The Renfrew Center

The Renfrew Center is a family-owned eating disorder treatment provider founded in 1985 and now marking 40 years of service. The organization specializes exclusively in eating disorder recovery and describes itself as a trusted leader in the field. According to its site, Renfrew has guided more than 100,000 adolescent girls, women, transgender, and non-binary individuals to recovery from eating disorders including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, ARFID, and other eating disorders. The center operates two residential campuses in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Coconut Creek, Florida, plus 15 outpatient locations nationwide and virtual treatment services available in more than 30 states. The company's treatment philosophy emphasizes healing through community, personalized care that honors each person's unique story, and evidence-based approaches that integrate multiple proven therapies into one comprehensive recovery model.

The Renfrew Center offers a continuum of care levels designed to match different needs and intensities of treatment. Residential treatment provides the most intensive option at the company's two campus locations in Philadelphia and Coconut Creek, where individuals stay on-site and receive comprehensive care. Day Treatment (also called Partial Hospitalization Program or PHP) provides structured daytime programming while you return home at night, typically organized around a schedule of therapies and meals. Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) offers group-based treatment typically meeting several days per week in the evenings, allowing you to maintain work or school schedules. Regular Outpatient Services involve sessions with individual therapists or support groups meeting one or more times weekly. Virtual Treatment provides day treatment, intensive outpatient, and support group options online, with the company noting it conducts virtual programs in more than 30 states. Support Groups meet regularly and focus on peer connection and recovery. When you contact Renfrew, a Program Information Specialist can discuss which level of care fits your situation and help schedule an assessment. The center states its teams across every location follow the same philosophy and model, aiming to ensure consistent quality care regardless of which facility you attend.

The Renfrew Center's treatment model integrates specific evidence-based therapies. The company is described as the only treatment facility utilizing the research-backed Unified Treatment Model for Eating Disorders, which it states integrates cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and nutrition therapy into one comprehensive approach. Each person receives a thorough assessment covering psychological, medical, nutritional, nursing, and social services domains, with findings guiding a personalized treatment plan. The treatment emphasizes nutritional rehabilitation and restoring healthy weight when necessary, with nutrition services provided by registered dietitians. Patient and family education is integrated into all treatment plans. The site mentions that treatment also includes experiential therapies including horticultural, recreational, and art therapy, designed to strengthen coping skills and provide constructive alternatives to disordered eating patterns. Behavioral activation is used for those with co-occurring mood disorders. The company states that CBT and ERP (exposure and response prevention) have outstanding outcomes with patients achieving and maintaining progress over long periods.

The Renfrew Center's pages do not publish specific pricing for treatment programs. The site emphasizes that families concerned about treatment costs should know that Renfrew has a full team dedicated to navigating insurance coverage and working on your behalf with insurance companies to address cost concerns. The center lists multiple inpatient and outpatient locations across several states: Pennsylvania (Philadelphia Spring Lane, Philadelphia Center City, Pittsburgh, Radnor), Florida (Coconut Creek, Orlando), Georgia (Atlanta), Maryland (Baltimore, Bethesda), Massachusetts (Boston), New Jersey (Mount Laurel, Paramus), New York (New York City), North Carolina (Charlotte), and Tennessee (Nashville). Virtual Treatment is available in more than 30 states. The site indicates that Renfrew works with insurance companies and offers financial assistance programs. It does not specify which insurance plans it accepts on the main pages, instead directing people to contact the center to discuss their specific insurance. The center treats adolescent girls, women, transgender, and non-binary individuals and offers specialized programs including an Adolescent Program, Midlife Program, programs focusing on body image, trauma, substance use, and diabetes support, plus a college program and creative arts therapy and faith-based services options. Conditions treated include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, ARFID, diabulimia, orthorexia, and other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED), with co-occurring treatment for trauma, substance use, diabetes, body image issues, anxiety, and depression.

The Renfrew Center's website does not state specific wait times for assessment or admission. It does not publish average lengths of stay for different program levels or provide details about expected treatment duration. The site does not list specific staff qualifications, therapist licenses, or credentials. It does not publish clinical outcomes data, success rates, or research studies conducted at Renfrew, though it mentions having a research-backed treatment model. It does not specify which insurance plans it accepts, instead directing you to contact the center. The site does not detail whether the center accepts self-pay patients or discusses payment plans and sliding scale options beyond mentioning financial assistance programs. It does not clearly explain the differences between day treatment, IOP, and outpatient services in terms of time commitment or intensity. The company does not specify how quickly you can move between levels of care if your needs change. It does not provide information about therapist-to-patient ratios or the structure of typical daily or weekly schedules.

The Renfrew Center best fits someone who is specifically seeking eating disorder treatment and who can travel to or access one of its physical or virtual locations. It is an appropriate choice for adolescents and adults of any gender identity seeking residential or intensive programming. People with multiple eating disorders or eating disorders plus co-occurring conditions like trauma, substance use, or diabetes may find the specialized options valuable. The center works well if you have insurance and can work with the center's financial team to navigate coverage. It is appropriate if you are unsure what level of care you need, because the assessment process can help determine whether outpatient, day treatment, IOP, or residential care fits your situation. The Renfrew Center is less suitable if you are seeking treatment for a mental health condition other than eating disorders, as the organization specializes exclusively in eating disorder recovery. It may not fit if you need immediate crisis care in a location not covered by Renfrew's physical or virtual networks. It is not a good match if you cannot commit to a structured program, either because of work or caregiving responsibilities that prevent regular attendance, though virtual options provide some flexibility. People in states outside Renfrew's virtual service area would need to seek local treatment options.