Lisa provides administrative support to clients and staff at our St. Paul office. She enjoys serving others and loves being a part of a program that shares that passion. Lisa has a BFA in Studio Art from the University of Minnesota - Duluth. She enjoys painting, traveling, and learning about other cultures. Lisa hopes someday to visit every continent—except Antarctica; after all, she says, “I do live in Duluth!”

Kathleen “Kat” Bernhoft works with individual clients and co-leads the Intensive Day Program (IDP) in St. Paul.  Kat allies with the GLBTQ community and enjoys working with people from a variety of backgrounds.  She draws from a variety of treatment methods including Mindfulness Practice, relational approaches, CBT, DBT, IFS and responding to trauma.  Kat received her bachelor’s degree in art education from the University of Minnesota and her master’s degree in social work from the College of St. Catherine/University of St. Thomas.  In her free time, Kat works on mosaic art in her garage.  She also enjoys walking her dog and playing poker with her family.

Rose provides administrative support to clients and staff at The Emily Program. She enjoys helping others and being a part of a program that shares that passion. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Macalester College in Environmental Studies. Rose loves being outside and being active; she enjoys playing soccer, biking, and hiking with her dog.

Denise enjoys being a first point of contact for clients who are just getting started or making transitions within The Emily Program. She also has a special interest in adoption and interned with the Ethiopia Adoption Program at the Children’s Home Society and Family Services. Denise was drawn to The Emily Program out of a desire to help children and families. She earned her bachelor’s in family social sciences from the U of M. Denise likes to sing with her a cappella group, collect seahorses and watch HGTV.

Dawn has worked with adolescents for over 19 years, primarily in residential settings.  Her role as clinical manager of the adolescent residential program is multifaceted: she works with the leadership team to develop adolescent programming; works closely with clients through individual, adolescent and family services; completes intake evaluations; co-facilitates therapy groups; and serves as part of our “conversation” (aka intervention) team, which provides guidance to families and friends who want to approach a loved one with their concerns. Prior to joining The Emily Program, Dawn was the clinical supervisor of the residential substance abuse treatment program at the MN juvenile corrections facility in Red Wing. Dawn earned her Bachelor’s degree in Human Services at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, and her Master’s and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology.  Outside of work, Dawn enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, traveling, and attempting to learn about photography. 

Solina provides administrative support for clients and staff at the new Spokane, Washington office.  She loves being the first positive impression for clients and providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere.  She enjoys helping others and being part of a Program that provides excellent personalized care. Solina earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the University of Idaho and multiple Associate of Science degrees in Business Administration from North Idaho College.  She enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, journaling, photography, and traveling.  After studying abroad at the University of Oslo, Solina had an exciting trip exploring Western Europe.  She loves performing with her mother and brother in a musical singing trio, which has produced a full-length CD of Norwegian folk tunes entitled Reflections of Norway.

Lindsay oversees The Emily Program’s growing need for clinical and office space, including real estate, expansion and renovation projects. She also works on financial, human resources and advertising projects as well as insurance and vendor contracts and other assignments. Lindsay began working with The Emily Program during her senior year of high school. She became a full-time member of the administrative staff after receiving her bachelor’s in business administration (concentrating on international business) from George Washington University in the District of Columbia. Lindsay earned her master’s in business administration from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management. Her special interests include mental health policy and organizational change.

Katy helps lead our St. Louis Park office.  She also sees adult clients in individual therapy and facilitates a skills group outpatient clients. Katy most enjoys working with clients to understand their stories and help them achieve peace, healing and a higher quality of life. She received her BA in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, her MA in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sports Psychology from University of Minnesota, and her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology. Katy has clinical experience in chemical dependency, personality disorders, depression and anxiety. She also focuses on trauma, and uses Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in therapy. She loves to read, sing (off-key) with and chase her children, and just hang out with her husband and friends.

Aryn coordinates all the details for our St. Louis Park intensive programs. She works with providers and clients to ensure smooth transitions in, out, and between intensive programs. She has a bachelor’s in exercise science from Bemidji State University and is a certified Silver Sneakers instructor. Aryn loves The Emily Program’s holistic approach to therapies. She likes science and outdoor activities, as well as learning about international cultures.

Keri helps to raise awareness about eating disorders and related issues in the community through the coordination of The Emily Program’s community education and outreach efforts.  She speaks to schools, health care professionals, and anyone who wants to learn more about eating disorders.  She also coordinates The Emily Program Foundation’s volunteer program. She has a bachelor’s in Sociology and a minor in Women’s Studies from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Brenda joined The Emily Program after a long career in journalism in Nebraska, Iowa and mostly recently as managing editor for a group of community newspapers in the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities. While her vocation has been the newspaper industry, her longtime interest has been supporting girls and women to be empowered and self-confident. Her primary responsibility is to provide support to the St. Paul administrative staff to enable them to focus on the vision and growth of The Emily Program.

Julie oversees The Emily Program’s vision of an employee-oriented culture of empowered, creative, and collaborative staff who are passionate about the work that we do. She leads all aspects of employee relations and development, organizational development, performance management, staffing and recruitment, and compensation and benefits programs.  Julie is inspired every day by the genuine care, integrity, and dedication of employees throughout the organization. Julie received her Bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead and her Master’s of Business Administration from Bethel University.  In her free time, Julie enjoys exploring new cities, cooking, reading inspiring books…or the most recent Oprah magazine, and attempting photography.

Scott provides psychiatric evaluations and medication management for clients. He also helps oversee research that The Emily Program conducts in partnership with the U of M. Scott earned his medical degree and had his psychiatric residency at the University of Minnesota, where he is now a professor. Scott has been active in national and international eating disorders groups and is Past President of the Academy of Eating Disorders. He loves travel, skiing and tennis with his family.

Beth works with clients to get insurance authorizations and benefits. She also coordinates payment agreements for uninsured or under-insured clients. She likes to help minimize clients’ financial worries while getting the services they need. Beth loves to read, travel and spend time with her husband and children.

Nic works with our IT and EHR teams. He is working on the implementation and support of the new electronic health record system. Nic earned his B.S. in Health Informatics. Away from work he is a board game enthusiast.

Kierst provides administrative support from the front desk to clients and staff at The Emily Program.  She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Gustavus Adolphus College in Psychology and Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies.  Kierst loves a number of outdoor activities including kayaking and camping.  She also enjoys reading, playing the oboe, and card making. 

Susan provides scheduling support to clients and treatment providers. She especially enjoys helping to create a welcoming, positive and supportive environment for every client and their families. Susan is working toward certification in advanced health care management from the University of St. Thomas. She finds The Emily Program rewarding and fulfilling and feels privileged to be surrounded by an amazing group of individuals who demonstrate such passion for what they do and believe in. Susan loves travel, photography, being a mom to her three children and a glamorous grandma to her granddaughter.

Kari works on all aspects of internal and external communication for The Emily Program. She loves conceptualizing, implementing and analyzing our communication strategies. Kari received her Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Master’s degree in Strategic Communication from the University of Minnesota. Her favorite past times include spending time with family and friends.

Abbie works at the front desk and helps clients and staff with anything they might need. She enjoys being the first point of contact for clients and providing a warm and welcoming environment.  When Abbie is not at the front desk she is most likely spending time with her family and friends, gardening, floral arranging, hiking, or working on a new craft project. 

Kezia works as the executive assistant to the director of communications, outreach, and research. She enjoys working as part of the communications team and in a field she’s passionate about. Kezia’s day-to-day focus includes coordinating outreach and research opportunities in the community. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Hamline University and is working toward her Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy at St. Mary’s University.  Away from work Kezia loves outdoor baseball, concerts, and finding new places for brunch.

Shirley has provided support to The Emily Program and its staff in a wide range of roles since 1999. In the early stages of The Emily Program’s growth, Shirley did many administrative tasks including accounting, tracking and invoicing vendors, payroll, etc. Shirley now focuses primarily on transcription.

Ellen works at the front desk and enjoys being the first point of contact for clients. She is happy to assist clients and providers in any way she can. Ellen earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in nutrition and biology from the College of Saint Benedict. Currently she is exploring different Master’s programs and looks forward to choosing one to pursue in the next couple years. Ellen enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, scrapbooking, and trying new restaurants. 

Danielle works at the front desk handling various administrative duties.  She loves being a first point of contact for people; supporting clients and staff in any way she can.  She really enjoys working with such amazing people and a program that truly makes a difference! Danielle earned her B.S. in Psychology at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, CA. She loves spending time with family and friends, being up north at her cabin, and traveling! She enjoys adventure and has gone skydiving twice!

Everyday, Laura feels honored and inspired to be a part of a strong team that builds and maximizes on employees’ talents and contributions throughout an organization that is so passionate. She is committed to being a strong support to the organization and the employees who make a difference in the lives of people struggling with eating disorders. Laura earned her undergraduate degree in Business Administration and Human Resources at the University of St. Thomas. She enjoys biking, running, and swimming along with participating in the occasional triathlon. She also loves to travel and share in good, authentic meals with family and friends.

Chris manages and helps to maintain all of the properties occupied by The Emily Program staff and offices. When he is not racing from Burnsville to Stillwater, Chris loves long walks with his family’s yellow lab, and he spends many hours working with his boys in Boy Scouts.

Emily works as the lead administrative assistant at our St. Louis Park office. She loves being the first point of contact and support for our inspiring clients!  Emily really enjoys being able to support The Emily Program staff in any way! She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and is a licensed social worker. She is working toward a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work through the University of St. Thomas/St. Catherine University joint program. Her proudest moment in life (so far) was climbing Pico Duarte with her best friend in the Dominican Republic. Emily’s favorite things are folk music, camping and traveling. 

Katie provides coordination of care for clients and staff at The Emily Program. She enjoys the interaction with clients and learning from the professional staff: “I feel privileged to work in an environment where the staff work passionately together to help clients reach personal goals.” Katie has a BS in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Wisconsin, Stout. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, grilling outside, and watching The Office.

Randi works as a Level 2 technician with IT, specializing in desktop services. She also works on networking, telephony, and communication projects and enjoys interacting with each department at The Emily Program. Randi began work as a Technical Support Assistant in 2011 and has enjoyed playing a part in developing and strengthening the IT department over the years. She received her Bachelor’s degree in English and has an AAS in Graphic Design, but has an interest in promoting and supporting women to be self-confident and so found her way to The Emily Program.  Away from the office, Randi is a freelance graphic designer and flutist and loves live music, B- and C-grade movies, and spending time with her nieces and nephews.

Emily supports four directors at The Emily Program: Operations, Human Resources, Finance, and General Counsel. She enjoys coordinating details and projects behind-the-scenes and is excited to be a part of the administrative team. Emily earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics with a minor in music from Augsburg College. Emily loves music, reading, old movies, being outdoors, and spending time with her two nieces.

Lynette is a liaison between clients, payers and The Emily Program. As Benefits Coordinator, she works with clients, case managers, families, health insurance providers, and our staff to facilitate payment for services, maximize insurance benefits and ease movement between programs. Lynette also tracks the insurance authorization process. She was the long-time office manager of a psychiatry practice before joining The Emily Program and has a wide range of experience in health care administration.

Helene has broad clinical experience with children, adolescents and adults with eating disorders as well as with people who have both eating disorders and diabetes. Most recently she has been doing clinical work, conducting research and participating in program development at Methodist Hospital’s Eating Disorders Institute. Helene received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of South Florida and completed her internship at the University of Florida Health Sciences Center. She completed a fellowship in adolescent health at the University of Minnesota.

Shawna obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Women’s Studies, and her Master’s degree in Communications. She has completed a variety of work, which ranges from working with the Girl Scouts to Catalyst Domestic Violence Services to Animal Samaritans SPCA. Shawna has also worked in the field of eating disorders for a number of years, some of which were with Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program and Center for Discovery.

Jillian brings expansive experience to The Emily Program’s clinical, research, education and program development areas. She also provides nutrition education and counseling. Jillian is on the board of the Academy for Eating Disorders, an international professional organization of clinicians and researchers, and co-chairs its Nutrition Special Interest Group. She has authored numerous book chapters and articles on nutritional treatment of eating disorders, body image, sports participation, and adolescent health. She completed her doctorate in nutrition and epidemiology, master’s of public health and dietetic internship at the University of Minnesota and a master’s in nutrition at the University of Vermont.

