The Renfrew Center First in Eating Disorders

7700 Renfrew Lane Coconut Creek, FL 33073

About The Renfrew Center First in Eating Disorders

Both symptoms serve the same function of managing distress by avoiding or changing difficult emotions. They recognized the importance of addressing both issues simultaneously to achieve the best rate of success.

Their specialized substance use programming is designed to use an evidence based, transdiagnostic approach that addresses the core underlying issues of both conditions. You have access to individual and group therapies that are designed to help motivate you and educate you about the complex connections in your disorders. You also develop the skills necessary to achieve recovery. The customized approach is based on a comprehensive assessment of your addiction, the substances you use, and the severity of the substance abuse.

The program is not centered around a 12-step model but they recognize that working the steps can help some individuals and therefore support participation in AA-based groups depending on your preference. They accept more than 400 insurance providers from throughout the country and verify your insurance coverage before you get started in treatment.

Latest Reviews

Dave Steinfeld

1 week ago on Google

I have to agree with all the negative reviews that Renfrew has received. In particular, I echo what Sydney said about the documentary THIN. I watched the film last year and would recommend that anyone who is considering Renfrew watch it as well. It’s a harrowing story of four women’s journeys at the center’s Coconut Creek branch. They deal with obstacles ranging from indifferent and hostile staff members to lousy insurance providers to their own demons. I have to add that the center’s medical director photographs women in his spare time — while they are eating and without their consent. This is obviously a conflict of interest but, to the best of my knowledge, it has not been addressed. It’s rather amazing that this facility is still open. The Menaged family clearly has deep pockets! I wonder what their objective is with Renfrew because clearly they are not interested in helping people with eating disorders.

Sydney Barlowe

1 week ago on Google

after watching the “thin” documentary, it is egregious how they have treated the women at this facility. the staff at this facility in 2005-2006 are solely responsible for Polly William’s death and i find it disgusting they are not held accountable

Jessica Ward

1 month ago on Google

A lot of these reviews are very exaggerated or are lies. I went to the Renfrew Center - Coconut Creek twice is 2012 and once in 2017. Both I had a different ED. I will say now though that in 2012 that they were more staffed, more strict with rules, etc. However, looking back I knew they were for a good reason and I knew they were just trying to help. 2017 they definetly started to become less strict. People need to realize and understand that without having rules in place- it’s not going to help you make changes. You can’t just expect to be able to do what you want 24/7. I made some of the best of friends and had some of the best staff help me. Ali Butters was the best therapist when they had her. Both Jodi’s also did amazing at their job. There’s so many other staff members but they stood out the most. Art was my absolute favorite. And Susan also will also be a gem to that place- i thought i was going to hate dance therapy and ended up loving it. People need to start being more open minded and realize that they can’t live in their comfortable bubble forever if they actually want a change in their life. ai can’t say i’m 100% cured sadly. But do I blame Renfrew for not “fixing” me? No. Not at all. At the end of the day people need to realize it’s YOU who has to be willing to make the changes People will always find an excuse not to. Thank you Renfrew for everything. There’s a lot more you did for me in my time there like gave me a scholarship to stay a bit longer- but thank you again. 💜💜💜

Response from the owner1 week ago

Hi Jessica, thank you so much for your 5-star review! We’re honored to be part of your recovery journey and truly appreciate your kind words. It’s wonderful to hear how much the team in Coconut Creek has impacted your experience, and we’ll be sure to share your feedback with them.

Rehab Score

Our Methodology

Scoring is assigned by a proprietary system which helps surface key metrics that determine quality. The 10-point scale factors in categories such as operations, customer satisfaction, and trust metrics. Read Full Methodology

4.6 / 10

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Addiction Treatments

Levels of Care

Inpatient

Residential treatment programs are those that offer housing and meals in addition to substance abuse treatment. Rehab facilities that offer residential treatment allow patients to focus solely on recovery, in an environment totally separate from their lives. Some rehab centers specialize in short-term residential treatment (a few days to a week or two), while others solely provide treatment on a long-term basis (several weeks to months). Some offer both, and tailor treatment to the patient's individual requirements.

Treatments

Substance rehabs focus on helping individuals recover from substance abuse, including alcohol and drug addiction (both illegal and prescription drugs). They often include the opportunity to engage in both individual as well as group therapy.

