Beware of Deceptive Billing Practices In 2023, we went through the entire treatment with mixed results. Unfortunately, our teenage child relapsed in 2024. That treatment was fully covered by my insurance's out-of-pocket maximum, so everything else was completely paid by insurance. In fact, in June 2023, my insurance confirmed that I shouldn't have to pay anything else out of pocket for my child. Fast forward a year--December 2024--we ended up back at Kartini. We tried the program for a month with zero results. Regardless, I made a full advance payment at the start, and four weeks later I made a balance payment that covered the entire cost of the month's treatment. Insurance didn't get billed because in 2024 we hadn't used it at all. Then, in February 2025, I received a statement showing the entire amount as unpaid--as if I had never paid anything. I contacted the billing department, and after several calls back and forth I asked them to simply show me proof of the payments I made in December 2024 and January 2025, since none of it appeared on the invoice. The billing person mistakenly admitted that my payments were applied to "old pending charges." I argued this was impossible--everything in 2023 was fully covered by insurance, and we never received a single letter or notice about any unpaid balance. I repeatedly insisted that someone show me exactly how my two payments were applied, but I got nothing. When I tried to escalate to the billing manager, I still got no answers. Instead, they kept sending me the same invoice, demanding full payment again--even though I had already paid more than $400 over the amount listed. Today, we received a collections letter. read more

Kartini Clinic - Counseling & Mental Health Near Me - Portland, Oregon

speaking for all of the other patients at Kartini, this place was TERRIBLE. You are forced to eat the same thing EVERY SINGLE DAY, I wasn't even allowed to eat Halloween candy! also, you were constantly threatened to get a feeding tube if you failed to complete a meal. I remember once, I had the fever and I was throwing up constantly but they didn't care and kept forcing me to eat until I threw up either on the table or in another room. Safe to say, Kartini made my eating disorder even worse. I'm recovered now, but still have ptsd due to this poor excuse of an eating disorder center. read more

I went there this year for anorexia and their ideology is messed up and way different from most eating disorder clinics. They put all kids on the same meal plan no matter their height (they add on extra food if needed) and won't take away some food even if the kid keeps gaining weight and becomes overweight. I would not recommend this place. Please, Please send your kid to a different clinic. read more

Kartini is not for everyone. Personally it helped me because I was in strong denial and I think thats the kind of patients they can help. Those that are in strong denial of their anorexia nervosa and need to know it's bad and that they can't keep going like this. I went there when I was 8 or 9 and have not relapsed since then. I was a very young patient in their outpatient program. The main instructor was incredibly kind to me and the other children so was our safe space. The activities we did was good and fun and engaging and though recovery was a painful journey I dont think it was necessarily Kartini's fault. There was no mirrors in the entire place which helped me alot and they also did force you to sit at the table and finish eating which was hard, you would cry but it was sometimes necessary. The psychiatrist also was pretty harsh but it was necessary to not let Anorexia consume me. Ive dealt with depression and anxiety so I know what I say when Anorexia Nervosa is on a completely different level, it's not like other mental health problems, it sincerely is like an addiction. It sounds strong and harsh but it's my experience with it. I would've liked if there was more therapist support and counseling to help you find better outlets for your emotions I do think they failed there but not necessarily in treatment of anorexia. Anorexia is horrible but when your in it nothing is worse than eating and sometimes you need someone to shove some sense back in your brain. If you dont eat you die. It's simple truth and you can't recover if you're allowed to continue slipping. Kartini stopped me from slipping. I think thats something you can notice in other reviews. Kartini is for people in incredibly strong denial that something was wrong. I was a happy child super happy sunshine child that refused to eat and I didnt see a problem because in my eyes I was doing everything be the perfect sunshine child, perfect as in skinnier than a skeleton. Kartini helped me realize I was in fact killing myself slowly and it was harsh but necessary, I wanted a future I didnt want to die yet. In my opinion, not being allowed mirrors was good for me, not being able to know how much I weighed was good, and not being allowed to exercise was good for me. Prolly not good for adolescents but for children it worked. They should work on making sure kids aren't competitive with eachother tho. read more

went in as a severely mentally ill 12 year old with horrible eating habits. i was constantly triggered by other patients. they forced me to eat and thats it. i left this horrible place because my insurance ran out and i had more issues than when i had gone in. i was pretty quiet but so obviously struggling but no one ever went out of their way to check in on me. the time i was at kartini were the worst months of my life. the doctor is a horrible person, nobody likes her. she was known for making everyone cry including parents, she is not nice and i have no idea why she works at an ed center if she straight up doesn't care. she uses threats to get people to comply rather than compassion. it was an incredibly competitive environment and they did nothing about that. the counselors were caring but barely trained. the family therapist was horrible, she'd always side with my parents. i felt completely alone in a place i was supposed to be receiving care. they put in no measures to make sure i was ok on any level. they put me on heavy drugs that sedated me the entire time and i was like a zombie. i give this nightmare of a place a 0/10 i left with so many more issues (which i still deal with to this day) than when i went in. if you or someone you know is in need of ED support please do not go here. for everyone's own good. read more

Kartini Clinic was very unwelcoming and unsupportive. I only went there for a day as part of their PHP program and nobody even talked to me, including most staff. I didn't get orientation, expectations, or the lay of the land on my first day. I had no idea of what to do and nothing was explained to me. The first day is already overwhelming and full of anxiety and they did NOTHING to support me. When my mom had her first meeting with head nurse (i think), she explained that they all believe eating disorder is a "brain disease that takes over kids bodies like terrorist.... and they DO NOT negotiate with terrorist". She was besides herself I came from a residential treatment facility in AZ which gave me the actual help I needed and supported me instead of just making sure I ate. Support comes from guidance thru the "eating" portion along with the "mental" part as well. and Kartini does not address the mental aspect. They simply throw regimented, repetitive and rigid rules at you. Kartini is in it for the money and doesn't care about the patients. Even though I explained I was upgraded from a RTC and had been working through my recovery for 2 months and had been working so hard that I got to a point in recovery that I was eating intuitively and plating my own food, Kartini refused to "work with me" and said they do NOT believe in intuitive eating philosophy. During my time at a RTC, I was told to have 3 meals and 3 snacks a day, once I got to Kartini, they only allowed me to have 3 meals and a snack. My mom asked if she could give me a snack if I got hungry and they said no. They don't give you water with meals and only allow a small option of food-which can be an EDB. The second day, my mom had a meeting to discuss the concerns and request some flexibility for my recovery - considering I had been in residency for 2 months and they said sorry and told me they wouldn't work with us. Overall, I do not recommend this Clinic and there are many better options to get help with your or your loved ones ED. read more