Shelly is responsible for accounts payable, accounting for the front-of-house, expense reimbursements, as well as a back up for payroll. Shelly received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the U of MN –Duluth with a major in Communications and minor in Psychology. Away from work she enjoys traveling, yoga, making wine, and creating arts and crafts for all her friends and family.

Jennie facilitates the compulsive overeating intensive outpatient program and does individual therapy in St. Louis Park. She has worked in residential and outpatient settings with people facing a broad range of issues including mood, anxiety and thought disorders, chemical dependency and HIV. Jennie received her master’s in counseling psychology from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. She completed her practicum at the Park Nicollet Mental Health Department in Minneapolis.

Kristen offers administrative support to the Seattle staff. She appreciates working alongside such a talented treatment team and particularly enjoys knowing that she’s able to assist a group of people that care so much about helping people who struggle with body image and eating issues. Kristen also enjoys interacting with clients at the front desk and fostering the connection between clients and staff to ensure things run smoothly. Kristen attended the University of Washington and graduated with a B.A. in Psychology. She loves being outside, whether it’s hiking, biking, horseback riding or playing in the snow. At some point in her life she would like to complete the Pacific Crest Trail. She also enjoys listening to a wide variety of music and likes to read in her spare time.

Angie administers The Emily Program’s benefits to our employees and ensures accurate information is maintained in the HRIS system.  She enjoys explaining the benefits to new employees and answering benefit questions from current employees.  She feels fortunate to work in such a caring atmosphere.  Angie earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Management from the College of St. Benedict.  Angie loves inspirational quotes.  She also enjoys reading, cuddling with her kitties (and husband), traveling, and seeing movies in her free time.

Leigh Ann works as an Administrative Assistant at our St. Paul (2265 Como) and St. Louis Park locations. Leigh Ann enjoys assisting clients, staff, and each individual in contact with The Emily Program on a daily basis. She is passionate about helping others and is happy to be working for a program dedicated to that goal. Leigh Ann earned her Bachelor of Arts from Gustavus Adolphus College in Psychology. She hopes to pursue a Master’s in Counseling or Social Work in the future. Leigh Ann loves spending time with her family and friends, hanging out with her cat, going to concerts, and has just recently taken up indoor cycling.

Maria loves the research and problem-solving aspects of her work, and sees credentialing as essential to giving the highest quality of care and coverage to our clients and to building toward the long term stability of The Emily Program. She earned her B.A. in History from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and she is currently enrolled in the Master’s in Teaching program at Hamline University. Maria is the proud parent of an English major at UMN, a working musician in her band, The Owls, since 2001, and has lived abroad and done historical research in Budapest, Hungary.

Stacy’s responsibilities include front desk management such as scheduling appointments, answering the phone, and maintenance of the office space, as well as client care needs related to intakes, insurance, financial care, and internal referrals.  She enjoys being the first point of contact and loves helping create a positive atmosphere for those seeking care. Stacy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Stacy enjoys music, including singing and playing her guitar.  She loves culture and traveling, but also loves the local Duluth scene with all the area has to offer such as camping, hiking, fishing, campfires, and the North Shore.     

Stefania works with the administrative team answering and directing incoming calls. She loves the passion and positive atmosphere that The Emily Program provides for clients and staff.

Dirk has been dedicated to the treatment of eating disorders for over 20 years. Dirk oversees all clinical and administrative activities in addition to working directly with clients. He completed his doctorate in psychology at the University of Minnesota. His dissertation was in the area of eating disorders treatment. He developed and administered an inpatient/outpatient eating disorders program at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, which was the first such program in Indiana. In addition to his work with individuals struggling with eating disorders, Dirk also has been involved in the treatment of alcohol and drug abuse.

Kristen works with adults and adolescents in individual, couples, family, and group therapy as well as in the intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization (intensive day) programs at our Seattle office. She is passionate about supporting and challenging clients working through traumatic experiences, grief and loss, shame, finding and supporting healthy emotional and self expression and engaging in healthy relationships. Kristen cherishes the passion, authenticity, and compassion her coworkers have in their work at The Emily Program. She earned Doctorates in Clinical Psychology and Public Health, Preventive Care, at Loma Linda University. Outside of work, Kristen loves almost any activity with family and friends, including: table and party games; hiking, running, camping and other outdoor adventures; movies; music; dancing; traveling; theme parks and costume parties.

Lynn oversees administrative operations at The Anna Westin House. She manages the office and provides administrative support so clinical staff can devote themselves to helping clients regain their health and focus on recovery. Lynn has an extensive background in executive support roles and came to The Emily Program in search of new challenges She likes working in a place where people care about the work they do, and go home each day feeling as if they have made a difference.

Shannon has worked in eating disorders since 1990 conducting research, providing clinical care and developing treatment programs. She returned to Minnesota to open the Anna Westin House, the state’s first residential treatment facility. As Director, she guides, supports and encourages the Anna Westin House staff. Shannon also sees a small caseload of individual clients. Shannon received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology. She loves to dance to just about anything with her two kids (especially the song, “Bust a Move”) and says: “I am also very grateful for the relationships that I have and try to spend as much time as I can with those important people in my life.”

Brian is our facilities services technician. He helps keep each of our locations functioning properly. He will graduate in 2013 with his BS in construction management. In his spare time he enjoys drumming and loves to build things.

Justine helps new and existing clients navigate their options at The Emily Program and advocate for their individual needs. She works with our clinical and administrative staff to manage waiting lists for individual therapy and dietitian services. Justine loves getting to know our clients on an individual basis and going above expectations to make their experience here the best possible. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the Iowa State University. Her previous work experiences includes working as front desk lead at The Emily Program, hotel management, scoring of state mandated tests, and working in a youth shelter and counseling center. Justine loves spending time with family and friends. She also enjoys hiking, spending time outdoors, live music and continually learning about new people, places and environments.

Pam works with senior leadership, assisting them with scheduling meetings and a wide array of other work. As someone with a personal connection to eating disorders, Pam is especially grateful to be a part of such a wonderful caring organization.  She earned her B.A. from the University of MN and loves being back in MN with family and friends.

Joanna provides individual therapy, intake assessments, and intensive outpatient treatment. She enjoys being a part of the healing process and helping people develop a new relationship with their emotions and more power and freedom in their lives. She also is passionate about helping people through the process of healing from trauma and offers specialized trauma therapy, including EMDR. In addition to her role as a therapist, Joanna provides management support to the Seattle office and loves being a part of the gifted and passionate Seattle staff team. Joanna earned a Master’s degree and Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University. She completed her internship at The Fremont Community Therapy Project where she was trained in trauma therapy and mindfulness-based treatments, including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. Joanna loves walking in the woods or by the water, exploring all that Seattle has to offer, and spending time with friends and family.

Sandy goes into the community with presentations and participates at exhibits that are pertinent to The Emily Program and eating disorder education. She is also a pastor at Prince of Peace in Burnsville.  Sandy holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. Away from work, Sandy is a huge sports fan, enjoying the sport of the season! She loves to read all different types of non-fiction and fiction, walks in the woods,and spending quality time with her family.

Allison coordinates client services from intake to discharge.  She works with client benefits and the treatment team to ensure the highest quality of care. Allison earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at St. Catherine University in St. Paul. When not at The Emily Program, Allison can be found running around the lakes with her husband and Siberian Husky.  Allison also serves as a member of the St. Kate’s alumnae council and helps coach a small Nordic ski program for high school girls.

Shaunna works with the front desk team assisting clients and TEP providers. Shaunna enjoys being the first point of contact for clients and making them feel comfortable in taking the steps to get the help they need.  She received her B.A.S. in Psychology from the University of MN, Duluth and is in the application process to get her Master’s in International Health with a focus on Child & Maternal Health. In Shaunna’s spare time she is a performing musician and part of a fire dancing performance troupe based out of Duluth, MN called The Spin Collective. She also enjoys camping, reading, cooking, running, yoga, and speaking Spanish.

Deborah has worked in the area of eating disorder treatment since 1987 as an individual, family and group therapist. She helped develop and administer an outpatient eating disorders clinic at Allina. She is committed to providing education to health professionals and the public regarding eating disorders prevention and treatment. Most recently, she has participated in research and has developed expertise in the area of obesity treatments.

Tyler verifies insurance coverage for new clients and helps manage medical records. He greatly enjoys interacting on a daily basis with fun, caring colleagues and clients. Tyler is majoring in Nutrition, with a Latin minor, at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He loves being involved in recreational sports, such as fishing, golf, bowling, etc., and is an officer in the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity - Minnesota Chapter.

Suzette provides legal guidance on all aspects of The Emily Program, including real estate, employment and general corporate. Suzette is The Emily Program’s first in-house counsel, bringing with her her experience in-house at a national bank and working on health care issues at the MN Attorney General’s office. Suzette also a board member of Women’s Advocates. She really appreciates the unique opportunity to merge her legal experience with her personal passion for the amazing work that The Emily Program does. Suzette earned her law degree from the University of MN. In her spare time she participates in a variety of sports, and enjoys books and movies.

Angie supervises the 2265 Como office in St. Paul and sees clients individually. She loves the mix of things she does here – working with clients across the spectrum of eating disorders as individuals and in groups. Angie completed her doctoral degree in Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology at the University of Minnesota. She interned at the University of St. Thomas Personal Counseling Center. She has worked with depression, anxiety, relationships, developmental transitions, eating disorders, and abuse recovery in university settings and community mental health agencies. Angie still has family in her native Rhode Island, so her children get to experience the ocean. She has also officiated at two weddings.

Monique is a licensed psychologist and clinical manager at the Anna Westin House. She’s worked within residential services for over 5 years.  As clinical manager, she provides individual and group therapy, supervises EDTs, and participates in various meetings. She received her master’s in counseling and psychological services from St. Mary’s University, Minneapolis. Outside of work, Monique spends time (preferably outdoors) with her dog, family and friends. She also enjoys a good read.

Iliana handles all front desk and client care for the Seattle office—helping clients navigate their insurance and benefits, scheduling appointments, and any other questions or concerns that arise. She loves building relationships with clients and making the Seattle office a warm and welcoming space. Iliana earned her B.S. in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Idaho. And as a Panama native, Iliana is fluent in Spanish. During her free time she loves trying out new recipes, reading, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Katie works directly with our Compliance Officer, Erin Vogen. A majority of Katie’s time is spent working with our residential programs. She ensures documentation is complete and up-to-date. Additionally, she coordinates the training documentation to ensure residential staff members complete all the training their positions require. She’s proud to be in a role where she can provide the support necessary to maintain the legal and regulatory requirements of residential programs so that providers can stay focused on providing excellent client care. Outside of the office, Katie loves living in the city and taking advantage of all the great restaurants, shops and entertainment it has to offer.  She enjoys spending time with family, working on her house, and spending time outdoors.

Anna facilitates adult IOP and a couples group; she also sees individuals, couples, and families. She especially enjoys working with couples and with individuals who have had a relationship with trauma. She also loves working with clients around the idea of mind/body/spirit wellness Anna earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Augsburg College, and a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Anna loves to camp, hike, and play outside with her family.

Mark oversees The Emily Program’s financial department and provides the financial “vision” for our growing agency. His responsibilities include banking and lending, financial plan management, forecasting/budgeting, and various growth strategies. Mark began his career consulting to institutional clients at Morgan Stanley. He earned his law degree from the University of St. Thomas School of Law. Away from work, Mark is passionate about lake issues, and is a current board member of the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District.

Marie handles all of the agency’s credentialing. Additionally, she helps with recruiting and new employee orientation. Marie loves interacting with new staff, getting providers credentialed and ready to see clients, and being part of employees’ first contact with TEP. She earned her BA in Communication with a minor in Psychology from the University of MN-Duluth and is currently working toward her MA in Marriage and Family Therapy at Adler Graduate School.  In her free time she enjoys traveling: seeing new places; hiking in the beautiful MN State Parks; and spending time with her husband, two cats and dog. 

Erin helps The Emily Program meet legal and regulatory requirements when providing treatment and services to clients. She coordinates client satisfaction surveys and helps to gather and apply other useful data and information to identify new services or ways that The Emily Program can improve. Taking that information and applying it so that we can better serve clients is one of Erin’s favorite parts of her job. She has a bachelors in psychology from St. Olaf College in Northfield. Erin loves to learn and is always seeking news, good books, articles and life experiences that can offer interesting perspectives. She also enjoys cooking and being outdoors.

