Online meetings for eating disorders are a great place to find support. These groups allow you to connect with people who can relate to your experience, and they are usually therapist-led. You don’t need to be in treatment to join a group, and you can participate anonymously.
The Lotus Collaborative offers a free online support group for friends and family members of those struggling with an eating disorder. They meet weekly and use a theme to help participants build relationships and practice recovery skills.
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Eating Recovery Center
Online eating disorder support groups are a great resource for people in recovery or those who know someone with an eating disorder. These groups can be a safe place to discuss triggering topics, like conflicting messages in the media and body image ideals, and provide emotional support. These groups are also open to friends and family members of those struggling with eating disorders.
Whether you’re looking for general eating disorder support groups or more specific meetings geared toward adolescents, BIPoC, and caregivers, the Eating Recovery Center has an option that may work for you. Their weekly Zoom group includes clinicians and peers, and is HIPAA compliant. You can also check out ANAD’s free peer support groups, and Walden’s Beyond Body LGBTQ+ Group.
Talkspace is another popular online therapy company, and they have an extensive directory of therapists. You can search by location and therapist specializations, including eating disorders. Per-session costs vary by therapist, but many offer sliding-scale pricing.
ANAD
The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders is one of the oldest eating disorder awareness groups in the country. It has a variety of free online support groups for those suffering from eating disorders as well as their friends and family members. The group’s virtual meetings are conducted on Zoom and run on a weekly basis.
The ANAD also has an online support group for people who suffer from binge eating disorder and other related issues. These online meetings are led by a trained facilitator who can help participants process their experiences in a safe and non-judgmental space.
The Center for Discovery offers six different online eating disorder support groups that are geared toward different genders and ages. Some of the groups require pre-screening and have a fee, while others are free of charge. These groups are meant to serve as a supplement to the individual’s treatment program. They meet on a weekly basis and are facilitated by trained therapists or practicum graduate students.
Walden’s Beyond Body LGBTQ+ Group
Eating disorders affect people of all genders, ages and ethnicities. However, certain populations are more susceptible to developing an eating disorder. Specifically, people of LGBTQIA2s+, BIPOC, and AAPI identities are 50% more likely to develop an eating disorder than heterosexual white women.
One way to address this disparity is through a new eating disorder virtual partial hospitalization program, called Rainbow Road. This unique eating disorder day treatment program is led by queer and allied providers who are skilled in intersectional therapy and can provide a safe, affirming environment.
This group will allow students who self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer and their allies an opportunity to connect with each other for professional and personal benefit. The group will meet virtually and explore topics related to sexual orientation and gender identity. In addition to fostering community, the group will also advocate for social change. Meetings will be held weekly on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Lotus Collaborative
If you’re looking for a supportive virtual environment to meet others who are working towards eating disorder recovery, then Lotus Collaborative may be the place for you. It’s a free eating disorder recovery group hosted by an online treatment provider and is open to everyone who is committed to their recovery.
Unlike other eating disorders support groups, this one is run by a licensed therapist. They offer a range of services, including a weekly therapist-led support group that’s available online. In addition to this, they also offer resources for families of people with eating disorders.
The Lotus Collaborative Eating Disorder Recovery Center provides specialized, holistic treatment for women and men in a home-like setting. Their comprehensive treatment program includes individual psychotherapy, group therapy, yoga, mindfulness training, and zen meditation. They also provide family and multifamily counseling, as well as nutrition education and support. The facility also offers a variety of experiential therapies, such as art therapy, animal-assisted therapy, and drama therapy.