Cambridge Eating Disorder Center – CEDC

Cambridge, Massachusetts

3 Bow Street
Cambridge, MA 02138

About Cambridge Eating Disorder Center – CEDC

Cambridge Eating Disorder Center is a private rehab located in Cambridge, MA. Cambridge Eating Disorder Center provides individuals suffering with eating disorders a comprehensive continuum of support services focused on their recovery. Their treatment programs focus on reducing eating disorder symptoms while promoting the development of a healthy self that encompasses both emotional and physical well-being.

Eating disorders are complex illnesses caused by a combination of factors such as an individual’s characterological components, physiological issues, difficult family and interpersonal relationships, and societal pressures. CEDC’s mission is to provide our patients with a comprehensive and quality continuum of care in a community setting.

Because eating disorders often serve as a coping mechanism, we focus on reducing behaviors and understanding their development and function. We aim to promote the development of a healthy self that encompasses both emotional and physical well-being.

The Cambridge Eating Disorder Center is a proud supporter of the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa & Associated Disorders (ANAD), International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals, Multi-Service Eating Disorder Association (MEDA), Eating Disorder Coalition, Residential Eating Disorder Consortium.

Payment Options

Private insurance
Self-pay options
Per session
Military insurance
Medicaid

Levels of Care

Outpatient

Outpatient Programs (OP) are for those seeking mental rehab or drug rehab, but who also stay at home every night. The main difference between outpatient treatment (OP) and intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) lies in the amount of hours the patient spends at the facility. Most of the time an outpatient program is designed for someone who has completed an inpatient stay and is looking to continue their growth in recovery. Outpatient is not meant to be the starting point, it is commonly referred to as aftercare.

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.

Intensive Outpatient

Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) are for those who want or need a very structured treatment program but who also wish to live at home and continue with certain responsibilities (such as work or school). IOP substance abuse treatment programs vary in duration and intensity, and certain outpatient rehab centers will offer individualized treatment programs.

Aftercare

Rehab aftercare programs offer customized, wraparound support for clients in the maintenance phase of recovery. Many clients enroll in drug rehab immediately after completing intensive inpatient or residential care. Services encompass outpatient treatment but often extend long beyond the completion of a formal recovery program and typically include a variety of medical, mental health, and social service programs. Peer coaching, relapse prevention, 12 step program induction, and related services are commonly available.

12-Step

Recovery models based on 12 step programs feature extensive peer coaching and emphasize personal growth as a key to sustained sobriety. Regular attendance at 12 step meetings, which are anonymous, free, and available daily, is expected. The 12 steps of recovery are based on spiritual principles and support participants in addressing the root causes of their disease, accept responsibility for their choices, and accept that which is beyond their control. Self-selected sponsors provide one-one-mentoring.

Sober Living Homes

Sober Living Houses (SLHs), aka sober homes or halfway houses, are safe, substance-free, supportive living facilities for those recovering from substance abuse. Ideal for those who've just been through inpatient or outpatient treatment, SLHs are supervised environments with rules that support sobriety, such as curfews, shared chores, and therapeutic meetings. Residents are also often trained on life skills and coping skills to make it easier to transition into society. SLHs also provide a strong sense of community that can lead to the kind of deep and lasting connections with other sober individuals that supports a new, healthy lifestyle.

Intervention Services

A drug intervention in Massachusetts provides friends and family the opportunity to share how a person's substance use has caused problems in their lives. The goal of the intervention is to encourage the person to get the treatment they need. Most rehab facilities offer intervention services that can help families prepare for the intervention and facilitate entry into treatment if the person agrees to get help.

Partial Hospitalization Program

A partial hospitalization program (PHP) is a short-term form of intensive rehab, usually for those with acute symptoms that are hard to manage but don’t require 24-hour care. PHPs have structured programming (i.e. individual and/or group therapy), and usually meet 3-5 days a week for around 6 hours (i.e. 9am-3m). Some PHPs are residential (patients sleep on site) and some are not, so patients sleep at home. PHPs can last from 1-6 months, and some offer transportation and meals.