Carly works closely with our adolescent clients and providers to make navigating their treatment process as stress-free as possible. She likes making clients and families feel welcome, supported, and important throughout their recovery journey. Carly’s previous work experience includes nonprofit employment training and program development. She has a BA in Political Science and Peace & Justice Studies from St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI, and eventually wants to pursue a graduate degree in Community Health Education or a related public health field. Carly is a transplant from southeastern Wisconsin who is terrified of scary movies and enjoys running half marathons.

Kim brought extensive experience in the financial aspects of health care to her position with The Emily Program. She formerly worked at Meridian Behavioral Health as assistant controller/billing manager where, among other duties, she managed the work of the medical billing staff, assisted in financial audits, and prepared financial statements. Kim has bachelor’s degrees in accounting and in finance from Moorhead State University. At The Emily Program, Kim manages accounting and financial duties such as accounts payable/receivable, taxes and audits.

View Kitty’s Bio

Christy leads the development and coordination of our outpatient services for adolescents and their families. She helps lead the Adolescent and Family Intensive Programs and loves helping people see that they can get through a challenge! Christy completed a dual graduate degree in social work and theology at the College of Saint Catherine/University of St. Thomas. She earned a bachelor’s in religion from Belmont University in Nashville with a concentration in youth ministry, Judeo-Christian history and Hebrew. Christy likes to travel, read historical fiction and is “slightly obsessed” with the TV series “Lost.”

Dawn has worked with adolescents for over 19 years, primarily in residential settings.  Her role as clinical manager of the adolescent residential program is multifaceted: she works with the leadership team to develop adolescent programming; works closely with clients through individual, adolescent and family services; completes intake evaluations; co-facilitates therapy groups; and serves as part of our “conversation” (aka intervention) team, which provides guidance to families and friends who want to approach a loved one with their concerns. Prior to joining The Emily Program, Dawn was the clinical supervisor of the residential substance abuse treatment program at the MN juvenile corrections facility in Red Wing. Dawn earned her Bachelor’s degree in Human Services at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, and her Master’s and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology.  Outside of work, Dawn enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, traveling, and attempting to learn about photography. 

Megan is an eating disorder technician with the adolescent residential program. She works with the residents to support them throughout their treatment. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Megan enjoys spending time with her dog, Pixel.

Sarah is an eating disorder technician with the adolescent residential program. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota, where she completed her senior thesis on historical trends in eating disorders. Currently, Sarah is pursuing her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology at the University of St. Thomas. In her spare time, Sarah loves to travel, read and spend time at the lake.

Alyssa is an Eating Disorder Technician at the Anna Westin House–Adolescent & Young Adult. She earned her Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Wisconsin–Stout with concentrations in eating disorders and AODA counseling. Alyssa completed her internship at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire Counseling Services. She’s excited to be working with adolescents and encouraging and empowering them on their journey to recovery.

Brenda works with adolescents at Anna Westin House-Adolescent in St. Paul. Her mission statement is that in helping others. As a person who has an outgoing personality, caring attitude, enthusiasm for life, and friendly personality, she seeks to find courage in those who are discouraged. Brenda has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology from Winona State University and a Master’s of Arts in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Adler Graduate School. She loves to travel, run, snowboard, do yoga, and listen to all kinds of music; spending time with her chocolate lab and two cats; and learning new languages, currently she is studying Italian. 

Paul works as an Eating Disorder Technician at the Anna Westin House-Adolescent residential program. He is passionate about encouraging residents on their path to recovery. Paul earned his Bachelor’s degree in Honors Psychology from Gustavus Adolphus College and is now pursuing a Master’s in Counseling Psychology at the University of St. Thomas. In his free time, Paul enjoys jogging, swing dancing, listening to NPR and reading.

Robyn provides individual, group, and family therapy services in the Anna Westin House-Adolescent program. She has worked in a variety of settings including residential treatment centers, day treatment, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, private practice, and as an instructor in Argosy University’s clinical psychology program. Robyn earned her Doctorate in Psychology at the University of St. Thomas and completed her internship at Aurora Psychiatric Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She enjoys spending time with her husband, family, and friends and taking walks with her two spoiled dogs.

Claire works directly with adolescents at Anna Westin House-Adolescent. She loves working with teens and their families and is excited to be a part of a collaborative staff. Claire earned a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy and is working toward licensure. She loves spending time with her husband, son and dog, and absolutely loves to travel! Her favorite place is Edinburgh, Scotland (where she studied abroad as an undergrad). Although she loves to try new things, nothing beats curling up with a cup of coffee and a good book.

Kelley is an RN at the Anna Westin House-Adolescent. She loves working with individuals and families to make positive changes. Kelley earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the College of Saint Benedict and is working on her Master’s in Public Health at the University of Minnesota. Kelley loves to travel, go backpacking and hiking, play ultimate frisbee, and spend time with family and friends.

Edie works with clients in group yoga classes. She is passionate about helping clients regain self awareness and healthy mind-body relationships through the development of their yoga practice. Edie earned her 40 hour level two vinyasa training and her 200 hour vinyasa training of extensions program for vinyasa training through CorePower Yoga. In her spare time she enjoys a variety of activities including: practicing yoga, visits to the farmers market, listening to groovy music and cooking, spending time with her dogs, and much more!

Bevie works primarily with adolescents and young adults. She enjoys helping clients find their voice, identity, and empowerment through creative expression and wilderness experiences. Bevie earned her B.A. in Child and Family Studies and specialized in art and youth ministry at Seattle Pacific University. She studied Studio Art at Minneapolis Community and Technical College and completed her Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy with an emphasis in Art Therapy and Psychotherapy at Adler Graduate School. Bevie grew up in Washington state and loves the outdoors, including: traveling and exploring by rock-climbing, back-packing, and canoeing/kayaking. Additionally, she enjoys playing guitar and creating through painting, pottery, and photography as well as yoga and skate-skiing.

Sarah is an eating disorder technician that works with the adolescent population at the Anna Westin House-Adolescent and Young Adult. She enjoys building therapeutic relationships with clients and supporting them through their journey. Sarah earned her Master of Arts in Adlerian Counseling & Psychotherapy with a dual emphasis in Clinical Counseling & Marriage and Family Therapy from the Adler Graduate School. She enjoys traveling, playing the piano, scuba diving, and spending time on the water. She loves being outdoors and spending time with family and friends.

Dom works with residents at the Anna Westin House-Adolescent program.  He enjoys getting to know residents and helping them in anyway he can during their stay. Dom earned his M.A. is Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. Away from work, he enjoys martial arts, playing video games, listening to music, and reading science fiction and fantasy.

Rebecca holds a master’s degree in clinical social work from the University of St. Thomas/College of St. Catherine and a bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She interned at the Minneapolis Fire Department (trauma-related issues) Hennepin County Adolescent Parent Unit at Broadway High School, and the Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center. Rebecca also completed two research projects on treatment and public perception of eating disorders.  Rebecca’s favorite season is football season, when she can cheer on the Badgers. 

Claire works with adolescents at Anna Westin House-Adolescent and Young Adult. She enjoys getting to know residents, building rapport, and assisting in their recovery. Claire earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Augsburg College and is currently working toward her Master’s of Marriage and Family Therapy and Addiction Studies. Away from work, Claire enjoys attending concerts and music festivals. She also enjoys writing and going on walks.

Megan works with residents at Anna Westin House-Adolescent. She enjoys watching the personal growth in the youth we serve and being a part of it. Megan earned her Master’s in Family and Couples Therapy at Portland State University in Oregon, and her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.  Away from work Megan like to hike, travel, and spend time with family and friends.

Michelle works with adolescents and young adults in all levels of care including individual, AFI, AIDP and residential.  One of Michelle’s favorite parts of her job is learning from her clients; they teach her something new almost daily. Michelle also loves training and mentoring new dietitians as they help support our clients on their journey.  Michelle received her bachelor’s in dietetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and her master of public health nutrition from the University of Minnesota. Away from work, she loves watching sports, football and college basketball are her favorites—especially when the teams are the Packers and Badgers. She’s a proud Wisconsinite…shown by the cheesehead in her office. She also enjoys hanging out with her husband and friends and enjoys exploring the Twin Cities.

Jennifer enjoys the work of supporting individuals on their unique paths to health and healing, especially helping to leverage their strengths as they work toward holistic health. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota and Associate of Science degree in Nursing from Minneapolis Community and Technical College. Jennifer enjoys her spending time with her family, her daily daybreak walks with her enthusiastic black lab, practicing yoga, dancing, and sewing.

Ashley has degree in psychology at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Tex. She has conducted research on the factor structure of adolescent sexual behavior with the Mayo Clinic and Abilene University. She is pursuing a master’s in general psychology at ACU, where her thesis focuses on alternative diagnostic criteria for post traumatic stress disorder in sexually abused children.

Lindsey works at Anna Westin House. She loves helping and interacting with the residents and staff. It gives her great satisfaction connecting with individuals and knowing she is making a difference. Lindsey received her B.A. in Psychology from Hamline University. She enjoys roller derby, spending time with her new cat, Bailey, traveling, and watching movies.

Michelle values the opportunity to build therapeutic relationships and follow clients throughout their treatment journey as they develop skills to manage their lives in a more healthful way. Michelle earned her RN at Minneapolis Community and Technical College; she also has a Culinary Arts diploma from Le Cordon Bleu.

Mary provides medical monitoring and ongoing healthcare. She loves meeting new patients and is committed to the belief that health is much more than just physical well being.  A graduate of St. Olaf College and The University of Minnesota Medical School, Mary is experienced in family based care for all ages with a special interest in women’s and children’s issues.  She has practiced in Salt Lake City, UT, Willmar and Eagan. She is also medical director for the Grace Centre, a Minnesota-based mission working with two communities in Guatemala. Mary spends a lot of time in hockey rinks with her hockey and figure skating children.  Her interests include gardening, nutrition, and the Down Syndrome community.

Lindsay’s special interest in media and body image grew from her undergraduate studies the University of Minnesota- Morris, where she earned a bachelor’s in psychology. Prior to joining the Anna Westin House, she completed an internship in the Research, Education and Outreach division of the Eating Disorders Institute at Methodist Hospital. Lindsay also worked for seven years at a long-term health care center in Glencoe.

Betsy supports clients in residential treatment and helps them move toward recovery. Her interest i eating disorders began during a summer research internship at Park Nicollet, where she coauthored a manuscript on eating disorder age of onset. Betsy earned her BA in anthropology from Princeton University, where she completed her senior thesis on the relationship between collective memory and cultural identity in Vietnam. Back home now in Minnesota, Betsy spends her time volunteering at Children’s Hospital and at the Animal Humane Society, where she helps dogs find “forever” homes. She also enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with Ernie and Tillie, her zany West Highland terriers.

Erin works with clients at the Anna Westin House as well as outpatient groups. She enjoys helping others through art and the artistic process. Erin earned her Master’s degree in art therapy with an emphasis in community counseling from Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, WI. In her free time, Erin enjoys reading, photography, and finding new ways to be creative and make art.

Lucy works with adolescents and their families individually and within the adolescent and young adult residential program. She enjoys helping people create a positive relationship with food and learn to trust and respect their body. 
She earned a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics with a minor in Psychology from North Dakota State University in Fargo. Lucy loves taking walks with her dog, cooking, saltwater fishing, and spending time on the water (ocean or lake)!

Samantha provides nutrition counseling and education, therapeutic meals and snacks, and works with a cooking group. She like helping to create a positive and supportive eating environment for residents, and helping them establish healthy relationships with food. Sam has a B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics from University of Wisconsin-Stout. She loves to get involved with athletics in the summer and spend free time on the lakes.

Carrie works with individuals within our residential services. She earned her associate degree in nursing. Carrie enjoys cooking, running, and being with her kids.

Candace works closely with Chef Meghan Murray to provide meals for residential clients. She received her associate of applied science degree in the Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Program at Brown College. Candace has worked as a food service director and manager, overseeing café and catering operations that catered for 100-600 people a day!

