Children, teens, and young adults have different concerns than adults. Our providers specialize in adolescents and will design a treatment plan to suit your child’s needs. Whether it’s individual, group, or family sessions (or all three), The Emily Program offers a continuum of developmentally appropriate treatment options for all young people. Scheduled around school hours, our individual and group sessions build in times for family involvement—a crucial part of recovery.

With years of experience treating teens and young adults struggling with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, compulsive eating, and related mental health issues, including substance use disorders, we know the value of family involvement in recovery. Outpatient therapy helps your child reconnect with family, friends, and community.

Our adolescent outpatient services team shapes its care programs on these core values:

• Passion: We are passionate about treating eating disorders and helping our clients get well.
• Respect: Clients and families come first—we have empathy and patience for everyone in our community.
• Commitment: We are committed to facilitating the recovery of the greatest number of people in need.
• Collaboration: We partner with families and communities to offer flexible treatment options.

We’ve designed our adolescent services so that parents, stepparents, and/or loved ones will actively participate. The Emily Program offers support programs for siblings and counseling for co-parenting adults and couples, too.

Our team also reaches out to your community’s professionals who interact with your child, such as school staff and your physician, therapists, and dietitians, to ensure appropriate after-care. Recovery happens when we work together.

Our personalized treatment approach is based in Family-Based Treatment (FBT) or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). We design a treatment plan to address your needs, using best practices in the field of eating disorders treatment. Your outpatient treatment plan may include:

• Individual therapy for one-on-one sessions with a therapist who specializes in eating disorders and associated health complications
• Group therapy with other adolescents and young adults experiencing similar issues, thoughts, and feelings
• Family therapy, if appropriate, to involve parents, siblings, and other family members in the healing process
• Nutrition education
• Medical and psychiatric services, as needed

In individual outpatient sessions at The Emily Program, you will meet one-on-one with a therapist, dietitian, psychiatrist, and/or physician. The type and frequency of individual sessions vary by treatment plan and are designed to help you move forward in recovery. These healing connections strengthen your recovery and help you learn and practice the skills you need for health.

At The Emily Program, we believe that group therapy can be an incredibly important part of your recovery from an eating disorder. Groups provide a safe, judgment-free environment to process thoughts, emotions, and behaviors with other people in similar situations. Group sessions vary by location. Your intake therapist and/or individual therapist will recommend a group that might be the best fit for you.

This intensive, all-day program is for those stepping out of residential care or those who need more support than the intensive outpatient program (IOP). Clients typically spend 5 days/week, 6 hours/day in PHP/IDP, either in our facilities or in a virtual environment.

Programming includes structured therapeutic meals, behavior exposure groups, and experiential challenges. During your treatment, you’ll meet with your therapist, dietitian, and other medical professionals. Psychiatric assessment, medication management, and medical monitoring may also be part of your partial hospitalization/intensive day program.

We also offer lodging accommodations to make PHP/IDP possible for clients coming from a distance. The lodging option is available to adults 18+ in St. Paul, St. Louis Park, Seattle, and Cleveland.

Our intensive outpatient program (IOP) focuses on recovery and relapse prevention for those in need of more structure and support than non-intensive outpatient treatment. Clients typically spend 4 days/week, 3 hours/day in programming either in our facilities or in a virtual environment. Group-based intervention and therapeutic meals provide enhanced therapeutic support and symptom interruption.

This intensive program is for those stepping out of residential care or those in need of more support than the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for children, adolescents and young adults.

Your child will spend 5 days/week, 6 hours/day, plus school, studying, or tutoring hours, in treatment either in our facilities or in a virtual treatment environment. Programming includes structured therapeutic meals, behavior exposure groups, and experiential challenges.

During treatment, your child will meet with a therapist, dietitian, and other medical professionals. Psychiatric assessment, medication management, and medical monitoring may also be part of your intensive day/partial hospitalization program. In addition to one-on-one therapy, many of our programs for adolescents are based on the Maudsley Approach, which recognizes the importance of family involvement in the treatment of eating disorders.

PHP/IDP is one of the best options for young clients needing the most symptom-reduction attention and staff support while still living at home.

Our Intensive Outpatient Program for children, adolescents and young adults focuses on recovery and relapse prevention for adolescents and families in need of more structure and support than non-intensive outpatient treatment. Your child will spend 4 days/week, 3 hours per day in programming, either in our facilities or in a virtual telehealth environment, with weekly family participation. Group-based intervention and therapeutic meals provide enhanced therapeutic support and symptom interruption.

For children, adolescents, and young adults, real healing can begin in a safe, supportive, and homelike environment. The Anna Westin House for Adolescents in St. Paul, Minnesota and our Adolescent Residential Site in Columbus, Ohio are licensed treatment centers that help children, adolescents, and young adults of any gender who struggle with eating disorders.

