Testimonials
What Our Alumni, Their Family Members, and Clinical Partners Are Saying
Alumni
Family Members
Alumni
“I recently stayed at Aster Springs and the experience was nothing short of remarkable. The facility, nestled in a serene environment, offers a comforting atmosphere for recovery. It felt almost like a resort. The most incredible part was the amazing team of professionals who work here. From the moment I arrived to the moment I left, I was respected, cared for, heard, and helped. I cannot say enough about the staff here. Let me name this amazing staff that I miss like they are family: Gia, Hillary, Abz, Resa, Joslyn, Brittany and Megan, Alexa, Sarah and Kaylan, Christopher and Chelsea. I cannot recommend them enough. Aster Springs distinguishes itself by employing dedicated teams of professionals collaborating to provide a personalized experience for each individual. The culinary team not only prepares nourishing meals but also offers cooking lessons. Surprisingly beneficial were the health lessons from the nursing team, surpassing my expectations and giving lasting tools for recovery. The recovery care specialists conducted enjoyable and enlightening sessions. In conclusion, if you or a loved one is in search of compassionate and all-encompassing care for eating disorder recovery, I strongly suggest exploring Aster Springs—a genuine haven for healing.” – Grateful Aster Springs Alumnus
“My alumni experience has been fantastic! I feel supported by our alumni group that talks on a regular basis and has a virtual support group. It feels like I never truly left Aster Springs but rather have moved on with my life while Aster has continued to support me. It has been wonderful to connect with fellow alumni and share experiences, struggles, and wins together. The team supported me through the entire intake process and never let me feel alone or isolated in my hesitant desire to seek treatment. After attending Aster Springs once, I knew I wanted to return when I needed treatment again. This is because the team fully supported me through my entire experience and had more faith in me than I’ve ever had in myself. The people at Aster truly care, and that was felt every single day I was there in both Residential and PHP. The admissions process was wonderful! It was really easy to connect with someone for an intake call, and it was scheduled immediately. From there, I was kept in the loop of every step of the process and what was happening. I never felt like anything was done behind my back and really appreciated the ongoing support throughout admissions. I was supported with text updates about the process and by having an admissions coordinator who cared just as much about my receiving treatment as I did. She was always there to support and offer kind words, and the entire process of admitting only took a matter of days, which I was extremely impressed by.” – Grateful Aster Springs Alumnus
“Aster Springs- Nashville saved my life. This was my first residential treatment experience, and while I can confidently say it is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, Aster showed me that I can do hard things. The facility was converted from an old church to a beautiful, cozy, and home-like environment. I absolutely loved spending time outside around the garden or inside the screened-in patio. Gia and the RCS staff were incredibly kind and compassionate, and they all visibly cared about our wellbeing. I felt seen, heard, and validated. They also brought joy and laughter to some of the most challenging days. The medical team was caring and helped me understand exactly what was happening inside my body. I became especially close to one of the nurses, Brittany, who went out of her way to help me feel safe and supported in considerably vulnerable situations. Chef Chelsea prepared amazing meals, was always welcoming company in the kitchen, and eager to teach us more about cooking. Resa, my dietician, continuously pushed me out of my comfort zone, taught me about what different nutrients do for our bodies, and “debunked” society’s many diets/definitions of health. Resa helped me see that food has no moral value, and it’s ok to eat something because you enjoy it, because all foods can fit in a balanced diet. Most importantly, she handmade me a piñata out of supplement shakes to celebrate my graduation! Abz, my therapist, helped me separate the ED from my authentic self. She destroyed barriers, and created a sanctuary for me to start feeling and processing the big emotions that I spent most of my life suppressing. She taught me that you can scream, you can throw things, you can cry, but you absolutely must not give up. Thank you, Abz, for inspiring my resiliency, and helping me take my power back. Of everyone I crossed paths with, I have to say Hillary, the Executive Director, made the biggest impression. A particularly difficult conversation we had helped me understand that I had a choice; to continue letting the ED control me until it takes my life, or I could stop resisting their efforts, and show up (scared, angry, and all) every day, every group, every meal, and fight for my future. Having an eating disorder is hard, and so is recovery. Choose your “hard”. I’m so glad I chose to truly open myself to treatment, because once I did, my life changed. Hope and healing lives amongst Aster Springs. When it came time to go home and move forward in my recovery journey, my treatment team ensured I had the tools to handle this next big step. Saying goodbye was so bittersweet, and words cannot begin to express my gratitude to these amazing humans for helping me find my voice. Thank you Aster, for giving me my future.” – Grateful Aster Springs Alumnus
“I want to recognize the admission coordinator, Chaney. From the very first conversation, she was overly supportive. More times than I can count, she thanked me for wanting to get help, for opening up, and for sharing my story with her. Her gratitude for being part of my recovery process was more than heartwarming. I was out of network with Aster Springs, but she continued helping me through the process of being admitted to treatment. I ended up continuing admission with a program I was in network with, but Chaney followed up and checked in with me every single day. I have been to multiple residential facilities and I can honestly say I have never felt so comfortable and so supported by any staff member before. Her dedication to patients is inspiring; I can only hope her passion is shared with all of those in her position. I cannot express how grateful I am that Chaney was there for me during this time in my life.” – Grateful Aster Springs Alumnus
“My time at Aster Springs was absolutely amazing, the staff was so supportive and kind to me during my treatment. When I was with the people who work there, I could tell they all put such heart and love into caring for all of us. Thank you to all the staff.” – Grateful Aster Springs Alumnus
“What can I say except WOW! Aster Springs is LGBTQ+ friendly. As a nonbinary AFAB person, they still accepted me into their residential program. They also accepted someone who’s trans. My preferred name and pronouns were ALWAYS respected.
