ABOUT THE EMILY PROGRAM
The Emily Program serves adults and adolescents struggling with eating disorders through a network of inpatient and outpatient facilities located in Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Washington. In St. Paul, Minn., The Anna Westin House for Adults exclusively offers residential treatment for adults.
Outpatient care for adults, as well as inpatient and outpatient treatment for adolescents and young adults, is also offered at other St. Paul-based facilities. Although The Emily Program primarily treats eating disorders, including binge eating, anorexia, bulimia, compulsive overeating, and other unspecified eating disorders, the organization’s treatment also addresses co-occurring mental health concerns and substance abuse as indicated.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Prior to admission, clients meet with an intake therapist to assess individual needs, identify any substance abuse or mental health concerns, and form a comprehensive treatment plan. Duration of stay varies, but all clients participate in a program that includes individual, group, and family therapy.
To help clients identify faulty thinking and modify maladaptive behavior, on-site counselors utilize dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) modalities. Along with these traditional therapeutic modalities, clients also participate in a range of experiential therapies, including art and movement therapy, to promote free expression.
Nutritional therapy is a key programmatic component. Clients receive nutritional support and education on meal planning, intuitive eating, and self-care. Nurses, physicians, and psychiatrists provide medical monitoring and medication management as needed. Clients who complete residential treatment through The Emily Program may transition to one of the organization’s outpatient facilities or be referred to a separate agency for ongoing support.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
The Emily Program employs a multidisciplinary team of dietitians, psychiatrists, child and adolescent psychologists, nurses, and specialty therapists. The four individuals polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing – two loved ones and two former clients – provided a perfect rating of five out of five stars for the treatment team’s level of experience and training.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
The Emily Program’s Anna Westin House for Adults is a co-ed facility that can accommodate up to 16 individuals. Located in a remodeled church, the center includes semi-private bedrooms, comfortably furnished common areas, on-site laundry facilities, and Wi-Fi. Nutritious meals and snacks are provided. The organization’s nearby residential facility for adolescents offers similar amenities and can accommodate 10 clients.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
The two alumni polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing both indicated that they would recommend the facility and provided above-average ratings (four or five stars) ratings in nearly every evaluated category, including the center’s accommodations, its meals and nutrition, its holistic offerings, its connectivity, and the staff’s level of training and experience.
One alum specifically noted the strength of the center’s community and holistic offerings, and the other praised the treatment team. “Fantastic people who really care about your recovery,” the anonymous respondent wrote. Despite their positive reviews, both survey respondents characterized the center’s treatment as “expensive.”
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
When asked how likely they were to recommend the facility to others, both loved ones surveyed by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing submitted a five-star rating. Both respondents submitted four- and five-star ratings in most evaluated categories, including the center’s counseling options, its treatment for co-occurring disorders, the amount of family participation, and its affordability. S.M. felt that the center was “good with patients,” and the other anonymous respondent appreciated the center’s “great support” and “different programs.”
While neither reviewer cited any programmatic weaknesses, one respondent submitted slightly lower, three-star ratings for the center’s exercise and leisure options, its holistic offerings, and its connectivity. This reviewer also indicated that their son could have benefited from longer treatment.
WHAT STAFF SAY
Best-rehabs.com has not yet received any reviews from The Emily Program’s staff; however, seven current and former employees on Indeed gave the facility an overall rating of 3.29 out of five stars, and 14 current and former employees on Glassdoor submitted an average rating of 2.14 out of five stars. While many reviewers indicated that the center’s treatment was effective, multiple individuals cited issues with the facility’s management.
“Poor management, unstable, growing too fast, disregard for seniority, no opportunities for advancement,”one Indeed reviewer wrote in a representative review,” but added: “Working with the clients was the most enjoyable and there are knowledgeable dietitian.”
FINANCING
The Emily Program accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and a range of private insurance plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, and United HealthCare. As stated, the two alumni polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this review indicated that treatment was “expensive.”