eating disorder recovery|support|help
Welcome to ViaMar Health. Our team of experienced, compassionate professionals work with you and your loved ones along the voyage to eating disorder recovery from the point of the first call.
We welcome each person at their personal stage of recovery. We provide individualized, integrative, unique and evidence-based eating disorder treatment in residential, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient levels of care. We are dedicated to guiding you or your loved one on the recovery voyage.
We provide comprehensive, compassionate treatment for those individuals and families suffering from eating disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions.
family & loved ones
All part of the healing process
Family members can experience a sense of helplessness, magnified by frustration, fear and confusion. Adding to the confusion, loved ones needing help can often appear high functioning while their bodies and minds may be breaking down and struggling to survive.
We strongly encourage the participation of family members and loved ones to support the recovery process for each and every patient.Our highest priority is to cultivate an environment where patients and families feel valued, safe and connected with those helping them through their healing process .
"Once you choose hope, anything's possible."-Christopher Reeve
Our Approach
We individualize care to address any co-existing disorders such as Depression, Anxiety, Substance Use Disorders, Trauma/PTSD and Obsessive Compulsive Disorders as well as core underlying issues. Our expert multidisciplinary team includes a psychiatrist, licensed mental health professionals, and nutrition staff to address the mental, nutritional, emotional and spiritual needs of each person. ViaMar is a boutique treatment center, with no more than 14 patients in our residential program, ensuring quality, individualized programming. ViaMar Health is dedicated to go beyond diagnosis and symptom management so that each patient addresses their needs to fully understand their personal recovery needs.
We take a multidisciplinary team approach using best practice, effective evidence-based modalities to ensure the best care possible.
Adult Residential – Casita Del Mar
Adult men and women (18 and over)
The ViaMar Health vision of Casita Del Mar is to provide round the clock care and support for patients in a non-judgmental, therapeutic, safe and real life setting. Our four Florida bungalows allows patients to have real life experiences with supervision from our staff. Residents receive customized nutritional plans and support. Each patient will participate in group therapies as well as individual or family sessions with a therapist. In addition, our clients will individually see our registered dietitian and medical director on a weekly basis. Casita Del Mar is a residential program for up to 14 adults with an eating disorder diagnosis. The ViaMar clinical program incorporates mindfulness, yoga, art therapy, and recovery related activities throughout the week.
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
Separate Adult (male & female, 18+) & Adolescent Programs (male & female, 12-17)
The Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) at ViaMar Health provides our patients with the structure of a residential program while working on their recovery voyage in the community. We offer a supervised meal and two snacks, accompanied by meal support and meal processing groups. Each week, our patients participate in group therapies as well as family or individual sessions with their therapist. Our medical director and registered dietitian also see each patient weekly. Our Partial Hospitalization Program is available 6 days per week, 6 hours each day.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
Separate Adult (male & female, 18+) & Adolescent Programs (male & female, 12-17)
ViaMar Health provides Intensive Outpatient Programing (IOP) for clients needing a transitional level of care that are either stepping down from a higher level of care or requiring extra support in conjunction with their outpatient treatment team. This level of care provides structure and recovery navigation to support recovery outside of treatment. Individual and/or family sessions occur with a therapist weekly as well as a session with our registered dietitian. We work with the patient’s outpatient psychiatrist and clinical team (as appropriate) as an integral part of our treatment team. Our IOP meets three days per week, 3 hours each day.
Program Services and Highlights
- Strong, Individualized Co-Occurring Programming
- Psychoeducational Lecture Series
- Nutritional Lecture Series
- Recovery Stabilization
- Creative Healing Groups
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Psychodrama
- EMDR
- Trauma Therapy
- Yoga Therapy
- Interpersonal Process Groups
- Recovery Stabilization
- Grief and Loss
- Body Image / Body Experience Therapy
- Meal Process and Self Portioning
- Meal and Restaurant Challenges
- Nutritional Restoration & Stabilization
Nutrition
Each patient works closely with their registered dietitian and nutrition team. Meal support is offered during meals and snacks. For residential and PHP clients, our chef creates nutritious and delicious meals for our patients each day and introduces new and exciting foods into each patient’s meal plan. Various nutrition program activities are implemented to help support the reduction of eating disordered behaviors such as food exposures, restaurant outings, and mindfulness based practices.
Family Programming
The diagnosis of an eating disorder impacts not just the patient, but the whole family. We help the family navigate the treatment process and the recovery voyage of their loved one. We treat the entire family through weekly family therapeutic sessions with a therapist and family exposure work. In addition to hosting family support groups, Viamar Health also hosts an intensive family day to provide additional support, education, and treatment for the family.
