I was there as a 28-year old and honestly, you don’t even notice because it’s all room-based treatment with no interaction with other patients. So…it’s a non-factor.
I was there at 18 and generally felt okay. During my pretty lengthy stay there were always people older than me as well, some around 23 & 24 years. I did go to group and meal room with kids around 12-14 and sometimes felt weird being so much older, but you’re in your room most of the time so it’s generally fine.
Can I ask how long you were there? I was there for three months and might go back and am not sure what’s typical
I was there about 2 months, I heard 3 weeks was average.
I was there about 2 months, I was told 3 weeks was about average. **TW** Did you have a extremely low bmi? or trouble being compliant? **END TW** I also might be going back but I’m looking into other options.
Yes to both
From what I saw very much so
Medical doctor- you have an outside doctor but they will help you find one if you don’t have one
Psychiatrist- I think once a week on PHP, I am not sure about iop, once a month?
Dietitian- PHP – once a week, iop I think twice a month but you can get more if needed
Therapist, psychologist- once a week individual session, one family session or with your support system
Nurse- between 1-3 times a week for vitals and weights depends on level care
there are a lot of staff around always not sure the exact ratio. But each group generally had at least two therapist sometimes more.
meals and snacks there were always at least one diet tech, a dietitian, and usually at least two therapist and one who came at the beginning and end of the meal to help.
there were always lots of staff around ready to support
but they also offered many other groups such as CBT, ACT,exposure, lots of body image groups, exercise topics,process,art,nutrition, anxiety, RO-DBT, perfectionism, self compassion, also a few SUD groups. Probably more but I can’t remember all of them
Describe the average day:
breakfast- typical breakfast food- cereal, breakfast burrito,eggs,quiche,pastries,bagels,toast
acai bowls, lyogurt parfaits, pancakes waffles…
Lunch – lots of different kind of bowls, rice bowls, burrito bowls… quesadillas, sandwiches,burritos, wraps, pizza and many other things
dinner- pastas, chicken and rice , patotoes, rice, couscous, salmon, tofu, steak,baked potatoes…
there were lots of variety food was on like a six week rotation I think.
snacks you started out plated and then moved on to picking your own. They had typical things like chips, cookies, nuts, fruits, juices, bars, pretty much the regular stuff.
yes they did supplement it was more than 50% one supplement less than 50% was two.
there were different supplements generally they used boost, but than there was boost plus, breeze, ensure compact, Kate farm sand possibly more
the dietitians were also very willing to work with you if you thought of something that would be easier to supplement with they used that like I used cliff bars.
they obviously can’t force you it’s a PHP. But not complying meant you couldn’t move up levels and it happens that they step people up to res
yoga, privilege group, going to the bathroom yourself, more sessions,alt meals,coffe after breakfast or snack. I can’t remember all
I think I mentioned them above. Also there were generally more than one group at a time so the groups were pretty small. There were definitely more just can’t remember all
one of the body image groups called body dissonance
yes they have quiet a few trauma therapist and if you do trauma therapy you will have a separate therapist for that
the staff!!!!!
I also liked that they had so many specialty groups.
there were a lot of people but it was veryy individualized
all the staff had actual degrees besides for thee three diet techs who were amazing and they all really knew their stuff
they were top notch each one cared so much
I really don’t know I mean obviously there were parts I didn’t like but I honestly can’t think of them now. I really had a great experience
1000%
there was Saturday programming for some people. Otherwise you do as you please you’re free
they don’t tell you your weight. As for weight gain I don’t know but it seemed pretty slow.
18-70 maybe older there were more young people but definitely still quite a few older
its a dbt program so the therapist is always available for phone coaching and you are encouraged to use it.
they provide a lot of step done you start out at PHP 10 hours 6 days a week than go to. 6 hours than go to iop five days a week than four than three. They have a program called deep sea which is iop it’s only 3 days a week there is e even more freedom and lots of exposures like cooking and meal outings pretty much every day.
they have an apartment for people who are not local not sure about anything else
They stopped masking while I was there but if there is a case they put back on the masks
overall a great program like really great
If anyone has questions I would love to answer
I hopes this was clear and please reach out if you need anything and ask I was there for a bit so I think I know the program pretty well
thank you so much!! great to hear that there is such a good program out there
Can you do RO-DBT for AN-R and not standard DBT? What happens if you need to step up but your insurance doesn’t cover residential and you are too old for IP? Do they just kick you out?
They will work with you to find a place for you
Everyone has to do standard DBT. RO- DBT is in addition
I know the answer to my question might be rather fluid ( depending on patient population) but overall…is the atmosphere pro-recovery? I understand everyone will struggle but some programs tolerate behaviors/acting out.
It’s hard to find a good program for older adults! The idea of being with a young crowd that is not as recovery minded is extremely triggering.
For the most part it was very recovery minded
Thank you for such a thorough review! Are clients allowed to have “dislike” meals like they are at the MBU? Or just specific food items?
Yes you can have dislikes I actually found them really understandable with dislikes
**TW TW**
For the PHP/IOP, is there a BMI threshold? I thought I heard that they will only accept above a certain percentage for outpatient.
*admin note: please do not include numbers. any posts that include numbers won’t be approved. try to avoid potentially triggering descriptors in your reply, but if you accidentally do i will still approve your post, i can simply redacted/rephrased that word/part using brackets. yes or no answers are always fine!
Forgot to add this is for the adult program
Anyone been through their PHP/IOP for adults recently? Would love a review!
I haven’t been there myself, but I know that it is currently well staffed and that a lot of the staff has been there for years and are very well-qualified. In my experience, the staff is a huge piece of the treatment experience. I have been looking into this program myself as well though and would also really appreciate a full review!
Thank you so much!!! I agree that the staff is a huge piece of the overall experience, so it’s good to know they are well staffed.
I have been there and highly highly recommend the program I’ll do a better review sometime this week hopefully
I do not reccomend radys mbu stabilization to anyone with autism. You do not get any say in what you eat, I had to eat with much younger patients in the meal room (I’m 20), weight gain protocol was very aggressive, and they had me on a pysch hold and forced me to go to res
Does this program offer individualized meal plans and treatment or a more group based approach?
there is a cycle menu, you dont pick meals. you can be vegetarian but thats the only modification i know they allow. if youre lactose intolerant they just give you lactaid. im sure they accommodated kosher but dont know for sure
Does Radys take adults
Up to age 25
Can anyone do a recent full review?
I was inpatient at the mbu medical stabilization unit from april-august 2023. The menu is on a weekly cycle. You have to eat what is provided. You only get one dislike. The food is standard kid fare, such as nuggets and fries, pancakes and orange juice, and a lot of Mexican food like burritos. Weight gain is fast and aggressive. Meals for most patient are served in the meal room and can be extremely triggering. Nursing takes forever to unlock your bathroom if you have to go and they’re really rude if you call. I peed myself more than once. After nearly five months there, I was forced to go to a nearby residential against mine and my parents wishes.
Has anyone recently been through the adult program? Either IOP or PHP?
If so, recommend?
10000% hands down best program and I have been to a lot it’s tough but really effective
Thank you! Can you share what was helpful? I have also been to a lot of programs, and hesitant to go back. It took me so long to get out of the patient mindset, if that makes sense! ( I was in full recovery after 30 years in my ED- but struggling again :/ )
They base the treatment on their cutting edge research. It’s very focused on skills and they offer phone coaching w your therapist when ur not in program. It’s pretty intense but extremely effective
Would love to hear, if you care to share?
What is the age cut off for radys? Is it similar to acute?
25
Anyone been at Rady’s recently and can give an overview?
i went 9 months ago, you can email me at ashleynradcliffe@gmail.com
Can ucsd program also treat ocd when it is pretty significant?
depends on if the eating disorder or OCD is the primary concern
yes. they can. feel free to reach out! i’m in the programs right now.
Is there any chance you’re there with anyone with ARFID? If so, can you explain what meals/snacks seem to look like for them?
Does anyone know of any centers that are good with OCD/do ERP other than Rogers? My current program wants me to go to a duel program since they’re not able to support my OCD.
I actually have this same question for a 13 year old. My daughter is at Rogers and wondering if there are any other adolescent options for ED and OCD. Thank you!
Possibly McLean as they have an EDC and an OCD institute on the same campus. They aren’t in the same building though, so the client has to admit to one program then if in EDC they can attend one group daily at the ODC center. McLean can transfer your daughter to OCD program full time after she completes ED treatment.
