Our Dynamic and Dedicated Team

Tina Nowak, RN - Operations Director

Tina is a native North Carolinian and has spent the past ten years working with people who have eating disorders. She feels blessed to work in a field which allows her to work closely with, and treat, women who so desperately need help dealing with their body image and trauma issues. Before Tapestry, Tina managed admissions at an acute inpatient facility, an experience which gave her much one on one interaction with individuals suffering from eating disorders and a myriad of other associated mental health concerns. She was able to use her knowledge, skills and abilities to help develop a residential eating disorder program that was not available for the scores of women she helped treat in the past. She is grateful to be part of such a wonderful program and to be working with such an amazing staff.

Sadie Carlson, MA, MFT - Clinical Director

Sadie brings over 10 years of experience providing counseling, encouragement and leadership to children and adults in various organizations including mental health agencies, community based organizations, and corporations. She received her Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. In particular the psychology of Eating Disorders, Trauma and True Self Identification is an area of focus she brings to working with Women.  She believes the healing and true identification of women is connected to: how women treat their bodies, mindful living, social equality, relate to loved ones and play in nature; and she incorporates this into counseling. Practicing positive thinking, healthy decision making and respect for self and others using cognitive behavioral therapy and client centered therapy are her therapeutic foundations.

Heidi Houser, MS, LPC - Co-Primary Program Therapist

Heidi Houser, Licensed Professional Counselor, synthesizes her diverse background and a variety of modalities in her work with women with eating disorders. She has experience with individuals and in group settings applying yoga and the arts to address body image issues, disordered eating, and trauma. Heidi has continued her training in expressive arts processes, Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, Internal Family Systems and the Enneagram, all of which, she finds, can be useful in supporting the recovery journey. Heidi works as an advocate for the prevention and education of disordered eating as a member of T.H.E Center Task Force in Asheville, NC. Heidi lives in Asheville with her husband, son and dog. She strives to fully embody herself and therefore inspire others to do the same. You can find her musings on embodiment on her professional website: www.embodyyourself.com.

Nicole L. Fahy, MA, LPC, NCC, PC

Nicole has developed a wide array of therapeutic techniques which yield long-term benefits. She believes the cornerstone of therapeutic success is building a trusting and therapeutic relationship with clients and using this toward the client's goals in treatment. She holds her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and earned her Master's Degree in Counseling from Southwestern College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. Nicole worked in a variety of settings including community mental health, mental health research, intensive in-home services and private practice. She also trained in research methods of Eating Disorders for the University of Minnesota Eating Disorders Research Project. Nicole has worked with a variety of age groups and has worked extensively with eating disorders and co-occurring mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, adjustment disorders, adjustment disorders and self-injury. She uses an interactive approach to identify causes of negative beliefs and negative behaviors, and develops strategies to ensure continued 's term.

Leslie Laney, RDE - Nutritionist

Leslie has a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and is certified in food management and food safety (ServSafe). Leslie received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama. She completed her ADA approved dietetic internship with the State of South Carolina’s Department of Health and Environmental Control. Leslie is an active member of the American Dietetic Association . She works with each resident to provide an individualized meal plan as well as a supportive atmosphere in which nutritional issues can be safely addressed. Leslie has an extensive and diverse nutritional background with experience in clinical nutrition, outpatient counseling, and mental health. She enjoys getting the residents involved with hands on projects in the kitchen where they can relax and enjoy themselves while learning about health and nutrition. Leslie is passionate about helping others overcome their eating disorders by incorporating a healthy balance into their lives. Leslie enjoys cooking, hiking and spending time with her family.

Karen George BA - Activities Coordinator

Karen George graduated summa cum laude from William Smith College in Geneva, NY with a BA in Psychology and Dance. Karen teaches ballet, jazz, modern, yoga, and kickboxing all over western North Carolina. She is a professional dancer with Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre and has toured with many dance companies over the years. As Tapestry’s Movement and Body Image specialist, Karen works hard to help women explore themselves, learn to take risks, and try new things. She enjoys everything the mountains of NC have to offer and loves to share her passion for life with the residents.

Ricardo Bierrenbach, MD - Program Psychiatrist

Bio coming soon.

Julie Kerr, LCSW, NARHA - Equine Assisted Therapy

Bio coming soon.