Before I share my traumatic story about being a patient at Kartini Clinic, I would like to share alternative programs that were actually helpful. This is because I have left several reviews in the past in which Kartini has deleted. Whatever you do, do not send your child to Kartini. Instead look into the eating disorder treatment facility at Providence or Monte Nido. I have been to 4 facilities for my eating disorder and I would say that Kartini is the reason for my continued relapses. I believe that if I never went to Kartini, I would be fully recovered by now. The Emily program is also a great alternative, please research other facilities before even considering Kartini. I spend 2 1/2 years as a patient at Kartini. Because of this, I suffer from PTSD and food phobia. Kartini helped me restore my weight but made my eating disorder much worse than it was in the first place. This place taught me that sugar is a sin. I spent two birthdays at this place and was told that I had to eat a yogurt instead of having a birthday cake like my twin sister. While attending Kartini I was only allowed to eat at Chipotle. This was only an option if I called ahead and had a worker weigh all my food and measure everything. After 2 years, I was allowed to eat out once and only on the condition that I brought a scale and weighed all my food beforehand. Kartini provided no psychiatric care during the refeeding process, leading me and several other patients to become suicidal. Kartini offered no emotional support leading me and several of my peers to attempt suicide. If a patient misbehaved, they were locked in a room away from other patients. Non-licensed medical staff inserted feeding tubes into several clients, resulting in many of these patients to go to the ER so they could have it put in correctly. The vitals process every morning was humiliating. I had to dress down to my underwear in front of the other patients and had to pee in a cup while a staff member closely watched. After 2 1/2 years, Kartini kicked me out of their program because they said that they were unable to help me. I wanted to be helped, but they gave up on me resulting me to end up in the psychiatric ward. Every patient I knew relapsed after "graduating" Kartini.. I am currently in a PHP program at Monte Nido and it has saved my life. I am working with my therapist to heal the trauma Kartini has caused me. Every facility I have been to has only had negative things to say about Kartini. It is actually an inside joke in other programs that Kartini clinic should've been shut down as soon as it opened. Every single staff member I have met over the years agrees that Kartini should be shut down. Just today, my dietician says that she wouldn't send her worst enemy to Kartini. Please research eating disorder facilities in the area before ever considering Kartini's death trap. Even my parents say they regret ever sending me to Kartini. I am a survivor of Kartini and I share my experience in hopes that families do the right thing and send their children elsewhere. read more

I want to thank Kartini for all they have done to help me, When I first got admitted I was very angry and in denial. I was worried that getting treatment would be like in the movies, people screaming at you when you don't complete your meals, all gray walls, in rooms all alone, and not being able to see your family. I can confidently say kartini is nothing like that, if anything its the complete opposite. April 12th 2023, was my first day at Kartini Clinic. I was terrified, but everyone made me feel so welcome. The therapists, doctors, nurses, and patients all helped me through my first day and guided me through the process. My medical team was amazing. They helped answer all my questions and always made sure I never felt alone in this tough time as they did for all the other patients as well. Not one day did I ever feel judged, everyone there is going through one of the hardest times of their lives. We all just wanted to do whatever we could to support each other. Not everything was always so serious. We got to have fun with each other and get to know one another. We played games and talked through hard times with people going through something similar. Don't be misunderstood, we still had countless hours of therapy and vital checks. I know some people worry about getting triggered by other patients but try not to worry too much about that because in my experience it truly isn't much of a problem. There are certain things patients know not to talk about in group therapy and to keep to individual therapy. Every patient is different. There are patients that have more severe and less severe cases at Kartini but everyone respects each other. I truly do believe that the people that work there care about every single patient and will do everything they can to help them. There were so many staff members that had a big impact on me but there were a handful that I will never forget. Starting off with Dr. M, during the start of treatment I was not a fan because she didn't mess around, she believes in all her patients and does not allow any slacking off. It's her way of showing she cares. I am now incredibly grateful for her. Next is Amy and La-James, they have very different personalities. Amy always knows how to make you laugh even in the hardest moments. La-James was always there to listen and give advice. Smadar is an amazing family therapist. She was the only reason I would even consider family therapy, she comes and checks in on her patients periodically throughout the day outside of family therapy. Sheral was by far my favorite nurse. She is extremely good at what she does. She goes out of her way to comfort her patients and their families. Jake worked at the front desk and was there to greet you everyday when you got up the elevator with a smile on his face. Last but not least is Mary. She was a teacher at the clinic. She not only kept you on track with your school work and communicated with all your teachers but helped get you prepared for what you would be learning in the future. She adjusted to your learning style to make your learning as fun as possible. There were definitely parts of treatment I dreaded but it was all worth it in the end. Personally my experience with Kartini was the best it could have been in the circumstances. read more

Been here for binge treatment when I was a child and then anorexia when I was teenager. When I had binge disorder they advised my parents to lock the kitchen, they used negative coercion, threats and fear rather than positivity and reward, this mindset around food later contributed to the anorexia nervosa I later developed as a teenager. When I got treatment for anorexia, they treated me like an animal that can't have opinions or thoughts, this might've made more sense if it was bc I was saying or thinking things that were out of the question but I wasn't, I was merely curious and they shut me down and any harmless questions I had. And I've been to other ed clinics before and they were never this awful to me, most of the staff especially doctor moshteal were extremely sadistic and genuinely took joy from my distraught. I kid you not, the doctor would smile with joy and even laugh when i, as a young teenage girl, would cry in her office after being yelled at and shamed for my disorder. It was such a bad, useless and harmful program that my parents took me out early (3 months was "early" I'd already been to a residential b4 this so this was an absurdly long time) and once out, that's when I actually started to recover no thanks to kartini. Don't go here unless you want to make your ed worse or get another one. Negative stars if I could read more

Kartini Clinic knows eating disorders. And they know kids. Some of the treatment recommended wasn't easy for our daughter or family, but overall for the most part, it was necessary. Eating disorders are difficult to treat and they change your child. Dealing with one is the hardest thing I've had to do as a parent. I don't know how we would have done it without Kartini Clinic. I believe they really know their stuff. Dr Moshtael was my daughter's doctor and I can't say enough good things about her. She's extremely knowledgeable while also being compassionate, easily able to relate to kids, quickly responsive, and funny. Great energy. When it comes to explaining difficult concepts and biological responses, she's truly gifted. The milieu staff were also wonderful, as was front desk and billing. The doctors at the clinic had to go head to head with our insurance company more than once and they were successful. Their willingness to fight for our child demonstrated a passion in their desire to help sick kids that was evident daily. My daughter liked the food there (as much as she liked any food anyway), as it was always fresh and local. Being in Portland, that's easy to do. All in all, my daughter felt quite supported at Kartini, and she learned valuable tools for managing her anxiety around food and body image. Dr Moshtael remains one of my favorite people on the planet. She's amazing. And all of the people at KC truly care about children and families. I wouldn't wish an eating disorder on my worst enemy. But if you find yourself dealing with one, Kartini Clinic is the place to be. read more