Here, I was seen as a person- not my eating disorder. This isn’t a locked “facility”. I had the freedom to go outside and move around the house. I never once felt trapped behind locked doors, simply because that wasn’t the case. This has, by far, been the best treatment center I’ve ever been to. Aster Springs is the top and leading ED center in the Richmond area. They also provide PHP housing to those who need or want it. 10/10 would recommend.
The food is also of the highest quality. Chefs Joe and Aja turned foods I previously hated the taste of, into something magical. That takes some serious skill. The menu also is also creative and approachable. Aster Springs’ residential program immediately set me up for the real world. They don’t hide nutrition information on food and drinks. We had access to facility phones, computers, and tablets. I was expected to make my bed and do chores.
The staff at Aster Springs are also incredibly aware and experienced in working with eating disorders. My favorite RCSs are Jess, Jasmine, Emma, Nia, Liz, and Tawana. They all bring their own fun to mealtimes and also provide a (metaphorical) shoulder to cry on when things get tough. The nursing staff is incredibly friendly. Susan is such a sweetheart. She’s literally the human version of a golden retriever – so wholesome. Other nurses such as Lisa, Rika, Betty, Jessica, Lemettris, and Stephanie (NP) will also work incredibly hard to get you the meds you need.
Chrissy (VP) is frequently at programming, which pleasantly surprised me. I’ve never met VPs of the other treatment centers I’ve been to. It’s meaningful and exciting when people like her participate in the frontline treatment process. Melanie (Executive Director) is empathetic, honest, and wise. She’s a true professional that also has a fun side. She literally “packed” herself inside a human-sized Amazon box just to make the patients laugh! Absolutely unreal.
Dieticians Emily and Stephanie go out of their way to make the nourishing aspects of treatment less hard. Their therapeutic approach to nutrition is something I feel is needed in all eating disorder treatment settings. Therapist Megan is such a down to earth human. Even in my most difficult sessions, she’s always managed to get a laugh out of me. I was able to connect with her in a way I never anticipated, which allowed me to put my guard down and helped me feel truly understood.
Helen (Client Advocate) passionately works above and beyond in her role. As the only Black patient in residential and PHP, it was comforting to see that she was able to make Black ED literature available for reading. Helen has worked overtime getting me just about everything I needed while at Aster Springs. She will seriously go to bat for you. When there was a glitch in my treatment, she made tons of phone calls until it was resolved. When I had bad days, she would help guide me back to a solutions-focused approach instead of a deficit approach. Working with Helen has been such a blast. She 10000% deserves a raise. She leaves no stone uncovered when working with patients. Helen also gives the warmest hugs. I will definitely miss them.
Jon is the face of Aster Springs. More than likely, he’s the first person you’ll meet upon admitting to residential and the last person you’ll see when discharging or stepping down to a lower level of care. He has such a cool and calm vibe that helps relieve some of the anxiety around being in treatment. He also is super creative and engaging when running some of the PHP groups. Psychiatrists Dr. Scales and Dr. Hart are incredibly thorough in their sessions. Not once have I ever felt rushed to “get in and out”. They truly care about meeting your needs.
