Harmony Place Monterey

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I had the privilege of attending Harmony Place for a total of five months (split into two different sessions). The treatment and therapy I received changed my life. I went into the program to work on recovering from an eating disorder, cutting, PTSD, and depression. I left the program feeling like a new person and FINALLY having a sense of who I am. For the first time ever, I am excited to live my life! I highly recommend this program. The staff is incredible. They were so devoted to my recovery, and they were absolutely brilliant. I cannot say enough good things about Harmony Place! Thank you for giving me back my hope!

I am very appreciative of the time I spent in treatment at Harmony Place. This place has definitely change my life and outlook on it. The metaphor that comes to mind is rock climbing. Before I came here I was climbing the rock of life with no equipment making it easy to slip and fall and nearly die. But now after my time at Harmony Place I am climbing with a full set of equipment and confident that I will be able to manage and handle and future slips or obstacles.

Coming to Harmony Place has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The program has literally saved my life and I’ve learned so much in a short period of time. When I first fame here my depression and anxiety were out of control. I was helpless and I felt worthless, the thought of death was something I welcomed. The more I opened up, though, the clearer things became, and I stared to realize that there’s so much more to life. I went from hurting myself to now looking for the likable qualities in me. Where I used to sit and stew in anger and anxiety, I’ve started (with the help of medication and healthy coping mechanisms) to look at situations with a sense of calmness and I’m able to think things through instead of going into an immediate panic attack. I’ve learned that lapses and relapses are part of recovery and just because I make a mistake and fall back into a bad habit that doesn’t mean I’m broken r that all the progress I’ve made doesn’t count. I’m human, I’m imperfect, and I’m going to make mistakes, but that also doesn’t mean that I can’t love myself. I may have some crappy qualities, but so does everyone else. Just like we all have amazing and unique qualities. Every single one of us. This program has helped me recognize my attachment and codependency issues and has shown me how to deal with them in a healthy manner. I feel like my eyes have been opened to these problems and I can now take a step back and see them from a different perspective. This has helped tremendously in my marriage and has caused me to once again feel like I’m truly in love. It never occurred to me that all of the shame I’d carried inside was the reason I wasn’t able to feel that love. Once I worked on and began caring about myself, my other relationships started falling into place. I can hardly believe that a few months ago I was considered divorce and now I can’t wait to see what blessings each year from here on our brings us. In 3 months I’ve made more progress that I thought I ever could. I have so many tools that can apply to my life now and that will help me continue working my program to make sure I stay happy and healthy. If you are reading this and you’ve just started coming to Harmony Place, or you’re considering it, please remember that you deserve happiness. You deserve to work on and make a life for yourself. Whether if takes a few months or a few years, your recovery is important. Please give yourself a chance to work through it. You are worthy of love, life, and happiness. -Paige F.

Finding a good therapist you connect with, one who listens to you and truly wants to help, can be so difficult. Every one of the therapists here is amazing and I can't recommend this place enough. They've already helped me so much, and continue to do so.

My time at Harmony Place was hands down one of the best experiences I’ve had in a mental health program. All the staff are amazing, friendly, and welcoming. It is a great environment for healing. I highly recommend the programs here.

My experience with Mark Schwartz and Lori Galperin was incredibly positive. Before finding them, I worked with various clinicians and attended several eating disorder treatment programs around the states, where I often made progress but relapsed soon after. Since working with Mark and Lori, I am now able to live the type of life where, when life becomes stressful, I can maintain a strong connection to myself and do not feel pulled to use the behaviors that used to rule my world. I did not believe that this type of life would have been possible for me. They are a brilliant, creative, and ethical team. Any person who works with them can benefit from their expertise, compassion, and above all their willingness to meet you where you are and help you in the ways that your unique personality and life experiences require."