If you are seeking treatment for your loved one for an eating disorder, Kartini Clinic is a lifesaver! My son was treated at Kartini and the staff was supportive, professional, and kind. Through family therapy, they helped us navigate through a very difficult situation. My son was able to learn about his condition, and how to advocate for himself. We learned skills in helping him through challenges, as well. We finally received some insight into what our son had been going through for years. Their art therapy, on-site teacher, counselors, doctors, nurses-- all of their staff from the top-down were amazing and responsive. I cannot say enough about what a positive experience Kartini has been! read more

From a first hand experience, this clinic is a force feeding clinic masked by a nice looking building. I was in their outpatient program for almost 5 months back in 2016. This was not voluntary. I was starting my junior year in high school and struggled terribly with depression. However, living with a mom who is constantly dieting my entire childhood with no secrecy about it, or her hatred of her body (size). I inevitably caught onto some habits, yes. But I was taken from school one day and taken to this intake appointment. They asked very little about my mental state and focused on how I felt about my body and eating, etc. I thought maybe I could get out if I answered right. But no, the next day all my things were taken from me. Everything. My home, access to ANY mirror that could show my full body. All my clothes and even my phone and internet access. From being almost completely independent, in school, sports, etc. to a prison. Yes I had unhealthy habits, but this was a complete robbery of all freedom. They "suggested" I move to a Ronald McDonald house in Portland for treatment. Where I went from eating one meal a day. To being secretly weighed daily (yes, we were not EVER allowed to know our own weight during the program) and then force fed 3-5 meals per day. Depending on how much "brain re-feeding" I'd need. They didn't let me walk because they were scared I would try to use it as exercise. I couldn't even poop in private. Had to have door open and mom or supervisor there. And I say force feeding because we got a peer with a tube down their nose and throat to show us what would happen if we didn't eat. The only good reviews are from people who stuck their kids there, not the ones who were suffering. Long story short I tried to off myself that new years during the program until they finally sent me to an adolescent psychiatric ward where they directly acknowledged my depression and anxiety. read more

Our time at Kartini was a life saver for our child. The entire staff at Kartini is extremely knowledgeable, experienced, professional and deeply invested in your child's health and recovery. Our child was suffering from anorexia the summer of 2020, which ultimately led to a two week hospitalization at Randall Children's Hospital for a low heart rate. The nursing staff there are trained professionals who were able to assist us through this daunting experience. As we looked into our options for treatment we scheduled an intake meeting with Dr. Moshtael and Nurse Sherrill. I was impressed right away with their straight forward approach as well as the compassion they showed. It was evident that they started to develop a positive relationship with my child immediately. The staff at Kartini began assisting with treatment in the hospital and prepared us for what the next steps would be once our child began PHP at Kartini. The clinic does a great job of acute care towards weight restoration. I learned a lot for my own knowledge of this insidious disease from reading Dr. O'Toole's book, "Give Food a Chance". The family based therapy had us involved in weekly zoom mtgs with the nurse, weekly family therapy, optional parent group support, optional Q/A with the founding Dr. O' Toole, zoom meetings with Dr. Moshtael every other week as well as summary phone calls from the milieu therapists. My child learned coping skills and had opportunities to share their experiences in group therapy, through art therapy and even animal therapy. The meal plan helped establish an awareness of healthy portions, which will be an invaluable life skill moving forward. The meal plan itself allows a family to have a direct guide as to what and how much a child be eating. Initially this is to weight restore so they can start to cognitively function at their best. From there, the meal plan provides a structure of meals to teach portions and to take away any bargaining between a parent and child on "how much" to eat. My child told me that as much as their school friends were doing their best to be sympathetic, the staff and other patients at Kartini "really got them". Our child was grateful for the treatment and skills they learned there. During COVID it provided a positive source of interactions and guidance that was invaluable in their recovery process. Recovery is a long process and Kartini gave us the tools as a family to support our child through their journey. read more

This eating disorder clinic is absolutely horrible. I was a patient and left more traumatized than when I came in. They made me feel embarrassed and shamed about my relationship with food, and my experience here was dehumanizing and absolutely deconstructive towards my self esteem and mental health. The staff are are rude, condescending, and unprofessional. I left in an even a worse condition and it took counseling from real professionals to actually help me. If your are struggling on any way, please stay away from these "healthcare providers" as they are terrible at their job, dehumanize you, and convince you to stay because that's how they money. read more

My daughter just graduated from Kartini's PHP and IOP program. Kartini was amazing: they looked at my daughter as a whole person vs just her ED. They were in constant communication and offered nutritional counseling, family counseling, individual counseling, psychiatry, mindfulness and re-feeding. Kartini is a PHP and IOP program, so it is a highly structured program. It takes a strong commitment from the family and child. They know what they are doing. I would highly recommend Kartini's services as a pediatric ED clinic. read more

We knew our son needed help, but we didn't realize how much help he needed. He was severely restricting his caloric intake and exercising compulsively for several months, and he had dropped to a dangerously low weight. His heart and kidneys began to shut down, but we didn't realize exactly how bad off he was until a specialist recommended a stay in the hospital to rescue him. After 9 days in the hospital to stabilize his heart and begin the re-feeding process, we were scared and exhausted. The Kartini clinic was a true gift to our family. They gave our son a place to be among others who understood where he was coming from. They gave us as a family the tools we needed to successfully combat the eating disorder and return to normal family life. Just like many other things that are good for our children, our son did not always _like_ treatment at Kartini. It was hard work for him, and it required an adjustment for our whole family. However, the staff at Kartini was not surprised by any of that, and they have enough successful experience treating eating disorders that we were happy to trust their judgement and take their recommendations. They fought hard against the eating disorder while making it clear that having an eating disorder is never something a child chooses or something parents cause. They gave us the tools to keep our son healthy. Today, 2 months after discharge, our son is back to a healthy weight. He has grown an inch, and he is generally healthy, happy, and able to resume all his normal activities. We know we must remain vigilant with the eating plan and regular counseling to keep him on that path, but we are SO GRATEFUL for the guidance and tough love we received from Dr. Moshtael, Lisa, Amy, Grayson, and the entire staff. I would never wish an eating disorder on any family, but if it happens, I would whole-heartedly recommend working with the Kartini Clinic to get life back on the right path. read more