The ViaMar Health Story
ViaMar Health is the vision of our founder and CEO, Michelle Klinedinst. Michelle moved to Palm Beach County, Florida to pursue personal growth hobbies and passions. She quickly learned about the great need in the area for eating disorder treatment. Michelle could not allow another person to struggle without quality treatment in the area. She began discussing the possibility of ViaMar with community and national stakeholders. Michelle chose to name our program ViaMar Health as a homage to her Puerto Rican heritage and her love of the ocean; Via, meaning “by way of” and Mar “The Sea”. The ocean is therapeutic at its essence and it also is a representation for eating disorders and co-occurring mental health needs. The ocean can be calm at the surface, but deep underneath, there is an entire world of beauty, turmoil, and life. Michelle’s vision of ViaMar came to life in 2016 with the opening of the Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Programs and continues to grow with the 2018 addition of the residential program for adult men and women struggling with eating disorders.
Staff Roster
Each of our patients has their own individual treatment team of professionals to work alongside them throughout their recovery plan. Each staff person brings specialized experience and skills to meet the unique needs of our patients.
Ultimately, we feel very strongly that connecting with our patients is most critical to support ongoing progress.
Ethan LeFever
Executive Director
Courtney Creese
Director of Admissions and Operations
Jillian Mazza
Admissions Coordinator
Michelle Klinedinst MS CEDS
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
For the past thirty years Michelle has devoted her career to helping individuals with addictions, eating disorders, and self-destructive behaviors and to live healthier and happier lives. Throughout her career, Michelle has worked in various administrative, corporate and clinical leadership capacities. She is a therapist at heart and brings a client-centered approach to her companies. She offers a wide range of experience in understanding her role as CEO as she oversees and guides staff, and patient care.
She was Executive Vice President of Rosewood Eating Disorders Treatment Centers and co-founded A New Journey Eating Disorders Treatment Center in Santa Monica California. She has built clinical programs both nationally and internationally. Michelle was the Chief Executive Officer for Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Center in Antigua, West Indies. She is published and has presented nationally and internationally on addictions and eating disorders. Michelle is psychodrama trained at the Moreno Academy of Psychodrama. She holds a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology, Post Graduate Certification in Addictions Studies, and Certification as an Eating Disorders Specialist.
Ethan LeFever
Executive Director
Ethan has worked in the field of patient care for over 14 years. Ranging from Abused and Neglected Children, Adults and Adolescents with Eating Disorders and Mental health conditions and Adults with Chemical Dependency. His former positions Include Executive Director at Sol Recovery Center, Director of Business Development and Director of Intake and Utilization Review at Rosewood Centers.
He best describes himself as a steadfast patient advocate. He believes in only working with teams of people that make the treatment experience as compassionate and comfortable for the person as possible.
Megan Kniskern MS,RD,LD/N,CEDRD-S
Senior Clinical-Nutrition Advisor
Learning and teaching never ends, it is essential in the areas of addictions, eating disorders and mental health, to continuously be involved in the new information and perspectives of understanding how to support and treat the dietary needs of these populations. Megan’s passion for eating disorders and nutrition manifested in being a Lecturer at Arizona State University in the School of Nutrition and Health Promotion beginning in 2013, teaching graduate and undergraduate management and nutrition courses. This included the development of an eating disorders and addictions graduate seminar course; the first of it’s kind at the University. Megan was previously the Director of Nutrition and Culinary Services at Rosewood Centers for Eating Disorders and has 11 years of experience developing and implementing wellness programs for men, women and adolescents struggling with eating disorders, addictions and mental illness. Megan emphasizes the importance of the mind-body connection in treatment and recovery. She has been a Certified yoga instructor for 11 years; combining mindfulness practices and meditation techniques with traditional nutrition models in all areas of her professional practices. All of these aspects combine to allow Megan to work with all identified, and also those issues that have yet to be perceived. As no eating disorder is “traditional”, Megan’s strength is in working with vegans, vegetarians, diabetics, food allergies and intolerances, very low body weight and further combinations of struggles that are acquired over the course of the disease progression.
Teaching the yoga basics to new students and watching the connection begin; improving self-love and body acceptance and embracing all of the positive messages that yoga brings into the stress of daily Western life. Megan is a Certified Eating Disorder Dietitian (CEDRD) and Approved Supervisor through the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (iaedp). She additionally serves as the Public Relations Chair for the Behavioral Health Nutrition dietetic practice group with an emphasis in Addictions, Mental Health and Eating Disorders, through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and was recently appointed as the Phoenix Ambassador of the International Federation of Eating Disorder Dietitians.
Kelsey Latimer, PhD, CEDS-S
Director of Clinical Services
Kelsey is a first-generation college student, graduating from the University of Rhode Island and receiving the university’s annual president award/excellence award in both disciplines. Dr. Latimer’s passion for research and the health/wellness of children and young adults led her to furthering her education, earning her doctorate and masters of science degrees from the University of North Texas, with emphases in child/adolescent development and neuropsychology. Throughout her doctoral training, Dr. Latimer became extremely passionate in the prevention and treatment of eating disorders, women's issues, trauma treatment and anxiety management. She pursued specialized clinical training with preceptorships in disordered eating and administration/training during her APA-accredited predoctoral-internship at esteemed UT Austin.