I think 13 is too young for McLean; they’re flexible on ages (especially the upper limit), but I haven’t seen them admit anyone younger than 15/16 when I was there. It’s possible that’s changed though.
My daughter is 13 and has ARFID and OCD. UCSD has been amazing for her as they are skilled at ERP therapy.
Does the UCSD adult IOP program require you to go through their PHP first?
Hi Rachel,
I haven’t posted on here in awhile because I have been in recovery, but this week was in contact with Rady Children’s MBU admissions. She informed me that they are now 25&under and this is a “permanent” change. They use to accept up to 29 at times but now they have reduced the age to 25 as the oldest.
Hope you are well!
Oh, that’s so disappointing! The resources for adults keep dwindling. Thanks for letting us know.
Rachel, I wonder if you could put up a page of resources that separates adults vs. adolescents or something? It is hard to figure out eh difference between the two, but I know that’s more work for you so no pressure 🙂
Hello, curious about age limits here…Are they able to do Inpatient medical stabilization for a patient that’s 31?
does anyone know the current waitlist for radys inpatient? and what age they take up to?
I went to radys inpatient last year and I’m not sure how to feel about my experience cuz of the discharge criteria but how do you get discharged from radys mbu now?
its based on medical stability and also what plans are after discharge. The two medical criteria I know for sure is that your heart rate has to be above 45 for at least 2 nights in a row and you have to be a certain percentage of a target weight. If you are going to residential after, the percentage you must reach is lower than if you were to go to outpatient.
I turn 30 on May 19th. Am I still able to go here?
i wouldnt reccomend it. and if you turn 30 but arent medically stable they’ll just transfer you somewhere else. i would reccomend just starting at an adult only program. im 17, but when i was there , there were a number of middle schoolers (12-14) and as an adult, i dont think you would be getting the same benefit of therapy since it isn’t specific to your age/maturity level.
Thank you!
Any recent inpatient reviews? Is it true they don’t allow you to pick any of your food?
yeah sadly
How do they set up meal plans? Do they just send trays and you have to eat whatever it is regardless?
I’ve been to Rady’s – you do get 3 dislikes, but otherwise, they send trays up and you have to complete the items. I’d urge that you talk to the dietitian about your dislikes and if you struggle with any foods, explain why – mine were true dislikes (not fear foods) and the dietitian was able to work around that and really customize the menu for me, more than they did for other patients. I think it depends on your willingness to try things and how compliant you’re willing to be.
it is only 1 dislike now
Yes. No choice. Set meals and snacks weekly. Meaning every Mon/Tues/Weds/Thurs/Fri/Sat/Sun same meals and snacks. 0 tolerance non completion rule. If you don’t complete food or 100% of supplement they will tube you-even if you’re an adult. There is I think 1 (maybe 2 ? Dislikes but that’s it) No flexibility other than you can be vegetarian. Very kid friendly meals/snacks as a majority of the patients are kids.
For ARFID patients they do allow alterations to the meal plan. They were very flexible with my kiddo.
can u please approve my comment this took me so long to write like wtf..
Hi, Rachel (the admin) has to read and approve every comment manually before it gets posted. She works all day and fits in her family/social lives in as well in addition to moderating on here and her other commitments and hobbies outside of EDTR, so sometimes it takes a bit before comments can be approved. Rachel always gets to all of them (and honestly usually does so impressively quickly!), but the entire process takes quite an effort on her part as she does all of this alone with occasional support from a tech expert who also helps her with site issues. Hope this helps explain the delay!
When were you there? I was at radys on December 7 up until going to uscd January 4th I think and I’m currently in the iop adolescent program.
* * How many patients are there on average?
Hmm about 1 to 2 new people come every week but at the time rn I would say maybe 20 in php and 7 in iop.
* Does it treat both males and females? If so, is treatment separate or combined?
* Yes they treat both males and females and the treatment is combined.
* How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, etc?
* You see your therapist once a week, your psychiatrist once a week in PHP, and probably once a month for IOP but it all depends on your plan, and I rarely saw my dietitian once at the start for an assessment and like 2 check-ins. You see your nurse for vitals and weights three times a week (Mon, Wed, Fri). And once a week for IOP (Monday) * What is the staff-to-patient ratio?
* Probably like 1:4 during groups and 1:8 during free time
* What sort of therapies are used (e.g., DBT, CBT, EMDR, etc.)?
* There are groups for CBT-E and RO-DBT but it is a primarily DBT-based program, you have two DBT classes per week that involve homework assignments
* Describe the average day?
* 8:30-9:00 breakfast
* 9:15-9:45 process group (on Fridays there is a movement group for people cleared for movement and self-compassion for the rest)
* 10:15-10:30 bathroom
* 10:30-10:45 snack
* 10:45-11:00school
* 11:00-11:15 school
* 11:15-11:30 school
* 11:45-12:00 bathroom
* 12:00-12:30 lunch
* 12:30-12:45 outside time for people who finished
12:45-2:15 group
* 2:15-2:30 bathroom
2:30-2:45 snack
* 2:45-3:30 privileges and 6 hours check out at 3 PM although they stay until 4:45 Tuesdays and Thursdays for the family DBT
* 3:30-4:45 IOP check-in and group
* 4:45-5:00 bathroom
* 5:00-5:30 dinner
* 5:30-6:30 group
* 6:30 check out for 10 hours and iop
* What were meals like?
* You would walk into the dining room and find where your placemat is, and the seating is random. If you were served hot food, you could get one reheat at the beginning of the meal (they’d microwave your food for 30 seconds). If the meal had condiment options, they would announce what the options were and you could have a condiment cup with some ketchup or hot sauce or whatever in it. There were about three therapists and two dietitians/diet techs at every meal. They tried to keep the mood lighthearted. Sometimes we’d play the typical treatment table games (Alphabet game, Got it, Movie game, etc.) but most of the time we just had conversations. Sometimes there was complete silence. It just really depended on the dynamics of who was at the table.
* For snacks, you start off when you first get there being served a snack that is on a rotation. There are so many snacks so you likely won’t end up getting served the same thing ever. After your dietician determines you’re ready to start making your own snack and you get to pick what you want to eat out of the cabinets. There are a lot of options (see below) and there are dietitians who check off your snack to make sure you portioned out the right amount.
* What sorts of food were available or served?
* Breakfasts: Eggs, sausage, bacon, potatoes, toast, fruit, juice, milk, cereal, oatmeal, bagel and peanut butter or cream cheese, yogurt, muffins, açaí bowls, waffles, pancakes, crepes, french toast, breakfast sandwiches, omelets
* Lunches: Sandwiches, soups, mac and cheese, rice bowls, salads, wraps, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, pasta, grilled cheese, burgers
* Dinners: Turkey burgers, pizza, fish, soup and salad, pesto pasta, baked potatoes, teriyaki beef, chicken, fried rice, spaghetti and meatballs, steak, enchiladas, lasagna, shrimp, rice, quinoa, rolls, vegetables
* Snacks: Crackers, cereal, cookies, chips, pretzels, granola bars, Clif bars, Luna bars, Larabars, Kind bars, Nature Valley bars, fruit snacks, fruit roll-ups, dried apples, dried apricots, dried mangoes, applesauce, chocolate covered açaí, nuts, peanut butter, nutella, string cheese, yogurt, pudding, fruit, hummus, carrots, juice, milk, graham crackers
* Also once a week for a snack they have a “surprise snack”
* Did they supplement? How did that system work?
* Yeah, if you don’t finish your meal or snack you get supplemented. If you finish less than 50% of the meal you get two supplements and if you finish more than 50% you get one supplement.
* What is the policy for not complying with meals?
*I am not sure but that has not happened to me but I would say they would start talking to you about higher levels of care.
* Are you able to eat vegetarian?
* Yes, there are vegetarian options. Every week you do meal planning which is where they give you the menu for the week and you circle if you want the vegetarian option or the meat option.
* What privileges are allowed?
* Privileges are based on levels
* Level 1: No extra privileges, must have a staff member accompany you everywhere
* Level 2: Can use a straw with drink, Mint after meals and snacks,15 min walk after lunch
* Level 3: Can use your phone at times, go to the restroom on your own, go on the balcony, etc
* Level 4: Everything on levels 2 and 3 and also can co-lead groups and have your phone during meals
* Does it work on a level system?
* Yes. For your first two weeks, you will automatically be at level 1. You fill out levels sheets every week which is basically just a self-assessment where they list different categories of various eating disorder behaviors and you rate what level you think you’re at based on the descriptions. It goes all the way up to level 4,
* How do you earn privileges?
