Cambridge Eating Disorder Center - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Ayla K.

this place is horrible. I’m 15 years old, on the adolescent floor. And I was sent here back in December for the first time. The first few days they’re really nice, but when you been staying there it gets horrible. You get in trouble for everything and not to mention u have to fill out a behavioral packet. The food is disgusting and doesn’t help when someone is struggling with food already. I was then sent here again about a week ago. and this place feels like prison now. It got much worst u can barley do crafts, they took away the markers, pencils . there is nothing to do but stare at a wall or go to sleep. I was then sent out of here by ambulance ( my parents didn’t even know I was going there until I got to the hospital with a RC then they got a call. due to not eating for 48 hours!! They have a 24 hour policy were they would send you but it took them 48 hours. I wasn’t in good condition when I got the hospital let’s just say that. I’ll never be the same person from what cedc did to me. it feels like prison people would get in trouble all day long because there was nothing to do. save yourself don’t go here!!!

Keryn G.

All my life I had struggled with a complex eating disorder. 4 years ago I was pregnant and knew I needed to seek help for the health of my baby and me. I was on waitlists with inpatient facilities who never called me, even after a trip to the ER regarding my eating disorder. After 2-3 months of seeking help with no success, a friend recommended this place so I gave it a try (despite it being residential and not inpatient). They took me in almost right away but they definitely were not equipped to handle a pregnant patient. The doctor would literally Google certain things regarding my treatment/medication/etc and would refuse to do anything for my iron levels which were low. As a result I was exhausted constantly and could barely participate in groups some days. I got written up for accidentally napping through one of the groups which is understandable to an extent, though I was basically begging the doctor to do something to help with the constant fatigue so I almost felt let down by my team. Another morning while eating breakfast, I was suddenly asked to leave by an inexperienced RC who claimed, in front of everyone, that I wasn’t participating in my meal (I was actively eating when she asked me to leave) - I was then written up for not eating, but I refused to sign the write up for obvious reasons. Honestly I gave up after that, I did not feel I could trust them with my care and left AMA very soon after that incident. I will say they made sure I was set up with providers in the outside world before I was released 72 hours later, which was helpful, but I was honestly disappointed overall. I am definitely grateful for the care that I *did* receive, and it definitely started my recovery in that period of time, but they certainly were not equipped to handle a complex case such as mine (not necessarily on them, as again they’re residential and not inpatient). I also felt the little breakfast incident with the RC, who I heard later down the line did not last very long in the facility, was extremely damaging and really threw a wrench in my recovery through CEDC. Fortunately I got in with a PHP through another facility shortly after discharge, and later gave birth to my child. She was a bit early, but otherwise healthy and is thriving today. I will never know for sure how else things would’ve gone if I never got *any* kind of treatment, regardless of how good or bad it may have been. Having a complex eating disorder on top of being pregnant was a challenge enough for me, let alone a residential facility that focuses more on typical eating disorders and not-pregnant patients.

I think what helped me best was the structure as well as being able to prep our own meals certain nights (which was optional! Not required). With the structure I was able to nourish regularly, which obviously I struggled with greatly in the outside world due to my illness. We also had groups every weekday at CEDC, and from those I learned some useful skills that I still apply to my daily life, such as certain DBT skills. As of about a year ago I have recovered from my disorder and have been working towards building a healthier and safer life for myself, as well as be a positive role model to my children.

Recognizing that you need help is the first step to recovery.

Marley M.

Eating disorder treatment was honestly the hardest thing I've ever had to endure in my life, but at the same time, CEDC is also one of the best things that ever happened to me. I have a lot to say about this place — it's definitely not perfect, and I have some suggestions — but overall, I'm so so grateful for everything this place has done for me. I was in CEDC's residential facility on the adolescent floor (ages 12-18) from October 2023 to January 2024, so some of this commentary might be outdated!

First of all, the place was very clean and cozy. There were cleaners daily, and the whole place was generally very homey. I also adored the community there. The RC's (residential counselors) were all so sweet. I still think about them all the time. They were typically college-aged and so fun to talk to. None of them were ever unkind to me, and I instantly became friends with most of them. The other kids who were there at the same time as me were AMAZING. We have a huge group chat now, and still FaceTime and text to this day. We are planning a fun Thanksgiving reunion, and I can't want to see them. It was such a blessing and a privilege to be able to heal with these people. However, if everyone there is isolating/struggling and not ready to heal, that can also impact your recovery. I was lucky to be there with people who were motivated and friendly, which may not always be the case.

