Minneapolis – Anna Westin House West

The Emily Program has expanded residential programming in the Twin Cities as part of an ongoing commitment to offer comprehensive, effective treatment for eating disorders. The Anna Westin House West provides evidence-based care for adults in need of highly structured, intensive eating disorder treatment. Like the Anna Westin House and Anna Westin House for Adolescents, it is named in memory of Anna Westin, a Chaska woman who died in 2000 after battling an eating disorder.

The Anna Westin House West is a comfortable, state-of-the-art facility nestled in the peaceful Linden Hills neighborhood. All residents in our 24/7 treatment program have opportunities to explore the area to practice their recovery skills, shop, and relax on their journey to recovery. 

Residents participate in group sessions, a variety of individual sessions, and therapeutic meals and snacks. Sessions include psychotherapy,  nutrition, medical assessments and monitoring, psychiatric visits, and other services during the week. Each resident’s schedule is personalized to meet their specific needs.

Group Psychotherapy: Groups meet to share common experiences and to alleviate feelings of shame and isolation. Sharing common experiences breaks these barriers and inspires self-understanding as each person learns to identify unhealthy patterns and develop healthy alternatives. Group therapy includes learning skills of CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy), and others.

Nutrition Therapy: Individual, group and family nutritional counseling, education, and meal planning are tailored to each resident’s needs to help them interrupt symptom use, restore body health, and regain trust in their body’s ability to regulate eating. These sessions and supported therapeutic meals and snacks help restore harmony to eating patterns, develop self-care skills, and help family members better understand how to support their loved one around eating.

Medical Care: A nursing staff, a physician, and/or a physician assistant evaluate and monitor each resident’s medical status.

Psychiatric Care: Our staff psychiatrists are specially trained to treat eating disorders and related co-occurring disorders. Medications may be incorporated into the treatment of the eating disorder or other related conditions.

Experiential Activities: Experiences such as cooking, grocery shopping, and practicing eating in a variety of meal situations help the individual strengthen self-expression and gain assertiveness and change behaviors.

Additional Therapies: Integrative interventions may be included in a treatment plan, as appropriate for each client. Some of these therapies include:

• Movement Therapy: Yoga, stretching, strength work, and play activities support well-being.

AWHW offers a limited amount of parking in a small lot located on the north side of the building. Access that parking lot via the alley off of Xerxes Avenue. Ample street parking is also available and free of charge. Look for street parking locations on the south side of 44th Street (directly across from our building), on both sides of Xerxes Avenue and on various other cross streets near our location. Our neighborhood is very pedestrian friendly with full sidewalks and crossing lights.

Our primary entry faces south to 44th Street. If you park in our parking lot or otherwise arrive at the north end of our property, take the back stairs toward the building and follow the sidewalks around to the south side/44th Street entry. For safety and security of our clients, the facility doors are secured 24/7. You will be able to alert staff to your arrival at the 44th Street entry and they will provide you access. This entry is also ADA accessible for your convenience.