PARENT
Three years and several hospitalizations into our daughter's eating disorder, I called Montecatini. From that first phone call, it was clear that Montecatini was different from other programs, and to this day our family is deeply grateful for the difference. The mission of Montecatini, I was told, was to have their patients' complete treatment and leave, not as patients, but as fully functioning individuals. No one in the steady stream of professionals who treated our daughter ever suggested when or if our daughter would be truly healthy again. It was always a matter of waiting until she was "ready". This was the first program that seemed to take a truly firm, proactive approach.

There are tangible differences that make Montecatini so effective. Our daughter's self destructive behavior was stopped when she walked through the door. There were simply no choices in food or activities. There were none of the strange bargains that often characterized her treatment. There was just recovery. And everyone in the home was in it together. At Montecatini, the rigid rules and rituals of our daughter's disease were replaced with a sensible structure geared to normal, healthy everyday living. Eating at home, eating in restaurant, attending meetings, going out, cooking, shopping…all the activities of normal life were her activities at Montecatini. Within this common sense framework of a healthy lifestyle in a residential environment, the doctors and staff gave her the guidance and support she needed to heal, both physically and emotionally. Rather than a quick and temporary fix or crisis management, Montecatini offers long term recovery.

Another huge difference at Montecatini is the hands-on approach taken by the doctors who run the program. Rather than making "rounds" as most program directors seemed to do, Doctor Helen and Doctor Shamssi were in the house on a daily basis. They were always there for my daughter, guiding her, supporting her, comforting her and, when she needed it, setting her straight. There is a unique consistency of focus and direction at Montecatini set by the doctors and implemented by all the wonderful professional who staff the program.

There are also intangibles that make Montecatini so different. It is a beautiful, peaceful home and a unique community of doctors, patient and families. It is a place of spiritual renewal and growth. To anyone who has lived with the chaos and suffering of an eating disorder, there is an immediate and profound sense of relief when you walk through the door. When we placed our daughter in Montecatini, we had complete confidence that she was in excellent hands.

When our daughter returned home after nine months at Montecatini, she was fully prepared to tackle the challenges of life. In the nearly two years following her discharge, we have been continually amazed, not only by the strength of her recovery, but also by the personal and spiritual growth which have taken place in leaps and bounds. It has become more and more clear every day, that what our daughter gained from Montecatini both helped her conquer a terrible illness, and gave her to tools and inspiration t live a meaningful, joyous life. We will always be profoundly grateful to the doctors and staff of Montecatini.

Karen and Eric