Carolyn Costin is the Founder and Executive Director of Monte Nido and
Affiliates. Recovered herself, 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. While
maintaining her outpatient services at The Eating Disorder Center of California
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 of Malibu Canyon, 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, CA for individuals suffering
from eating disorders and exercise addiction. She named it after the local
neighborhood, "Monte Nido", which meant "Mountain Nest" to the Indians who
once inhabited the area.
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Due to the success of Monte Nido, Carolyn expanded and opened the affiliate
residential programs RainRock, which sits on the Mackenzie River outside of
Eugene, OR and Monte Nido Vista in Agoura Hills, CA. She continues to
educate and train professionals on the treatment and prevention of eating
disorders both nationally and internationally. Carolyn is also the author of four
books (and a fifth coming out in Fall 2011, titled, 8 Keys to Recovery from an
Eating Disorder), 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 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. Carolyn is renown for
being an activist in her field receiving honors such as the National Eating
Disorders Associatio's Award for Advocacy 2008 and the 2011 Spirit Award
from Sierra Tucson. She has lobbied congress, fights for insurance benefits,
organized NEDA's Parent-Family Network and continues to speak out on issues
facing those struggling with eating disorders. Through her own recovery,
enthusiasm and expertise, Carolyn offers hope that becoming fully recovered
1rom an eating disorder is possible.
Carolyn is a member of several organizations including:
AED (Academy of Eating Disorders) Fellow
NEDA (National Eating Disorder Association), former Board Trustee
ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)
IAEDP (International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals), Board Member and CEDS (Certified Eating Disorders Supervisor)
IAEDP Los Angeles Chapter, Founding President
EDC (Eating Disorder Coalition)
AAMFT (American Association of Marriage and Family Therapist)
EMDRIA (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing International Association)