* As I said above, you have to wait 2 weeks before you’re eligible. But after that it’s up to the discretion of your therapist; you have a say in what you think you deserve but they have the ultimate say. Also, privileges can be individual or part of contracts. Most of the time you get them from completing your meals and refraining from using negative behaviors.
* What sort of groups do they have?
* Standard groups: Weekly goals and level sheets, process (there are a LOT of process groups), ED topics, DBT, Problem-solving, Wise mind, DBT in Action, CBT-E, Expressive Arts, Life Stories, Cope Ahead, Yoga/Mindful walk, distress tolerance, LLOYD (stands for “living life outside your disorder,” you got to pick a fun activity unrelated to eating disorders to do. Usually we played games or watched TV shows/movies)
* Specialty Groups/Tracks: These are groups that your therapist can put you in if they believe the content applies to you. The tracks are COD (for substance use and co-occurring disease) which has groups like CBT, DBT, and process specifically for COD and groups called seeking safety and recovery topics. There’s also a sports track that includes groups like exercise topics, sport participant groups, movement processes, and intuitive movements. The other specialty groups are perfectionism, body awareness, body image process group, self-compassion, body dissonance, and anxiety group
* What was your favorite group?
I liked the body image group,problem-solving, and exercise topics
*
* What did you like the most?
How understanding most of the staff is
*
* What did you like the least?
EXPRESSIVE ARTS I LITERALLY HATE ART
* Would you recommend this program?
100 percent love the staff and other patients people come here from all around the world I would say it’s good
* What level of activity or exercise was allowed?
All depends on you and your treatment team but obviously, no movement is allowed when you first come and they gradually start you with walks and move on to other things once you are ready
*
* What did people do on weekends?
10 hours and 6 hours would go on Saturdays from 8:30-2:00 with family meals and IOP could stay home and do whatever. Sundays program is off for everyone *
*
* How fast is the weight gain process?
I don’t know it’s different for everyone
*
* What was the average length of stay?
* Most people did about 4-8 weeks of PHP 10 hours, then 5-10 weeks of PHP 6 hours, then 4-8 weeks of IOP
* What was the average age range?
13-17
*
* How do visits/phone calls work?
Well, you can use your phone as a level 3 and for the visits during the program, you eat dinner with your family Tuesday and Thursday and also have a group with them on Tuesdays.
*
* What is the electronics policy (e.g., cell phones, iPods, Kindles, laptops, tablets)?
Again, phone at certain times once you reach level 3
*
* 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?
*Yes they will help you set up an outpatient team
* Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country?
* Not sure sorry
* If applicable: Do they support the gender identities of transgender and nonbinary people?
* Yes
* Other?
* Ask me whatever
I meant to say checkout for 10 hours and IOP at 6:30 lol
I just fixed it! Thank you SO much hi, this review is one of the most helpful reviews I’ve ever read! I appreciate your patience during the day yesterday before it went up – I know from my own experience how stressful it is after submitting to not see it show up right away, especially after pouring so much time and energy and effort into a review, when you are already going through so much! I hope the explanation Anonymous gave for why it took awhile makes sense. Part of what makes it take longer than it might on other review sites is that I also have to carefully read each post for triggers/rule violations before they go up, so I usually do a few posts at a time. But I am always open to ideas for how to make the process more transparent, without making it more overwhelming! It’s a tricky balance.
thanks so much for the awesome review! thorough, thoughtful ones like yours help so many people. we are all grateful to you for your time. 🙂
thank you so so much for this review.
Does anyone happen to know how long it takes to get in to Radys MBU?
Last I heard, the waitlist was 6-8 weeks, especially because they service adolescent patients and pediatrics and take a lot of ER admits.
Is a family member allowed to stay with you in the inpatient unit or would they need to stay at a nearby hotel?
You are allowed to have one visitor stay with you in the hospital room – my mom stayed with me during my stay and did not stay in a hotel. There is a sofa that basically doubles as a bed – the unit will give your guest bedding (sheets and pillows) to accommodate their sleeping needs! However, if you have a long stay, it might be worth looking into a hotel nearby. There’s also a Ronald McDonald House nearby, but they often give preference to family of children, so if you’re an adult patient, your visitor may not get in.
However, even if they don’t stay at Ronald McDonald, they can always swing by for some free food from the center. They can also order from the cafeteria, which is great quality food and quite affordable as well.
Can someone please explain to me in detail (the more information the better) how they go about the dietary approach at UCSD – INPATIENT ?? I’m trying to get a good idea of things like types of foods served (ex of typical meals + snacks would be so helpful) + if you have choice or no choice in food + what a typical starting meal plan might look like if you come in [redacted] restricting & how often they do increases ?? Some places are definitely more aggressive than others in terms of the whole re-feeding process (meaning some places take increases a lot faster / slower than others) & I’m trying to get a good idea of what to expect. Thank-you!
Hi! I was IP at Rady’s last year and can answer some of these questions. I’m vegetarian, so my response is based on being vegetarian and attending their IP program.
The starting meal plan is very small- I got 3 french toast sticks for breakfast, tomato soup for lunch, 2 saltines and a string cheese for snack, and a single taco for dinner, just as an example. Increases are also slow (1-2x a week) for where I came in at, medical-stabilization-wise, and I found Rady’s to be slower than most.
You meet with the dietitian initially and the menu is set, so you don’t menu plan with her. You start off on 3 meals + 2 snacks and that can increase to 3 snacks as your time goes on. Some examples of breakfasts are pancakes, hash browns, scrambled eggs, granola with yogurt, avocado toast, french toast sticks, and a breakfast sandwich. Lunches include pb&js, grilled cheese, egg salad, fruit, carrot sticks with ranch, wraps, tomato soup, etc. Dinners were things like burritos, tacos, lasagna, ravioli, and pizza, along with some vegetable sides and starch sides like breadsticks, dinner rolls, fries, etc. All meals include juice, gatorade, or milk.
Snacks included applesauce, animal crackers, yogurt, smoothies, ice cream, cheese and crackers, chips and hummus, granola bars, cookies, etc.
You get to have 3 dislikes (items that you won’t eat due to non-eating disordered reasons) but the rest of the menu is set by the dietitian. Once you get to the highest level, the dietitian will work with you to learn how to order off of the hospital menu for a couple of your meals prior to discharge, if you’re interested in that.
Anyone have a recent review of inpatient on the MBU? Are they taking adults currently?
I heard they are currently taking adults, I almost did an intake with them before landing up at ACUTE.
They are taking adults right now 🙂 I am 22 and was accepted for admissions
feb-mar 2023, and im currently here again!
inpatient/medical stabilization
yes
in my time there were as few as 4 and as many as 12
yes, and the treatment is combined. everyone has their own hospital room but groups and meals (for those who eat in the meal room) are combined. there were males while i was there
not entirely sure. there were a few group leaders who asked us to say our pronouns but other than that none of my peers were trans or non binary so i never heard about it much. and also some doctors and nurses wore buttons on their badge saying they were an ally or something
doctor everyday, psychiatrist and psychologist most days, nutritionist maybe 2x a week?
not sure. i think each nurse had a few patients each shift
all groups are dbt based (1 group a day) with some cbt mixed in
Describe the average day:
vitals and weight and labs around 6 am
meds right before or during breakfast
breakfast at 8
snack at 10
doctors usually come around 930-12
vitals at 12
lunch 1230
group 130
snack 3
vitals 4
dinner 530
shift change 7
vitals and meds 8
snack 830 ish
vitals 12
sleep
3 meals 3 snacks. meals 30 mins snacks 15 mins. some people eat in a meal room with other patients and some eat in rooms. most people didnt talk during meals. and most supplemented.
there is a weekly rotation. breakfast- oatmeal, cereal, french toast sticks, pancakes, breakfast sandwich, avocado toast, omelette. lunch and dinner -burgers, chicken nuggets and fries, stir fry, grilled cheese and tomato soup, sandwich and salad, mac n cheese, wraps, pizza. snacks- am snacks are smoothies everyday. pm and night snacks -crackers, cheese, fruit, cereal, ice cream, yogurt, applesauce, bagels, pita bread and hummus. every snack and meal is served with a drink such as gatorade, juice, lemonade, or milk. soy milk is an option to swap out reg milk, otherwise preferences are not catered to. you get one “exception” but it had to be very specific and the dietitian has to approve it. for example you cant say grilled cheese, you would have to say cheddar cheese, etc.