Staff

Samuel E. Menaged, JD

Founder & President

Gayle Brooks, PhD, CEDS-S

VP & Chief Clinical Officer

Vanessa Menaged

Chief Marketing & Admissions Officer

Lori Ciotti, LICSW, CEDS-C

VP of Outpatient Operations

Keri Lorenson

CFO

Kim Edgin, MPA, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, PHR-CA

Chief Human Resource Officer

Henry Cheng, MD

Medical Director

Meghan Brown, LMHC

Regional Admissions Team Leader

Contact Information

(866) 265-2206

7700 Renfrew Lane
Coconut Creek, FL 33073

Get Help Now - 786-492-1158

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Reviews of The Renfrew Center First in Eating Disorders

2.6/5 (80 reviews)

Google Reviews

2.6 (80 reviews)

1 week ago

1 month ago

Response from the owner

Julia Callard

I had a very positive and good experience with my stay at Renfrew Coconut Creek. All the staff here is amazing and they truly helped me heal from the inside out. I couldn’t be more thankful for all the help they have given me! I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for them! They made me welcomed and comfortable and all the nurses here are awesome!

Hi Julia,

Thank you for taking the time to leave us a 4-star review! We’re grateful to be a part of your recovery journey and appreciate your support. Wishing you all the best.

Lisa Blixt

2 months ago

Going to Renfrew Coconut Creek is THE best decision I've made in my life!! I have been to several other Eating Disorder treatment facilities and Renfrew was by far superior to all others. This facility has QUALITY staff (nurses, therapists, dining hall/kitchen staff, housekeeping employees, group counselors, and the maintenance/security crew) - professional, knowledgeable and caring. The program has a solid structure. It is NOT a place to go to just mess around though - one has to put in the work and follow the program - not always convenient or comfortable but WORTH it. I would go on, but hopefully this review helps others to find this oasis. I was in-patient for 3 1/2 months and I truly have no substantial complaints. I had a couple of concerns over that time and I was able to communicate them to the appropriate individuals and felt as though I was being listened to.

Hi Lisa, thank you so much for your 5-star review! We’re honored to be part of your recovery journey and truly appreciate your kind words. It’s wonderful to hear how much the team in Coconut Creek has impacted your experience, and we’ll be sure to share your feedback with them.

Hey X Hope

{I just wanna say, the pool is going to ruin your hair. forever. } Second, It's a hit or miss. Some people loved it and some left the next day. With it being mixed between adolescences and adults I don't believe the age demographics corresponded proper treatment. I don't believe the mixed age demographics, adolescents and adults—allow for treatment that’s truly tailored to either group. {IT IS NOT ALLERGY SAFE.} They served my friend the same thing she was allergic to 4 times. She was the one who had to say something. Most of the staff are college students who have no idea what they're doing and trying to get a credit. There is little lizards running around outside though so if you're overwilling to look paying tens of thousands of dollars for ineffective treatment, renfrew is the goat. (oh btw, they also live inside. everywhere.)

Hi – We recognize that residential treatment can be a challenging and emotional experience, and our goal is always to foster an environment where patients feel safe, supported, and respected in their healing journey.

While we do at times employ practicum or postdoctoral students as part of our team, the majority of our staff are highly trained, licensed professionals who specialize in the treatment of eating disorders. We are intentional in hiring individuals who bring clinical expertise, compassion, and a deep commitment to helping our patients work toward lasting recovery.

We wish you all the best as you continue your recovery journey.