Arica is an eating disorder technician at the Anna Westin House. She enjoys working with residents and being able to see first hand the amount of progress made throughout their stay.  She also enjoys being part of the daily activities of the House, including going on outings, playing games and engaging in fun conversations.  Arica earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. She is currently a graduate student studying Counseling and Psychological Services at Saint Mary’s University, Twin Cities. Arica loves to be outdoors, including sitting by campfires, walking, biking or being by the water.  She also enjoys reading novels, doing yoga, cooking/baking and spending time with friends and family.  Arica plays a variety of instruments and enjoys a wide variety of music. 

Emily is an on-call nurse at the Anna Westin House. She enjoys caring for and getting to know the residents throughout their treatment. She graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities with her B.S. in Nursing. In addition to her work at The Emily Program, Emily currently works as an RN in the Adult Med-Surg Float Pool at Fairview. Away from her jobs, she love traveling, art, music, being outdoors, and spending time with family and friends.

Kris is a trauma therapist and family services program coordinator at The Anna Westin House. She enjoys helping clients and families achieve a holistic perspective in their treatment experience. She’s trained in EMDR. She is a Registered Nurse and has earned her Bachelor’s degree in ministries from Northwestern College, a Master’s degree in clinical pastoral counseling from the Minnesota Graduate School of Theology, and most recently received her Master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Jenelle likes working with clients in all aspects of health—mental and physical—watching clients improve and discover self-worth. She earned a double major in BS in Genetis and BA in Physiology from the University of Minnesota. She also holds an AS in Nursing from St. Kate’s. When not at The Emily Program, Janelle works as an RN at Regions in neurosurgery and postpartum. Outside of work, Jenelle loves being with her family, friends, and pets (a golden retriever and 2 cats).

Anna enjoys every aspect of her job at the Anna Westin House, especially working with residents: getting to know them, knowing their stories, helping them with anything and everything they have concerns or joys about. She co-facilitates a Laughter Therapy Group that she describes as “a blast.”  Anna earned a bachelor in communication studies from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. In her free time she travels, enjoys improv and practicing different dialects, and spending as much time as possible with her family.

MC uses massage and yoga to help clients improve their relationship with their bodies, as well as to help achieve states of mind beyond the judgment and self-criticism common to people with eating disorders.
She has been trained in a variety of bodywork modalities, including massage, Trager Psychophysical Integration, and CranioSacral Therapy; and is a hatha yoga teacher from the Institute of the Himalayan Tradition.
In her free time, MC enjoys playing Latin and Brazilian percussion.

Bevie works primarily with adolescents and young adults. She enjoys helping clients find their voice, identity, and empowerment through creative expression and wilderness experiences. Bevie earned her B.A. in Child and Family Studies and specialized in art and youth ministry at Seattle Pacific University. She studied Studio Art at Minneapolis Community and Technical College and completed her Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy with an emphasis in Art Therapy and Psychotherapy at Adler Graduate School. Bevie grew up in Washington state and loves the outdoors, including: traveling and exploring by rock-climbing, back-packing, and canoeing/kayaking. Additionally, she enjoys playing guitar and creating through painting, pottery, and photography as well as yoga and skate-skiing.

Anna works with residents at Anna Westin House-Adolescent. She enjoys empowering adolescents and their families to overcome challenges and lead healthy and happy lives. Anne received her Master’s of Social Work degree from The College of St. Catherine. In her free time, she loves spending time outdoors—in every season. Anne also likes to read, fish, go to concerts, and watch her children grow.

Brittany provides nursing care and support to the residents of the Anna Westin House.  She received her Associate of Science in Nursing from Minneapolis Community and Technical College. Before coming to The Emily Program, she spent 5 years caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease. At the AWH, Brittany enjoys learning the individual life stories of the residents, watching them progress in their recovery process, and supporting their progress toward wellness. She also enjoys working in collaboration with other team members to provide comprehensive care to residents. Outside of work Brittany loves to travel, decorate, read, spend time with family, and get together with friends.

Kelly works as an eating disorder technician at the Anna Westin House. She encourages and supports individuals through their struggles. Kelly enjoys interacting with the residents, learning about their journey they are on, and listening to what hopes they have for their future. She obtained her Bachelor’s in Psychology from South Dakota State University and is currently enrolled in the Marriage and Family Therapy program at St. Mary’s University. Outside of work Kelly loves doing anything that involves being outdoor: spending time at the cabin, golfing, softball, etc. Additionally, she enjoys playing the guitar and learning all sorts of different types of music; and hanging out with family and friends.

Originally from Alaska, Meghan completed her bachelor’s in finance from the University of Wyoming. She then returned to Alaska, working in the banking industry for a few years. Switching gears, she moved to Minnesota and completed Culinary Arts School at Le Cordon Bleu.

Leah has what she calls “the awesome job” of assisting clients in multiple ways, from therapeutic meals to a smooth transition out of the Anna Westin House. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Luther College in Iowa and a Master of Social Work from Barry University in Miami. She has worked counseling women and children survivors of domestic violence, facilitating positive communication and life skills groups for children, and grant writing. She loves traveling to other countries. She plays viola, has a passion for animals, and loves the snow. She hopes to have her dog, Odin, certified as a therapy pet and begin an Animal Assisted Therapy group at the Anna Westin House.

Shannon has worked in eating disorders since 1990 conducting research, providing clinical care and developing treatment programs. She returned to Minnesota to open the Anna Westin House, the state’s first residential treatment facility. As Director, she guides, supports and encourages the Anna Westin House staff. Shannon also sees a small caseload of individual clients. Shannon received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology. She loves to dance to just about anything with her two kids (especially the song, “Bust a Move”) and says: “I am also very grateful for the relationships that I have and try to spend as much time as I can with those important people in my life.”

Elizabeth has a background as an educator. She was a lead teacher and KinderCare Training Coordinator at the Knowledge Learning Corporation for two years and was a parent child interaction therapy intern at Genesis II for Families. She received her Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy at St. Mary’s University, and received her Bachelor’s in Child Psychology, with a minor in Family Social Sciences from the University of Minnesota.

In addition to her commitment to Anna Westin House clients, Andrea has a strong commitment to community service. She has volunteered at Northwest Youth and Family Services; provided academic assistance to elementary students, including the Inner City after-school program; worked with Teen Challenge; and volunteered as a violinist. She was a Dakota Community Home Health Aide/Senior Advocate before joining The Emily Program. Andrea has a bachelor’s in family social science from the University of Minnesota and is enrolled in the marriage and family therapy masters program at St. Mary’s University.

Rebecca holds a master’s degree in clinical social work from the University of St. Thomas/College of St. Catherine and a bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She interned at the Minneapolis Fire Department (trauma-related issues) Hennepin County Adolescent Parent Unit at Broadway High School, and the Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center. Rebecca also completed two research projects on treatment and public perception of eating disorders.  Rebecca’s favorite season is football season, when she can cheer on the Badgers. 

Kari was an educator, pastor and chaplain before joining The Emily Program. She first gained awareness of eating disorders while serving as a parish pastor in Richfield and Chaska, and later during her chaplain residency at Methodist Hospital. She was drawn to The Emily Program’s holistic, multi-disciplinary team approach to treatment. Kari appreciates the opportunities chaplaincy offers to connect with diverse religious and spiritual traditions. She received her bachelor’s in communications and social work from Concordia College in Moorhead, and master of divinity from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, where she also was associate director of contextual education and an internship consultant.

Tara teaches therapeutic yoga to residential and outpatient adults and adolescents. She feels both grateful and blessed to be able to share such an important part of her life, and the profoundly healing benefits of yoga to a population so deserving. Tara has multiple yoga certifications in a variety of styles: 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Certification from Expanding Light in Grass Valley, California; 120 Hour Yoga Dance Certification from Kripalu Center in Lenox, Massachusetts; 200 Hour Atma Yoga Certification from Christopher Baxter in Red Wing, Minnesota; 90 Hour Yoga of the Heart Certification from Nischala Devi in Grass Valley, California; and 35 Hour JAI Prenatal Certification from Jennifer Gray in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In her free time Tara loves being in nature, being with loved ones, and being creative. She also studies African djembe drumming and teaches an ensemble drum group that performs locally.

Monique is a licensed psychologist and clinical manager at the Anna Westin House. She’s worked within residential services for over 5 years.  As clinical manager, she provides individual and group therapy, supervises EDTs, and participates in various meetings. She received her master’s in counseling and psychological services from St. Mary’s University, Minneapolis. Outside of work, Monique spends time (preferably outdoors) with her dog, family and friends. She also enjoys a good read.

Cindy works with clients who struggle with both eating disorders and chemical dependency. She provides assessments, group therapy, and awareness of cross addiction to clients and staff. Cindy enjoys being able to provide services for people who struggle with dual disorder of CD and ED. Cindy received her Master’s in Addiction Studies from Hazelden Graduate School and her Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work from Metropolitan State University. Outside of work she enjoys traveling—while studying in England she lived in Alnwick Castle where the first two Harry Potter movies were filmed. Cindy likes to spend time outdoors, fishing, taking walks, and playing with her dogs.

Patti works the overnight shift as an eating disorder technician at our adolescent residential program. She enjoys watching each adolescent make big strides in their treatment, as the treatment team works together to empower both adolescents and their families.Pattie earned her Bachelors degree in Social Work at Carthage College and Masters degree in Clinical Social Work at the University of Michigan. Previously she worked as a school social worker, a domestic violence shelter care advocate, a foster care case worker, a therapist for children with developmental disabilities/significant mental health issues, a counselor for low income and at risk youth, and as a mental health specialist with elementary school children. Patti enjoys reading, swimming, and playing games (like Settlers of Catan and Rummy). But mostly she enjoys laughing, dancing, and anything tie-dye.

Jason works with residents at Anna Westin House. He earned his master’s degree in counseling and completed his post-master’s coursework in marriage and family therapy at Adler Graduate School. In his free time he loves spending time with his wife and three children. He also enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, camping, and bow hunting or spending time with “the guys” sailing by the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior.

Lindsey works with residents at Anna Westin House (AWH).  She provides individual nutrition counseling and education, supports therapeutic meals and snacks, and leads and facilitates nutrition group, activity group, and cooking group. Lindsey enjoys getting to know each of her clients, helping them to learn how nutrition plays a role in recovery and to find enjoyment in eating.  Lindsey earned her bachelor’s degree in dietetics from the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, MN and graduated from the Penrose-St. Francis Dietetic Internship Program in Colorado Springs. She likes to spend her free time traveling to new places or at her family cabin—boating, water skiing, or just relaxing with family, friends, and some good music.

Carey’s clinical experience includes treating patients with a wide variety of physical and psychoemotional issues including insomnia, pain, menopausal symptoms, headaches, migraines, PMS, fatigue, digestive complaints, depression, and anxiety. She received a master’s in Oriental Medicine from The Minnesota College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington. Carey has also provided acupuncture in private practice and at Solimar Wellness Spa in Eagan.

Carrie is a casual nurse at the Anna Westin House. She loves helping residents develop a positive sense of self and hope for their recovery and is passionate about helping to facilitate development of a healthy and holistic lifestyle. Carrie obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from Gustavus Adolphus College. She subsequently received a second major certificate in Nursing from The College of St. Catherine. Carrie has experience working in pediatrics, postpartum, and geriatric care, and now greatly enjoys working in mental health, within the residential setting. In her free time, Carrie enjoys getting together with friends, reading, being outdoors, running, photography, and volunteering at her children’s schools.  Carrie, her husband, and their three boys, love spending time on the North Shore and in her husband’s home town in Arizona. 

Jim is part of the kitchen staff at Anna Westin House. He prepares meals for residents on the weekends. Jim has over six years of experience working in the food industry and holds a degree in Food Production from Western Technical College. He likes playing and recording music, and hanging out with his awesome wife and daughter.

Annet works with groups and individuals at the Anna Westin House. She enjoys helping residents deal with all aspects of their day to day life. Currently, a student at St. Mary’s University, Annet is working to complete her Master’s in Counseling and Psychological services. Away from work and school, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling and meeting new people. Additionally, Annet speaks fluent Russian and enjoys being emerged in other cultures and countries—she lived in Israel until she was 8 years old.