There are so many others who’ve gone unnamed due to character limits. To all the staff, thank you for being in my life.” – Grateful Aster Springs Alumnus
Here, I was seen as a person- not my eating disorder. This isn’t a locked “facility”. I had the freedom to go outside and move around the house. I never once felt trapped behind locked doors, simply because that wasn’t the case. This has, by far, been the best treatment center I’ve ever been to. Aster Springs is the top and leading ED center in the Richmond area. They also provide PHP housing to those who need or want it. 10/10 would recommend.
The food is also of the highest quality. Chefs Joe and Aja turned foods I previously hated the taste of, into something magical. That takes some serious skill. The menu also is also creative and approachable. Aster Springs’ residential program immediately set me up for the real world. They don’t hide nutrition information on food and drinks. We had access to facility phones, computers, and tablets. I was expected to make my bed and do chores.
The staff at Aster Springs are also incredibly aware and experienced in working with eating disorders. My favorite RCSs are Jess, Jasmine, Emma, Nia, Liz, and Tawana. They all bring their own fun to mealtimes and also provide a (metaphorical) shoulder to cry on when things get tough. The nursing staff is incredibly friendly. Susan is such a sweetheart. She’s literally the human version of a golden retriever – so wholesome. Other nurses such as Lisa, Rika, Betty, Jessica, Lemettris, and Stephanie (NP) will also work incredibly hard to get you the meds you need.
Chrissy (VP) is frequently at programming, which pleasantly surprised me. I’ve never met VPs of the other treatment centers I’ve been to. It’s meaningful and exciting when people like her participate in the frontline treatment process. Melanie (Executive Director) is empathetic, honest, and wise. She’s a true professional that also has a fun side. She literally “packed” herself inside a human-sized Amazon box just to make the patients laugh! Absolutely unreal.
Dieticians Emily and Stephanie go out of their way to make the nourishing aspects of treatment less hard. Their therapeutic approach to nutrition is something I feel is needed in all eating disorder treatment settings. Therapist Megan is such a down to earth human. Even in my most difficult sessions, she’s always managed to get a laugh out of me. I was able to connect with her in a way I never anticipated, which allowed me to put my guard down and helped me feel truly understood.
Helen (Client Advocate) passionately works above and beyond in her role. As the only Black patient in residential and PHP, it was comforting to see that she was able to make Black ED literature available for reading. Helen has worked overtime getting me just about everything I needed while at Aster Springs. She will seriously go to bat for you. When there was a glitch in my treatment, she made tons of phone calls until it was resolved. When I had bad days, she would help guide me back to a solutions-focused approach instead of a deficit approach. Working with Helen has been such a blast. She 10000% deserves a raise. She leaves no stone uncovered when working with patients. Helen also gives the warmest hugs. I will definitely miss them.
Jon is the face of Aster Springs. More than likely, he’s the first person you’ll meet upon admitting to residential and the last person you’ll see when discharging or stepping down to a lower level of care. He has such a cool and calm vibe that helps relieve some of the anxiety around being in treatment. He also is super creative and engaging when running some of the PHP groups. Psychiatrists Dr. Scales and Dr. Hart are incredibly thorough in their sessions. Not once have I ever felt rushed to “get in and out”. They truly care about meeting your needs.
There are so many others who’ve gone unnamed due to character limits. To all the staff, thank you for being in my life.” – Grateful Aster Springs Alumnus
“Aster Springs has been a place of immense healing for me. I entered treatment terrified and hopeless, but the care, compassion, and knowledge of the staff here left me feeling hopeful for the future and for my continued recovery. The staff here truly care for who you are as an individual. They know how to sit with you in your struggle and celebrate with you in your victories. I am confident that this place is changing lives every single day, and I am blessed to have received care here.” – Grateful Aster Springs Alumnus
“I don’t think there are words to express my gratitude for Aster Springs. I showed up thinking this would be another facility to add to my list of recovery attempts. At first, I fought the process, but the encouraging, caring, and loving staff challenged me until I actually wanted freedom for myself. I was treated with respect and given so much support. Aster Springs is an amazing place for the journey to freedom from ED.” – Grateful Aster Springs Alumnus
“Aster springs provided me with wonderful and compassionate care. I loved playing games at tables, all of the staff, and all of the very informative groups. I loved Jes, Stephanie, Pauline, and Nia. To anyone who’s going, I’d say you’re making the right choice in choosing yourself and recovery!” – Grateful Aster Springs Alumnus
“The care I received at Aster Springs was amazing! I felt supported at every stage of treatment and the staff always met me where I was at in my recovery. During my treatment there I was treated with dignity and respect. The staff helped me to distinguish the eating disorder voice from my own which has been instrumental as I move forward towards recovery. I grew to truly trust the staff which helped me to move past the roadblocks I hit at different phases of my journey. I cannot say enough about how amazing the treatment at Aster Springs was!” – Grateful Aster Springs Alumnus