The Emily Program’s residential programs for adolescents offer unparalleled 24/7 care tailored to the unique needs of young clients with eating disorders. In Minnesota, the Anna Westin House for Adolescents is the state’s first residential program dedicated exclusively to treating adolescents of all genders with eating disorders. In central Ohio, our Columbus residential program for adolescents meets the growing need for adolescent treatment in the region.

At both residential programs, our 24/7 care teams include:

• Physicians
• Psychiatrists
• Psychologists
• Dietitians
• Expressive arts and movement therapists
• Licensed teachers
• Recreational therapists
• Nurses
• Eating disorders technicians

Nursing staff is always on duty, while eating disorder technicians and/or therapists are always on hand to support and manage appropriate resident relationships. Local licensed teachers coordinate your child’s academic work with their school.

Our residential programs are comfortable, state-of-the-art facilities nestled in peaceful neighborhoods. No matter the location, clients will be in a safe and secure environment where real healing can happen.

Our team of therapists, dietitians, psychiatrists, and/or medical doctors seamlessly integrates supervised care and medical monitoring with personalized treatment plans. Teens engage in individual and group therapy. The structured and supportive care we offer combines the clinical expertise of our experienced staff with evidence-based therapies incorporating psychological, nutritional, medical, psychiatric, and integrative interventions in a comprehensive approach.

Substance use disorder (chemical dependency), abuse history, or other mental health complications often add layers of complexity to eating disorder treatment. We know. Many of us have been there, too, and we’re ready to guide your child on the recovery journey. We’ve worked successfully with adolescents and young adults with eating disorders—and their families—since 1993.

• Respect you and your child as individuals
• Reassure your child that recovery from their eating disorder is possible
• Understand how hard recovery can be
• Remain committed to your child’s recovery, even on days when they doubt it
• Take every diagnosis and treatment seriously
• Provide insights and skills that help your child improve their life
• Provide your child with a knowledgeable, trustworthy individual therapist and dietitian
• Provide medical and psychiatric services, as needed
• Offer multiple therapy and support groups, addressing a wide range of issues
• Encourage and support your involvement with Family-Based Treatment, family therapy, couples therapy, and other support for family and friends, based on your unique needs
• Base our treatment decisions on research, community standards, and sound clinical judgment
• Help you navigate the insurance system, working diligently to ensure the highest coverage possible
• Work with passion and integrity to serve you and your child in a way that works best for you

• Your child to actively participate in recovery from their eating disorder
• You and your child to be honest and respectful with yourself and those around you
• You and your child to make treatment and recovery a top priority

When your child is ready to transition out of residential care, we’re still here for your family for the next step. The length of a residential stay depends on your child’s needs and situation; most residents “step down” to our adolescent Partial Hospitalization/Intensive Day Program (PHP/IDP) when leaving residential care.

You’ll still have access to many of The Emily Program’s outpatient options for your child, such as intensive day programs and Intensive outpatient programs; individual, group, and family therapy; psychiatry and medical services; and nutritional counseling. We also work with community professionals, including your child’s physician, school staff, and your local therapists and dietitians, to ensure appropriate aftercare.

To provide exceptional care leading to recovery from eating disorders. Ideally, we want a world of peaceful relationships with food, weight, and body image, where everyone with an eating disorder can experience recovery.

We’ll help your child and your family recognize and change destructive eating disorder behaviors and replace them with positive, lasting coping mechanisms that support a whole, joyful life.

For many clients, healing begins with a safe, supportive, and homelike environment. The Anna Westin House for Adults in St. Paul, MN, The Emily Program – Residential in Cleveland Heights, OH, The Emily Program – Residential in Seattle, WA, and the Anna Westin House West in Minneapolis, MN welcome adults of all genders who struggle with eating disorders. 

The structured and supportive care we offer combines the clinical expertise of our experienced staff with evidence-based therapies, incorporating psychological, nutritional, medical, psychiatric, and integrative interventions in a comprehensive approach.

Substance use disorder (chemical dependency), abuse history, or other mental health complications often add layers of complexity to eating disorder treatment. We know. Many of us have been there, too, and we’re ready to guide you on the recovery journey.

We’ll help you and your family recognize and change destructive eating disorder behaviors and replace them with positive, lasting coping mechanisms that support a whole, joyful life.

When you’re ready to transition out of our residential program, we’re still here for you every step of the way. You’ll have access to many of The Emily Program outpatient options, such as Intensive Outpatient or Intensive Day/Partial Hospitalization Programs and any of our lodging facilities; individual, group, and family therapy; psychiatry and medical services; and nutritional counseling. We also work with community professionals, including your physician and your local therapists and dietitians, to ensure appropriate aftercare.

The Emily Program is here to answer any questions you have about eating disorders and the recovery journey. We want to help. For more information, please call us today at 1-888-364-5977.

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.