Erin sees outpatient clients and co-facilitates groups. Erin is a member of the American Dietetic Association’s Dietitians in Integrative and Functional Medicine Practice Group and has worked with Naturopathic Doctors providing nutritional consultation.  She has a keen interest in whole foods nutrition, community-supported agriculture, complementary and alternative medicine. Her nutrition practice is guided by the philosophy that an individual’s nutritional health goes beyond simply what they eat and drink. She believes that mental, physical, and emotional health are intricately weaved together and must be in balance to achieve whole body health and wellness. Erin received her BA in Psychology from University of Wisconsin–Madison; BS in Nutrition from the University of MN–Twin Cities; and completed her dietetic internship at University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison, WI. Outside of work, Erin can be found riding area bike paths, shopping for good eats at farmers markets, walking or running around the city lakes, or enjoying any of the fabulous local ethnic restaurants in the Twin Cities.

Laura came to The Emily Program from Scripps Clinic in San Diego, Calif. where she was the primary dietitian and nutrition resource for the nationally-recognized nutrition research organization. Her extensive professional experience with eating disorders includes specialized treatment of athletes. She has presented to both local and national organizations on topics related to eating disorders and was an R.D. and health educator at Methodist Hospital’s Eating Disorder Institute. Laura received her bachelor’s in dietetics, food and nutrition from Mankato State University in Minnesota.

Karla works at our Duluth office. She loves working with all types of people who are struggling with their relationship with food, but specifically with compulsive over-eaters and gastric bypass clients. She earned her Bachelor’s in dietetics from the College of St. Scholastica, and completed the Mid Willamette Valley dietetic internship in Salem, OR. In her spare time, Karla spends time with her family and following her kids’ sports. She also enjoys her ministries in her local church and reading a good book in her quite time.

Rachel works with the Intensive Day Program in St. Louis Park, and also sees clients for individual nutrition counseling.  Her mission is to help people rediscover a healthy and positive relationship with food. Rachel completed her nutrition studies, dietetic internship and received a Master of Public Health in Nutrition degree at the University of Minnesota.She loves to go on walks with her dog, read books, and in the summer, attend as many Twins games as she can.

Lisa works with clients to find a healthy relationship with food, mind, and body through nutrition counseling and teaching yoga. She is also a dietetic internship preceptor and lead yoga instructor.  Helping clients to eat, cook, grocery shop, and deepen their yoga practice is rewarding for Lisa and her clients.  She loves working as part of a team and developing yoga as a healing tool in The Emily Program. Lisa earned a B.S. in dietetics, food and nutrition at Minnesota State University-Mankato and graduated from the U of M Medical Center, Fairview and U of M Children’s Hospital dietetic internship program. She received her yoga teacher training at Core Power Yoga. Lisa enjoys practicing yoga, outdoor gardening, mushroom hunting, cooking, joke telling, and laughing.

Vivienne enjoys working with clients of all ages; helping them to learn the art of self-care and experience the joy of mindful health. She earned a Master’s in Nutrition at Washington State University and recently became a certified presence-based coach. Vivienne is a wildly enthusiastic grandma; she loves gardening, dogs, western riding, cooking, and reading.

Lucy works with adolescents and their families individually and within the adolescent and young adult residential program. She enjoys helping people create a positive relationship with food and learn to trust and respect their body. 
She earned a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics with a minor in Psychology from North Dakota State University in Fargo. Lucy loves taking walks with her dog, cooking, saltwater fishing, and spending time on the water (ocean or lake)!

Shira works with residents at Anna Westin House-Adolescent. She especially enjoys working with adolescents, but overall the best part of my job is helping people establish their own healthy relationship with food. Shira did her undergraduate work at Miami University of Ohio, her dietetic internship at Cornell University, and earned a Masters in Public Health at the University of Minnesota. She is a big fan of sports, especially college basketball, and especially the Indiana Hoosiers. Shira also enjoys playing volleyball and is always up for a good game of Scrabble.

Janelle received her Bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and completed her dietetic internship at Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Janelle has worked in the eating disorders field for over five years, and recently moved to Seattle, WA for the opportunity to expand The Emily Program’s reach at our first out-of-state office.

Janelle is passionate about helping her clients of all ages and sizes restore balance in their intricate relationships between health, food, and body image.  She uses a non-diet, educational approach and supports her clients’ innate abilities to eat intuitively.  Janelle is also skilled in helping clients manage diet-related conditions such as PCOS and food allergies/sensitivities. Away from work, Janelle enjoys exploring hiking trails, gathering sea glass and vintage dresses, bluegrass music, and taking on random DIY projects.   

Samantha provides nutrition counseling and education, therapeutic meals and snacks, and works with a cooking group. She like helping to create a positive and supportive eating environment for residents, and helping them establish healthy relationships with food. Sam has a B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics from University of Wisconsin-Stout. She loves to get involved with athletics in the summer and spend free time on the lakes.

Hilary works with the day and evening intensive outpatient programs in St Louis Park, in addition to seeing individual clients. She enjoys working with clients to find creative ways to utilize their knowledge and skills on the path toward recovery. Hilary earned a Masters of Public Health in Nutrition at the University of Minnesota, where she also completed her dietetic internship. She enjoys browsing local farmers’ markets, spending time outdoors, and searching for treasures at local thrift stores.

Joan formerly was an associate professor in the foods and nutrition programs at Meredith College in Raleigh, N.C., and San Jose State University in California. Working with college students brought awareness of the prevalence of eating disorders. As a result, her research and professional interests shifted toward the psychology of food. She also has provided nutrition education in public education settings, including working with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to develop food technology curriculum for high school students. Joan received her bachelor’s and master’s in nutritional science from San Jose State. She also has worked as a professional chef.

Jill sees clients on an outpatient basis in St. Paul and Stillwater and co-facilitates an evening intensive outpatient program.  Prior to joining The Emily Program, she worked as a dietitian and wellness coach for HealthPartners where she assisted clients in addressing a wide range of health issues. She is a certified intrinsic coach and holds a degree in dietetics from Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin.  Jill uses her coaching skills to help clients explore their relationship with food, overcome barriers, and find lasting healing and balance in their eating patterns.  She finds it incredibly rewarding to be present with individuals as they work to release judgments about food and their bodies. Outside of work she enjoys browsing bookstores, laughing with loved ones, caring for her pets, and traveling to new places.

Kelsey works with adults and adolescents in individual and group nutrition therapy sessions as well as the intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs. She enjoys getting to know and caring holistically for each of her clients. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Dietetics at Seattle Pacific University, and completed her dietetic internship and Master’s degree in Nutrition at State University of New York at Oneonta. Kelsey enjoys spending her time playing cribbage, traveling abroad, hiking, and is currently searching for the tastiest tamale in Seattle.

Jillian brings expansive experience to The Emily Program’s clinical, research, education and program development areas. She also provides nutrition education and counseling. Jillian is on the board of the Academy for Eating Disorders, an international professional organization of clinicians and researchers, and co-chairs its Nutrition Special Interest Group. She has authored numerous book chapters and articles on nutritional treatment of eating disorders, body image, sports participation, and adolescent health. She completed her doctorate in nutrition and epidemiology, master’s of public health and dietetic internship at the University of Minnesota and a master’s in nutrition at the University of Vermont.

Krista works with adolescents. She enjoys helping clients during challenging meals and being their support system on the nutrition side of treatment. She also loves to see the progress they make throughout programming. Krista earned her B.A. from the University of St. Thomas in Mass Communications and Journalism with a concentration in Advertising and a double minor in Psychology and Graphic Design. She also obtained her Associate of Applied Science Degree in the Dietetic Technology Program from Normandale Community College. Outside of work Krista loves spending time at the cabin with her family and pets where she can relax and play.

Abby works with adolescents, adults, and families with a variety of diagnoses. She also co-facilitates a Compulsive Overeating IOP group and an eating out group for individuals who continue to have challenges with food and socialization. Abby’s overall goal is to help clients find balance in mindful and intuitive eating; and develop healthy attitudes toward body and fitness. She has a degree in food, nutrition and dietetics with a minor in psychology from Concordia College in Moorhead, and completed her dietetic internship at St. Mary’s Hospital/Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Abby believes that incorporating a diverse clientele into her practice furthers her knowledge and helps her be the best dietitian she can be.

Jocey works with adults at the Anna Westin House and also sees clients on an outpatient basis. She enjoys helping clients establish a healthy relationship with food and especially loves working with individuals to reincorporate activity and movement into their lives in a positive way. Jocey earned a double Bachelor’s in Nutrition and Corporate and Community Fitness from North Dakota State and completed her Master’s of Science in Nutrition from the University of Minnesota. In her free time, Jocey spends time with her family, trying to keep up with her kids’ activities. She is passionate about movies, music and books and is a master of movie trivia.

Kirsten has worked with people of all ages and backgrounds and particularly enjoys working with children and adolescents to restore healthy and normal nutrition and eating. She received her degree in food, nutrition and dietetics from Concordia College in Moorhead. She completed her dietetic internship at St. Mary’s Hospital/Mayo Clinic in Rochester. She previously worked at Methodist Hospital’s Eating Disorders Institute in the outpatient clinic and coordinated the Intensive Outpatient Program and was involved in The Emily Program’s first IOP.

Amy has worked with The Emily Program since 2004. Her particular interests include obesity and compulsive overeating, although she enjoys working with individuals of all ages and backgrounds on weight management and healthy eating. She has experience working with individuals who are pre- and post bariatric surgery and occasionally completes bariatric evaluations. Amy enjoys helping post-bariatric surgery clients utilize their Gastric Bypass or lap-band “tool”. A majority of her time is spent working with individual clients; helping each person through their personal struggles and personal successes. She understands and appreciates that each client has a wealth of knowledge and enjoys helping them find the middle ground with food, including thoughts and behaviors. Amy likes to work with clients to develop intuitive eating patterns. In addition to individual nutritional counseling, Amy co-faciliates some of the COE/BED groups and helped develop the first COE IOP at The Emily Program. Amy received her degree in dietetics and completed the coordinated internship program from the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. She also holds a Certificate in Adult and Adolescent Weight Management. She previously provided nutrition evaluations for surgery candidates and one-on-one nutritional counseling for individuals, both pre- and post-surgery, at the HCMC Bariatric Center. Her life is kept very busy with two small kids. In her free time, she loves to spend time outdoors during the summer and fall seasons, and enjoys playing cards with family and friends.

Michele works closely with staff (registered dietitians, therapists, and food service) and clients to provide quality nutritional service, guidance, and support for nutritional needs specific to individual’s needs. Michele earned her Bachelor’s in Fine Art from St. Catherine University and her Associate of Applied Science in the dietetic technology program at Normandale Community College. Michele loves spending time with her family, making and teaching art, and taking long bike rides or walks. She is also learning how to keep up her old house, and is very proud of her new sheet-rocking skills.

Amy works with clients in group and individual sessions. She is passionate about helping clients establish a healthy relationship with food. Amy earned her Master’s at Rosalind Franklin University of Science and Medicine. Away from work she enjoys traveling, spending time with family, and walking with her dog.

Anne meets with individual clients in St. Paul and supports dietitians for all intensive programs. Anne has the benefit of developing relationships with clients and bringing joy back into their lives. She enjoys helping clients break down food rules and rituals to help them discover their own values and strengths. Her hope is for clients to realize that their well-being does not have to be hindered by their relationship with food. Anne earned a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition Dietetics with a minor in Child Psychology from the University of Minnesota. As well, she was fortunate enough to be a part of the inaugural class of dietetic interns to complete the first dietetic internship with an emphasis in eating disorders through the University of Minnesota and The Emily Program. Aside from work, Anne loves serving and spending time with high school students through a ministry called Young Life. She also enjoys taking walks with her husband, trying new recipes, finding new ways to organize her home (usually through Pinterest), and spending weekends at the cabin.

Val sees individual clients for all diagnosis in St. Paul and Burnsville and co-facilitates an Intensive Outpatient program for individuals struggling with compulsive overeating disorder (COE). Prior to earning her master’s degree in nutrition, Val earned a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from the University of Nebraska. Her experience with church ministry groups equips Val to counsel and motivate people to achieve balance with mind, body, and spirit. She loves golf, biking, annual trips to Germany, youth ministry work at her church, and cheering on her kids in their various activities.

Angela is the lead dietitian for the Intensive Day Program in our St. Louis Park office where she oversees the nutritional components of the program, facilitates groups and provides nutritional counseling.  Angela enjoys working with clients of all ages and diagnoses to help achieve balance with food, exercise and their creative passions.  She also sees individual clients with all diagnoses as outpatients and co-facilitates the Phototherapy group, in which clients use photography to convey a thought or feeling via metaphors. She holds a B.S. degree in dietetics, and food and nutrition from Minnesota State University-Mankato, as well as a Master’s Degree in Counseling Studies.