24-Hour Clinical Care

Due to various health issues that substance abuse causes, 24-hour clinical care in Massachusetts is often a necessary part of treatment. Individuals may be suffering from infections, illness, or organ damage. Having 24-hour care available ensures that these physical problems are treated along with the psychological effects of addiction. Once individuals complete detox and are medically stable, this intensive level of supervision ends, and the next phase of treatment can begin.

Medically Assisted Detox

Medically supervised detox is the process of removing addictive substances from your body and managing the withdrawal symptoms in a medically supervised environment. Typically, this is the first step in the recovery process and lasts an average of 5-7 days, though the length can vary depending on your individual needs. Once your system is cleared of alcohol and drugs, you'll likely transition to an inpatient treatment program for the next phase of your recovery.

Programs

Adolescence program

Adult program

Program for men

Program for women

Young adult program

Children program

Elderly program

Hearing impaired program

HIV/AIDS program

LGBTQ program

Military program

Postpartum program

Total beds:

Settings & Amenities

Art activities
Yoga studio
Residential setting
Private rooms

Insurance

Our Policy: Cambridge Eating Disorder Center – CEDC works with several private insurance providers and also accepts private payments when possible, please contact us to verify your specific insurance provider.

Aetna

Blue Cross Blue Shield

Behavioral Health Systems (BHS)

CDPHP

Commonwealth Care Alliance (CCA)

Community Health Options

E4Health

EmblemHealth

Galaxy Health Network

InterGroup

Martin's Point

MultiPlan

Network Health

Optum

Beacon Health

Treatment

Dual Diagnosis

Many of those suffering from addiction also suffer from mental or emotional illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorders. Rehab and other substance abuse facilities treating those with a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder administer psychiatric treatment to address the person's mental health issue in addition to drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

Mental Health

Mental health rehabs focus on helping individuals recover from mental illnesses like bipolar disorder, clinical depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and more. Mental health professionals at these facilities are trained to understand and treat mental health issues, both in individual and group settings.

Clinical Services

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a therapy modality that focuses on the relationship between one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is used to establish and allow for healthy responses to thoughts and feelings (instead of unhealthy responses, like using drugs or alcohol). CBT has been proven effective for recovering addicts of all kinds, and is used to strengthen a patient's own self-awareness and ability to self-regulate. CBT allows individuals to monitor their own emotional state, become more adept at communicating with others, and manage stress without needing to engage in substance abuse.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a modified form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a treatment designed to help people understand and ultimately affect the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. DBT is often used for individuals who struggle with self-harm behaviors, such as self-mutilation (cutting) and suicidal thoughts, urges, or attempts. It has been proven clinically effective for those who struggle with out-of-control emotions and mental health illnesses like Borderline Personality Disorder.

Group Therapy

Group therapy is any therapeutic work that happens in a group (not one-on-one). There are a number of different group therapy modalities, including support groups, experiential therapy, psycho-education, and more. Group therapy involves treatment as well as processing interaction between group members.

Individual Therapy

In individual therapy, a patient meets one-on-one with a trained psychologist or counselor. Therapy is a pivotal part of effective substance abuse treatment, as it often covers root causes of addiction, including challenges faced by the patient in their social, family, and work/school life.

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a clinical approach to helping people with substance abuse issues and other conditions shift behavior in positive ways. It is more goal-oriented than traditional psychotherapy, as MI counselors directly attempt to get clients to consider making behavioral change (rather than wait for them to come to conclusions themselves). Its primary purpose is to resolve ambivalence and help clients become able to make healthy choices freely.

Trauma Therapy

Trauma therapy addresses traumatic incidents from a client's past that are likely affecting their present-day experience. Trauma is often one of the primary triggers and potential causes of addiction, and can stem from child sexual abuse, domestic violence, having a parent with a mental illness, losing one or both parents at a young age, teenage or adult sexual assault, or any number of other factors. The purpose of trauma therapy is to allow a patient to process trauma and move through and past it, with the help of trained and compassionate mental health professionals.

Couples Therapy

Whether a marriage or other committed relationship, an intimate partnership is one of the most important aspects of a person's life. Drug and alcohol addiction affects both members of a couple in deep and meaningful ways, as does rehab and recovery. Couples therapy and other couples-focused treatment programs are significant parts of exploring triggers of addiction, as well as learning how to build healthy patterns to support ongoing sobriety.