Julie Duval, PA - Medical Associate

Julie Duval, Physician Assistant, under the supervision of Dr. Robert Smith, joined the Tapestry team in 2008 as Medical Director. After working on an inpatient eating disorder unit as a registered nurse for more than ten years, she returned to school to obtain a Master of Health Sciences degree. She graduated from Duke University's Physician Assistant Program in 2006. She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Julie has worked with Dr. Smith at Forge Mountain Medicine in Mills River, NC for two years. Though she enjoys working in a family practice setting, she continues to feel most contented drawing from her extensive experience working with women struggling with eating disorders, depression and anxiety.

Kathleen Krupar LMT - Health & Massage Therapy

Kathleen Krupar has been a Licensed Massage Therapist since 1994. As an entrepreneur she has studied and mastered many of the various techniques to provide massage therapy that is results-driven within her practice. Whether she is working chair massage at a local event or the 2 years she spent in the NFL, her commitment to always doing her best for others by using her heightened intuition and her advanced healing work skills, has provided her with a rewarding career. She has practiced and received a massage therapist license in Arizona, New Mexico, Ohio and now North Carolina. Her love of travel brought her to Asheville in the summer of 08 and she has been in private practice as a Certified Life / Relationship Coach and Licensed Massage Therapist. What she feels is “the gift” she brings to her clients at Tapestry is her own personal experience with a family member and close friends who have been in recovery for an eating disorder. Because of her childhood and ongoing experience with family and friends in their recovery, she feels she brings a deep understanding, compassion and motivation to each session which provides a client their own personal, customized session that moves them forward on the pathway to greater wellbeing.

Ward Johnson MA MFCC - EMDR/DBT

Ward has been in private practice for over 30 years, and is a published author in the field of substance abuse. Before relocating to North Carolina, Ward was extensively involved in various professional and advocacy organizations in San Diego, California, His specialties include stress reduction techniques, relaxation training, and has a Jungian therapeutic approach. Ward is trained in EMDR Levels I and II to help clients cope with acute post-traumatic stress. He is additionally trained in cognitive therapy and marriage counseling. In 1996, he was featured in the National Directory of Who's Who in Executives and Professionals. Ward is a certified Bio-Energetic Analyst, and provides Tapestry with a unique and comprehensive approach to Eating Disorder treatment.

Martha Rogers - Resident Counselor

Martha Rogers has been with Tapestry since October 2007. She was born in Greensboro, Alabama, and went through High School there. She attended school at Judson College, in Marion, Alabama, for three and a half years, and she also attended classes at Troy State University in Dothan, Alabama. For two and a half years she taught private school, and she worked at various bookkeeping and accounting jobs for years. She has lived in North Carolina for the past seven years in Franklin and then Candler. Martha has four daughters, a son, five grandchildren, a few in laws and some grand-dogs and grand-cats.

Kristen Laughter - Administrative Assistant  

Kristen joined Tapestry in February of 2009, rejoining the workforce after taking some time to be a stay at home mom to her two sons and daughter. Her talents in working with people in need helped her rise through the ranks in her previous work to eventually become a manager of a housing authority program which provided housing to hundreds of low-income families. She makes her home in nearby Mills River and enjoys being a part of the Tapestry staff.

Kathy Jones - Yoga Instructor

Kathy received her initial Integral Hatha Yoga certification at Holy Cow Yoga and Holistic Center, Charleston, SC in conjunction with Satchidananda Ashram in Buckingham, VA. Since then, she has traveled around the country and abroad, continuing her yoga studies. Most recently, she received her Intermediate Yoga Certification in Southern India. She is also certified in Yin Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga & Prenatal Yoga. She has extensive training in Jivamukti, Vinyasa Flow, Iyengar and Anusara yoga as well as Thai Yoga Massage. Kathy taught Vinyasa and Power Yoga in Florence, SC for McLeod Health Systems for five years. While there, she also worked with at-risk middle school students in an after-school program to help them find ways to deal with stress and well-being through yoga and breathing techniques. Since moving to Brevard, Kathy has been teaching at Brevard Yoga. She also teaches Yoga and Movement to Opera performers at Brevard Music Center. She is passionate about the wonderful benefits that a yoga practice can have and is devoted to sharing these with our clients here at Tapestry. In her spare time, Kathy enjoys hiking, cooking, organic gardening and art, and is also pursuing a Cert. in Environmental Education.

Jay Joslin- Technical Assistant & Public Relations Development Consultant