“Aster Springs has been the best inpatient care I’ve ever received. My first day was difficult but the staff made sure to make me feel as comfortable as I could be. The STAFF! Amazing! They were so amazing and helped so much during stressful meals. Helen was a huge supporter, along with all the RCS’. The staff made ALL the difference. The care was individualized (TRULY), which made such a huge difference. I’ve never been more comfortable leaving an inpatient center. I could not recommend Aster Springs enough!” – Grateful Aster Springs Alumnus
“Aster Springs has helped me fight 20 years worth of behaviors. I have left this facility with more skills than I have had my entire life. I bonded with the staff and was treated with the utmost respect every day, all day. I am genuinely going to miss the people who have provided me with care. I felt like family more than I felt like a patient. I will have these people in my heart for the rest of my life. It was worth every tear, every hard moment. I am a new, happy person. The staff is AMAZING, the home is AMAZING, everything about the program is wonderful.” – Grateful Aster Springs Alumnus
“Everything about this entire experience was transformative and healing, from the first day admissions process to the last day of treatment I felt well cared for, and well informed on the details of my plan and treatment process. I couldn’t have felt safer and more cared for anywhere else thanks to the most amazing and caring staff, cooks, nursing, and treatment teamwork. Thank you so very much for allowing me to see the potential in myself that I just couldn’t see at the begin when coming into your beautiful, amazing walls.” – Grateful Aster Springs Alumnus
“Aster Springs saved my life. Melanie and Helen were the most loving and dedicated people I’ve ever seen in an eating disorder treatment facility. Chef Joe accommodated for all my allergies and made the kitchen fun. So appreciative of all the staff and would highly recommend!” – Grateful Aster Springs Alumnus
“I was the first client at the Aster Springs West location. I was very hesitant about receiving treatment at first, but I am so glad I went there. I had never been to an inpatient program, so I was very nervous. My eating disordered brain told me to do whatever I could do to get out, but I am so glad I never left. The staff was AMAZING. I truly believe they saved my life. Words will never be able to describe how grateful I am for them. I will always hold a special place in my heart for them & what they did for me. They pulled me out of a very dark place that I was in for most of my life without even knowing. Even with the stress of all of their openings, each staff member truly cared for each of their clients. I have never felt more safe. It was the perfect place to be vulnerable and find your sense of freedom. I will never forget Helen for giving me the best hug on my first day. She made me feel so comfortable right away. The RC team she hired is flawless. Mary, Nia, Crystal, Jasmine, Ashley, Jess, Emma, Towana, and Jaxxx were the most supportive people. Every single one of them are so understanding. Their energy is amazing. I can tell they all really love what they do. They believe in you even when you do not believe in yourself. I always enjoyed playing fun games with the table at meals. The distraction definitely helps make the meals less anxiety inducing. You spend the majority of the day doing various types of groups. The groups are very interactive. I found every single group helpful. Group is the perfect space to express yourself & process with the help of others. I will never be able to thank my treatment team enough. Leslie & Caroline were the kindest, most patient people. The two nurses there (most of the time) were Kate & Lisa. I have never felt more comfortable with anyone. They were the best. They both are so dedicated to their job. They are amazing. I will always remember what they did for me. The other dieticians- Emily and Stephanie were also so great. Stephanie’s energy is contagious. Everything about her is amazing. She brightened my day every time she walked into the room. Emily’s kind words kept me from never giving up. She was always a great cheerleader for everyone’s recovery. She is extremely dedicated to her clients and does anything possible to make them feel heard and comfortable. Asia is the chef in the West & the food was always cooked perfectly. Her amazing food allowed me to have less anxiety going into the meals. She is so kind hearted as well and super understanding of everyone’s needs. Melanie and Chrissy- You both have built the perfect place to recover from such an awful disease. Thank you so much for everything. I have learned more about myself than I ever expected to. Every part of the process is worth it. I am definitely now living a life worth living. Aster Springs West will always have a special place in my heart.” – Grateful Aster Springs Alumnus
“My stay at Aster Springs was phenomenal. I have experienced other forms of treatment, but I can say that Aster Springs made me feel really safe, cared for, and protected – all things that are incredibly huge for me and my recovery. All of the RCs are very kind. The environment was incredibly clean, which is also huge for me.” – Grateful Aster Springs Alumnus