Family Therapy

Research clearly demonstrates that recovery is far more successful and sustainable when loved ones like family members participate in rehab and substance abuse treatment. Genetic factors may be at play when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, as well as mental health issues. Family dynamics often play a critical role in addiction triggers, and if properly educated, family members can be a strong source of support when it comes to rehabilitation.

Life Skills

Life skills trainings involve all the skills a person must have in order to function successfully in the world. These include time management, career guidance, money management, and effective communication. Truly successful addiction recovery is based on the ability to not only live substance-free, but to thrive. Life skills teaches the practical necessities of functioning in society, which sets clients up for success in life, and therefore sobriety.

Nutrition Therapy

Nutrition therapy, aka medical nutrition therapy (MNT), is a way of treating physical, emotional, and medical conditions through diet. Specific dietary plans are designed by professional nutritionists or registered dietitians, and patients follow them in order to positively affect their physical and mental health.

Recreational Therapy

Recreational therapy helps you as you recover from drug and alcohol addiction in Massachusetts by giving you structured activities to improve your physical and mental health. By participating in sports, creative arts, or nature activities, you have a positive outlet for emotions and stress that may have otherwise triggered alcohol or drug use. This helps to foster a healthy sober lifestyle.

Creative Arts Therapy

Creativity is inherently healing, and can help those in recovery express thoughts or feelings they might not otherwise be able to. Creative arts therapy can include music, poetry/writing, painting, sculpting, dance, theater, sandplay, and more. Unlike traditional art, the final product matters far less than the experience of creation and expression itself.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

The best time for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in Massachusetts is the moment you quit. You can start this therapy right away to lessen cravings and withdrawal symptoms, so the process is easier. Research has shown that NRT increases the chances of success. Options include patches, gum, inhalers, sprays, and lozenges.

Accreditations

SAMHSA

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1992 by congress, SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on American's communities.

SAMHSA Listed: Yes

Joint Commission

The Joint Commission, formerly known as JCAHO, is a nonprofit organization that accredits rehab organizations and programs. Founded in 1951, the Joint Commision's mission is to improve the quality of patient care and demonstrating the quality of patient care.

Joint Commission Accreditation: Yes
Accreditation Number: 439548

Contact

(617) 547-2255

Website

3 Bow Street
Cambridge, MA 02138

Call Now - Help is Available

Get Help Now - 617-862-0388

Reviews

2.8 (41 reviews)

Google Rating

Sophie Simons

4 months ago

I was at CEDC residential from November 2023-February 2024, and while I have a lot of complicated feelings about the program, I can say that I would recommend it in a lot of ways, especially for those who are spending their first time in treatment. The milieu is usually pretty small (max 12, but in my opinion when it gets over around 7 it becomes really chaotic and the facility doesn't really have the resources to cover it) so it really is community-based and depends on who is there (this is true for many other treatment centers).Some good things about CEDC are: the food is usually very good (all cooked by Joan!), many of the RCs are incredible, you get your phone all day, most of the case managers are extremely well equipped and the program director is genuinely phenomenal and cares so much about the patients and the unit (I cannot say enough positive things about her to adequately express how beneficial she was to my stay). I had a largely positive experience there and much can be attributed to the staff and program director, and the milieu I was in for most of my stay. I made many positive relationships in my time there which helped me further my recovery journey.Some uniquely challenging things about CEDC are: extremely limited weekend support, not a lot of support or understanding with interpersonal conflict, basically everything goes into contraband (but you can get approved into your team), and many of the options for psychiatrists are less than ideal. The passes are very limited and it is hard to get some meaningful time outside, especially for those on the adolescent floor.The main hardship I faced at CEDC was that some elements of the program made it extremely easy to continue using behaviors, especially if you have a restrictive eating disorder. For many patients, the expectation of completion is individualized to an almost detrimental point, at least in what I've seen, where it can allow patients to listen to their eating disorders a lot in meal times, especially as you are allowed to leave the kitchen if you feel like you cannot make any more progress. I think that while accountability is always a part of treatment or recovery, some elements of the program (like leaving the kitchen or being able to return to your room directly after the meal) require a lot more self accountability than many people suffering with EDs can handle, especially in the beginning. It is easy to fall into a competition mindset and hard to pull yourself into a recovery-oriented headspace depending on the conditions of the milieu you arrive in.My experience at CEDC was my first time in any treatment, and I would definitely not say that I regret it being my first treatment center. Although the groups get repetitive if you've been there for over a month, they are really helpful in building up a foundation of DBT and CBT especially if you have no background in it.*I would also like to note that if you are scrolling through these Google Reviews, please remember that most people write these reviews immediately upon leaving and many are biased. I have been a patient alongside many people who have left reviews, and can say from personal experience and observation that many are biased and inaccurate. Most, if not all, of the staff at CEDC genuinely cares for everyone, regardless of identity and many perspectives shared in reviews can be harmful to those looking at the program. It is hard to distinguish whether people dislike a specific treatment center or if their eating disorders are fighting back at the concept of recovery such that they blame the center. There are good parts and bad parts to everyone's treatment experience in any place, so keep that in mind as you consider which is the best fit for you or your loved ones!