yes, they use ensure plus and i heard also ensure compact. if you eat anything less than 50% of all the components you will be supplemented for the whole meal. more than 50% of all the components you will be supplemented for half the meal. for the components, that means if you are served an entree a drink and a side, you must complete 50 of the drink, 50 of the side, and 50 of the entree.
you get 10 mins for each cup of supplement. if you dont complete they will put in ng tube. also they will give you iv fluids if you do not drink enough water. everyone drinks 2 bottles at default unless they give more as needed.
yes. i have been vegetarian 6 years so they let me but im not sure if they let everyone especially if youve been veg for a short amount of time or for the wrong reasons. most patients i saw were meat eaters. i will say that as a vegetarian some of the meals are significantly higher volume than the meat meals. so if youre not an avid vegetarian and maybe it is for the wrong reasons, keep that in mind.
for everyone-electronics, tv, activities (art, etc) visitors, therapy dog, 10 minshowers
level 2- 2 10 min walks/4 laps around unit, groups, eat in meal room, can be discharged
level 3- go to the garden for 30 mins a day, one additional 10 min walk, go off the heart monitor during the day unless doctor says otherwise, can be discharged
yes. levels are primarily based on medical stability rather than compliance. even if you are fully relying on supplement you will get to level 2, but not level 3. for level 3 you must be complying with meal plan with exemption of one meal a day being 50%.
be medically more stable and eat at least half of everything
one group a day (except wednesday there is an additional art group)
art
getting to keep electronics
its not at all a case by case basis. everything is very strict and according to the program. no exceptions
not really, no
walks, and stretching if approved
same schedule as weekdays
no
pretty fast from what i understand since its medical stabilization
2 or 3 weeks
12-17. i dont know if there is a minimum age but the max age is 29 even though its a childrens hospital
because of covid you can only have 2 approved visitors. you can use your personal phone to make a call anytime. there is also a landline in the room
its all allowed unless they take it away for severe noncompliance (refusing to go to meal room, sneaky behavior etc). most people keep electronics no problem. there is a tv in the room and you can check out movies
no
they refer to residential or outpatient services. there are different discharge requirements to be sent to residential vs being allowed to just go home
yes
there is a ronald mcdonald house for parents to stay at
everyone wears masks, 2 visitors only, cubicles around each patient in the meal room
Can someone provide sample meal selection? Also rules and guidelines for the program how heavily monitored is it? Also I know they give you food for sat what is it typically?
you don’t get to select anything. meals and snacks are all on a one week rotation.some of the breakfasts include oatmeal, cereal, french toast sticks, avocado toast, pancakes, eggs, breakfast sandwiches. lunch dinners include wraps, salad and sandwiches, chicken nuggets and fries, grilled cheese and tomato soup, dinner includes pizza, tacos, burritos, mac n cheese, stir fry, ravioli, lasagna. snacks are smoothies everyday for the am snack and the two pm snacks are crackers, cheese, ice cream, granola bar, cookie, pita and hummus, fruit, cereal, yogurt, applesauce, etc. every meal and snack is served with a beverage such as gatorade lemonade juice or milk. they supplement with ensure plus
Just wanted to update for those wondering… I spoke with admissions at the Inpatient Unit and they said while it has been a moving target throughout the state of the pandemic, they are currently taking adults (up to age 30 I believe -I am 22 for reference-). They also said that there is no bmi minimum cut off and are equipped to handle the most severe medical conditions akin to the level of care that Denver ACUTE offers. Hope that helps 🙂
Oh wow this is good to know! I spoke with admissions from UCSD’s PHP and they said I was too “acute” for day program and recommended a HLOC (simply based off talking to me and my weight loss/behaviors, they did not look at anything medical) but gave me no direction or guidance… just hung up the phone. I’ve been to that unit when I was 19 years old I think. I’m 24 now, possibly need medical help, and don’t want to travel outside of the San Diego are.
When I spoke to them yesterday she said that if I start at the Inpatient Unit they will transition me to their PHP if I wanted to go that route! Sounds like that could be a great option for you 🙂
Okay thank you so much! When I was there last I was admitted through the ER. Not going to go that route because I’m not having a direct emergency. Do I personally call admissions or do I have to have a referral from my MD?
I just called myself, but either way your Dr office will need to send over your latest records. Once cleared they will call you to confirm and go over protocol ?
Does anyone know if the IP unit at Radys has a bmi cut off and/or age cut off? Thank you so much in advance!
There is a firm age cut off of 29, however at times they don’t take adults at all. You can check out some details on A’s post here! https://edtreatmentreview.com/ucsd-eating-disorder-center/#comment-22552
Thank you so much Rachel! I will call them tomorrow and gather more information as to what their protocol is right now and update when I have it ?
Here is my review of UCSD’s Adult program (PHP then IOP).
Describe the average day:
Happy to answer other questions that didn’t come up here.
This is great, thank you for taking the time to share such a comprehensive review! Is there any chance you were there with anyone with ARFID? I’ve been trying to get a sense of how well they work with that for ages but so far haven’t been able to get answer.
There were several people there with ARFID. I don’t really know whether they felt the program worked well for them. However, I did observe that they received additional distress tolerance support and/or accommodations during meals, which seemed really good.
Hi
I am looking into UCSD’s php program I was wondering if anyone can tell me what the housing is like? Where the housing is located? i would also like to know if Saturday is still virtual.
Thank you
There are two housing options available to people in the adult program:
-an apartment that can house up to 6 residents in a 2 BR (about 1 mile away)
-a hotel with whom UCSD has a contract for a few subsidized rooms (in Del Mar, about 5 miles away)
The adult program is still virtual on Saturdays. I believe the adolescent program is now in person on Saturdays.
I recently discharged from their adult program (PHP then IOP) and am happy to answer other questions if you have them.
How long is the average stay?
It seems like most people who undergo the full PHP/IOP treatment tend to take about 4 months. There is significant variety, though; some take much longer, and a substantial number of people discharge early or have insurance drop them early.
can you do a review with all the basic questions answered? 🙂
Has anyone had a teen at ucsd recently who suffered from ARFID and orthorexia ?
I know this program is great, we were gearing up to go but my teen was under their weight minimums and is currently gaining with her outpatient team “but “ am trying to determine if travellong out of state makes sense if can do PHP locally / however I realize ucsd is a leader in ED research, treatment and non profit unlike any other place on this site which is powerful – my teen needs to “unveganize” for sustainability – going for long term health of course
any input would be great
I’m sorry, DC Mom, but the longer you wait and prolong this process, the more at risk your daughter could become. You are searching for a needle in a literal haystack of lackluster, and “imperfect” options. Clearly your daughter needs help, and you still currently have the power to dictate where she goes. No program will have it all, just like you, or me.
I say this all with the utmost compassion and empathy. I just know that had I gotten into treatment years and years ago, I would not be the lifeless shell of a human I am now.
I have to echo @RileyyJ a bit here. As someone who has been dealing with this for over half my life (started when I was 14), it is very clear that had I received prompt treatment (of any sort, really) I would likely not be dealing with it to the extent that I am now.
That said, I have run the gamut (like thousands of others) in terms of types of treatment, and treatment centers. I can truly say that no place is perfect, nor will it ever be. ED’s themselves, but particularly orthorexia and anorexia and it’s subtypes, are inherently very rigid and inflexible and makes even the most “compassionate” and individualistic treatments look strict.
I think when looking for a treatment center the mindset is now, “I want it to be more helpful than harmful”. Wherever you go, one is likely to have some experiences that equate to trauma on some level; it’s the nature of putting the illness in a spotlight in a corner and trying to parse out the individual from the disease — and the painful and dirty work it requires. That dirty and painful work often comes with feelings that cut you to your core and brings you to your knees…both as a sufferer and a caretaker…and makes you think “I can’t stay here and do this anymore.”
But, if the help that one receives from that very same treatment, be it pure medical stabilization/weight restoration so one can continue outpatient or learning more about the root of their illness in the therapy that happens) can outweigh (no pun intended) the “harmful”, it’s ultimately worth it.
Please please PLEASE don’t wait for the perfect place/program, etc. Find a place that feels “right” in your gut for your daughter; you can always try it out and if it doesn’t feel like a good fit you can try another. It’s better to risk trying some place and having it help early, vs. waiting and having her get worse.
I truly wish you and your daughter all the best and hope you find care that is helpful and effective.
