Online Eating Disorder Support Group

Free eating disorder recovery resources.
Support group looking at the phone of one of their members

Weekly online alumni meeting

Tuesdays at noon, PST (2PM CST & 3PM EST)

As an eating recovery community that believes healing happens in relationships, Alsana is committed to offering continued group support to its alumni ...

following step-down from our higher levels of care. The Alsana National Admissions Office will provide free weekly online eating disorder support groups held exclusively for Alsana alumni every Tuesday at 12pm PST. This group is educational in nature and provides participants with an online community in which one can receive support and encouragement from the facilitator as well as peers.

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two week summer intensives at Alsana

Free Online Eating Disorder Support Group

Every other Friday at noon, PST (2PM CST & 3PM EST)

Our online eating disorder supports groups are facilitated by Dr. Nicole Garber, Tyeler VielJulia Shuster, and Sara Folsom Thelier.

  • Alsana support groups are offered at no cost to support adults of all genders in their eating disorder recovery.
  • This group is pro-recovery and its goals are to help people suffering from eating disorders know they’re not alone, reduce shame, brainstorm solutions to common challenges, relate to one another, and inspire hope.
  • We ask that all participants read and respect our Online Support Group Guidelines.
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Meet Our Support Group Facilitators

Nicole Garber, MD

Chief Medical Officer | she/her/hers

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Nicole Garber, MD

As Chief Medical Officer for Alsana, Dr. Nicole Garber is responsible for maintaining consistency and quality of all medical programming. She has valuable experience working with individuals of all ages, eating disorder clients struggling with co-occurring diabetes, and clients with co-occurring mental health conditions, including personality disorders. She is also passionate about eradicating medical weight stigma.

Dr. Garber has cared for those in recovery from eating disorders for more than a decade. She most recently served as Chief of Psychiatry and medical director at The Meadows Ranch, an eating disorder program for women and girls in Arizona, and vice president of Psychiatric Services for parent organization Meadows Behavioral Health. Dr. Garber also served as medical director for Arizona Children’s Association, a mental and behavioral health non-profit focused on children and adolescents that qualify for Medicaid.

Dr. Garber received her medical degree from the Saint Louis School of Medicine. She then joined the Baylor College of Medicine Department of Psychiatry as a child and adolescent fellow and was named Chief Resident in 2012. She has also held Child and Adolescent Psychiatry professorships at the University of Texas Houston and the Baylor College of Medicine.

  • APA Fellow status achieved in 2015
  • Journal of Child Psychiatry and Human Development editorial board member
  • Lectures at events for various organizations, including the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals, the American Academy of Children and Adolescent Psychiatry, the National Eating Disorder Organization, and the Obesity Medicine Association, among others.
  • Intensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  • Trained in Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT),
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Tyeler Viel

National Director of Outreach | she/her/hers

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Tyeler Viel

Tyeler received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from San Diego State in 2005 and a Masters in Marital Family Therapy from The University of San Diego in 2007, getting licensed in 2009. Before joining Alsana Tyeler, spent ten years working in various therapeutic settings and private education.

Growing up in a small Northern California mountain town provided her with a unique perspective on food. Once a month, she and her sisters would pile into the car, with ice chests at their feet, to make the two-hour trip over the mountains to the “big city” to get groceries for the month. It was always worth the drive because they would find delicious cheeses, exotic fruits, and artisan bread along with other items that they didn’t have in their local grocery back home. Those memories remain vivid and play an integral part in how she now helps clients who are healing their relationship with food through supportive and holistic treatment they need.

Tyeler is often regarded as a people person. She loves meeting new people and bringing people together. Her loved ones would probably mention how much she enjoys planning fun gatherings through her unique perspective on creativity. She has a deep passion for the mountains and now lives in Texas, where she can admire the flat prairie lands from her living room window. She is an Enneagram 2w3, which means she loves vulnerable conversations, one on one, and helping others. The work she gets to do at Alsana is purpose-driven, it’s a company she credits with “letting her light shine,” which allows her to be herself and truly make a difference.

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Julia Shuster

Transitional Recovery Coach | she/her/hers

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Julia Shuster

Hi, I’m Julia!

I joined the Alsana Admissions Team in November 2021 as a Transitional Recovery Coach. This is an exciting role for me as I have a passion for raising awareness about eating disorders prevention and treatment, and supporting people as they heal their relationships with food and their bodies.