Sina sees outpatient clients and works with the Intensive Day Program in Saint Louis Park.  She is a Certified Specialist in Oncology and has experience providing nutrition education to individuals and groups. She has a passion for helping people build a healthy relationship with food and enjoys working with clients of all ages and diagnoses. She received her dietetics degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and completed her internship at the University of Minnesota Medical Center-Fairview. Sina loves to spend time biking, walking around the lakes with her family, traveling, eating out at local restaurants, and cooking for friends and family. She also has a vegetable garden and participates in a local crop share which keeps her continually challenged to find new recipes.

Rasa works with the Intensive Day Program and sees individual clients. She enjoys working with athletes and clients from different ethnic groups. Rasa is a dietitian for the University of Minnesota women’s track and field and cross country teams; and has facilitated many sports nutrition presentations and seminars. She received her bachelor’s in physiology and master’s in nutrition from the U of M, where she was an All-American in cross-country. Rasa competed for her native Lithuania in the steeplechase at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. English is not her native tongue, so she loves learning new words in English when the opportunity arises.

Michelle works with adolescents and young adults in all levels of care including individual, AFI, AIDP and residential.  One of Michelle’s favorite parts of her job is learning from her clients; they teach her something new almost daily. Michelle also loves training and mentoring new dietitians as they help support our clients on their journey.  Michelle received her bachelor’s in dietetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and her master of public health nutrition from the University of Minnesota. Away from work, she loves watching sports, football and college basketball are her favorites—especially when the teams are the Packers and Badgers. She’s a proud Wisconsinite…shown by the cheesehead in her office. She also enjoys hanging out with her husband and friends and enjoys exploring the Twin Cities.

Lindsey works with residents at Anna Westin House (AWH).  She provides individual nutrition counseling and education, supports therapeutic meals and snacks, and leads and facilitates nutrition group, activity group, and cooking group. Lindsey enjoys getting to know each of her clients, helping them to learn how nutrition plays a role in recovery and to find enjoyment in eating.  Lindsey earned her bachelor’s degree in dietetics from the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, MN and graduated from the Penrose-St. Francis Dietetic Internship Program in Colorado Springs. She likes to spend her free time traveling to new places or at her family cabin—boating, water skiing, or just relaxing with family, friends, and some good music.

Hilmar sees individual clients for all diagnosis and co-facilitates an Intensive Outpatient Program for individuals struggling with Compulsive Overeating (COE). He also shares administrative activities.

Margo works with individuals in the evening Intensive Outpatient Program and sees clients on an outpatient basis.  She is dedicated to helping people develop mindful, nourishing eating patterns through nutrition counseling, education and meal planning.  Margo earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Richmond.  She is currently finishing her Masters of Science in Nutrition from the University of Minnesota, where she also completed her dietetic internship.  Margo is a loyal Packer fan and enjoys traveling – both around the United States and internationally.  To date, she has visited 48 of the 50 states and hopes to visit the remaining two – Hawaii and Alaska – in the future.

Nicole is a registered dietitian with our adolescent services. She enjoys working with clients one-on-one, as well as, adolescents and families in the adolescent intensive day program (AIDP) and adolescent and family intensive outpatient program (AFI) to achieve their own healthy relationship with food. Nicole completed her B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics and dietetic internship at the University of Minnesota, where she is also working toward a Masters in Public Health Nutrition. In her down time Nicole enjoys running, playing tennis, photography, traveling and practicing speaking Spanish.

Michelle works with people of all ages to find a comfortable relationship with food that enhances their overall health and quality of life through individual and group nutrition counseling. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Food and Nutrition and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology from Central Washington University. Michelle loves spending time with her family, renovating their old house, learning to fly fish, and is an avid college basketball fan. 

Melissa ‘Missy’ became passionate about issues surrounding food, body image and self esteem during nearly a decade as a counselor, and later director of student support services at The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth. Missy served on the Eating Disorder Task Force, helping develop a protocol to identify students needing support versus those needing formal treatment. She also helped develop eating issue prevention strategies on campus. Missy has a master’s in education from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, with a concentration in community counseling and is a licensed professional counselor. Her experience also includes working with issues surrounding depression, anxiety, and adjustment.

Priscilla sees individual clients in our Duluth office. Previously, she was a therapist at NorthernBridges in Hayward, SMDC, and HRC Mental Health Center in Superior, where she hosted the Mind Matters radio show on KUWS. Priscilla earned a Master of Social Work from UMD and a Master in Expressive Therapies from Lesley University, Cambridge, MA. Active in Twin Ports theater, she often appears in and directs plays.

Stacy’s responsibilities include front desk management such as scheduling appointments, answering the phone, and maintenance of the office space, as well as client care needs related to intakes, insurance, financial care, and internal referrals.  She enjoys being the first point of contact and loves helping create a positive atmosphere for those seeking care. Stacy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Stacy enjoys music, including singing and playing her guitar.  She loves culture and traveling, but also loves the local Duluth scene with all the area has to offer such as camping, hiking, fishing, campfires, and the North Shore.     

Kirsten has worked with people of all ages and backgrounds and particularly enjoys working with children and adolescents to restore healthy and normal nutrition and eating. She received her degree in food, nutrition and dietetics from Concordia College in Moorhead. She completed her dietetic internship at St. Mary’s Hospital/Mayo Clinic in Rochester. She previously worked at Methodist Hospital’s Eating Disorders Institute in the outpatient clinic and coordinated the Intensive Outpatient Program and was involved in The Emily Program’s first IOP.

Shaunna works with the front desk team assisting clients and TEP providers. Shaunna enjoys being the first point of contact for clients and making them feel comfortable in taking the steps to get the help they need.  She received her B.A.S. in Psychology from the University of MN, Duluth and is in the application process to get her Master’s in International Health with a focus on Child & Maternal Health. In Shaunna’s spare time she is a performing musician and part of a fire dancing performance troupe based out of Duluth, MN called The Spin Collective. She also enjoys camping, reading, cooking, running, yoga, and speaking Spanish.

Connie provides medical services for clients and comes to The Emily Program with mental health experience at St. Mary’s Duluth Clinic and the Human Development Center. Connie also taught mental health nursing at the College of St. Scholastica, where she earned her bachelors in nursing and her master’s degree in psychiatric nursing.

Mary is a therapist at our Duluth location. She has over 20 years of experience working with adolescents and their families. She earned a Master’s degree in Social Work from The University of Minnesota-Duluth. Her program emphasis was working with American Indians, especially in rural communities. Mary loves playing with her dogs, hiking, listening to music, and reading.

Jennifer enjoys the work of supporting individuals on their unique paths to health and healing, especially helping to leverage their strengths as they work toward holistic health. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota and Associate of Science degree in Nursing from Minneapolis Community and Technical College. Jennifer enjoys her spending time with her family, her daily daybreak walks with her enthusiastic black lab, practicing yoga, dancing, and sewing.

Michelle values the opportunity to build therapeutic relationships and follow clients throughout their treatment journey as they develop skills to manage their lives in a more healthful way. Michelle earned her RN at Minneapolis Community and Technical College; she also has a Culinary Arts diploma from Le Cordon Bleu.

Mary provides medical monitoring and ongoing healthcare. She loves meeting new patients and is committed to the belief that health is much more than just physical well being.  A graduate of St. Olaf College and The University of Minnesota Medical School, Mary is experienced in family based care for all ages with a special interest in women’s and children’s issues.  She has practiced in Salt Lake City, UT, Willmar and Eagan. She is also medical director for the Grace Centre, a Minnesota-based mission working with two communities in Guatemala. Mary spends a lot of time in hockey rinks with her hockey and figure skating children.  Her interests include gardening, nutrition, and the Down Syndrome community.

Scott provides psychiatric evaluations and medication management for clients. He also helps oversee research that The Emily Program conducts in partnership with the U of M. Scott earned his medical degree and had his psychiatric residency at the University of Minnesota, where he is now a professor. Scott has been active in national and international eating disorders groups and is Past President of the Academy of Eating Disorders. He loves travel, skiing and tennis with his family.

Michael has done extensive work with eating disorders, anxiety, OCD and mood disorders, as well as behavioral issues. He received a bachelor’s in biology and genetics/cell biology (minoring in psychology) from the University of Minnesota. He received his M.D. from the University of Minnesota Medical School and was a resident in psychiatry, and child and adolescent fellow, at the University of Minnesota Department of Psychiatry.

Mary provides medical support services to clients, assisting Dr. Mary Bretzman.  In the past, she has provided services for elementary school and preschool students, children with special needs, seniors, and members of the US Air Force. Mary earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Northwestern College in Roseville and her L.P.N. from Bee County College in Texas. She cofounded Hope Floats Foundation, which provides financial and/or practical support to children who are dealing with life-threatening and/or long-term illnesses or tragic life circumstances.  Mary enjoys photography, fishing, reading, and family time.

Sonya enjoys seeing new clients and helping with their medical needs in their recovery process. She also likes the flexibility of working with teens and adults. Sonya graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School and completed her Family Medicine Residency in Salt Lake City, Utah. Before coming to The Emily Program, she worked at a number of community clinics in Minneapolis; most recently at the U of M’s Smiley’s Clinic. While there, she enjoyed teaching and working with new family medicine physicians as a clinical associate professor. Sonya loves to travel and tries to take a hiking trip every year with her husband and two teenage daughters.

Kathleen works in the Partial Hospitalization Program in Seattle providing psychiatric medication management and consultation. She really appreciates the team atmosphere and working collaboratively. Kathleen received her BA in Psychology in conjunction with her nursing degree at The University of Washington in 2001. She returned to University of Washington in 2005 to get her Master’s degree and Psychiatric A.R.N.P. Kathleen also works in the outpatient setting at the University of Washington and has previously worked in the inpatient psychiatric unit at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Outside of work Kathleen loves spending time with her twin girls and getting away to practice yoga when she can. She also enjoys gardening, traveling, and spending time outdoors during Seattle summers.

Carrie works with individuals within our residential services. She earned her associate degree in nursing. Carrie enjoys cooking, running, and being with her kids.

Emily is an on-call nurse at the Anna Westin House. She enjoys caring for and getting to know the residents throughout their treatment. She graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities with her B.S. in Nursing. In addition to her work at The Emily Program, Emily currently works as an RN in the Adult Med-Surg Float Pool at Fairview. Away from her jobs, she love traveling, art, music, being outdoors, and spending time with family and friends.

Carmen provides medical assessments and monitoring, performs physical exams, does medical histories and follow up appointments, and makes recommendations for further care and treatment. She works closely with physicians and the rest of our staff to provide quality care. Carmen received her master’s of medical science and physician assistant certificate from Saint Louis University in Missouri. She was a medical technologist, but switched careers to be involved directly with people. Carmen believes knowledge is power and that there are no dumb questions to ask her. She tries to empower clients with tools and information to battle their eating disorder in a comfortable and friendly environment.

Jenelle likes working with clients in all aspects of health—mental and physical—watching clients improve and discover self-worth. She earned a double major in BS in Genetis and BA in Physiology from the University of Minnesota. She also holds an AS in Nursing from St. Kate’s. When not at The Emily Program, Janelle works as an RN at Regions in neurosurgery and postpartum. Outside of work, Jenelle loves being with her family, friends, and pets (a golden retriever and 2 cats).

Kelley is an RN at the Anna Westin House-Adolescent. She loves working with individuals and families to make positive changes. Kelley earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the College of Saint Benedict and is working on her Master’s in Public Health at the University of Minnesota. Kelley loves to travel, go backpacking and hiking, play ultimate frisbee, and spend time with family and friends.

Brittany provides nursing care and support to the residents of the Anna Westin House.  She received her Associate of Science in Nursing from Minneapolis Community and Technical College. Before coming to The Emily Program, she spent 5 years caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease. At the AWH, Brittany enjoys learning the individual life stories of the residents, watching them progress in their recovery process, and supporting their progress toward wellness. She also enjoys working in collaboration with other team members to provide comprehensive care to residents. Outside of work Brittany loves to travel, decorate, read, spend time with family, and get together with friends.