Kaitlyn Reese

Lol...I am bored so I am giving advice to future patients. I was a patient here in 2019, when I was an adolescent. At that time, there was a main room where all groups would take place in...bring jackets!! Each patient gets placed on a badge (clear, green, red). Clear means you are free to do whatever you want when a group is not taking place (etc. go outside). Green is mainly for those that struggle with bulimia and it means you have to be on bathroom checks for at least 30+ minutes after a meal. Red badge and me have beef..it's lowkey hell lol. You are "restricted" (haha ironic) to a room and cant go hang out with the others that may be outside. It gives you motivation to get off of it, but it still was not cool. They say they are individualized but that can be argued. There are three meal plans (Menu A, B, and C) and everyone was mostly on menu B...it made no sense. Also, not everyone had to do snacks...when one patient wanted to add a snack they said she couldn't. In order to do mindful movement you must complete all required meals and snacks for three days in a row. I will say this place is mostly (not really) meant for those who struggle with anorexia and need to restore. They really really really advocate for weight restoration which, it helped me better physically...but if youre not better mentally that throws that out of the window. I got discharged right before covid, but was still doing okay..however, after my ed MORPHED into bulimia in 2023 (IDK HOW..well happened through trauma but like...)..i went somewhere else knowing what my experience was like at renfrew. I do not recommend going there if you struggle with bulimia or bed. I went to CFD in 2024 and I 100000% recommend for all ED types. I am not fully cured but ive learned a lot of tools. Again, renfrew was not bad..but it is strict. It is good for those who need a tight routine/need more structure. Pros/memories: made some good friends; loved banana grams with Sara; belly danced with Leanna lmaoo (loved her); had Liz as a therapist and she was great; Doctor G is the OG; Terri..if you are still there..you are AWESOME!

Hi Kaitlyn,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We’re glad to hear you have fond memories of some of our staff and that you were able to connect with others in the community. However, we’re sorry to learn that your overall experience did not meet your expectations.

Since your time at Renfrew, we’ve made several changes to further improve the care and services we provide. Our patients remain our utmost priority, and for nearly 40 years, we’ve been proud to support thousands of individuals on their recovery journeys.

We understand that recovery can be an uncomfortable and challenging process, and our expert staff and clinical teams are committed to delivering individualized care that meets each patient’s specific needs. While we are sorry that your experience fell short, we wish you all the best as you continue on your journey.

We’re always open to opportunities for improvement and would welcome the chance to hear more from you. Please feel free to reach out to us directly at alumni@renfrewcenter.com.

ellie

4 months ago

Renfrew saved my life. I was fading away. All my years of trauma had culminated into something incredibly destructive and potentially deadly. Malnourished since birth, I did not think anything of how I was and nor did my family. It had always been my “normal”. During my stay, I learned why I made the choices I made back then and how to let go of blame. At Renfrew I learned to communicate and be myself. I learned proper nutrition and gained awareness of emotions. I collected many coping skills. I learned how much I actually matter and that I do make an impact in people’s lives. At Renfrew I gained community. I gained friends, family. The place is honestly great. Like I didn’t want to leave in the end. It’s not perfect of course. Nothing is. But definitely the best program out there. It’s a lot of hard work and I truly believe anyone of you can do the hard work. Shout out to my team, the cooks, the director of utilization(Angel lady), housekeeping staff, nursing staff, the counselors, and the security staff. I love and miss them all. I couldn’t have done it without them. I highly recommend them. Oh! +Advocate!! If you plan to go, advocate for your needs always :). Recovery is worth it!!!!

Hi Ellie, thank you so much for your 5-star review! We’re honored to be part of your recovery journey and truly appreciate your kind words. It’s wonderful to hear how much the team in Coconut Creek has impacted your experience, and we’ll be sure to share your feedback with them.

Alexis Algarin

We're so grateful you took the time to leave us a 5-star review—thank you!

Sydney Robinson

6 months ago

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.

Hi Sydney,

We are sorry that your experience at Renfrew was difficult. We understand that residential treatment can be a challenging and emotional process, and we strive to create an environment where patients feel safe and supported in the healing process. It’s concerning to hear that we fell short of your expectations. We take feedback like yours seriously and would welcome the opportunity to learn more. If you’d like to discuss your experience further, please feel free to contact us directly at alumni@renfrewcenter.com. We wish you the best on your recovery journey.

Bob

7 months ago

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!

Thank you for sharing your concerns. While we do not have bars on our windows, like many residential and clinical settings, we have safety locks in place to ensure a secure environment for our patients. These are standard precautions to promote safety while maintaining a comfortable and therapeutic setting.

Lea Basham

9 months ago

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.

Hi Lea,

We’re sorry to hear that your experience didn’t meet your expectations. At The Renfrew Center, we are committed to providing comprehensive, evidence-based care through our licensed professionals and thoughtfully designed treatment approaches.

To clarify, we do not lock doors; our goal is to foster a supportive and open environment for healing. If you’d like to discuss your experience further, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly at alumni@renfrewcenter.com.

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