The group room was also about as great as you can ask for. It's a common area for patients to hang out all day (at least, from 7 AM to 11 PM). There was a TV, couches, a big table with chairs, cards, board games, art projects and other crafts. I spent almost all of my time in the group room with the others, just because there was always something to do. There are also lots of blankets, and it's generally a very living room-esque area that I loved hanging out with the others in.

I also loved the food. There's an extensive list of snacks to choose from, and if you ever want something else, you can request it on your menu, and the dietitians will purchase it for you! I did this whenever I was craving certain snacks from home that I loved. You can even ask for milkshakes/smoothies, and once you have permission to help prep your snacks, you can add any toppings you want! My friends and I would often order milkshakes on the same days so that we could decorate them in the kitchen together. You can also help prep your own meals sometimes on the weekends, and even cook/bake with Joan! Meals were always fun (though a bit lengthy), and the group typically chats and plays games (wavelength, 20 questions, etc). If you're not in the mood for that, the RC who is sitting in to monitor will put on some music and everyone can relax and eat.

There was a range in the amount of kids on the adolescent floor, and for a while there was about 4-6 of us, though later on in my stay there ended up being about 7-8. I only had a roommate toward the end of my stay - for the majority of my time there, I had my own space, which was great.

Here are my suggestions. First of all, I really wanted more time with my family. You had an hour-long visit each week, you could earn an extra hour or two per week by eating, and I also had an opportunity to call home each day during tech time. This may seem like a lot, but only being able to hug my parents once or twice a week was really rough and I felt very isolated. I also think that CEDC is all about healing your relationship with food, which is great, but since they don't "force" you to eat like at other treatment centers, it can allow patients to listen to their eating disorders a bit. In the end, it benefitted me because I made the journey on my own without it being shoved down my throat, which made it more impactful, but sometimes those who are very sick just need to eat. The reliance on self-accountability can allow patients to perpetuate those behaviors if they don't want to heal yet.

FINAL NOTE: don't listen to all the horrible one-star reviews!! If you have extra questions, email me at [email protected] and I'll share!

Sarah

Considering the fact that I told my psychiatrist that I had pretty severe SI and she did not help and did not take action - rather, she laughed. She LAUGHED AT ME. You know what she said? “There’s no way you could have SI - if you did, you would’ve found a way to [follow through]” and that by asking for help I was looking for attention and how I was a bad person for faking having SI.
And also the fact that I was told I’d be thrown out on the street because I wouldn’t shut up - due to a panic attack - and I’d have to arrange for someone to pick me up and they wouldn’t help me.
Did I mention all of this happened when I was barely 15?
Considering all of that - I don’t think I would willingly return to CEDC.

S J.

The PHP program in NH was no help to me, very disorganized, chaotic, they change the program every day, mixed adolescence with adults, had to demand to have my basic vitals taken which they then changed their policy about, did not meet with a counselor/ social worker regularly, they never spoke to any of my outside providers in the almost three weeks I was there and didn’t even care enough to provide a call or email back when I became sick enough to end up in the ER and then chose to drop out. Mind you I was bawling my eyes out when I left the voicemail choosing to do this. I have since been psychiatrically involuntarily hospitalized and am now going inpatient and residential to a different facility that my insurance is coordinating after they told me my insurance wasn’t approving many more days. Funny? That’s how sick i became. All cause their program didn’t/refused to help and coordinate with other providers and judge. I have heard from other professionals in the community that I am not the first client to try this program and use the words chaotic and disorganized and not be helped. I would give it zero stars if I could. Please do better as there is no other ED treatment in NH especially for those with certain insurance.

Sophie S.

I was at CEDC residential from November 2023-February 2024, and while I have a lot of complicated feelings about the program, I can say that I would recommend it in a lot of ways, especially for those who are spending their first time in treatment. The milieu is usually pretty small (max 12, but in my opinion when it gets over around 7 it becomes really chaotic and the facility doesn't really have the resources to cover it) so it really is community-based and depends on who is there (this is true for many other treatment centers).

Some good things about CEDC are: the food is usually very good (all cooked by Joan!), many of the RCs are incredible, you get your phone all day, most of the case managers are extremely well equipped and the program director is genuinely phenomenal and cares so much about the patients and the unit (I cannot say enough positive things about her to adequately express how beneficial she was to my stay). I had a largely positive experience there and much can be attributed to the staff and program director, and the milieu I was in for most of my stay. I made many positive relationships in my time there which helped me further my recovery journey.

Some uniquely challenging things about CEDC are: extremely limited weekend support, not a lot of support or understanding with interpersonal conflict, basically everything goes into contraband (but you can get approved into your team), and many of the options for psychiatrists are less than ideal. The passes are very limited and it is hard to get some meaningful time outside, especially for those on the adolescent floor.