The Kartini clinic can be a great place if you have a child under the age of 12 suffering from an eating disorder. The program was great for acute medical stabilization since they work with Randall's Childrens Hospital (Legacy Emmanuel). However, when it came to treating the root causes of my eating disorder I found the program very unhelpful. Every child is put on the same basic meal plan, many are forced to take antipsychotic medications that in many situations are unnecessary, and they truly make you feel like if you don't use them for treatment you will likely not make it. Rather than telling my family my insurance was out of network they helped us create a single-case agreement that my insurance was never ok with. They were willing to help find ways to loan out the cost of treatment. There was barely any individual therapy if any at all. An anything but perfect recovery was shamed and I would be traumatized into following all the rules. When I struggled with suicidal thoughts I was not taken seriously until I ended up on a hold by my outpatient psychiatrist who clearly saw I was in crisis. Once I was "recovered" aka weight-restored, the transition back to school was impossible. I spiraled into a 2 year cycle of hospitalizations and residential treatment centers. My parents had to become the "food police" and didn't how to allow me to transition into adulthood. I am now at a place in my life where I do consider myself recovered. That is thanks to finding the right treatment approach for myself. Everyone is different. I am not writing this because they forced me into the hospital or because I was a child with no choice. Through my personal experience I know what worked and what didn't work for me. If one is young and struggling with an eating disorder I am sure the Kartini Clinic can be great. However, any parent of a young adult should definitely consider any number of alternatives. read more

As a physician and a parent I feel it is my responsibility to warn parents about this clinic. When my son developed severe anorexia and needed intensive treatment, we had wanted to use Monte Nido, but the waiting list was too long. Kartini had openings so we chose them not realizing their methods were not the same as other ED clinics. Fearing for his life, we suffered through the 8 weeks he was there. We all found the experience traumatic instead of supportive. If you take your child there, be aware that they do not support parents. I did not feel comfortable asking questions or having concerns. Sadly, they use shame and blame tactics if you don't agree with even the smallest details of the plan they will make for your child. They do not let parents or patients have any input, even though I am a family practice physician. They also don't use standard of care for eating disorders followed by other clinics. They told us my son was not allowed to do anything but sit for 6 weeks even when his vitals were good and he was following his meal plan. That goes against all other clinics that encourage walking and moving, as long as it is supervised. My son became very depressed and begged me to take him on walks to get out of the house. When I raised my concerns about his emotional health with the extreme "mellow plan", I was accused of sabotaging his health and they actually yelled at me. It was terrible. My son also hated the program. If your child is older than 12 or 13, the militant approach set forth by this clinic might not be the best fit. If you have no choice because your child needs immediate care and thus is the only option available, you should proceed because it's better than the alternative, just know you're not a bad parent. The process is scary and you most likely feel helpless. Hang in there. read more

Kartini has continued to offer support for our now 12 yr old. Disordered eating is such a challenge and certainly not a one size fits all. The treatment plan and goals have been adjusted and modified for our best chance of success. Our daughter loves it at the clinic and she knows she is loved and supported by everyone. I am not sure how we could ever say thank you enough. read more

DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD HERE. To any parents reading the reviews, this is a message to you. Kartini is the worst possible place to send your child, for multiple reasons. 1) Kartini does not treat eating disorders. Period. Before I went there, I was happy. When I finally was allowed to leave, I was sad, angry, miserable, and my relationship with my parents was shattered. I know that many other patients had the same experience, and felt that the program had literally made their eating disorder worse. The relapse rate after Kartini is unacceptable. So many people have to come back, because Kartini did not treat them well enough the first time. 2) They do not listen to patients. Your experience there is not tailored to your individual needs, because they seem to believe that there is only one way to treat the problem. The rules that you are made to follow are based on one type of person, and even if the rules don't apply to you, you still must follow them. 3) The staff are HORRIBLE. The two therapists that worked with my group were so unhelpful. They were mean and unnecessarily harsh, which did not make anyone want to open up to them. They split up friendships, probably because they didn't want us to be close with each other and form our own opinions. They also loved to invalidate our feelings. If someone said something about how they viewed their situation, the therapists would immediately say that it was wrong, without listening to them. 4) The activities that were done there are not relevant to eating disorders. If one has to be there all day, you want to be doing relevant things with your time, so you will be able to leave the program quicker. However, we ended up spending half the day doing useless activities like art, or talking about unhelpful topics. 5) The criteria for discharge are almost impossible. In order to leave, there are many, many worksheets you must fill out. However, there is hardly any time to do worksheets, because, as I said above, half the time is filled doing useless activities. They also insist that you need to know some specific skills to leave. That would be okay, aside from the fact that they don't teach the skills! To anyone who is thinking of going here, or of sending their child here, PLEASE RECONSIDER. I beg you, do not put yourself through this. read more

When we initially spoke with an intake coordinator, we were told they could offer our entire family support with my son's eating issues. Even though our doctor told us insurance would only pay if the child was physically ill, Kartini encouraged us to come in. When we finally made it in for an assessment, they deemed my child physically healthy, and even though he may have an eating disorder they weren't going to treat him. I broke out into tears at this news, as our family really needs help. When I opened up more about the problems his eating issues we're causing in our family, they told me they could report me to CPS. They offered no help at all, and saw us to the door. After I wrote my first negative review here, they did report our family to DHS,.rather than offer us help. Over unfounded concerns. I have my Masters in Education in Montessori and have found in my own work with children and in research studies, that the more children get their hands involved in growing and making food, the healthier they eat. But there was no garden in sight, and I was told by their doctor there that it is inappropriate to involve my child in preparing his own food. I think perhaps Kartini might need to rethink or expand their methods no? It is very disheartening to seek out help as a single parent and continuously get doors slammed in my face. I definitely do not recommend this clinic to families. read more

