Reasons Eating Disorder Center

My honest experience with Reasons ERC (2.5 stars) About 8 years ago, I spent close to 10 months at Reasons across all levels of care. I want to start by saying: I am now, gratefully, fully recovered. And that is not something I take lightly. When I first entered treatment at Reasons, I wasn’t ready for recovery. That part matters — because nothing, not even the best team in the world, can substitute internal readiness. Healing requires willingness, and at the time, I didn’t have that yet. That said, there are some things about my experience that still deserve to be voiced. As someone who keeps kosher, I found Reasons especially challenging. I was told they could and would accommodate kosher dietary needs — but that wasn’t the reality I lived. It wasn’t just a matter of unfamiliarity; I don’t expect every facility to know every nuance of religious life. But I do expect honesty about what they can and cannot do. There were moments that highlighted this disconnect in painful ways — like being given a loaf of bread during Passover, despite the effort they had made to bring in kosher for Passover food. Or refusing to consult with my rabbi when I asked for guidance or clarification. For those who know what it’s like to navigate a deeply personal, faith-based recovery journey — this kind of mismatch makes things exponentially harder. Food was already loaded. Add in religious restriction, and the emotional weight grew tenfold. Later, I went to a facility that did take kosher seriously — and the difference was night and day. When I didn’t have to advocate or explain myself constantly, I was able to actually do the work of healing. I don’t write this with bitterness, but with honesty — and a hope that maybe one day, treatment centers will pause before promising accommodations they aren’t truly prepared to follow through on. Healing is possible. I’m living proof. But the path matters — and the support systems along the way do, too.

Naomi Ellis

I come with a very unique perspective. Having been here for treatment back in 2023 and now working in the RTC field as well. The MHWs need recognition and a pay raise big time. I'm sure whatever it is....tis not enough. Yes...there are strict rules and guidelines but trust me, they are there for a reason. In fact, now being in their shoes....it's not easy working with people and yet the staff there come in and help support the clients unconditionally. Also, if you happen to come into a bad "community" remember to advocate for yourselves. Even if it means confronting a peer and placing a boundary. ( I miss being able to have done this as a client.) As a former client: it frustrated me to see peers who did not utilize this place and all of it's resources. Respectfully, if you are not ready; someone else NEEDS that empty bed. There has to be willingness on YOUR part. As staff in a similar but different from ED program: It makes my day to hear from my own list of past "communties." Hearing back from "Jane Doe" or "John Doe" re-enrolled in college. Or starting a band, or beginning a family, whatever it is...big or small progress. Sharing this joy with my colleagues has cemented my passion for helping others just like those who helped me. Thank you Reasons for saving my life! As far as disorders go; eating disorders being the deadliest mental disorder (aside from alcoholism/drug addiction) just reaffirms that statement. Shout out to Katie B; for being an amazing MHW as well as managing all the MHWs to golden standards and my past therapist, Vicky; however short our sessions were I appreciate the accommodations being quickly address; making sure program is followed and staff changes having no difference or negative impact in my treatment there. Thank you Reasons! In recognition of the staff who were there during my time, current staff, and future staff. You do make a difference.

Adrian Monroy

Only reason this isn’t a 1 star is because they truly did save my life in a time of crisis. I was at Reasons inpatient for 11 weeks and at residential for one month. The journey to get to inpatient took almost 3 months, Ashley and Christina were extremely helpful. Lara gave me an admission date 2 different times then immediately told not to come in. The inpatient program was very repetitive if you are there for more than 4 weeks, being given stacks of paperwork to fill out for every group wasn’t helpful. Neither was counting out snacks, or measuring out food with a measuring cup/ food scale. Cafeteria food was cafeteria food. Sometimes the food was undercooked, and multiple times I had ants in my plate or inside my water, so watch out. The A2 side of the hospital was disgusting. It took the hospital 3 weeks to fix my shower faucet since water wouldn’t come out at all, so for the first few weeks I was in inpatient I had to shower in the dining room’s bathroom. Neither bathroom was ever cleaned up. They’d put bleach in the toilet and call it a day. The shower was full of hair from previous patients, black mold in the shower, blood on the floor, and an extremely dirty toilet with pee on the side of it. I asked several times for maintenance cause the shower did not drain and the whole time I was there, it wasn’t done, so everytime I showered i had to shower in a puddle of black mold, ants, and god knows what else. Basic humanity was stripped away the whole time in there. Can’t forget the ant infestation. I woke up to ants on my bed multiple times, I showered with ants, and the dining room was also full of ants on the table at one point. My therapist and dietitian in inpatient were helpful. The nurses and MHW’s were very supportive too. Daisy went above and beyond with my case, as there was a lot of insurance issues, and I’m forever thankful for her help. I did not have stable therapy in residential. I felt like a revolving door. The one I first had got fired, then I had my case worker as my therapist, then another therapist. Most of my therapy sessions consisted of me making phone calls to free clinics preparing me for discharge. I believe a lot of this could’ve been handled by the case worker. The dietitian helped me integrate back into society by taking me on some solo exposures and they helped cover my meals during outings as I was struggling financially. They discharged me with a folder full of all the meals we had for dinner, so that did help some. Unfortunately, I was discharged because I lost insurance coverage, but even then, I was discharged to an unhealthy environment, they gave me two options “go to a homeless shelter for battered women” or “go to Texas and live in an unhealthy environment for you.” I wasn’t given any more help for my eating disorder which I find extremely irresponsible of them. I asked for all my medical records to be sent to me and I have heard absolutely nothing from anyone after I sent in the medical release form. I’ve been without any continuity in care for my eating disorder for 2 months now. Unless you can pay them hundreds of dollars a day or have insurance coverage, good luck finding any help.

Daniela Salinas

I was at Reasons inpatient for 7 weeks, from mid-October to early December. This experience was the most dehumanizing, upsetting, and dare I use the word traumatic, period of my life. The program is housed in a hospital shared with mental health patients, who you may or may not share a room with. I awoke one morning to my roommate (who appeared around midnight the previous night), vomiting violently in the bathroom. Then there was the screaming tirade I heard at 5 am when I was getting my blood drawn. Also, staff come in every 15 minutes during the night, standing over your bed and rustling through their paperwork to make sure you are accounted for. Any sort of cleanliness was a joke- I don’t know if the bathroom was ever cleaned. Onto Reasons itself: with few exceptions (Sue, Gaby and Dung come to mind), the staff (clinical and otherwise) are uncaring, unprofessional, and incompetent to the point of concern. The best example of this: as I was signing my discharge papers (one of the best days of my life), I noticed they had mis-diagnosed me. I brought this up to the psychiatrist, and he brushed me off, saying that they just need to put something there for insurance purposes. I was, and still am irate at the lack of attention to accuracy, never mind the absence of decent human warmth. I sobbed about 4 times during my time at Reasons, and there were ZERO staff who checked in with me. In fact, one left the room. Avoid this place at all costs; it could cause more harm than good.

Stephanie M

Reasons Residental by far is the best program for ED coupled with other mental health challenges. The staff is so carrying and help to educate family members that might need a deeper understanding of how to support loved ones. They help to advocate to insurance if more time needed. I couldn't recommend this place more!

Rita Jane Keledjian