Aster Springs has been one of the best things that has ever happened to me. This was my first ever treatment experience, and I am leaving more than satisfied with the care that I received. Every single staff member is extremely talented at what they do, and make the environment so incredibly comfortable for the clients. The struggles that I had coming into Aster Springs were significant, but my journey here has helped tremendously. I truly mean it when I say the staff here is AMAZING, and some of the most genuinely caring people that I have ever met. Thank you to everyone who made my experience so positive, and I am confident in saying that I am leaving here with all of the tools that I could possibly need to succeed.” – Grateful Aster Springs Alumnus
“Everything from original intake to the treatment and care was more than I could have imagined. I am truly blessed to have been a client at Aster Springs. My stay there has changed my life. I am excited to begin to live the life I was meant to live. I will be forever grateful to each and every member of the Aster Springs team who helped me on my journey to recovery. They will always hold a very dear place in my heart. Thank you, thank you everyone.” – Grateful Aster Springs Alumnus
“From the initial phone call to the last day, I was there I felt Aster Springs was an incredible, life altering experience. Kelsey, the intake coordinator, was so warm and welcoming on the phone and in her emails. She made me feel so important and I could tell she truly cared. Jon was the first person I met to welcome me into the residence and was very thorough with the admissions process. Elizabeth was the nurse who did the initial vitals and made me feel very comfortable as I was settling in. During my stay I met so many wonderful nurses and could tell they loved what they did. The house smelled incredible with Chef Joe and Chef Asia’s cooking. I was exposed to a variety of foods and learned how to make several meals and snacks for my family. Therapy was never successful for me in the past and Hannah has changed my whole outlook on how I view therapy. I now understand how valuable it can be. She is incredibly talented! Via was not “my” therapist but she always made me feel important and made time to meet with me if I needed a check in. The Recovery Care Specialists were all wonderful in their own ways. Nia is so amazing and insightful. She’s great at reading the clients and she’s there when they need to talk. Kaylee is sweet and always tries her best to make everyone feel like she’s there if you need her. The dieticians, Emily, Caroline, and Stephanie are all so talented and patient. The knowledge they shared on nutrition, diet culture, and ways to challenge my ED were keys to my recovery. Aster Springs made me feel like I was getting individualized treatment and it was exactly what I needed to overcome 30 years of an ED. I am so thankful for this opportunity and wish there were more places like this for all ages. I feel confident with what I learned during my time at Aster Springs that I can live the rest of my life free from my ED.” – Grateful Aster Springs Alumnus
“Aster Springs was a vital and amazing step in my healing process. I have only positive things to say! My struggles inside the walls were met with nothing but compassion, kindness, and the absolute best care I’ve ever received. From the executive director to the dietitians, the therapists, the nursing staff, the recovery care specialists, the chef, the milieu manager, and the higher ups… they ALL exemplify the qualities that should be present in every treatment center. From my first day to my last, I felt so cared for by the staff not as a patient, but as a person, and that meant more than I could ever express in words. I will forever be grateful for my time here. Aster Springs, THANK YOU!” – Grateful Aster Springs Alumnus
“Having been to several treatment centers for my eating disorder, Aster Springs provided an incomparable program to others. From the first moment of walking in the door, the staff expressed genuine care for me and other clients. This continued to hold true throughout my months of treatment. The recovery care team offered support all hours of the day and being the individuals you spend the most time with, made sure you felt worthy. Outside of scheduled therapy and dietitian sessions, treatment team members took extra time to check-in with me and others without hesitation. Just as no two people are the same, each treatment plan was created on an individual basis to ensure the most healing recovery journey. With organized groups, the information and recovery tools shared were superior to those to other treatment centers. The low client-to-staff ratio allowed me to feel more than just an eating disorder as staff took time to learn about me as an individual.
Aster Springs exhibited a healing and hopeful environment for recovery, each day reminding me to never give up. My family and I will forever be grateful for Aster Springs. – Grateful Aster Springs Alumnus
Aster Springs exhibited a healing and hopeful environment for recovery, each day reminding me to never give up. My family and I will forever be grateful for Aster Springs. – Grateful Aster Springs Alumnus
Family Members
“I’m writing this review as the parent of a client. I’m very pleased with the treatment that my daughter received while she was a resident, as well as a participant in PHP and IOP. She completed the program and has made significant progress. Throughout the entire process, she felt safe, valued and is in a great position to use the tools that she has learned from the staff in her day-to-day life. I want to say thank you to the entire staff for helping her in this journey.” – Grateful Parent of an Aster Springs Alumnus