Please do your research and get a second opinion before trusting this facility. Several years ago I took my granddaughter because she had been abandoned, abused in multiple ways, I love her and care about her safety and well-being. When I received her she was diagnosed with Chronic Malnutrition, she had failure to thrive from birth because she was drug and alcohol exposed invetro. I have spent years getting her all the care and support she has deserved to have. Helped her with her vision so she can see, her kidney reflex was fixed, tethered cord fixed, learned to read and write and has grown and progressed wonderfully. But the eating was a huge struggle. We were already in crisis when we began Kartini, upon her pediatrician's recommendation, then Covid hit. It was the most stressful and frustrating experience ever. The "forcing" of my granddaughter to eat large portions, her being threatened with a feeding tube. She was always concerned about them forcing the kids to drink boost till they threw up, making her eat dairy and gluten when she is intolerant, and not believing her when she told them these things hurt her tummy. Other things to know: 1. The nurse count out medication after typing on her computer with no gloves or washing of hands. (COVID) 2. When we arrived we were told my granddaughter would see the doctor while we met with the nurse, for blood pressure and a weight check. Later to discover she was doing a full exam and looked at her privates/tried to get her to take her panties off, did the doctor touch her privates? She says yes. My granddaughter has NEVER seen a doctor alone because of her history of sexual trauma. THIS was a HUGE trigger for her. I found out from other eating disorder clinics they DO NOT do these types of exams. This caused an increase in her aggression. 3. Each staff member told us different things and when trying to get clarification. I was treated like a child and was yelled at by the doctor, accused of being rude to her staff. She would not let me talk. 4. Our questions NEVER got answered, to many unreturned phone calls to count. 5. They were a no show to one of our family therapy sessions. They did not care OR respond. 6. They said they would accommodate to my granddaughters special diet restrictions, but they did not. I was told they would purchase food for her by one person and another told me it was my responsibility to provide her food there and I got yelled at for trying to get clarification. 7. There was NO family therapy. 8. My granddaughter was supposed get blood work and her bone density tested, 6 week in and it NEVER happened. 9. They were supposed be doing tela-school there, yet my granddaughter was a no show several days in while their care. 10. My granddaughter talked a lot of the movies they watched. (How is that part of therapy?) 11. My granddaughter was in crisis, I think we had three pretty intense episodes while in this program that required the police to come and intervene. Did they offer any counseling around this issue? NO! 12. NO exercise what so ever is what they told us. One weekend we had to go for a walk, getting cabin fever. My granddaughter used her scooter, she glides mostly so I figured it would be okay. Well, I got chewed out because SHE LOST 4 ounces. Later, the nurse said if she did some exercising just give her a peanut butter bomb after so she won't lose. The Doctor chewed me out and said no exercise until they say it's oaky. A bit confusing. How are you supposed to keep a kid still that has sensory issues and ADHD and needs to move to stay regulated? 13. They contacted a third party facility to find out why my granddaughter was not there, even though I left a message and spoke directly to someone. This is a violation of HIPPA. This was the day I pulled her out. I talked to her pediatrician and she asked me to wait till Friday at least. BUT when I found out they were now lying about me not calling and called the third party etc. OH and ALL the stress this caused us. I was now in protective mode. Even though, in the beginning you get a form that tells you, your rights as a patient and I exercised our rights and left. They retaliated by reporting me to DCYF. They accused me of medical negligence and some kind of mental disorder that makes their kids sick on purpose. They told DCYF that I caused my granddaughters eating disorder because I had her on a gluten free diet, they reported that I refused to sign a consent form for her Allergy doctor. Untrue, I signed it and they received it. The list goes on, but all lies. This is all unethical and unprofessional. All of what we endured was damaging but add making false allegations to DCYF, that causes so much Trauma to families. I encourage anyone that has had this experience to contact the Oregon Medical Board. Oregon Medical Board, Chief Investigator-1500 SW 1st Ave. #620, Portland, OR 97201 read more

Chris H This is a clinic that treats, Eating disorders. My daughter is an on going patient with the clinic..much to our upmost surprise after being down in the dark we are blessed with a ray of light. The program is a great tool and provides life learning skills that will stay with them through out there life. Many may not like it cause of the meal prep " well i say, welcome to being back to the health for you children.it works .....i tell you my daughter is here..because of it.. the structure they showed her is not something us as parents can not give them. They need this help to provide guidance and professional care with the disorder alongside help with the anxiety process .these people are professionals. It changed not just our family, but our daughters life... THANK YOU. TO ALL THE STAFF !!! *******EXCELLENT PEOPLE**** COUNSELORS: *LIFE CHANGERS* JOSH BARRETT*** & GRACE*** TARABOCHIA FAMILY THERAPIST: LISA PEACOCK*** INDIVIDUAL THERAPIST: LESLIE WEISNER*** DR. NAGHMAH MOSHTAEL*** NURSE: SHERRILL GANDSBY** read more

I have 3 words to explain in a moment: Kartini. Is. Hell. I began going to Kartini Clinic in summer of 2015 at the age of sixteen. I was admitted after a severe restriction of intake and immediately placed in their day treatment program. There, I received rather traumatizing and abusive treatment. I was scared into eating, and when my insurance cut me early, no one fought for me to continue to recieve treatment and I was stepped down to intensive outpatient. I had been out of school for the first near three months as it was now winter, and nearing Christmas. Being of my age, I should have been being prepped for independent life outside of the confines of the Kartini walls. Rather, they took all my independence, telling my parents they had to treat me as if I was three again. Nonetheless, they also forced the involvement of both parents which was toxic for me. My parents marriage had never been happy and was reaching a breaking point. Needless to say, they began a long divorce that is still being fought, while I was a patient there. My relationship with my father is nonexistent and volatile. He didn't know about my eating disorder until days before my intake, because my mom told him. Anyway, I returned to school after being discharged, again, because of insurance. I relapsed while still in IOP and no one did anything about it. I stopped eating once I discharged. I was readmitted in early February of 2016, after a stint in IOP where I only worsened. Not to mention, there was terrible staff. They cruelly punished me through restraint and isolation, putting me alone in another room when I was being "bad," aka struggling. I heard my father was calling and getting information without my consent. Being over the age of 14, I had rights to confidentiality according to Oregon (and Washington) state law. I never signed a release of information for him, despite the law. When brining my point to the table, saying I had a right to confidentiality, the team became enraged, blaming my mom for influence they claimed she had instilled into me. I was seventeen by this point, and I knew how to do my research. I did it all myself. I was tubed two days after being readmitted to their "highest level of care" (the DTU), and medicated without my consent after not eating a single thing. I was force fed Boost, a supplement drink, which has led to severe PTSD upon exposure to the drink to the point of dissociation and panic attacks rendering me unresponsive. I didn't eat a thing during the rest of my stay. Needless to say, we began to research better places to go. Every residential center we called was appalled (to say the least) that I was in a partial hospitalization program with a tube. It was unheard of. Once we had a place willing to take me (with my situation of being solely tube fed, I was quickly admitted to the Eating Recovery Center of Washington, which actually kickstarted my recovery and saved my life, & gave me hope for the first time), my mom and I dually agreed to pull me out AMA to get me to said place. Prior to that, the doctor (Dr. Moshtael) had a screaming fight with my mother right in front of me during our last doctor's appointment (March 11, 2016). Afterwards, we had a scheduled family therapy appointment, where after being asked what we wanted to do with our time, my mother and I turned to each other, asked if we could leave, were told they couldn't stop us, and we proceeded to gather my things and promptly leave to never return. Six days later (March 17, 2016), on St. Patty's day, I was admitted to Eating Recovery Center of Washington where I was shocked with my rights to confidentiality being followed, HIPPA being obeyed, the fact that my mother AND I were asked to sign overwhelming amounts of papers including releases of information and others (very good thing), the utter kindness and gentleness of staff, and supportiveness of both staff and fellow patients. No one there was afraid. I was, at first, afraid that people would be physical with me, but they assured me, shockingly, that HIPPA didn't authorize them to restrain me (is only legal in a hospital setting rather than inpatient residential setting). Staff were kind. I got individual therapy without having to beg for it, but rather being required to do it, I got a DIETICIAN, of which Kartini has none (big red flag). My meal plan was tailored to me. I got a psychiatrist. I was given the opportunity to attend "round table" meetings--(going into staffing and talking with the team myself, unheard of at Kartini). I was kindly cared for by staff in good times, bad times, tears, anger, smiles, panic attacks, and every step of my recovery. I was fought for (HARD) when insurance gave pushback. I had to authorize medication, being tubed, and other treatment decisions. I met the best therapist I've ever had to this very day (Alissa Petee) there. I could have things other than Boost. Now I am doing better than ever before thanks to ERCWA and Monte Nido read more

