Monte Nido – Agoura Hills

best monte nido location i’ve been to, i’d highly recommend. the staff are all very well trained and supportive. shoutout to the RC’s they deserve more money. also shoutout nurses. anyway, #recoverybaddie

I was just there, a lot of mixed feelings about this specific location. MN is great, each location is very different. However, I was bullied a lot and staff didn’t do anything about it. I’ve learnt from this… experience/place that I do not want to go to residential again regardless of how much I’m struggling.

Monte Nido Vista saved my life. And I don’t say that lightly. I had been in and out of treatment for years when I stumbled upon Vista. I had all my walls up and had confidently decided that my eating disorder would get… to dictate the rest of my life. I was hopeless and numb to care. But Vista and the staff there changed me. I am alive today because of the people who work here. Specifically the Clinical Director, she expressed genuine care, patience, and an unmatched level of dedication to my care. She gave me hope again. She made my life worth living again. She is who I want to be when I become a therapist too. She runs a tight ship and therefore the rest of the staff are lovely as well. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder in any capacity, please consider Vista as your place of healing. The people here changed the trajectory of my life and they deserve all the praise in the world.

If I could do less than one star I would. This was one of the most traumatic experiences in my life. In case you were considering going, I’ll break it down for you. The brochure boasts wraparound support such as… chiropractor care, massage therapy, weight training, yoga, mindful walks (daily! which is actually not allowed) There are actually no physical advantages to this program. No weight training, mindful walks, chiropractor care, massage therapy or even yoga. Everything is based on a level system. Outings, and movement are all level based. If you get 3 restrictions (not finishing a meal) you don’t have any privileges. If you get 1, you don’t have any privileges for the following day. For yoga my first week I laid on the mat and occasionally did a stretch. Your bathroom uses are monitored, someone stands by the door with the door cracked and they check the toilet before you flush. (This happens up until level 3 to my understanding.) The staff is brilliant at gaslighting, manipulating and invalidating the residents, so much so, we had to strategize how to stand our ground. They’ll talk all day long about how it’s a voluntary program and that you’re free to leave, but once you say you want to go there’s an onslaught from many of the providers. This includes threatening of AMA and ACA, stating it’s your eating disorder that wants you to leave, or simply minimizing your experience and gaslighting you to believe it’s not as bad as you think. Example; I was fed wheat, and I have a gluten sensitivity. The dietician and clinical director minimized and invalidated my experience by saying it was human error, it was only once and it’s only a sensitivity. Wheat makes me feel really ill, and I expressed that concern to every staff member and to the staff BEFORE admittance as well!! I understand mistakes happen, but I’m at an eating disorder program. Mistakes should NOT happen in regards to food. (Also, there were only 5 of us. How hard is it to feed 5 people). I’m not going to speak on other peoples behalf, but there were multiple “mix ups” or misunderstandings with other residents as well. Most of the staff felt incredibly unsupportive. We were treated like toddler inmates. I felt like I was just a number on a paycheck to most of them. On my last day, leaving ACA, only one RC was kind to me and encouraged me. (Shoutout Ruby) On my second day there, because I felt so ill (not entirely convinced they weren’t giving me wheat the whole time) and was talking to an RC about how sick I felt talking about the previous meal. She told me it wasn’t an option to not talk about it and that that specific behavior would be challenged. Obviously I’m there to challenge my eating disorder. But on my second day, only my first lunch there, to say that my feelings were immediately invalidated made me sob. On my first morning, I was crying so hard I was heaving. I went to throw up but the nurse wouldn’t hand me the trash can. She said if I threw up it would be marked as a behavior in my chart. I felt more supported and encouraged by the other residents than I ever did from the staff. Residents say it’s impossible to get to level 3. I personally don’t think they want you to get to level 3 because the longer you’re there the more money they get. IF you decide to go, these are some question to ask PRE admission. (These are all questions I wish I knew to ask.) How long does it take to move levels? Explain in detail the level system. Explain in detail the contract system. Explain in detail the “consequences”. Explain in detail, what types of movement I’m allowed to partake in, and reasonings of why and why not. Why does the brochure boast physical advantages such as chiropractor care, massage therapy and movement, when those are not actually involved in their residential care? Explain in detail, the different forms of therapy, how often they’re provided and by what providers. Explain the roles of the RC’s. Many of the RC’s relished their power. Ask about exposures, and how often they happen. Good luck!

This place is an absolute scam I have horror stories from the staff, not only was miss treated I was bullied by staff and so many others were I called the health department on them and wrote grievances for one staff… member they made them leave untill I was kicked out for having narcolepsy, they also allowed dangerous and violent patients to stick around. With raw uncooked food only allowed to shower 3 times out of my 30 day stay harassment and bullying from staff. Hiring a message therapist to be a therapist keep in mind they had no training. Being yelled at, ignoring culture and peoples religions and food allergies etc. they don’t care and they just want your money they did nothing to help me or others their please look into other treatment facilities

Monte Nido in general is incredible at patient advocacy, best in class treatments, and most of all empathy from all the staff.

The RCs here helped me in being able to make good decisions and learn to find the middle ground, not be so rigid between black and white. Overall, a pretty good program.

Monte Nido Vista was truly the biggest blessing to me and saved my life. Each and every one of the staff members truly cares about you as an individual and goes out of their way to support you, fight for you and be… there for you throughout every part of the process. The groups were engaging and very beneficial and the days are structured very well. I am forever grateful for Vista for helping me get back on my feet and realize that I can live my life free from my eating disorder. They are the best of the best and I wouldn't recommend anywhere else.

Monte Nido Vista saved my life and is truly the best treatment center I have ever been to. The staff: therapists, dietitian, CNAs, nurses, doctors, chef, etc. are absolutely incredible and care so deeply for the… clients. They work on a levels system that allows clients to work on individual skills they are looking to challenge during treatment with the support of staff. Groups were always engaging and helpful -- I always felt that I left group learning something new. Monte Nido Vista helped me realize that I can live a life without my eating disorder, and for that I am so thankful. I do not have enough good things to say about my experience there.

Agoura Hills is a good program. I learned a lot. Thank you for everything!

I think Vista is an incredible program. It can really change your life if you let it, and it changed my life immensely. Every staff member is helpful and incredibly supportive. They genuinely care for their clients;… current and past. I love Vista! Although I’m happy to take my next step in my recovery; I am so incredibly sad to leave this incredible place.

100% would recommend. Some great staff and individual therapy sessions.

The community and care I recevied here at Monte Nido made me feel special and helped me recover my life. Thank you for EVERYTHING