Sofia Rose

8 months ago

I was only here a week and experienced nothing but harassment and bullying since I arrived. I came here 5 years ago and had only left due to my own lack of compliance. I remembered it as a positive and loving environment but now it is everything but that. The staff is literally all in their 20 s and are glorified babysitters. They enable behaviors and disorders to the point of triggering other patients. They have been disrespectful and rude to me since I arrived only a week ago. A patient became obsessed with bullying me past the community and somehow found my personal social media accounts, and was not apparently breaking HIPPA by doing so. I verbalized constantly that I was feeling harassed by this patient and they continued to do nothing about it and blamed it on me. It s much easier to call the POC aggressive than admit your whole staff and patients are racist. If you re a POC this environment is not safe for you, I haven t been eating because of the constant stress. They have made me thinner than when I arrived. They should be shut down immediately, and should be ashamed of themselves. They also denied my roommate who is in dire need of a higher level of care, any help. They re evil. No one can get better in a toxic environment.

Flora Birch

9 months ago

I have a lot to say about CEDC, most of which is positive, some of which is less so simply because of its nature and the fact that it is a treatment center. I spent 3 months on the adolescent floor at CEDC and was lucky enough to have a very supportive care team and community. I remember being incredibly nervous to start at CEDC, and reading these reviews honestly just made that anxiety worse- so for whoever is reading this, whether it s for yourself or someone you love, please take a deep breath because I promise that it s going to be okay.On a positive note, the meals work really well and there are lots of options to meet dietary needs, and the diet techs are some of the loveliest people that you will ever meet. The facilities are clean and the bathroom system works very well and offers as much privacy as can be hoped for. The Resident Counselors are extremely kind and go above and beyond in the ways that they care for and interact with patients. There is also an hour of guaranteed tech time for the adolescent floor (which might not seem like a lot, but is much more than other programs allow) The tutor is also such a genuinely kind soul and made the stress of doing schoolwork from afar so much lesser <3 There is also a weekly cooking and baking group and individualized exposure therapies which can be really helpful.On the more intricate side of things, The way that the program is run allows for patients to go back to their rooms during free times which resulted in some pretty invasive behaviors being used in many of the rooms post meals. There is also not a lot of access to the outside and so it s pretty common to go weeks without getting to go outside. The RCs are a lot younger than I anticipated (which says nothing about their abilities) but they did not always have knowledge specific to the treatment of eating disorders. Family therapy is not a large part of the treatment plan either, though there are family update sessions that happen weekly.About the program itself- There are 3-4 groups per day and 3 meals and 3 snacks daily. On the weekends therapeutic groups don t happen, but there are a few things to keep busy and the RCs try really hard to make it fun. Patients get 2 passes per week which are each 2 hours that can be used to see family, and you can receive letters and packages. Also note that they check any diaries that you bring and that lots of clothes that don't cover your arms or your legs will be confiscated.All in all the program is a really receptive and supportive one and it saved my life in so many ways. I can t say that treatment was easy, but it never is, and I am beyond grateful for all the people on my team and in my community who made my experience what it was.