I will be indebted for life for the valuable knowledge and service Kartini gave to my son. Kartini literally saved my son's life. It is a shame that knowledge of eating disorders is scarce, but trust me, they know what they are talking about. Dealing with an eating disorder as the parent of a child is extremely difficult. I had no idea what to do. When I got the confidence to let go and listen to the professionals, Kartini did everything right for my son. I did everything they said as a parent and I am so glad I did. They also have a great support system for the family involved. I thank you Kartini for everything that you did for my family and I will love you for life. read more

I was in treatment with Kartini in 2009, when I was 16. It was a nightmare for me and my parents. The program is not individualized to best meet the youth and families needs- everyone is on the same plan with minimal differences. They used scare tactics to convince my parents to have me treated with them, rather than presenting options and letting my parents choose what would be best for my family. They used scare tactics with me to try to get me to comply with treatment, which didn't work and left me traumatized. They over medicate most of their patients on strong antipsychotic medications and are dishonest with parents and youth about the potential risks and benefits of the medication. They had me sedated to the point where I was sleeping 16 hours a day. Their biggest flaw is that they treat eating disorders with a medical approach. Eating disorders are psychiatric disorders that require a combination of medical and psychiatric treatment. Treating just the physical aspects doesn't address the real underlying problems. If you have a teen or young adult who needs treatment for an eating disorder, they will find much higher quality services at Providence St. Vincent's eating disorder program or with outpatient providers who specialize in eating disorders. Don't settle for Kartini out of fear for your child, there are better options that won't leave your family traumatized. I am now 22 and recovered, living a healthy and fulfilling life. I work full time in the mental health field and go to school. This review isn't coming from an angry place of a teenager who feels they were mistreated, this review is coming from a healthy adult that thinks youth and families should be warned about what it is really like at Kartini and have a right to know that there are other options for treatment. read more

After agonizing for months to find the best treatment for my 15 year old daughter, my husband and I chose to schedule an assessment with Dr. O'Toole. I had noticed weight loss in my daughter over the past few months and felt it was best to seek help immediately versus waiting for things to get worse. Wow did I make the wrong choice! I was told my daughter needed to drop out of school and attend their partial hospitalization program even though she had never been deemed medically unstable. They set her goal at only a few pounds more than her weight currently was but said she would need this level of treatment to learn ordered eating. The meal plan is based on providing food that is not "hyper-palatable" meaning that it does not taste good and kids are not allowed to eat anything off it despite differences in diagnoses. When my daughter was unable to finish the last few bites of salad (and dressing which all patients are required to drink since the oil is part of the meal plan) I was told they would need to immediately put an NG tube down her to make up the calories. She was screamed at by the other doctor at the clinic in front of other patients and threatened to have the tube placed. I was unable to receive any answers on why this would be medically necessary and ended up pulling my daughter (who was at her goal weight at this point) and seeking support from her pediatrician to go forward. I understand this if she was so underweight that she needed the tube for health, but she did not. She has also never binged or thrown up her food and has always been a picky eater. Scaring her into eating food she did not like in quantities neither my husband or I could finish only worsened her avoidance to food. in addition to the this, the staff turnover is constant. My daughter had several different counselors after the one she had just didn't come back without explanation and many of her favorite group leaders left during this time as well. There is also inconsistent information given depending on who you talk to so it's almost impossible to know what is actually happening. My experience at Kartini and the other parent's I talked to was traumatizing to my daughter and my whole family. Dr. O'Toole uses fear to manipulate parents into not seeking other opinions, is never available for questions from parents other than scheduled appointments which are often three weeks apart and is one of the least professional people I have ever met. I had heard horror stories from other moms at the clinic but didn't believe it could be that bad until I experienced it myself. My advice to parents is to seek a second opinion if you choose to take your child to Kartini. I don't wish the trauma we experienced on anyone. Luckily my daughter is happy and healthy and back at school with the support of her pediatrician and a nutritionist. read more

Treatment centers are places no one expects or wants their child to experience. We were living abroad and returned to the US for treatment, landing first in Bellevue at a nationally recognized ED treatment center. I was less then satisfied with their methodology, their interaction with my child, and the eventual outcomes. We found Kartini by way of an online parent support group (FEAST). My daughter began treatment July 2016 and we have been with Kartini all throughout her Outpatient treatment. The care she receives at Kartini Clinic is outstanding. Throughout her continuum of care, staff and providers have been consistently caring and professional. The evidence based treatment modalities are provided, and the space/environment is comforting. I highly recommend Kartini Clinic! read more

Kartini has been a blessing for my child and our family. We entered their program as a broken, scared family. Now, because of their program, staff, and the tools they provided us all with, we are once again strong. Thank you Kartini for doing what you said you would do. Thank you for getting us our son back. read more

My parents brought me to the Kartini Clinic after a year of struggling with depression and anxiety. After two weeks of hospitalization and two weeks of day treatment, I was certain that it was the most damaging experience I've ever had as a mental health patient. The punishment-oriented tactics used by the clinic were demeaning, anxiety-producing, and, in my case, not effective. I suspect that other patients with anxiety also haven't responded well to a program that relies so heavily on threats and scare tactics. My family finally decided to leave when the staff threatened to send me to out-of-state residential treatment, despite stable vitals. I DO NOT recommend this program from young adults and older adolescents. Patients have hardly any voice when it comes to their treatment and as an eighteen-year-old in the program I often felt disrespected. I can see why the clinic's militant approach might be helpful for younger patients who are more dependent and in need of more structure, but parents should seriously think before committing to this program. Parents of young adults may also be pushed to obtain medical guardianship over their children, as my family was. The eating disorder program at Providence Hospital (St. Vincent) was able to help me heal in a progressive, respectful environment. Kartini is NOT the only local eating disorder program; I encourage all prospective patients to investigate other available options. read more

