The Carolyn Costin Institute Information

Carolyn Costin is the founder and executive director of The Monte Nido Treatment Center and its affiliates. As Carolyn puts it, "Monte Nido offers treatment settings I would have liked to attend when I was suffering from my own eating disorder. I wanted a beautiful environment and a loving, empathic staff, who would know when to challenge and when to nurture." Recovered herself from anorexia nervosa, Carolyn has been treating eating disorders since 1978. Previously a high school teacher and counselor, Carolyn left her first career to devote herself fully to the prevention and treatment of eating disorders. In the early 1980's Carolyn established The Eating Disorder Center of California, which continues to provide outpatient and day treatment services for eating disorder sufferers and their families in several locations throughout Southern California. While maintaining the center and her private practice, Carolyn developed, implemented and served as the director of 4 inpatient and 2 residential eating disorder programs. During this time, Carolyn dreamed of opening her own healing center, in a home-like setting, that would provide a more holistic and realistic approach to recovery. When Carolyn came across an estate in a beautiful wooded area in the Malibu foothills, she knew she had found the place to have her own facility. In March of 1996, Carolyn became a pioneer in the treatment of eating disorders, opening the doors to a unique, six-bed residential program in Malibu, California for individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and exercise addiction. She named it after the local neighborhood, "Monte Nido", which meant "Mountain Nest" to the Indians who once inhabited the area. Due to the success of Monte Nido in Malibu, Carolyn expanded and opened affiliate programs using her protocols and philosophy. In addition to serving as the clinical director for Monte Nido in Malibu, Carolyn serves as the executive director for all Monte Nido affiliates. She continues to educate and train professionals on the treatment and prevention of eating disorders around the country. Her lectures and workshops range from key presentations at national and international conferences, to local community organizations, high schools, and her study groups for professionals. Carolyn furnishes professionals with the latest research and techniques in therapy, nutrition, and behavior modification, as well as her personal philosophy on what facilitates successful recovery. Carolyn has written four books which are popular with both professionals and the lay public:Your Dieting Daughter The Eating Disorder Source Book, 3rd edition 100 Questions and Answers about Eating Disorders (2007) Anorexia and Bulimia, A Nutritional Approach (Co-author Alexander Schauss) Aside from her books Carolyn writes for magazines and journals and has been a contributing author for other publications. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) and on the editorial board for "Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention". The combination of her own personal recovery and her experience in the field make Carolyn an empathic, articulate and informative writer, speaker, therapist and clinical director. She is frequently sought after for television and radio appearances. Carolyn stays up-to-date on all new research in the field of eating disorders and is passionate about fighting the cultural emphasis on appearance and thinness, which contribute greatly to these illnesses. Through her own recovery, enthusiasm and expertise, Carolyn offers hope that becoming fully recovered from an eating disorder is possible. Carolyn is a member of several organizations including: A.E.D. (Academy of Eating Disorders) N.E.D.A (National Eating Disorder Association) Board Trustee A.N.A.D. (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders) I.A.E.D.P. (International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals) E.D.C. (Eating Disorder Coalition) C.A.M.F.T. (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) Dads & Daughters