“If you can’t beat fear, do it scared.” – Unknown

Experience

I graduated with a liberal arts degree from the University of New Mexico where I studied Nutrition and Psychology. I believe it was my own recovery journey that not only led me to the work I do now with Alsana but through an array of nourishing opportunities to be of service and give back to the ED recovery community, some of which include:

  • Recovery coaching
  • Size Diversity training
  • Facilitating body image groups and eating disorder support groups
  • Recovery speaking
  • Joyful Movement coaching
  • Eating disorder advocacy
  • Every Body is Beautiful Project graduate
  • Official Body Project Facilitator (through NEDA affiliates)
  • EDRDPro Ambassador
  • Certified trainer through the American College of Sports Medicine

Doing what I love

I consider it a privilege to support folks as they contemplate treatment and reassure them they’re not alone as they make these hard, first decisions about their recovery. Being present with people, offering a safe space to process, and empowering them to hope brings me a lot of fulfillment, both personally and professionally.

My mission is to make treatment as accessible as possible by encouraging individuals to put their whole health first; I feel honored and fortunate to  hold space for people to express their feelings and validate what they’re going through. 

Why Alsana

I was drawn to Alsana because of its innovations in eating disorder treatment and dedication to making recovery not only possible but probable. I have enjoyed being a part of the Alsana community and have been continuously impressed by the quality of the people here.

In my free time

When I am not at Alsana, I enjoy spending time with my dog, Kid, playing the banjo, practicing aerial artistry, and canoeing down the Rio Grande.

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Sara Folsom Thelier

Professional Relations Manager & Outreach Event Coordinator

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Sara Folsom Thelier

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Dr. Nicole Garber

Chief Medical Officer

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Tyeler Viel

National Director of Regional Outreach

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Julia Shuster

Transitional Recovery Coach

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Sara Folsom Thelier

Professional Relations Manager & Outreach Event Coordinator

Who is this eating disorder recovery online group intended to help?

  • This group is intended for those actively experiencing an eating disorder or in recovery from an eating disorder.
  • This group is not intended for family, friends, or providers as this may change the dynamic and safety of the group.
  • While people of all motivation levels are welcome, our discussion is pro-recovery, pro-treatment, and HAES-aligned.

What to expect in this eating disorder recovery online community

  • The facilitator will admit you into the group, giving a few minutes for everyone to join. The facilitator will then walk through the guidelines to create a safe and supportive environment.  New members are encouraged to use a Zoom emoji so the community can welcome them. The discussion is usually prompted with a quote or topic, though the conversation is flexible and participants can raise their hand (either using Zoom emoji or actual hand on camera) to share. Most people have their cameras on and cameras-on is strongly encouraged to foster community and connection. The meeting is 45 minutes long.

Online eating disorder support groups benefits

  • Feeling less alone
  • Relating to others
  • Reducing shame by normalizing common struggles
  • Safe space to connect with facilitator ensuring guidelines keep the discussion as trigger-free as possible
  • To feel heard and listened to
  • To listen to other’s experiences
  • Brainstorm together solutions or ideas
  • Practice advocating for yourself
  • Practice using recovery-focused language
  • Connection with a recovery-focused community
  • Virtual group makes it accessible to people no matter location

Summer Support Series

FREE SEASONAL GROUP | July 26 – August 30
Meets weekly on Wednesdays | 5:30 PST (7:30 CDT/8:30 EST) 

Alsana’s summer support series is designed for individuals (18+) seeking community and resources to help navigate seasonal eating disorder triggers. This free online support group is an opportunity to connect with others in recovery and engage in topic-based discussions with guidance from our multidisciplinary team of facilitators.

Discussion Topics Include:

  • Family Dynamics
  • Hydration, Fuel, and Rest
  • Summer Strategies for Individuals in Larger Bodies
  • Warm-Weather Diet Culture

Meet Our Summer Support Group Facilitators

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Dr. Nicole Garber

Chief Medical Officer

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Molly Binenfeld

Therapist, Westlake Village PHP/IOP

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Holley Moates, MS, RDN, LD

Lead Dietitian, St. Louis RTC

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Deborah Babgy, RN

Registered Nurse, Birmingham RTC

Nicole Garber, MD

Chief Medical Officer | she/her/hers

Read bio
icon

Nicole Garber, MD

As Chief Medical Officer for Alsana, Dr. Nicole Garber is responsible for maintaining consistency and quality of all medical programming. She has valuable experience working with individuals of all ages, eating disorder clients struggling with co-occurring diabetes, and clients with co-occurring mental health conditions, including personality disorders. She is also passionate about eradicating medical weight stigma.