Elizabeth is a Registered Nurse at our outpatient location in St. Paul, and works closely with Dr. Scott Crow and Dr. Mike Donndelinger. She was attracted to The Emily Program because of a personal experience with recovery, as well as a passion for personal, individualized care with an outpatient focus. She loves helping people work toward healthy and happy lives. Elizabeth holds a BS in Psychology from Northwestern College and attained her RN from North Hennepin Community College. Elizabeth loves a good story in any form, people watching, spending time with family and friends and running the lakes with her energetic chocolate lab.

Connie provides medical services for clients and comes to The Emily Program with mental health experience at St. Mary’s Duluth Clinic and the Human Development Center. Connie also taught mental health nursing at the College of St. Scholastica, where she earned her bachelors in nursing and her master’s degree in psychiatric nursing.

Susan’s areas of interest include working with adolescents and young adults with co-morbid anxiety and mood disorders, as well as with athletes with eating disorders. She has experience working with children, adolescents and adults in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings. Susan received her medical degree from the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis. She then completed a general adult psychiatric residency followed by a fellowship training program in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Minnesota. During residency and fellowship, her primary area of research was in the area of eating disorders.

Carrie is a casual nurse at the Anna Westin House. She loves helping residents develop a positive sense of self and hope for their recovery and is passionate about helping to facilitate development of a healthy and holistic lifestyle. Carrie obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from Gustavus Adolphus College. She subsequently received a second major certificate in Nursing from The College of St. Catherine. Carrie has experience working in pediatrics, postpartum, and geriatric care, and now greatly enjoys working in mental health, within the residential setting. In her free time, Carrie enjoys getting together with friends, reading, being outdoors, running, photography, and volunteering at her children’s schools.  Carrie, her husband, and their three boys, love spending time on the North Shore and in her husband’s home town in Arizona. 

Angie has worked in multiple positions with The Emily Program. She recently transitioned from St. Louis Park client care coordinator to therapist trainee. Angie works with outpatient clients at our St. Paul office as well as clients involved in our adolescent intensive day program, Saturday morning multifamily group, and intensive day program family night. She has experience in chemical dependency, eating disorders, LGBT community, and is a registered yoga teacher. Angie graduated from Adler Graduate School with a Master’s in Adlerian Counseling and Psychotherapy, holds Bachelor’s degrees in Communication and Spanish from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Away from work, Angie loves to travel, spend time with family and friends, and practice yoga.

Aimee works with adults, adolescents and families to provide culturally relevant individual, family, initial interview, and group therapy services. She facilitates Adult Evening Intensive Outpatient Program (Evening IOP) group meetings, supportive meals, and case consultation visits. She appreciates the opportunity to help individuals discover and utilize their strengths. Aimee completed her doctorate in Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology with a minor in Prevention Science from the University of Minnesota, where she also worked for 8 years in eating disorders research. In past therapy roles, she specialized in school counseling, abuse recovery, residential therapy, Latino and crisis services. For self-care Aimee enjoys nature walks, practices mindfulness, plays Scrabble and delights in spending time with her niece and nephews.

Kelly is passionate about the prevention and treatment of eating disorders and is energized by the amazing work being done at The Emily Program. Kelly works within the outpatient and intensive programming at The Emily Program. She engages with adolescents and adults within individual, family, and group therapy sessions. Kelly received her Master of Arts from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, Illinois, where she is currently working toward her Doctor of Psychology (PsyD). In addition to psychology, Kelly enjoys painting, running, reading, and cheering on the Wisconsin Badgers during football season. She also enjoys exploring the Twin Cities and spending time with her nephew in Wisconsin.

Sarah works with adults in individual and couples therapy.  She earned her Master’s in Social Work from Loyola University in Chicago. Outside of work, Sarah loves spending time with her family, swimming, biking, walking, cooking, enjoying her book club, and shopping at consignment stores.

Erin provides individual and group therapy to adolescents, young adults and their families. Erin enjoys helping families navigate their journey through recovery; her motto is “trust the process.” Erin earned her B.S. in Family Social Science at the U of MN-Twin Cities and her M.S.  in Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of WI-Stout. She has experience working with at-risk/homeless youth, GLBTQ youth/young adults, chemical dependency, family in-home therapy and family crisis management. Outside of work Erin loves traveling and experiencing other cultures. She believes this passion came from moving over 15 times before turning 25.

Kathleen “Kat” Bernhoft works with individual clients and co-leads the Intensive Day Program (IDP) in St. Paul.  Kat allies with the GLBTQ community and enjoys working with people from a variety of backgrounds.  She draws from a variety of treatment methods including Mindfulness Practice, relational approaches, CBT, DBT, IFS and responding to trauma.  Kat received her bachelor’s degree in art education from the University of Minnesota and her master’s degree in social work from the College of St. Catherine/University of St. Thomas.  In her free time, Kat works on mosaic art in her garage.  She also enjoys walking her dog and playing poker with her family.

Dawn has worked with adolescents for over 19 years, primarily in residential settings.  Her role as clinical manager of the adolescent residential program is multifaceted: she works with the leadership team to develop adolescent programming; works closely with clients through individual, adolescent and family services; completes intake evaluations; co-facilitates therapy groups; and serves as part of our “conversation” (aka intervention) team, which provides guidance to families and friends who want to approach a loved one with their concerns. Prior to joining The Emily Program, Dawn was the clinical supervisor of the residential substance abuse treatment program at the MN juvenile corrections facility in Red Wing. Dawn earned her Bachelor’s degree in Human Services at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, and her Master’s and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology.  Outside of work, Dawn enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, traveling, and attempting to learn about photography. 

Randi sees individual clients, couples and families. She earned a Masters in psychology from the University of St. Thomas and a drug counseling certificate from the University of Minnesota, where she also earned a BA in psychology and Studio Arts. Randi has been a private practice therapist, an instructor at Argosy University’s clinical psychology program, and a free-lance illustrator.  She has provided therapy services for a wide range of community organizations and colleges.

Rebekah facilitates several groups and sees individuals, couples and families. She enjoys helping people in their faith and meaning struggles. Rebekah has a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Bethel University and a Post-Graduate Certification in Marriage and Family Therapy from St. Mary’s University. She has also taught as an adjunct psychology instructor at the College of St. Scholastica, Northwestern College and the Art Institute International. Rebekah loves pets and currently has a dog, a cat and several goldfish (Bob, BellaTrix, Albus, George, and Lipstick).

Hoinu completes initial assessments, individual therapy, and group therapy. She received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Argosy University at the Twin Cities Campus and completed her internship at Hazelden in Center City, Minnesota. Hoinu has experience working with pre/post bariatric surgery, depression, anxiety, chronic medical illness, eating disorders and chemical dependency.

Stephanie performs intake assessments and sees individual adult clients. Her interests are in clinical and health psychology. Stephanie graduated magna cum laude from Carleton College and earned her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Minnesota. She completed her clinical psychology internship at Hennepin County Medical Center and a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical and rehabilitation psychology at the Minneapolis Veterans Administration Medical Center. She also worked as a psychologist at HealthEast Bethesda Hospital before coming to The Emily Program. In addition to clients with eating disorders, Stephanie especially enjoys working with individuals with mood and anxiety disorders, obesity, trauma history, and/or significant medical conditions. She likes travel, photography, quilting, and reading.

Catherine works with adults with a variety of symptoms in individual and group therapy.  She also helps facilitate the compulsive overeating intensive outpatient program. She loves being witness to each individual’s journey to their true selves. Catherine earned her undergraduate degree at University of St. Thomas in Social Work and her masters degree at Dominican University in Illinois. In her spare time she enjoys spending time in her hometown in Colorado, walking the lakes and spending time with friends and family.

Joan enjoys working with individual clients, facilitating groups, supervising trainees, and providing leadership in assessment and intakes. Her main focus is working with clients to establish a positive, healing experience at The Emily Program. Joan received her doctoral degree from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology and interned at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Kansas City. Her special interests include obesity treatment, trauma recovery, management of chronic medical illness and working with various cultural and economic issues. Joan is developing her internal athlete with triathlon training.

Zoua provides career counseling, individual and group therapy to clients from diverse backgrounds. She also conducts psychological assessment intakes with new clients. In addition to eating disorders, Zoua also has experience providing therapy to address anger/assertiveness problems, anxiety disorders (e.g., survivors of combat, sexual and other traumas), depression including Bipolar I & II mood management, grief/loss and relationship difficulties. She enjoys working with clients in a collaborative, professional, and respectful manner to achieve their mental health goals.  Zoua earned her Doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Minnesota. She has experience providing psychological services in college counseling centers, community mental health clinics, the Career Counseling & Assessment Clinic at the University of Minnesota, and VA Medical Centers. Outside of work, Zoua enjoys the outdoors and spending time with loved ones.

Katy helps lead our St. Louis Park office.  She also sees adult clients in individual therapy and facilitates a skills group outpatient clients. Katy most enjoys working with clients to understand their stories and help them achieve peace, healing and a higher quality of life. She received her BA in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, her MA in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sports Psychology from University of Minnesota, and her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology. Katy has clinical experience in chemical dependency, personality disorders, depression and anxiety. She also focuses on trauma, and uses Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in therapy. She loves to read, sing (off-key) with and chase her children, and just hang out with her husband and friends.

Krista is the site manager for Spokane. In addition, she works with clients of varying ages and diagnoses. Krista loves working with clients around body image issues. She draws from a variety of methods including narrative therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy. Krista loves the use of the creative process in conjunction with the therapeutic process. She earned her Master’s of Science from Fuller Theological Seminary, School of Psychology and her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in family and pediatrics from Azusa Pacific University. She trained at Harbor UCLA medical center and Loma Linda Children’s Hospital. She is also a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist through the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals. Away from work, Krista loves being a mom to her three boys, playing outside, going on adventures with her family, skiing, hiking, biking, and camping.

Anne formerly was an inpatient behavioral health social worker at Regions Hospital in St. Paul where she provided counseling for a wide range of issues including eating disorders, mood and thought disorders, chemical dependency, childhood trauma and gender identity. She also offered legal coordination for civil commitments, health care directives and mandated reporting. Anne also was an HIV case manager for the Minnesota AIDS Project, and volunteered with the Walk-In Counseling Center in Minneapolis. She earned a bachelor’s (double major) in behavioral science and law, and sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a master of social work from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Amanda does individual, family, and group therapy; conducts initial intakes; and works with the Intensive Day Program. She earned BA in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. She completed her internship at The Emily Program in August of 2010.  In November 2010, she received my Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology with emphasis in Health Psychology and Child and Family Therapy from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Twin Cities. Amanda spends much of her free time working on her dissertation, which looks at women’s experiences of pregnancy and preparing for a baby after recovering from moderate to severe postpartum depression.

Monique works with adolescents and adults in Spokane. She is trained in ACT, DBT, CBT, and MI. She uses a humanistic approach to help clients address disordered eating. Monique earned her undergraduate degree from Washington State University, and her Master’s degree in Counseling, Community Agency from Whitworth University. She is an avid outdoors person. Living in the great Northwest, she enjoys boating, camping, snowmobiling, and riding her ATV.

Erin works with clients at the Anna Westin House as well as outpatient groups. She enjoys helping others through art and the artistic process. Erin earned her Master’s degree in art therapy with an emphasis in community counseling from Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, WI. In her free time, Erin enjoys reading, photography, and finding new ways to be creative and make art.

Laura sees individual adult clients and works in two of our Intensive Outpatient Programs. She also facilitates an outpatient anorexia/bulimia support group and co-facilitates a Christian group. Laura loves working with groups and hearing the feedback clients give each other and witnessing the power of people sharing their knowledge and experience with each other. She earned her undergraduate degree in social work at Providence College in Rhode Island and her maters in social work at the University of Minnesota. Laura enjoys being outside, reading, and traveling.

Erica was a student marital and family therapist at the University of Wisconsin-Stout and a behavioral health intern at Red Cedar Medical Center, Mayo Health System, both in Menomonie, before accepting a position with The Emily Program. She also was a domestic violence family advocate at The Women’s Center Domestic Violence Shelter in Red Wing. Erica received her bachelor’s in family studies in psychology from St. Olaf College and her master’s in marital and family therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Anna works with the intake and evaluation team. She also works individually with clients. Anna has diverse clinical interests, including: interpersonal/relational patterns and how to assist clients in identifying and changing unhealthy patterns; chemical dependency and addiction recovery; and LGBT issues. She received her MA and a PsyD from the University of St. Thomas in counseling psychology. A fun fact about Anna is that she has two cats, Elphi and Nessa, who are litter-mates. They were named after the witch sisters from the Broadway play “Wicked.”