Thanks so much RileyyJ and Anonymous for this direct and clear advice. I’d like to post a follow-up here (and apologies if I am hijacking DC area mom’s thread.. if I should post this elsewhere please tell me). I am writing in response to what Anonymous says here: “Find a place that feels “right” in your gut for your daughter; you can always try it out and if it doesn’t feel like a good fit you can try another.” My daughter (18/AN) has been at Walden since 12/31 and is struggling (she has done treatment at NYSPI and ERC Denver as an adolescent, and had a relapse this past fall and currently has an NG tube). I know she has a long way to go, and I know that Walden, like Denver Acute, is not meant to be a place where she will do that long-term work. She is telling me that patients are being pulled by their families because there’s alot of distress in the center and also that there is no meal support/coaching or external incentives for completing. Coming home is not an option as we’re unable to give her the care she needs here. At the same time, I am concerned about her threshold for coping with the stressors of being at Walden and the structure of the program there. Will there come a point when we (her family) with or without her care team will recognize that being in an environment of high distress and crisis is doing her more hard than good in regards to her recovery? Meeting our daughter where she is while also holding firm boundaries to support her recovery is hard…any advice on the wisdom of looking for other programs while she is still at Walden? We’re looking at CFC but I don’t know the current waitlist or if she would qualify or how a lateral move would work with insurance…
Hi KL! It is fine to post here since you are replying to the people on this thread. I would also recommend cross-posting this to the General Forum, so that more people will see and you’ll definitely get a quick response – we have a lot of great community members who check that page every day and who I’m sure would want to help out too.
Hi KL – I was the one who shared that initial comment. First, please let me say how sorry I am that your family, and especially your daughter, are in this position. Second, you coming on here as a concerned mother speaks volumes about the love you have for your daughter. She is lucky to have you!
In retrospect, the statement I made about trusting your gut and trying another place was over simplifying a very difficult and often messy process. That said, I still believe that listening to your own “inner voice” about what feels right for your daughter/family is the best way to go.
Eating disorder treatment has been really thrust into the spotlight in the past 5-10ish years and the things that were once considered “gold standard” are not the only options, and have even been found to be harmful to some. It’s a very loaded topic and could spur a discussion forever, but (intentionally) simplifying it, there’s a much bigger emphasis on individualization. And yet the “system” has not fully caught up with this so it feels like we’re in this limbo — and at the same time have endured a global pandemic which has exacerbated preexisting ED’s and caused new ones so the system that was already rendered unstable has become overloaded and services suffer even more. It is such a difficult time to need intensive help, when the treatment system is struggling and trying to heal itself, as well.
Despite all this, I truly believe that the majority of treatment centers (as “bad” as they may be) are better than no treatment at all, if someone is acutely ill and medically unstable. I also think that a care team may “know” eating disorders better than you do, but YOU know your daughter better than they do… Yes, the disease can be so cruelly manipulative and deceiving, but at your core I am confident that you can tell as a mother when you girl has been pushed TOO far, challenged TOO much, and is under true duress. I actually asked my Mom and she said (which I knew she would 🙂 ) that whenever she is trying to figure out what is truly happening with me, she “mutes” the rest of the world and looks into my eyes, and as my mother, she “just knows”. Long winded way of saying, I think that your own maternal instinct will tell you when something turns from uncomfortable to truly harmful for her…Listen to this, and TRUST it. Just because a treatment professional tells you something otherwise, does mean that is 100% the best choice for your daughter…
Holding boundaries is hard; I remember when I was 22 in treatment, and my Mom would have walked through fire, and likely given up her own life to have me “better”; she supported me so unjudgementally and so compassionately, yet still held a firm boundary of “as a legal adult, if you make x,y,z choice – we cannot have you physically present within our family as it is too painful for us”. I respected that then, and respect it now and know it was out of love. As much as you love your daughter, it’s also still important for you to hold space and compassion for yourself and the rest of your family too. My advice with that is to deliver the boundaries you’ve set clearly, while simultaneously sharing your feelings, showing her the compassion you feel and explaining that is WHY you are holding those boundaries.
I think that it’s great she’s at Walden now to keep things stable, and you can be looking elsewhere, and getting on waitlists for other places. In terms of what to look for in other places, it kind of goes back to my first thoughts: no place right now seems “great”. I would say to pick a few things that are non-negotiables for your daughter OR distinctly different from the things that are not helpful where she’s been before. For example, does she do better with an intuitive eating model or the traditional exchange system? Does she prefer a larger milieu with more peers to connect to, or a smaller place with more focused individualized attention? Maybe the types of therapy haven’t felt helpful where she’s been, so you could look for places that offer alternatives from the usual DBT-CBT route (like IFS, EMDR, psychodynamic, etc.)
Depending on where she’s at mentally with the whole process, this could be a conversation you could have with her privately; maybe having more autonomy and say may be helpful? I know I would have appreciated that (even when I was in a very willful and anti-recovery headspace).
Sorry this is so long…I feel like I just blabbed on forever, and it’s probably not even that helpful! I wish I had more sage advice or a guidebook for you to follow; I have so much compassion for where you’ve been and where you’re at. I am happy to continue a conversation via e-mail if you have other questions, want more specifics, etc.
Sending all the positive energy and strength I can your way <3
Thank you, Anonymous, for this incredibly helpful and generous response. I appreciate the time and care you have taken to offer context to eating disorder treatment and identify some recent trends and changes that impact patient care. I would love to continue this conversation with you via email as I have some follow up questions and am curious about the specific factors that surround that you call “individualization” of treatment. I’m not even sure what that means in the context of eating disorder treatment modalities and would like to know more. The questions you pose about what treatment would benefit my daughter are also really helpful, and I will talk that over with her. She’s only been in settings that use the exchange system, so it’s hard to say if she’d do better with an intuitive eating model (but maybe?). Environments with lots of other patients are difficult for her because she struggles with the “competitive” nature of the illness. I think she could respond better to treatment in a smaller, more individualized place with compassionate meal coaching and support. Also she’s only done the usual DBT-CBT therapy, which I think has taken her as far as it can right now. Alternatives would be welcome. Thanks for letting me think through your questions… you’ve given me lots of useful info to talk with my daughter about, and also to ask about when looking at alternatives. Again, I would love to continue to talk via email. How does that work on the forum? I’ll include my email address here ([redacted to protect privacy now that they’ve gotten in touch]) and if that’s not appropriate then hopefully the moderators will remove it and let me know how I could get my email to you. Thank you again, Anonymous. You are amazing!!!!
You are very kind, and so very welcome. I just emailed you, and will add a note in here so the incredible moderator/human Rachel that operates the site will redact your e-mail 🙂
Hi Rachel – hope you’re well! Please see above about redacting KL’s email from the post. As always, thank you, and so much appreciation for all that you do here <3
Redacted!
CFC is amazing, and the only treatment center (among many) that equipped me for long-term recovery. So hoping your daughter is able to transfer there. However, it is large and accepts patients at very low BMIs, which it sounds might not be ideal for her.
MomDC if you want to know the differences between the higher levels of care, you might want to reach out to ayeleth.org. They can help you navigate that
Rachel, can you delete this if it’s not allowed?
Thank you AJ! Mom DC – Ayeleth.org is great and is run by people who have been to treatment. The director is wonderful, and can help more on a one-to-one basis to quickly learn about & access treatment options.
Maybe stabilize and then mobilize. I’m vegan and am willing to help you identify vegan friendly help!
Also– would anyone happen to have experience/info on their housing options? I will be coming from out of the country (though I am originally from California, I had to escape an abusive family and am currently caring for my grandmother abroad) and am struggling a bit financially with not much support from family. I’m finally deciding to return once I’ve saved up the money because I can’t deal with the disorder any longer, and luckily I still have time on my parents insurance.
It would be great if anyone could speak on their experience with that. I’ve read that some people had to pay Ubers to get to-and-from treatment which is a big concern because that gets quite pricey. Do they have housing within walking distance to their clinic?
They have an apartment, it is two bedrooms and each bedroom has a bunk bed and a single bed, so 3 people per room and 6 people total in the apartment. It gets very crowded if there 6 people in the apartment, as it is not very big. And no, it is not within walking distance to the clinic. I spent an absurd amount of money on Uber rides when I was there unfortunately.
I walked there. The staff get moody about patients who walk there but its only 20/25 minute easy walk there, saves on ubers
Hi!– Would anyone recommend UCSD’s program for people that struggle primarily with binge eating and bulimia? The programs I’ve attended before have always seemed to place more emphasis on treating restrictive behaviors which have not helped in addressing my own eating disorder issues.
