Monte Nido Eating Disorder Treatment Center
In 1996, after having treated eating disorders in a variety of settings, I opened the first
Monte Nido treatment facility near my home in Malibu, California. Having run hospital eating disorder programs I knew I wanted to offer something very different. I wanted to provide a healing environment and a top notch treatment program for disorders such as Anorexia, Bulimia and Exercise Addiction.
Monte Nido became that place and its achievements have become larger than anything I could ever have imagined. Now
Monte Nido has other affiliate programs, both residential and day treatment, and continues to grow due to its resounding success.
All of the
Monte Nido residential programs are homes located in beautiful serene settings, which promote tranquility and connection to nature. Our locations significantly contribute to providing a healing environment. Each program accepts only a small number of clients, allowing for highly individualized treatment, which I believe is crucial for optimal growth and long-term recovery.
Finally, an important factor of
Monte Nido's success and one reason why people say they choose
Monte Nido over other options, has to do with our use of "recovered" staff. Originally I was unaware of the impact this feature would have. By disclosing my own recovery and referring to it in my books, and in the
Monte Nido literature, I have attracted numerous qualified, compassionate and strong staff members who have recovered from their own eating disorder. We also have excellent staff members who do not have an eating disorder history. I do not believe that personal recovery is a criteria to be an effective eating disorder therapist. However, openly using recovered staff has been overwhelmingly positive. All our staff members offer hope that being fully recovered is possible and we model lives where food, eating, exercise and weight are in proper perspective, showing our clients that full lives are possible.
The contents of this website describe what is common to
Monte Nido and its affiliates. To receive details regarding specific programs and locations, other information, or just to talk, please contact our main office at 310-457-9958.
Respectfully,
Carolyn Costin M.A., M.Ed., MFT
Executive Director
I created Monte Nido because I wanted a home-like environment rather than a hospital for my clients who needed 24-hour care. Since Monte Nido opened, over a decade ago, the field of eating disorders has changed dramatically. Other small residential facilities opened up across the country and I was pleased that an increasing number of individuals were able to get this kind of care. However, recently all the small programs are being bought out by large profit-driven corporations. Monte Nido is still owned and run by myself only, and the care continues to be driven by my passion for this work and the long-term commitment I have to help every client find her own personal recovery. If Monte Nido is not appropriate for you or not your choice for a treatment program, please explore thoroughly your other options in order to have a full understanding of who in the background will be directing your care.