She was the lead psychologist for Children's Medical Center, Center for Pediatric Eating Disorders in Texas, an Assistant professor of Psychiatry at UTSW Medical School, oversaw a national behavioral health and eating disorder treatment company and is now the Director of Clinical Services for ViaMar Health. Dr. Latimer has presented regionally/nationally/ internationally with over 50 invited presentations on topics such as body image, dieting downfalls, eating disorder evidence-based treatment, college student functioning and working with the millennial generation. She has been featured in dozens of media outlets, is a co-author of the children's book series "POOFAS," and currently authoring a book on eating disorder treatment scheduled for 2020 publishing.
Sonia Thomas MS, ATR-BC
Certified Art Therapist
Sonia is a masters level, board certified art therapist with over fifteen years of experience. She previously practiced in Michigan working with patients with traumatic brain injury as well as in-patient hospitalization. After her move to Florida in 2007, Sonia worked with as a director of bereavement at a tri county hospice helping adults and children work through grief issues using art therapy. Sonia is now the owner and founder of Brush Strokes Art Therapy, Inc and focuses on bringing a variety of art therapy services to all ages and different populations in the tri-county areas in South Florida.
Art therapy is a specialization that combines talk therapy with the usage of art making. This process aids in helping to describe issues and feelings both verbally and non-verbally. One does not need to be skilled in art to benefit from art therapy. Sometimes the words are difficult to find; art therapy is a great alternative to those that sometimes struggle to find those words.
Courtney Creese
Director of Admissions & Operations
Courtney graduated from University of Central Florida in Orlando with her Bachelors in Business Management and Marketing. Working in the sales and marketing industry for 3 years and running a sales territory in Massachusetts, she expanded her knowledge of business and marketing. Courtney transitioned into the treatment industry with an operational role in an addictions treatment facility in South Florida after moving back from the North East in 2015.
She is extremely passionate about being an advocate for those struggling with eating disorders and behavioral health issues and believes as part of our mission we integrate our community and make building business relationships an ongoing priority. Courtney strives to ensure our clients at VIAMAR Health receive the best care possible so they can cultivate success in their treatment journey.
Amanda Maddalena MS,RDN/LDN,CSCS
Registered Dietitian
Amanda joined the Viamar team after gaining clinical experience as the Registered Dietitian and Dietary Manager at a long-term care facility. Amanda has two Master’s degrees, one in Exercise Physiology and the second in Nutrition, Healthspan, and Longevity; it was imperative for Amanda to find an environment where she can utilize both backgrounds. As a previous college athlete and Division I strength and conditioning coach, Amanda has been exposed to teammates and players who struggled with eating disorders, increasing her interest and desire to work in this field.
Given her passion for counseling and nutrition education, Amanda was eager to find the perfect fit to begin to fulfill her career aspirations. Being drawn to mental health and its impact on the body, Amanda knew she could provide the tools and compassion necessary to guide clients into recovery. With a diverse background and eagerness to help others, Amanda comes to Viamar with unparalleled work ethic and the determination to save lives through gentle nutrition education and counseling techniques.
Leah Wypych, MPA
Marketing Director
Leah’s goal has always been to help the community, particularly children and their families. That’s the reason she chose to begin her career working in the child welfare system in 2001 helping children removed from their homes and placed in adoptive homes, foster homes, shelters, group homes and residential programs. Leah received her undergraduate degree from Florida State University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Florida Atlantic University.
Leah has worked for multiple non-profit agencies throughout her career and began her career in the psychiatric arena as the marketing coordinator at psychiatric residential treatment center serving children and adolescents. Leah has been a board member for the Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness since 2011 and is also an active member of the International Association for Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP). She merged her career path with her passion for the field of eating disorders in 2015 and joined the ViaMar family in 2019.
Judy Stanley RN,LPN
Nurse Supervisor
Judy Stanley graduated from the Academy of Nursing Health Occupation with an Associates Degree as both a Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). She has been a RN for four years and has worked as an LPN for three years in both the hospital and nursing home settings. In the nursing home, she worked in the acute and long term setting. In the hospital, she worked on the medsurge floor, the oncology unit, and floated throughout the hospital.
She has a heart for people and strives to help provide holistic health services for each patient. She loves seeing the end result of great care for patients. This is why she is delighted to work with every person at Viamar Health. She beams with joy seeing the growth and impact of care for each patient.
Anna Schad, LMHC
Therapist
Anna graduated with a B.S. from University of Florida and received her Masters in Counseling Psychology from Palm Beach Atlantic University in 2011. Anna is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida. She has operated her private practice in Palm Beach Gardens since 2013. Anna is passionate about helping her clients find freedom and healing from eating disorders.