The main hardship I faced at CEDC was that some elements of the program made it extremely easy to continue using behaviors, especially if you have a restrictive eating disorder. For many patients, the expectation of completion is individualized to an almost detrimental point, at least in what I've seen, where it can allow patients to listen to their eating disorders a lot in meal times, especially as you are allowed to leave the kitchen if you feel like you cannot make any more progress. I think that while accountability is always a part of treatment or recovery, some elements of the program (like leaving the kitchen or being able to return to your room directly after the meal) require a lot more self accountability than many people suffering with EDs can handle, especially in the beginning. It is easy to fall into a competition mindset and hard to pull yourself into a recovery-oriented headspace depending on the conditions of the milieu you arrive in.

My experience at CEDC was my first time in any treatment, and I would definitely not say that I regret it being my first treatment center. Although the groups get repetitive if you've been there for over a month, they are really helpful in building up a foundation of DBT and CBT especially if you have no background in it.

*I would also like to note that if you are scrolling through these Google Reviews, please remember that most people write these reviews immediately upon leaving and many are biased. I have been a patient alongside many people who have left reviews, and can say from personal experience and observation that many are biased and inaccurate. Most, if not all, of the staff at CEDC genuinely cares for everyone, regardless of identity and many perspectives shared in reviews can be harmful to those looking at the program. It is hard to distinguish whether people dislike a specific treatment center or if their eating disorders are fighting back at the concept of recovery such that they blame the center. There are good parts and bad parts to everyone's treatment experience in any place, so keep that in mind as you consider which is the best fit for you or your loved ones!

Flora B.

I have a lot to say about CEDC, most of which is positive, some of which is less so simply because of its nature and the fact that it is a treatment center. I spent 3 months on the adolescent floor at CEDC and was lucky enough to have a very supportive care team and community. I remember being incredibly nervous to start at CEDC, and reading these reviews honestly just made that anxiety worse- so for whoever is reading this, whether it’s for yourself or someone you love, please take a deep breath because I promise that it’s going to be okay.
On a positive note, the meals work really well and there are lots of options to meet dietary needs, and the diet techs are some of the loveliest people that you will ever meet. The facilities are clean and the bathroom system works very well and offers as much privacy as can be hoped for. The Resident Counselors are extremely kind and go above and beyond in the ways that they care for and interact with patients. There is also an hour of guaranteed tech time for the adolescent floor (which might not seem like a lot, but is much more than other programs allow) The tutor is also such a genuinely kind soul and made the stress of doing schoolwork from afar so much lesser <3 There is also a weekly cooking and baking group and individualized exposure therapies which can be really helpful. On the more intricate side of things, The way that the program is run allows for patients to go back to their rooms during free times which resulted in some pretty invasive behaviors being used in many of the rooms post meals. There is also not a lot of access to the outside and so it’s pretty common to go weeks without getting to go outside. The RCs are a lot younger than I anticipated (which says nothing about their abilities) but they did not always have knowledge specific to the treatment of eating disorders. Family therapy is not a large part of the treatment plan either, though there are family update sessions that happen weekly. About the program itself- There are 3-4 groups per day and 3 meals and 3 snacks daily. On the weekends therapeutic groups don’t happen, but there are a few things to keep busy and the RCs try really hard to make it fun. Patients get 2 passes per week which are each 2 hours that can be used to see family, and you can receive letters and packages. Also note that they check any diaries that you bring and that lots of clothes that don't cover your arms or your legs will be confiscated. All in all the program is a really receptive and supportive one and it saved my life in so many ways. I can’t say that treatment was easy, but it never is, and I am beyond grateful for all the people on my team and in my community who made my experience what it was.

Sofia R.

I was only here a week and experienced nothing but harassment and bullying since I arrived. I came here 5 years ago and had only left due to my own lack of compliance. I remembered it as a positive and loving environment but now it is everything but that. The staff is literally all in their 20’s and are glorified babysitters. They enable behaviors and disorders to the point of triggering other patients. They have been disrespectful and rude to me since I arrived only a week ago. A patient became obsessed with bullying me past the community and somehow found my personal social media accounts, and was not apparently breaking HIPPA by doing so. I verbalized constantly that I was feeling harassed by this patient and they continued to do nothing about it and blamed it on me. It’s much easier to call the POC “aggressive” than admit your whole staff and patients are racist. If you’re a POC this environment is not safe for you, I haven’t been eating because of the constant stress. They have made me thinner than when I arrived. They should be shut down immediately, and should be ashamed of themselves. They also denied my roommate who is in dire need of a higher level of care, any help. They’re evil. No one can get better in a toxic environment.