They do treat people struggling primarily with BED and bulimia (and related behaviors). Like most other day programs, meal times emphasize support for people struggling with restrictive behaviors. However, processing after meals and actually discussing food, urges, and behaviors becomes an important part of the treatment once one enters IOP and Deep Sea (the name they give their rehab prevention / transition-to-discharge final weeks of IOP). Additionally, they offer true DBT treatment, including 24/7 access to therapists via phone coaching, and encourage people to use that while struggling outside of the program.
Hi Rachel,
I just thought people should know that although Rady does occasionally take adults with the cutoff of 30th birthday (oldest being 29), this is relatively rare and due to their capacity in the hospital.
Right now and also last year, they are not taking any adults over the age of 18.
I know of two people who recently (September-November 2022) tried to go there (one as young as 19 and 21) and was turned away because they are not currently accepting adults due to an RSV surge.
I also tried to go there last winter/spring 2022 at age 27, but they were unable to take adults then also.
However, a small window opened up in March-May where their capacity must’ve have been lower and they called me saying they had a bed.
Their ER is awful. Despite meeting weight and BP criteria by a huge margin I was turned away multiple times because of how slammed they were. They claimed that children that were supposed to be in a hospital room were being housed in the inadequate ER (there are no rooms, just areas divided by thin curtains) because of the crowding. Management must be bad.
WOW. That’s absolutely horrible and breaks my heart. I’m so sorry you have had to experience such maltreatment, and for everyone who has had to, currently is, or will in the future experience it. I can’t even imagine. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and this information here. I know that your bravery in posting this will save someone’s life.
Does Rady’s take Medicaid? Can you discharge to OP after?
Rady’s takes Medicaid. It is part of a large academic hospital system so they take all types of insurance. Most of their patients discharge to their PHP rather than res, so I would think they would be open to discharging to OP? But you would have to ask them. I was there years ago so my memory is foggy.
Anyone have an idea of what the waitlist length looks like? Thanks!
Hi, is there anyone who has been to Rady Children’s Hospital/UCSD Inpatient (any length of time, even just a few days) that could answer a couple of quick specific questions for me via email? I would hugely appreciate any responses as I’m pretty desperate (but of course no pressure on anyone, whatever feels doable). Thank you!
I am a mother of an adult daughter who was in Rady’s inpatient treatment for a month this year . I highly recommend Rady’s program for in patient and all care.
Hey, I live in the east coast so very far from CA but I’m struggling so much with my ED which is ARFID. Does anyone know if they take people over 21 for inpatient and would you recommend this program for someone with ARFID? I don’t mind stepping down to their PHP with assisted housing too but I want to make sure I’m making a good decision traveling so far.. also what is the inpatient schedule like? Is there phone privileges?
From my understanding, the bulk of treatment at UCSD’s Eating Disorder Center (both for adolescents and for adults) is accomplished in their PHP/IOP outpatient programs, which have multiple levels (two PHP levels for adults, as well as IOPs) and are quite intense. The idea behind their program (based on their extensive research as a research university) being that treatment in an intensive non-inpatient setting is most useful to long term recovery, because it is more realistic to what life post-treatment will be. I’m not sure about the inpatient age cut off, but I know their inpatient is primarily for medical stabilization, so no matter what it is you would definitely want to go with the intention of doing their PHP w/ supportive housing. If you try the search function on this site and search for UCSD or Rady, I think someone recently posted with what the age cap is.
Rady’s childrens eating disorder program accepts patients upto age 30 and their in patient program is really good, parents are allowed to stay part or full time with the patient . I am a parent who stayed there for the entire treatment time with my adult daughter and it helped me understand my daughters hard work, struggles and also helped me communicate with providers and learn some skills to support my daughter . I highly recommend this program.
Bhooma, could you ask them if they would (please) be willing to take someone who is 31? (I keep playing phone tag with them and they never return my calls!)
Hi Carla, you can email Rady children’s MBU(medical behavioral unit). *** [They] are very good with responding to emails.
***
Rachel can you redact this after Carla reads this please.
—————
***name and contact info redacted by admin, per site policy
Yes absolutely, thank you so much Bhooma for asking for the redaction in your post. I very much appreciate your foresight.
Thank you, Bhooma! I emailed her. (Rachel, thank you you can redact now!)
Done! Thank you Carla and Bhooma.
does anyone mind sharing the email? it got deleted
Mike, the email is mbu@health.ucsd.edu
* When were you there?
* October 2021-January 2022
* How many patients are there on average?
* About 16. But it depends because sometimes IOP patients are up with the PHP patients so it could get to upwards of 20 people sometimes.
* Does it treat both males and females? If so, is treatment separate or combined?
* They treat both males and females (and non-binary folks!). Treatment is combined.
* How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, etc?
* You see your therapist once a week (though there are incentives and ways you can earn extra session time), your psychiatrist once a week, and your dietician once a week. You see your nurse for vitals and weights three times a week (Mon, Wed, Fri). Though since I was also there during COVID they implemented a new policy where the nurses would do COVID tests on Monday and Friday. (Luckily not the ones that go all the way up your nose and hurt). You would get referred to a medical doctor in a separate practice as needed, I think I saw a doctor that was about 10 minutes away three times while I was there.
* What is the staff-to-patient ratio?
* Probably like 1:4 during groups and 1:8 during free time
* What sort of therapies are used (e.g., DBT, CBT, EMDR, etc.)?
* There are groups for CBT-E and RO-DBT but it is a primarily DBT based program, you have two DBT classes per week that involve homework assignments
* Describe the average day?
* 9:00-9:15 Check in and some sort of activity like group intention setting on Mondays, sharing motivational quotes, mindfulness, etc. then a bathroom break
* 9:15-9:45 Breakfast
* 9:45-10:00 Boosting time or break for those that completed the meal
* 10:00-10:45 Group
* 10:45-11:00 Bathroom break
* 11:00-11:15 Snack
* 11:15-11:30 Boost or break
* 11:30-12:30 Group
* 12:30-12:45 Bathroom break
* 12:45-1:15 Lunch
* 1:15-1:30 Boost or break or outside time
* 1:30-1:45 Checkout for 6 hr PHP/IOP patients and break for 10 hr PHP
* 1:45-2:00 Bathroom break
* 2:00-2:45 Group
* 2:45-3:00 Bathroom break
* 3:00-3:15 Snack
* 3:15-3:30 Boost or break or outside time
* 3:30-4:30 Group
* 4:30-4:45 Bathroom break
* 4:45-5:30 Group
* 5:30-5:45 Bathroom break
* 5:45-6:15 Dinner
* 6:15-6:30 Boost or break or outside time (Though at dinner we get the option of going on a 15 minute outdoor break or leaving 15 minutes early, so every day I was there we always voted to leave early so we wouldn’t have the outside time and we’d leave at 6:45, granted you finished your food. You had to stay until 7 regardless if you didn’t finish dinner.)
* 6:30-7:00 Checkout and some sort of activity like gratitude moment, goals check in, celebrate the positives, and weekend intention on Friday
* What were meals like?
* You would walk into the dining room (technically it’s two rooms, I don’t know if this was because of COVID or not because I know one of the rooms is the pediatrics dining room) and find your place setting, seating is random, at least for the adults (I think the kids have a seating chart). Because of COVID when I was there the place settings are each separated by a plexiglass divider for health and safety reasons. If you were served a hot food, you could get one reheat at the beginning of the meal (they’d microwave your food for 30 seconds) because usually it was a bit cold from sitting out for a bit. If the meal had condiment options, they would announce what the options were and you could have a condiment cup with some ketchup or hot sauce or whatever in it. You didn’t need to finish condiments. There were two therapists and two dietitians/diet techs on every meal, one of each in each room. They tried to keep the mood lighthearted. Sometimes we’d play the typical treatment table games (Alphabet game, Got it, Movie game, etc.) but most of the time we just had conversation. Sometimes there was complete silence. It just really depended on the dynamics of who was at the table.
* For snacks, you start off when you first get there being served a snack that is on a rotation. There’s so many snacks so you likely won’t end up getting served the same thing ever. After your dietician determines you’re ready to start making your own snack (it took some people less than a week, it took me just over a month) you get to pick what you want to eat out of the cabinets. There’s a lot of options (see below) and there are dietitians who check off your snack to make sure you portioned out the right amount.
* What sorts of food were available or served?