Our 10 year old son was diagnosed with ARFID and this clinic was instrumental in his finally turning a corner to getting the help we needed. The staff expertise is phenomenal. Our son felt safe there, listened to, and he grew in his ability to advocate for himself. At first he did NOT want to go, but he was well taken care of and actually enjoyed it!! Their therapy animals were a big hit. Kartini has family therapists, a doctor, a nurse, small group counselors, and other awesome staff. I would highly recommend this place! read more

The Kartini Clinic saved my son's life. By the time we knew what was happening to my son he had lost 36lbs and his heart rate was 29 BPM at night. We almost lost him. We flew 3,000 miles for this life saving treatment. Dr O'Toole admitted my son immediately and he was hospitalized 19 days for his heart to recover from starvation. The treatment program gave him the support, medication, therapy and tools he needed to restore his weight. I was taught how to feed my son so that he could restore and grow. The weekly family therapy sessions were vital for us because I had so much to learn about this brain disorder. The parent support group was exceptional and professionally facilitated. We returned home where long term recovery takes place. I was well equipped to support my son. He returned to school, engaged in sports, and social activities etc. He is now poised to complete his first year at University. Eating Disorders are deadly and complex. I thank God every day that we found the Kartini Clinic. Evidence based treatment is hard to find. Kartini gave me the confidence I needed to combat this disorder at home. My son is now the young man he was mean to be thanks to Dr O'Toole and the entire staff at Kartini clinic. read more

If I could rate this no or negative stars I would. I know it sounds dramatic, but it is true. I have had six years to stew on this. I went into Kartini a very sick girl, but I came out sicker. My family went in broken and came out shattered--literally, my parent's divorce began while I was at Kartini. I learned how to better have an eating disorder and was taught to be afraid of food. Sure, maybe the full theft of control may work for a child 10 or under, but I was 15 the first time that I went. Ever since I went in and out of treatment and missed endless amounts of school and "normal" milestones. There are blog posts onb Kartini's site that completely invalidate the post of ex-patients from the clinic, saying that they were/are malnourished and basically don't know what they are talking about. Well, here I am 6 years later, nourished, in college, and pursuing a degree in nursing. I have had numerous providers at any and all treatment centers I have been to since Kartini look at me and respond in shock and condolences when I tell them what happened here. 6 years later and I still cannot enter this part of town because my clinically diagnosed PTSD will spiral into flashbacks and/or dissociation. I am only now ready to start and am only now beginning trauma therapy. I have realized, as a nursing student, just how unethical and wrong this place is. There MAY be good intentions, or there may not. Either way, the practices of Kartini--force feeding, non-consented medication, over medication, restraint, isolation and punishment, etc.--are very mislead. No child should ever go here. Ever. Send them to ERC in Washington or to a Monte Nido. Monte Nido saved my life and never lost faith in me--even when I did. Anywhere but here. I am 6 years on, clear of mind, and write this not from a place of anger, but from one of sadness of what was taken from me. Even if sending a kiddo away is terrifying, I know and I can promise it will be worth it. Your kids will be loved and held in tears and in joy and supported throughout their journey of healing. That just would never happen here. Send them a state or a city away for a month or two and get them back more lively and zesty and themselves, or watch them come home drained, pained and defeated on the daily and end up sending them elsewhere anyway when Kartini doesn't work? I beg of you to take my words into account when making your decision. read more

The level of unprofessionalism at this clinic is unbelievable. The treatment strategy is basically to force feed all the patients the same food. If the patient doesn't eat or drinks the boost supplement instead of eating solid food they are faced with threats of being admitted to the hospital regardless of whether there are actual health problems. They put most patients on anti-psychotics claiming that "it will help with disordered thoughts" when really it just acts as a sedative. The quality of therapy is very poor and largely unhelpful, mostly due to their line of thinking that the physical symptoms (eg. weight) must be treated first before the psychological symptoms. The reality is that eating disorders are psychological illnesses and the physical symptoms are linked to the psychological ones, and you cannot treat one without the other. It just results in most of the patients not fully committing to recovery, and thus increases the probability of relapse. Additionally, they are very unprepared to handle any other mental illnesses that might occur alongside the eating disorder. When I had mild suicidal ideation they told me that they did not have the resources to treat me there because there was no psychiatrist on staff (which brings into question why they were prescribing us antipsychotics without a psychiatrist). At that point, they could have easily referred me to St. Vincent's, where they always have a psychiatrist on staff, but instead they opted to refer me to a treatment center in Colorado, which needlessly complicated my life even more. Dr. Moshtael is especially a horror to work with, she gets angry and yells at patients when they are struggling or do not have a perfect recovery. The strict meal plans and rules leave patients unprepared for real life, makes the parents overly anxious about preparing dinner, as well as providing an environment where patients are more anxious about eating than before treatment. Overall It's a very toxic environment for adolescents and their families. read more

Kartini is a gift to everyone in the world and a dream come true for the portland metropolitan area. Their alternative approach (family based ordered eating- which seems pretty mainstream, to me) breaks down the barriers between parents and their child. The steps for ordered eating are basic and clear, so everyone is on the same page. Having your child home at night and on the weekends is less distressing for them and gives them some normalcy (let me assure it is work for the parents!!). Kartini really makes the parents an integral part in the healing process which makes the process more successful. When we were there we saw kids who had been in other programs which had not included the parents and kids regressed. There were people who came from all over the country and the world to this program, we are so lucky that it is in our backyard. Thank you Kartini, hated to be there, but grateful for everything! read more

My daughter's pediatrition recommended the Kartini Clinic to us after our on-going family struggle with my middle daughter's decline in weight. After following the clinic's explicit instructions regarding meal planning, grocery shopping and meal prep, it came time for my daughter's discharge. Dr O'Toole and counsoler Jayotta unilaterally decided my daughter should not go home with us. I had basically put my practice on hold so I could prepare, live with my daughter in Portland and monitor my daughter during and after meals. I am a practicing ARNP and my husband is an anesthesiologist. We followed all instructions given, attended all the therapies and took our daughter's treatment very serious. I was very thin during this time, which always happened when I was under stress. Because of this I became a topic of group discussion by the counsoler Jayotta, when the girls met. A few years later, my daughter, myself and my son where all diagnosed with Celiac disease, explaining the weight loss. When I tried to contact Kartini clinic to inform them of this, Dr O'Toole's only response was "she was the medical professional when it came to eating disorders and Celiac disease was not an excuse." We had to get the courts involved in the end because my husband and I refused to take our daughter back after she was discharged. The Kartini Clinic was stating our home was unsafe to our daughter's health. It was one of the worst experiences our family has ever been through. I wouldn't recommend them to my worst enemy. My daughter has never had a problem with weight loss again since following a gluten free diet. read more