She works with her clients on addressing the underlying anxiety, depression, and trauma throughout the recovery process to help them arrive at a place of self assurance, strength, and acceptance. Anna is a native Floridian who lives locally with her husband, daughter, son, 2 dogs, & cat.
Jessica Montoya
Therapist
Jessica Montoya has experience working with clients of all ages. She has a passion for culture and learning if an individual’s cultural background impacts their eating disorder and mental health needs. She was born in Cali, Colombia and grew up in Jupiter, Florida. She is bilingual in Spanish and English, allowing her to effectively work with families where language may be a barrier. Jessica can be found with her family and friends surfing, fishing, diving, riding motorcycles, volunteering for the Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness and travelling in her spare time.
She uses her creative and explorative nature in therapy while engaging her patients. She is driven to help patients gain back their autonomy through treatment. The family and patients themselves are Jessica’s favorite parts of ViaMar Health. The partnership between patient, family, and clinical team is unmatched. Witnessing the love and support of each patient and their family members during family programming is encouraging and motivating.
Jeremy Kelly
Nutrition Service Chef
Jeremy Kelly is the Nutrition Service Chef at ViaMar. He graduated from Johnson & Wales University with an Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts and a Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Nutrition.
Jeremy wanted to be a chef from a young age; he began his education in culinary arts in high school. Jeremy is passionate about helping individuals and loves utilizing his passion for nutrition and food to help the patients at ViaMar.
Sophia Zaretsky MD
Sophia Zaretsky returned to her hometown of West Palm Beach, Florida after completing her psychiatric training in New Orleans, LA. She brought home with her a passion to bring her proficiency in the treatment of eating disorders to the community in which she was born and raised. Dr Zaretsky has extensive experience in the 12 step recovery model, CBT, CPT, ACT, IFS and many other forms of therapy to assist patients in negotiating their way to better mental health.
She believes that all patients deserve to be treated with respect and without judgement. Recovery can be daunting and may seem out of reach to some patients, but Dr. Zaretsky believes that with the proper support and motivation recovery is always possible.
Jillian Mazzza
Admissions Coordinator
Jillian graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University with her Bachelors of Science in Psychology and is currently working on her Masters of Social Work with a specialization in Mental Health counseling. Her passion for working in the field of Eating Disorders personally stems out of her own background which correspondingly drives her enthusiasm to help those undergo recovery of their own; derivative from a place of understanding with the goal of providing others with freedom from their disease. Working as an Admission’s Coordinator, Jillian compassionately walks potential clients and their loved ones through the admissions process and conducts an initial evaluative assessment to ensure proper placement for treatment, while answering all programming related questions in hopes of alleviating any treatment apprehension as much as possible.
Acknowledging that taking the first step for help is always the hardest, all clientele will be met with warmth and compassion as she strives to build a rapport with each and every individual looking to embark on a wellness journey to attain both sound physical and mental health. Outside of ViaMar Health, Jillian takes full advantage of a day at the beach spent with family and friends, respective of a true born and raised Floridian.
Drew Frazier, MS
Primary Therapist
Drew attended Palm Beach Atlantic University, where he graduated with his Bachelor’s in Biblical and Theological Studies and his Master’s in Mental Health Counseling. His clinical experience has spanned through the nonprofit and private sectors within various clinical settings (both inpatient and outpatient) working with clients struggling with a wide range of issues, including: substance use disorders, process addictions, attachment issues, anxiety and depression, PTSD, and relational and marital issues, among many other co-occurring disorders.
Drew makes good use of his formal training as a Certified Practitioner of Rapid Resolution Therapy (RRT), along with additional training in Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), among other evidence-based therapies. His approach to therapy combines his own process of healing and recovery and his warm and compassionate demeanor with his formal training as a clinician.
Vanessa Garcia RD,LDN
Director of Nutrition & Dietary Services
Vanessa is a Miami, FL native and graduate of the University of Florida, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics. She later went on to complete her Dietetic Internship at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, MI. Since early on in her career, she knew there had more to nutrition and healthcare than the basics, and individuals experience food and movement on a personal level.
She is currently working towards completing a Master of Science in Nutrition, with specialization in Functional Nutrition and Herbal Therapy. She is also will soon be completing her certification with the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (IAEDP), as a Certified Eating Disorders Registered Dietitian (CEDRD).
“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.” - Thich Nhat Hanh
Referring Professionals & Health Care Providers
We value the help and participation of referring Health Care Providers.We work closely with referral sources, encouraging ongoing participation with their patient’s care through discharge. We believe that this relationship supports the ongoing strength of each person’s recovery process.
We welcome Health Care Professionals to contact us for additional information on programming schedule and content beyond the scope of the website.
Our Affliations
