Frequently Asked Questions

She’s both a real person and a philosophy. When Dirk Miller opened his new clinic for people with eating disorders, he named it for his sister, Emily, who had recovered from an eating disorder.

Through the years, that name has come to signify personalized care for all individuals struggling with eating disorders – the hallmark of The Emily Program. Members of our treatment team often develop a personal connection with clients.

This connection is often the start of long-term relationships, because eating disorders can sometimes be difficult, long-term illnesses. Strengthening this connection is The Emily Program staff’s unparalleled commitment. We help clients heal, and we do much more. We work hard to prevent eating disorders by promoting awareness of their causes and their effects on families and every one of our communities.

Our staff has extensive experience in the field. Some also have personal experience with recovery.

“We think like people with eating disorders think,” says Miller. “We ‘are’ our clients… we know the changes people need to make to live through patterns of thoughts and feelings.”

We personalize treatment for each individual, so the answer is different for each person. Recovery happens in different ways. Together we’ll determine what set of services seems to be the best fit for you. We’ll work with you for as long as you need to meet your recovery goals.

It is a thorough, simple, and confidential process tailored to your needs. Once you call us at 1-888-364-5977 or complete an online form, an admissions specialist will talk with you about what you (or your child) are experiencing, answer questions, collect your personal information (name, contact info, insurance information), and help schedule your intake assessment. After your intake, we will provide a level of care recommendation and schedule your start date.

It is very difficult to watch someone in your life struggling with an eating disorder. We understand. And we know that you may be unsure of how to help. These steps can help frame how you present your concerns to your family member or friend:

Ask to speak to the person in a private setting.

Explain your specific concerns to the person in a non-judgmental, compassionate way. Use “I” language like:

• “I’m concerned because you seem to be isolated and not wanting to be involved in any activities, especially when there is food involved.”
• “I see a large amount of food disappearing in the house and I’m concerned that you may be struggling with an eating problem.”
• “I see a change in your behavior during family meals, and there’s growing tension during meals. I’m concerned that eating and food is becoming a problem for you.”
• “Your mood seems to be changing these days and I’m concerned about you.”

Offer to stay with the person while they make the phone call. Offer to accompany the person to the assessment evaluation. If the person is resistant to making the call, let him/her know that you will continue to check in with him/her.

Get support for yourself. Being concerned about someone else who is reluctant to seek help can drain you mentally and emotionally. For more information, please call us at 1-888-364-5977 or complete an online form.

Check out our resources for families for help with perspective.

Since we tailor our treatment to you as an individual, we can’t answer that question until we know more about you. At your assessment, you and your intake therapist will decide together what treatment options make the most sense for you—and why. Call us at 1-888-364-5977 or use the online form to schedule an assessment.

Many insurance companies cover The Emily Program treatment and we can work with you to determine what your insurance will cover. More detailed insurance information, including a list of current insurance providers, is available in the insurance section of our website. You’ll also find our Insurance Verification Tool there, which helps you to speak with your insurance company about the services covered by your plan. The Emily Program helps you navigate the insurance system, too. If you have questions about your coverage, please call our admissions team at 1-888-364-5977. One of our admissions specialists will answer your questions. 

The Emily Program uses an evidence-based approach to treatment. See this infographic for information on outcomes.

Each insurance plan is a little different; some require a referral and others don’t. Check with your insurance carrier to determine if you need a referral. Please contact us at 1-888-364-5977 if you have questions.

No. Sometimes, people come to The Emily Program after having been told in numerous ways that their weight is a problem and that weight loss is the answer.

Commonly, they have not been asked about their relationship with food or how they are coping with life’s challenges. They may never have been asked if they experience feeling out of control with food, feeling guilty or embarrassed about what they have eaten, or eating behaviors they feel they cannot stop, sometimes described as compulsive overeating.

If you have experienced any of these, or struggle in your relationship with food, you are not alone. You may have also tried a long list of diets or ways to change your weight and feel like none of them have worked long-term, yet, perhaps, they continue to be suggested to you. Binge eating disorder is an eating disorder in which this range of experiences is common.

If you see yourself in these words, there is another way. One that can help you feel better and is not centered on weight loss as the solution. We offer evidence-based approaches to wellness that center on decreasing or stopping disordered eating behaviors and changing thoughts about food, weight, and self. These approaches also focus on strengthening coping skills and developing alternative behaviors and skills, so that, ultimately, you can experience an improved relationship with food and with yourself.

We work with vegetarians and vegans at all levels of care, across inpatient, residential, PHP, IOP, and outpatient. Our position is that those who enter care with a vegetarian diet based on religious, cultural, or familial heritage have this dietary preference taken at face value and are provided an eating plan accommodating vegetarian or vegan eating styles. Those who come to our care having made a shift away from their family table or cultural origin toward vegetarianism or vegan diets, are met where they are and the choice of a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle is explored as a therapeutic area of interest within the eating disorder care.