I was sent here at 14 years old. I was very traumatized and suffered from anorexia. The psychiatrist prescribed Seroquel and ANTI-PSYCHOTIC medication 200 milligrams! to me and at least 5 of the other girls I know. They did not address psychological issues whatsoever. Popping anti-psychotics to young adolescents who are not in need of drugs, but empathy, compassion and understanding instead. I was made to believe I was nuts, no one took the time to understand why I didn't want to eat! Why I was unhappy. Nope, they labeled me and popped me with pills and coercion if I didn't eat. Dr. O'toole was incredibly arrogant and never let me speak how I was feeling! She told me what I had, what was wrong. She needs a serious reality check with what eating disorders are. Please if you are a parent and you have a suffering child, please do not send them here, your child needs care and empathy not the services they supply. If you are looking for a good place, PLEASE LOOK UP CAROLYN COSTIN'S MONTE NIDO Clinics They are rapidly growing nation wide. There is one in Oregon, California and other multiple states. read more

I would highly recommend the Kartini clinic to anyone with a child suffering from an eating disorder. I am so grateful to all the staff for their ever evolving and professional treatment center. My child has been there twice over he past four years, each for 8 weeks. The first time around she had been hospitalized for many days, this time we caught it a little earlier. In each instance they helped her turn around the downward spiral and taught us how to be supportive of her in terms of meal planning, therapy, understanding the disease and relapse prevention. We have a much greater understanding about how this recent relapse occurred and she and we have been given tools to help cope in the future. I also have noticed a significant improvement in the overall organization since our first time around. The program is much more streamlined and feels even more comprehensive & respectful of individual families. read more

I am amazed that the treatment approach of this program has not changed since I spent nearly two years in this program as a teenager. I have only recently, years later, found out just how nightmarish it was for my family. I also would like to point out that just because some had unfortunate experiences at Kartini does not mean that they "chose to have a negative experience," as one reviewer put it. In fact, I think that every parent of a child with an eating disorder would choose quite the opposite if they could. Any recovery story is a happy one, and I am sincerely happy for anyone that Kartini helped. But just because a friend of the poster's had a positive recovery there does not invalidate anyone else's experience with the program, nor does it imply the right to judge the way that others, who have actually been through it personally, interpret that experience. I am not coming from a place of anger or bitterness, simply trying to inform those thinking about the program of what I experienced, but going through hell with Kartini does make one resent being told that my family and many like us had a bad experience because we chose to. I am not alone in my story. I met several friends through the program who were "kicked out" or had horror stories of their own. Dr. O'Toole behaved horribly toward myself and others in the program at the time, and I agree with other reviews that the treatment plan is not individualized enough and does not adequately prepare patients for the real world. Meal plans are not based on exchanges but are quite rigid, making it difficult to become increasingly comfortable with normalized eating outside of an intensive environment. Fear tactics are used with patients and family, as well as isolation. In the hospital patients are not allowed to talk about food, read magazines, or read their mail unopened (nurses cross out anything that could be "triggering" including any mention of food). This may seem beneficial in the short term, but in actuality it is extremely damaging, because it sets you up to relapse once you are in a less intense treatment setting, like outpatient, and not being more or less force fed and shielded from any possible triggering situation. Similarly, the program would be greatly improved if patients, even young ones, were given more choice and responsibility in planning their outpatient meals. Anti psychotics are highly relied upon, including off label drugs not approved for use in young people. Medicalizing ED treatment is necessary in inpatient, but it is not a good overall strategy in outpatient or day treatment because it does not focus on the underlying psychiatric causes, and most models have moved away from it. Long story short, Dr. O'Toole put me, as an anorexic 13 year old, years ago, in Legacy Emanuel's Psych unit with drug addicts and a girl who had tried to kill her brother. This was after having been in inpatient for 2 months and not being allowed to even walk four feet to the bathroom. One day I was told that I was stable enough to walk, and found that it was difficult due to not having been allowed to even stand, as well as having fainting spells still. The Psychiatrist that was there at the time told her explicitly that the Psych unit would be extremely inappropriate as an option for me, and she believed me. Dr. O'Toole did not, and instructed nurses to physically drag me if I "would not walk." When the Psychiatrist went on vacation, she took that opportunity to put me in the Psych unit for "refusing to walk" and threatened my parents that refusing to have me go would be considered leaving against medical advice, so insurance would not cover my bill. I was there for a full week with a staff who knew absolutely nothing about EDs, but I learned a lot about drugs. I wasn't allowed to have visitors for two months or see my family for over three weeks. The daytreatment and outpatient programs were equally restrictive and ineffective, and it sounds like not a lot has changed. My parents were ultimately told that there was no longer a place for me at the Kartini Clinic because I was not recovering, and they were left without any recommendations or resources after being clients for roughly two years. St. Vincent's was a much better program that actually reteaches skills and empowers the patient, and I have seen several people have success there. I am glad that people have success with Kartini, but, as a recovered person working in the psych field, I would personally never recommend it for a child battling an ED. read more

My 7 year old daughter was at Kartini for 8 weeks in 2016, and it was a positive experience for us. After almost a month at Children's Hospital, we ran out of knowledge and options, and after extensive research settled on Kartini. And with that decision we knew we would have to put faith and trust in their process and treatment. As we did that, we were educated along the way about the how and why. I felt Kartini did a superb job of educating us as parents with the many how's and why's. That's one of the reasons we went to Kartini, because we knew it was a family based treatment plan. We wanted to be involved in the treatment so we could provide the environment that our daughter could function in, and possibly even thrive in, at home. And she has. It has been more than a year since we have been home, and she has blossomed in every area of her life. And I credit a knowledgable and caring staff and doctor (Dr. Moshtael). Yes, we had bad days. Yes, it can be scary and heartbreaking and harder than you ever imagined. It requires patience and a lot of work and meal planning and preparation. But I truly believe that if you trust and follow the formula and treatment plan that the doctors and staff lay out at Kartini, your chances of successfully living with or even overcoming an eating disorder are far greater than if you don't. My daughter is living proof of that. read more