* Breakfasts: Eggs, sausage, bacon, potatoes, toast, fruit, juice, milk, cereal, oatmeal, bagel and peanut butter or cream cheese, yogurt, muffins, açaí bowls, waffles, pancakes, crepes, french toast, breakfast sandwiches, omelettes
* Lunches: Sandwiches, soups, mac and cheese, rice bowls, salads, wraps, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, pasta, grilled cheese, burgers
* Dinners: Turkey burgers, pizza, fish, soup and salad, pesto pasta, baked potatoes, teriyaki beef, chicken, fried rice, spaghetti and meatballs, steak, enchiladas, lasagna, shrimp, rice, quinoa, rolls, vegetables
* Snacks: Crackers, cereal, cookies, chips, pretzels, granola bars, Clif bars, Luna bars, Larabars, Kind bars, Nature Valley bars, fruit snacks, fruit roll ups, dried apples, dried apricots, dried mangoes, applesauce, chocolate covered açaí, nuts, peanut butter, nutella, string cheese, yogurt, pudding, fruit, hummus, carrots, juice, milk, graham crackers
* Also once a week for snack they have “surprise snack” which is when they just serve everybody a challenge snack. When I was there some of the things they served were cookies, chips and queso, candy (on Halloween), pie (on Thanksgiving), s’mores, corn dogs, bagel pizza bites, etc.
* Did they supplement? How did that system work?
* Yeah, if you don’t finish your meal you get supplemented. Honestly I’m not exactly sure what their exact system is for supplementing because I had so many dietitians tell me and serve me different things, but I *think* the general rule is if you finish less than 50% of the meal you get two supplements and if you finish more than 50% you get one supplement. They have lots of options for supplementing though, so you can figure out what works best for you with your dietician. Most people did Boost (they have chocolate and vanilla) but there were some people that did Ensure Compact, Clif bars, Naked protein smoothies, and Kate Farms (which is what I did since I can’t have dairy).
* What is the policy of not complying with meals?
* Well obviously since you have to stay to boost you miss out on outside time and breaks after meals and snacks. Other than that, it’s really individualized. If you have a contract made with your treatment team, that will decide the specific consequences of not finishing your meals. For me, I lost the opportunity to earn an extra therapy session when I didn’t finish my meals. And obviously they’re going to recommend a higher level of care if you repeatedly aren’t finishing meals and snacks.
* Are you able to eat vegetarian?
* Yes, there are vegetarian options. Every week you do meal planning which is where they give you the menu for the week and you circle if you want the vegetarian option or the meat option. You don’t have to be vegetarian to select the vegetarian option but obviously if you’re doing this as a behaviour they’re going to catch on eventually. But from time to time you can select the vegetarian option if it’s your preference.
* What privileges are allowed?
* Privileges are based on levels
* Level 1: No extra privileges, must have a staff member accompany you everywhere
* Level 2: Can have coffee/tea at a snack or meal, can do yoga and privilege group (more free time essentially)
* Level 3: Everything on level 2 and no longer need staff to accompany you anywhere so you can use the bathrooms on your own, leave snacks after 10 minutes if you finish and meals after 15 minutes if you finish, eat meals in a different room downstairs with no staff
* Level 4: Everything on level 3 and can essentially act as a staff member and accompany level 1s and 2s on their own
* Does it work on a level system?
* Yes. For your first two weeks you will automatically be at level 1 to (and I quote) “enjoy all the supervision the program has to offer.” But after two weeks you have the opportunity to start leveling up at your therapist’s approval. You fill out levels sheets every week which is basically just a self assessment where they list different categories of various eating disorder behaviors and you rate what level you think you’re at based on the descriptions. It goes all the way up to level 4,
* How do you earn privileges?
* As I said above, you have to wait 2 weeks before you’re eligible. But after that it’s up to the discretion of your therapist; you have a say in what you think you deserve but they have the ultimate say. Also privileges can be individual, or part of contracts. Most of the time you get them from completing your meals and refraining from using negative behaviors.
* What sort of groups do they have?
* Standard groups: Weekly goals and level sheets, process (there’s a LOT of process groups), ED topics, DBT, Problem solving and Wise mind, DBT in Action, CBT-E, Team building, Vocational and Adulting, Psychoed, Expressive Arts, Life Stories, Cope Ahead, Yoga/Mindful walk, distress tolerance, LLOYD (stands for “living life outside your disorder,” you got to pick a fun activity unrelated to eating disorders to do. Usually we played games or watched TV shows/movies)
* Specialty Groups/Tracks: These are groups that your therapist can put you in if they believe the content applies to you. The tracks are COD (for substance use and co-occuring disease) which has groups like CBT, DBT, and process specifically for COD and groups called seeking safety and recovery topics. There’s also a sports track which includes groups like exercise topics, sport participant group, movement process, and intuitive movement. The other specialty groups are perfectionism, body awareness, body image process group, diversity group, social justice group, self-compassion, body dissonance, and anxiety group
* What was your favorite group?
* I liked body dissonance because the assignments and the group leaders were fun, life stories because you got to know the other patients, and intuitive movement because you got to do movement and play games
* What did you like the most?
* My therapist was absolutely amazing. Hands down the most educated and effective therapist I’ve ever had.
* What did you like the least?
* Some of the groups just feel like time fillers and feel like a waste of time to me.
* Would you recommend this program?
* Definitely. I’ve been to many, many different treatment centers (both inpatient/res and PHP) and was always labeled as treatment resistant and defiant. I honestly had no hope I would ever recover until I came to UCSD. This is the only treatment center I’ve been at where I’ve made substantial progress towards recovery.
* What level of activity or exercise was allowed?
* This is really dependent on the individual. Obviously when you first get there you aren’t allowed movement for a MINIMUM of 2 weeks, but then after that if you’re completing your meals and not using behaviours your dietician will work out a movement plan for you. You’ll start out on light movement (walking, stretching, yoga, etc.) for an individualized amount of time per week and then you have the opportunity to move up to moderate (biking, dancing, etc.) and high (running, swimming, etc.) as your dietician sees fit.
* What did people do on weekends?
* There’s programming on Saturdays from 9-3:15. When I was there it was virtual due to COVID so it was all over Zoom. You would pick up your bag of food for the day on Friday night. Not everybody does Saturday programming though. You usually start out on it and when your team thinks you’re ready to be on your own for the weekend they’ll take you off it. I was on Saturday programming for about two months. Other than that, Sundays are free and it’s PHP so you can do whatever really.
* Do you get to know your weight?
* No
* How fast is the weight gain process?
* Not sure
* What was the average length of stay?
* Most people did about 3-4 weeks of PHP 10 hour, then 2-3 weeks of PHP 6 hour, then 1-3 weeks of IOP
* What was the average age range?
* Most of the people were in the 19-25 age range, but there were a few people who were older.
* How do visits/phone calls work?
* Doesn’t really apply to PHP
* What is the electronics policy (e.g., cell phones, iPods, Kindles, laptops, tablets)?
* You could use your phones during break times but they had to be put away during meals and groups. You could get special permission to have your phone for music at the table if that helped you, and there were certain groups we were allowed to listen to our own music in.
* Are you able to go out on passes?
* Also not really applicable since it’s PHP but I had appointments during the day sometimes and they let me adjust my hours or leave early so I could go to those appointments
* What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an outpatient treatment team?
* I transferred to another IOP center closer to home so they helped me get set up with my IOP team and provide a seamless transition to there. I also already had an outpatient team back home (I was from out of state). So my circumstances meant I didn’t need to be set up with an outpatient team, but I know they would help you do that if necessary. Some of the therapists and dietitians do private practice too so you can continue seeing them in outpatient if you live in the area.
* Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country?
* There are two options for housing for people who come from out of the area. The first option is they have some hotel rooms set aside at a special rate about 20 minutes away from the clinic. I chose to live in the apartment though. It is about a 5 minute drive away from the clinic and it’s a two bedroom apartment with a kitchen and living room. They provide sheets and bedding and kitchen utensils and plates. The kicker is, it’s for up to 6 people so it can get VERY crowded. There were 6 people in the apartment when I was there for a few weeks and the fridge wasn’t able to shut because there was so much food in it, cooking meals was difficult because there were so many people, and there weren’t enough spots on the couches for everyone to sit. But then I also had it all to myself for a few weeks when I didn’t have any roommates. Another thing to note is that they don’t provide transportation to the clinic. I got lucky for a little bit and one of the other girls in the apartment had brought her car so I could get rides to program with her but when she left I had to pay for Ubers both ways, which got expensive fast. While it’s definitely possible to go here if you’re from out of state, it doesn’t seem like it’s set up very well for it. Oh, that reminds me, if you want to live in the apartment you need to have an observation period before you move in to see if you’re fit for living independently (you can’t be self harming in the apartments and they don’t tolerate very much restriction as time goes on), so you need to find your own housing for a few days. I was told 3 days at first, but that turned into 7 days, which eventually turned into 3 weeks. Living out of hotels and Airbnbs for 3 weeks also was an expensive endeavor I didn’t foresee when I first decided to come down here.
