The Renfrew Center First in Eating Disorders

WORST TREATMENT CENTER EVER!!!!!!! I have been to ED treatment prior and this one was a traumatizing experience. I have severe PTSD from my experience there in March 2022 at 20 years old. I was there for five days and during that time I was isolated, woken up at 5am daily for mandatory bloodwork and weigh-ins, shown little compassion, was overdosed on Miralax (given 3x the normal dose), and had difficult time contacting therapists and family/friends. I was told to "suck it up" and was explicitly told by a staff member "my issues were so much less severe and trivial compared to Ukraine at the moment". I was forced to drink protein shakes three times a day everyday and was forced to eat in a private room with staff staring at me (where the Ukraine comment was made). There was NOTHING individualized about this program and after all of this unfamiliar food and medicine I threw up and was accused of bulimia with zero prior history. Not to mention the food was almost inedible most days and cold or room temperature. I was not allowed to use the restroom at night and was constantly awoken and not able to get any sleep. After years of struggles with ADHD, my medication that treated it was removed and wasn't returned to me after leaving the program, despite being expensive and 100% necessary. I was told I was using my medicine to restrict my eating when the truth was teachers have been telling me my inability to focus has interrupted my learning since 3rd grade. Also adults were in the same groups with teenagers which created weird dynamics and teenagers behavioral issues with impede on group therapy. When I knew this program was not for me, I was put on a "72 hour hold" for a voluntary program. I was barely able to contact home and was pressured a ton to stay by staff. Some of the nursing staff was compassionate but for the most part the group leaders and therapists more felt like babysitters and like they were following a booklet. Other residents discussed going to the same group therapies over and over again which I don't see how that creates progress. I was extremely emotional and vulnerable and was met with little kindness and compassionate from staff. My experience was so traumatic it has taken me this long to leave a review. Please avoid this place at all costs.

You don't have bars on the windows but you do have locking clips on the windows that.dont allow egress. I know the management at Renfrew accepts mis-truths but they should be careful about their public statements!

I ve been to probably five different eating disorder rehab centers. This place is by far the worst. I was appalled at the group therapy methods. I don t know how that would help anybody. Literal amateurs and my personal therapist wasn t even fully licensed yet. Yet they wanted 40 grand. I left after two nights. Being locked in your room or a group room isn t great either. If you re gonna spend that amount of money and put your hope into recovery, please do your research and choose a different center.