I have been talking to Dr Schwartz and his team for a few years now. I cannot thank them enough for taking the time to truly hear me and help me identify some of the emotional blocks which have left me blinkered to myself for many years. I trust their knowledge and the compassionate manner in which it is shared. Thank you, Mark, for helping me uncover a happiness that had eluded me for many, many years. Keep going with your amazing work in this world. Xx

I believe the step to find a counselor is challenging for many people. Some continue to hope that the painful circumstances they're in will just pass and tomorrow will be better - until it isn't. Some are reluctant to trust their deep emotions and details about their troubled relationships with a "stranger". Some are just scared. I sought Mark for help with a troubled marriage and a lost sense of self. I had worked on both, alone, for a year, yet and found myself just repeating unproductive patterns and feeling empty. Mark's approach was direct, yet nurturing. His questions were spot-on and provided insightful guidance for me to learn more about myself. His environment became a refuge to engage in quiet, thoughtful exploration, a safe place where he made me do the hard-developmental work while encouraging me to accept my true self. If he were still in my city, I would seek him out again, both for his professional expertise and just his good company.

Mark Schwartz and Lori Galperin wrote the book on eating disorders. They started with one clinic in Saint Louis, then a second, then added one in Alabama and California. They have recently went on there own again in Monterey California with the awesome Harmony Place. I highly recommend them and their staff!

Mark Swartz is the best psychologist. The professionalism of Harmony Place staff and the treatment they used is remarkable. They helped us in our marriage crisis.

Mark Schwartz and Lori Galperin provide individualized and evidence-based recovery interventions to their patients in a comprehensive and effective approach. You will be hard-pressed to find a clinical team that works as seamlessly together as they do, while simultaneously staying current on research and training. While their approach integrates evidence-based clinical interventions, you will always find expressive modalities such as yoga, art and drama therapy in their programming. Recovery at Harmony Place Monterey blends all of their skills and expertise in a beautiful healing setting.

I came to Harmony Place Monterey with severe depression. The entire staff was excellent and very caring. I was finally able to do deeper work on my childhood trauma. Since then, I have been remarkably better and made significant changes in my life!! I highly recommend the knowledgeable staff at Harmony Place!

Dr. Mark Schwartz is a very insightful and caring therapist. He is intuitive and knowledgeable and very dedicated to his clients. Would strongly recommend his services.

Dr. Schwartz is extremely knowledgeable in the areas of treatment he offers. He is very compassionate and caring. A gifted and talented therapist and a wonderful person.

I have spent most of my life dealing with early trauma and compulsive overeating, along with depression. In the past I have tried many diets, strict exercise regimens, various pharmacological treatments for appetite suppressants and depression, and types of individual and group therapy for years. Mark Schwartz and Harmony Place Monterey have provided me with the understanding I need to finally deal with my issues, and (hopefully) live a normal satisfying life. His knowledge of family systems has taught me what I an dealing with, and how to understand and work through my eating disorder. I feel that I finally have a chance to be happy with myself and my life. I have read the recent negative post from a mother whose child was treated by Mark at a prior treatment center, condemning Mark and making accusations about what happened with her child. I am a father with four children, and I empathize with the pain she must be enduring. I have two special needs children, and have on occasion been at odds with the therapeutic approach some therapists had with them. However, I have personally been treated by Mark, as well as several members of his staff. The treatment approach that I and other clients that have been and are currently receiving is straight forward and understandable. I have not had any hypnosis, experimental treatments, or anything that would suggest any issues that weren't already present. Nor has any other client that I have met. I recommend Harmony Place Monterey highly, and will recommend treatment here to some family members and to some friends who have struggled with depression or addiction. Scott A

My experience at Harmony Place Monterey was absolutely positive and I am a stronger, more emotionally aware and healthier person because of my time there. I saw Mark and Lori in individual sessions and am incredibly grateful for their genuine care, and I respect their abilities as therapists. They are terrific! I have been to several treatment programs for my eating disorder and this is the first time I have truly felt optimistic about my recovery in the long term.

Eating disorder therapy with in driving distance of Santa Cruz, CA.