* If applicable: Do they support the gender identities of transgender and nonbinary people?
* Yes! There weren’t any people who fit this category when I was there but they’re good about asking personal pronouns so everybody feels comfortable sharing them and I heard lots of inclusive talk from providers and the other patients. There’s also Diversity Group which is a safe place for people who identify as LGBTQ+ (and other identities) to process things related to their identity.
* Other?
* If you have any questions feel free to ask! I am an open book.
THANK YOU!! I am so happy to finally have a recent full review of UCSD here, and you’ve given the community such a gift for years to come with how detailed this is. Reviews this detailed are the most helpful for people trying to decide whether a program is right for them. Wow, you are amazing and your generosity has not gone unnoticed.
I want to second what Rachel said; this is a place that I would’ve never considered/wouldn’t have been on my radar, but based on your review I could see it being a good fit for me! Thank you!
This is an awesome review, thanks! I’m so happy they helped you REALLY progress in your recovery and I hope you’re still doing well.
Hi! Thanks so much for the review. Are you able to connect via email so I can ask you a few more questions about the program? I really appreciate the help.
Sure! sportsfanatic1128@hotmail.com
I’d love to get more info as well, thanks for providing your email address! Also, did you ever do inpatient at Rady’s, or just PHP?
I just did PHP. I was supposed to go to Rady’s but the day before I was going to leave I learned I had some complicated insurance issues going on with them, so I went to inpatient somewhere else. So I can’t answer questions about the program but if you have questions about the admissions process I can probably answer those.
Thanks EJ! I do have some questions- can you share your email address and I’ll email you?
My daughter did Rady’s in patient recently and I highly recommend their in patient program,
Does anyone know much the apartment cost to live in while in PHP? I’m considering UCSD and am from out of state.
EJ, than you so much for providing all this info, it’s so so helpful. I have a few more specific things I wanted to get clarification on, would you be willing to connect with me via email to ask those? (Of course whatever you’re comfortable with, no pressure; I can ask them here if you prefer, they’re just more specific to myself). Thank you again!
Of course! sportsfanatic1128@hotmail.com
(Just a heads up it is my “junk” email, so I don’t usually check it every day but I’ll keep an eye out for an email from you!)
Hi EJ! I’m at Rady’s for inpatient now and have some questions about the PHP program. Can I email you?
I’ve had a hard time scheduling an admission at Rady, so am going to ACUTE now. How did you get in? Did you go through the ER?
Did you end up going to Acute?
Hi,
Yes I did. I’m here now.
Me too.
Oh what a coincidence! It’s a bummer we can’t see other patients here.
I know I really do not like that, but overall I would say it is a great program and would recommend it.
I’m currently in contact with Rady MBU and trying to get a spot.
Does anyone know if they accept orthostasis (like increase in heart rate) as an admission criteria? Or do they only use blood pressure and low heart rate?
I had orthostasis and I fit the admission criteria, but I also had an NJ tube and an arrhythmia so I’m not sure if orthostasis alone is enough for admission. I didn’t end up going because of insurance issues though so sorry I can’t answer any questions about the MBU itself.
I’m not sure how helpful this is, but from what I’m finding they do accept orthostasis as an admission criteria, however one source says an increase of 20 bpm from laying to standing and another says increase of 35 bpm from laying to standing.
Thanks Rachel! I did find out I meet their criteria and am in contact with their psychologist who put me on the waitlist for a bed! I also talked to an ER nurse at Rady who said they admit to the MBU for orthostatic instability.
When were you there?
August 2020 for 8 days on the adult 10 hour PHP during COVID.
How many patients are there on average?
There are 3 homerooms for PHP and 1 for IOP. PHP homerooms are called “Seagrass”, “Shell”, and something else. The IOP homeroom is called “Deep Sea”. Each homeroom eats in a different dining room and meets in a separate room. About 8 people in each one, so maybe 32 adults total? In addition to this, there are 2 adolescent homerooms and 1 pediatric homeroom.
Does it treat both males and females? If so, is treatment separate or combined?
Both and combined.
How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, etc?
In PHP you see the psychiatrist 1x per week, therapist 2x per week, nutritionist 1x per week, medical doctor is on your own, but you get vitals from the “nurse” on staff as often as 3 times per week.
What is the staff-to-patient ratio?
2:8?
What sort of therapies are used (e.g., DBT, CBT, EMDR, etc.)?
The program is DBT-based so you have 24/7 access to text your therapist for support. They also do RO DBT.
Describe the average day:
9am- Program starts with homeroom.
9:15am- Group
10:15am – Snack
10:45am – Fresh air break
11:00am – Group
12:15pm – Lunch
1:00pm – Fresh air break
1:15pm- Group
2:00pm- Group
3:00pm- Snack
*You could leave when you finished snack and they gave you a take-home dinner for the zoom dinner and group later.
5:30pm-Dinner on zoom
6:00pm- Group
7:00pm- Log off of program
*You would get pulled for sessions with your individual therapist, dietitian, psychiatrist, or vitals at random times throughout the day. Saturdays was all on zoom with no in-person part.
What were meals like?
Very good. All food was prepared by the chefs in the kitchen and each person got different meals. No one was served the same thing generally.
What sorts of food were available or served?
Pasta, cheerios, milk, juice, sandwiches, salad, hummus, crackers, raw veggies, cooked veggies, fruit, banana, Peanut Butter, oatmeal, eggs, basically anything you can think of.
Did they supplement? How did that system work?
I believe it was based on % of completion. Same as Radys. So like if you completed 50% or less of your meal or snack you got 1 boost plus. If you completed 50% or more, than you got 1/2 of a boost plus.
What is the policy of not complying with meals?
They don’t really do anything except not allow you to live in the UCSD affiliated apartments. They make you stay in hotels if your from out of town, which is quite expensive. They don’t really care if you don’t complete. I didn’t eat much of anything for the 8 days I was there, lost weight, had horrible vitals, and they REFUSED to send me to a higher level of care. At the advice of my outpatient dietitian, I had to leave and go to the hospital ER where the ER doctors told me it was unsafe to drive home. I was accepted to Torrance Memorial the very next day for medical stabilization.
Are you able to eat vegetarian?
Yes.
What privileges are allowed?
Phones at all times, but turned off during group.
Does it work on a level system?
Yes you can move up to 6-hour PHP and then IOP. You also can live in the UCSD affiliated program housing if you are complying with meals and not using behaviors.
How do you earn privileges?
Eat your food and don’t use behaviors.
What sort of groups do they have?
DBT, RO DBT, special sports groups for elite and college athletes. Special anxiety groups. Your therapist decides which special groups you can get pulled to attend.
What was your favorite group?
The athlete ones.
What did you like the most?
I thought the DBT structure of the program was great and effective for people who are ready to succeed at the PHP level of care.
What did you like the least?
The fact that they REFUSED to let me live in the apartments because I was a “liability” medically and forced me to live in hotels by myself where I could utilize behaviors nonstop and the fact that they REFUSED to refer me to a higher level of care despite that.
Would you recommend this program?
NO ABSOLUTELY NOT. They were extremely irresponsible and just wanted money. I could have died according to Torrance Memorial and my outpatient team.
What level of activity or exercise was allowed?
Once you got to a certain point with your recovery, I believe they incorporated it into your treatment plan.
What did people do on weekends?
There was Saturday program for 10-hour PHP. Sundays were off. I went to the beach.
Do you get to know your weight?
No.
How fast is the weight gain process?
Depends on if you eat or not.
What was the average length of stay?
2 months.
What was the average age range?
In the adult program probably 18-50s. There was a homeroom with people 18-26, one with 28-30 somethings, and one with the older adults I’d say.
What kind of aftercare do they provide? Do they help you set up an outpatient treatment team?
Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country?
No. I was from northern California and needed to stay in the apartments, but they wouldn’t let me which enabled my eating disorder. Do not come here unless you are living at home or in a supportive environment and can commute to PHP/IOP each day.
If applicable: Do they support the gender identities of transgender and nonbinary people?
Other?
Yes they do.
I’ve been there a few times, there’s def positives and negatives but ucsd is one of the ONLY non profit eating disorder, so they actually Arnt doing anything for money specifically