Dr. Garber has cared for those in recovery from eating disorders for more than a decade. She most recently served as Chief of Psychiatry and medical director at The Meadows Ranch, an eating disorder program for women and girls in Arizona, and vice president of Psychiatric Services for parent organization Meadows Behavioral Health. Dr. Garber also served as medical director for Arizona Children’s Association, a mental and behavioral health non-profit focused on children and adolescents that qualify for Medicaid.

Dr. Garber received her medical degree from the Saint Louis School of Medicine. She then joined the Baylor College of Medicine Department of Psychiatry as a child and adolescent fellow and was named Chief Resident in 2012. She has also held Child and Adolescent Psychiatry professorships at the University of Texas Houston and the Baylor College of Medicine.

  • APA Fellow status achieved in 2015
  • Journal of Child Psychiatry and Human Development editorial board member
  • Lectures at events for various organizations, including the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals, the American Academy of Children and Adolescent Psychiatry, the National Eating Disorder Organization, and the Obesity Medicine Association, among others.
  • Intensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  • Trained in Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT),
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Deborah Bagby, RN

Registered Nurse | she/her/they/them

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Deborah Bagby, RN

Deborah joined the Alsana family in 2021 and currently serves as a staff nurse in the Birmingham, Alabama region. She finds joy in celebrating the unique qualities in each person, while acknowledging the common threads that bind us all together. Deborah feels honored to work in residential care where she can assist clients in the medical aspects of recovery, while getting to know each person as an individual. Her greatest aspiration is to make each client, family member, and colleague feel respected and seen. 

Deborah received her BSN in nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has previous experience in hospital medical-surgical nursing and cardiac step-down. Prior to that, she worked as a credit policy analyst in the finance industry, but definitely is happier working with humans than numbers. Deborah also enjoys spending time with her wife, fur babies, and large extended family.

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Molly Binenfeld

Therapist | she/her/hers

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Molly Binenfeld

Molly is a Primary Therapist at Alsana’s Westlake Village PHP/IOP location. In this role, she works with clients in individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy and in supportive other work. 

Molly is passionate about working with clients as they explore their core beliefs, challenge social and cultural messages, connect to their values, and create lives that are congruent and fulfilling. She draws from her clinical and lived experience in her work to challenge diet culture and dismantle the systems that perpetuate it. Molly specializes in working with the co-occurring presentation of eating and substance use disorders. 

Prior to becoming a therapist, Molly worked in Financial and Crisis Communications for some of the world’s largest hedge funds and financial institutions. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she previously lived in and worked in New York and Hong Kong before returning to California. In her free time, Molly enjoys traveling, reading, creative writing, and exploring new restaurants with friends. 

Molly received her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy with honors from Pepperdine University and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Colgate University, where she graduated cum laude. 

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Holley Moates, MS, RDN, LD

Lead Dietitian

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Holley Moates, MS, RDN, LD

Holley Moates, MS, RDN, LD graduated from Saint Louis University with her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Nutrition and Dietetics. She also completed her Dietetic internship from Saint Louis University with a concentration in pediatrics. Holley is the lead dietitian over Hawthorn and Honeybee Residential facilities, overseeing both the nutrition and movement dimensions of Alsana’s Adaptive Care Model®. She guides nutrition rehabilitation through a shame-reduction lens, utilizing compassion-focused therapy as one of the primary modalities. Holley is very passionate about utilizing food as a way to cultivate joy and connection with others.

She is a member of the International Association of Eating Disorders (iaedp) St. Louis Chapter and is in the process of becoming a certified eating disorder dietitian.

In her spare time, Holley enjoys reading, trying new restaurants in St. Louis, attending symphony concerts, and spending hours over coffee and sandwiches with friends.

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These groups are not meant as replacement for therapy. Please click the button of the group you are interested in joining to reserve your space. We will need you to fill out a short waiver stating that you understand this is not a replacement for eating disorder treatment.

We will support you in finding your balance, purpose and possibilities. Welcome to Alsana. We are so glad you found us.

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