Response from the owner8 months ago

Dear Flora, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience at Cambridge Eating Disorder Center in Cambridge. We are glad to hear that you had a positive experience overall and that our team was able to support you during your stay. We understand that seeking treatment can be a daunting experience and we are grateful that you chose CEDC. We appreciate your feedback and will take your suggestions into consideration as we are always looking for ways to improve our services. We are happy to hear that the meals and dietary options met your needs and that our staff, including the diet techs, RCs, and tutor, were able to make your experience more comfortable. We apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced during your stay, including the lack of access to the outside and the younger age of our RCs. We are constantly working to improve our program and will take your comments into consideration. Thank you for trusting us with your care and we wish you all the best in your recovery journey. Sincerely

Abby St.Laurent

medical maltreatment and no nurses on staff on childrens floor

my little pony

11 months ago

i wish i could give this place a zero.

Zoe LaRochelle

1 year ago

I went to the CEDC hoping for healing and help. My 2nd day at the CEDC I was sent to the ER for a migraine. I was told an RC would accompany me. She ended up having to leave and I was treated for my migraine. Afterwards I called the center to have an RC accompany me back to the center. The ER doctor, nurse and myself tried contacting the center for that ride. No one had picked up. I ended up hitchhiking to get back to the center. I was then made to feel as though the incident was my fault.

Lilah Sjostedt

rita if u see this i miss you and i love you youre amazing

Response from the owner1 year ago

Dear Lilah, thank you for your kind words about the Cambridge Eating Disorder Center. We are so glad to have been able to provide our medical clinic services to you and we appreciate your support.

abbi

2 years ago

Abbey Jenkins

Absolute garbage. If I could, I would give CEDC zero stars. They lack communication skills that people suffering with ED's need very much. At the end of March 2022, I was given my evaluation and after that was told it would be a two to three weeks wait before I would be able to go down. I waited every day getting anxious about when the one week warning call would come...it never did. I eventually called back and was then told it would be another two to three weeks wait. I waited and waited every new day, I was growing more and more anxious to go down. I needed to get better, I just couldn't do it on my own and I need residential help. After three weeks they never called. So I eventually called them again. I spoke with the director, who might I say is a very inconsiderate human being, who has no empathy towards the patients she is supposed to help, and is very poor at what she does. She then proceeded to tell me it was going to be a longer wait. I had already waited for over a month. At this point I was sick of everything CEDC had put me through, with all their terrible misleading information and letting me get my hopes up every new day. I eventually was told that I could be on more than one waiting list. So I found two new programs that I proceeded to join the waitlist for. Overall, I recommend looking at any other place besides CEDC, and joining more than one wait list. Keep your options open. Don't let CEDC give you misleading information that can get your hopes up and make you mentally exhausted.

Nicole Barsky

River Daisy

I was a patient in early 2022 so this review applies to this time period. The treatment was okay. Communicating with staff can be very frustrating. At the moment, I d suggest getting residential treatment somewhere else. A ton of staff are leaving right now and they are discharging patients way too fast. Discharging patients so fast is what s making the place a revolving door. If you want a lower risk of relapse, find somewhere else for now. Overall, the group therapy and food was pretty good. They have vegetarian options, but not vegan ones. If you re a minor, you only get your phone 30-60 minutes a day so be prepared. I mostly read lots of books, made bracelets, knit, talked to people, collaged, etc. and you don t even miss your phone that much. I cant speak for the patients now but every single girl I met there was absolutely lovely and there s usually minimal drama. Girls here usually are kind with good intentions and want out. Staff made meals easier with games and music which is definitely a plus. I don t feel as if I was prepared enough for the real world outside of the bubble that is CEDC treatment. Overall, a pretty good place to go if you need residential treatment, but at the moment the place is kind of a mess.

Jamie Anne

Response from the owner4 years ago

Hi Jamie Anne, Thank you for sharing your experience. It sounds like you actually worked well with a number of our residential counselors and nutritionists. I'm sorry to hear that you had issues and would be happy to talk with you any time. It is clinical practice to advise our residential patients that being friends with other patients met in treatment is inadvisable. I am happy for you that you found healing at MN and wish you a happy, healthy and full recovery. Warm regards, Coleen

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