Tori works with adults, adolescents, and their families in Duluth and Saint Paul. She also facilitates various groups in each location.  Tori likes working with clients challenged by compulsive eating, anxiety, self esteem, and body image issues.  She particularly values using mindfulness-based strategies to assist clients toward gaining clarity and peace within their healing journey.  Tori’s interests include gardening, yoga, reading, biking with her husband, and attempting to add new phrases to her quaker parrot’s boisterous vocabulary.

Kim provides individual and family counseling in the area of eating disorders and facilitates the daytime Intensive Outpatient Program for people with anorexia and bulimia. She has broad clinical experience assessing and treating a range of mental health issues. Kim received a master’s in clinical social work from the University of Houston. She completed an internship on a psychiatric unit at Memorial Hospital Southwest and worked for Family Services of Houston for 10 years.

Melissa ‘Missy’ became passionate about issues surrounding food, body image and self esteem during nearly a decade as a counselor, and later director of student support services at The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth. Missy served on the Eating Disorder Task Force, helping develop a protocol to identify students needing support versus those needing formal treatment. She also helped develop eating issue prevention strategies on campus. Missy has a master’s in education from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, with a concentration in community counseling and is a licensed professional counselor. Her experience also includes working with issues surrounding depression, anxiety, and adjustment.

Alison sees individual adult clients, facilitates the Recovery Group, and works on psychological intake evaluations and testing interpretation. She especially enjoys working with young adults and individuals with a history of trauma. Alison received her master’s and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Twin Cities. She completed her internship at the Metropolitan Community Mental Health Center in St. Paul. Alison has experience working with children, adolescents and adults with a variety of mood and anxiety disorders, eating disorders, autism, chemical dependency, personality disorders and chronic mental illness.

Kristin uses recreation experiences to address recovery issues and help clients work towards their recovery goals. Her passion comes to life when a client can introduce elements of leisure into their lives, to discover new sources of coping, meaning, enjoyment, and self-discovery in recovery. Kristin obtained her degree in Recreation Therapy at the University of Minnesota and has since been working in mental health. In her personal recreation time, Kristin is developing a new game involving kayaking, karaoke, and a trampoline.

Jenny provides individual and family therapy, groups, and intensive programming. She received her master’s from Seattle Pacific University, and previously worked at Seattle Children’s Hospital and the University of Washington. Jenny is passionate about this work. She enjoys collaborating with people as they build meaningful lives and relationships, and supports them to challenge those areas that keep them stuck. Jenny uses a variety of approaches based on what people need, and is experienced in family systems therapy, Family-Based Treatment (FBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and other mindfulness-based approaches.  In her free time she enjoys outdoor adventure and travel, her violin and music community, and spending time with family and friends.

Kris sees adult clients and co-facilitates the Saturday Friends and Family Group. She works evenings and Saturdays to give clients more flexibility with appointments. Kris admires the courage of clients who decide to make change in their lives. She earned a Masters of Social Work from University of Illinois, Chicago and spent 10 years as a clinical social worker in a school district working with children and adolescents. Kris has also worked in chemical dependency. An avid reader and puzzler, Kris is also drawn to and delighted by children.

Kristy works with clients in our Intensive Outpatient Programs and individual therapy. She received her Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of MN-Twin Cities and her Master’s in Counseling and Psychological Services from Saint Mary’s University. Kristy completed her Practicum at The Emily Program.

Robyn works with adults in individual and family therapy. In conjunction with treating eating disorders, she enjoys helping clients heal from trauma, depression, and anxiety disorders, as well as family of origin issues. Robyn earned a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. She likes spending her free time singing and playing the piano, hiking, cooking, and being with friends and family.

Krystle works with outpatient clients providing individual and group therapy; and completing intake evaluations. She appreciates the holistic and individualized approach to treatment that The Emily Program believes in; as well as the enthusiasm from other staff for eating disorder assessment and research. Krystle received her Master of Arts from The School of Professional Psychology at Forest Institute in Springfield, Missouri, where she is also working toward her Doctorate of Psychology (PsyD). A Nebraska native, she enjoys cheering on the Huskers during college football season and exploring the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo. Krystle likes outdoor activities such as running, fishing, canoeing; free time is spent with family, friends, and getting acclimated to Minnesota.

Kate is passionate about helping people create the life they desire. She has profound respect for the courage it takes to confront one’s eating disorder and feels honored to join people on their journey towards recovery. Recovery can mean different things to different people, and usually incorporates improved experiences with food, body, identity, and relationships. Kate takes an interpersonal approach to therapy, and utilizes multiple strategies to support clients in the recovery process.  In addition to doing therapy, Kate is the Training Director.  She is enthusiastic about supporting students, trainees, and staff in their professional development and integration of self-as-therapist. Kate started with The Emily Program in 2007 and earned her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in Counseling Psychology. 

Robyn provides individual, group, and family therapy services in the Anna Westin House-Adolescent program. She has worked in a variety of settings including residential treatment centers, day treatment, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, private practice, and as an instructor in Argosy University’s clinical psychology program. Robyn earned her Doctorate in Psychology at the University of St. Thomas and completed her internship at Aurora Psychiatric Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She enjoys spending time with her husband, family, and friends and taking walks with her two spoiled dogs.

Kris is a trauma therapist and family services program coordinator at The Anna Westin House. She enjoys helping clients and families achieve a holistic perspective in their treatment experience. She’s trained in EMDR. She is a Registered Nurse and has earned her Bachelor’s degree in ministries from Northwestern College, a Master’s degree in clinical pastoral counseling from the Minnesota Graduate School of Theology, and most recently received her Master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Lepha is a therapist at our Seattle location. She thoroughly enjoys working with this population of intelligent, sensitive, soulful individuals and their families. She received her Bachelor’s in Nutrition from Bastyr University and Master’s in Applied Behavioral Science with an emphasis in systems counseling from the Leadership Institute of Seattle. Lepha grew up in Alaska and loves to visit her home state. She also enjoys yoga, hiking, biking, baking, and the company of friends and family.

Helene has broad clinical experience with children, adolescents and adults with eating disorders as well as with people who have both eating disorders and diabetes. Most recently she has been doing clinical work, conducting research and participating in program development at Methodist Hospital’s Eating Disorders Institute. Helene received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of South Florida and completed her internship at the University of Florida Health Sciences Center. She completed a fellowship in adolescent health at the University of Minnesota.

Jason works with adolescents in outpatient individual therapy. He has completed training in work with individuals who have experienced trauma and has focused experience with play therapy. Jason completed his Master’s in Counseling at Denver Seminary. In his spare time he enjoys triathlons, singing, traveling, and being a dad.

Ryoka works with individuals, groups and families. She takes a relational approach to psychotherapy and values the genuineness in the process. Ryoka earned her B.A. in Health Sciences from Waseda University in Tokyo and her M.S. in Mental Health Counseling from Western Washington University. Currently she is pursuing her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of Minnesota. Ryoka moved from Japan to the U.S. 6 years ago. In her spare time she loves watching romantic comedies and has a fondness for orange cats.

Shoshana works primarily with adolescents and their families in outpatient individual therapy and intensive group programming. Shoshana is working to obtain her LADC (licensed alcohol and drug counselor) certification in order to be dual licensed in providing comprehensive MI/SUD treatment.  Her clinical interests include mindfulness -based approaches, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), trauma informed care, and creative therapeutic modalities. Shoshana earned her Bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Sarah Lawrence College and her Master’s degree in clinical social work from The College of St. Catherine/University of St. Thomas.  In her personal time, Shoshana enjoys traveling, exercising, and spiritual development.

Joan works with individuals, couples, families and groups. She believes that within this work an explorative journey takes place. In sessions, Joan creates a safe, supportive environment that enables clients to discover what is enhancing, empowering and discard what is hindering. She views counseling as a therapeutic partnership; her philosophy is to adapt and combine various modalities to meet her clients’ wants and needs.  Joan received a Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Hawaii, Manoa. Away from work, Joan loves being in, on and/or around water: the ocean, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, pools, natural hot springs, aroma therapy baths, and long hot showers. She loves to swim too!

Colette has worked in a variety of settings including educational institutions, chemical dependency treatment centers and community mental health agencies. She has extensive individual and group therapy experience working with a wide range of mental health issues. Before joining The Emily Program, Colette worked as a staff psychologist at the University of St. Thomas Counseling Center where she provided counseling to undergraduate and graduate students and trained and supervised doctoral interns and practicum students in the counseling profession. She received her doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of St. Thomas

MC uses massage and yoga to help clients improve their relationship with their bodies, as well as to help achieve states of mind beyond the judgment and self-criticism common to people with eating disorders.
She has been trained in a variety of bodywork modalities, including massage, Trager Psychophysical Integration, and CranioSacral Therapy; and is a hatha yoga teacher from the Institute of the Himalayan Tradition.
In her free time, MC enjoys playing Latin and Brazilian percussion.

Bevie works primarily with adolescents and young adults. She enjoys helping clients find their voice, identity, and empowerment through creative expression and wilderness experiences. Bevie earned her B.A. in Child and Family Studies and specialized in art and youth ministry at Seattle Pacific University. She studied Studio Art at Minneapolis Community and Technical College and completed her Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy with an emphasis in Art Therapy and Psychotherapy at Adler Graduate School. Bevie grew up in Washington state and loves the outdoors, including: traveling and exploring by rock-climbing, back-packing, and canoeing/kayaking. Additionally, she enjoys playing guitar and creating through painting, pottery, and photography as well as yoga and skate-skiing.

Anna works with residents at Anna Westin House-Adolescent. She enjoys empowering adolescents and their families to overcome challenges and lead healthy and happy lives. Anne received her Master’s of Social Work degree from The College of St. Catherine. In her free time, she loves spending time outdoors—in every season. Anne also likes to read, fish, go to concerts, and watch her children grow.

Jennie facilitates the compulsive overeating intensive outpatient program and does individual therapy in St. Louis Park. She has worked in residential and outpatient settings with people facing a broad range of issues including mood, anxiety and thought disorders, chemical dependency and HIV. Jennie received her master’s in counseling psychology from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. She completed her practicum at the Park Nicollet Mental Health Department in Minneapolis.

Natalie works primarily with adolescents and their families in outpatient individual therapy, family therapy, and intensive group programming. She is passionate about the prevention and individualized treatment of eating disorders at The Emily Program. Natalie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Gustavus Adolphus College and her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Argosy University-Twin Cities. Away from work, Natalie loves to travel, bake cupcakes, and is excited to start learning Greek!

Amy has worked with families and individuals in a variety of settings including internships at The Bridge for Runaway Youth and The Clinical Services Center in Menomonie, Wis. Previously, she worked at Nystrom and Associates, an outpatient clinic, and Methodist Hospital’s Eating Disorder Institute both in the inpatient and outpatient settings. Amy received her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Jenny does individual and group therapy with adults and older adolescents. She enjoys working with clients across the diagnostic spectrum of eating disorders. In addition to “talk” therapy, Jenny likes to use elements of mindfulness and Somatic Experiencing. She earned her undergraduate degree at the of Minnesota, Twin Cities and completed her Psychology Doctorate at the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology. Jenny is married and is the mom of 2 children and 2 dogs. She is a beginner gardener and enjoys crafty things, being outside, reading, and music.

Patty works individually with adults as well as families and couples. She co-facilitates some of the family groups that are part of our intensive day program. Patty has worked in the mental health field for over 12 years and has a lot of experience working with adolescents, adults and families. Her clinical interests include: eating disorders, trauma, loss, attachment, EMDR, mindfulness and integrating holistic treatment modalities. She received her Bachelor’s degree in psychology and human development from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and her Master’s degree was from Smith College School for Social Work in Northampton, MA. Patty completed a post-master’s fellowship at the Menninger Clinic in Topeka, KS where she received additional family therapy training. Patty recently moved from Lawrence, KS and enjoys photography, pottery, traveling, kayaking and gardening.

Tamar works with individuals, couples and families. She facilitates a number of outpatient groups and is involved in many of our intensive programs. Tamar is also a registered art therapist and integrates experiential, somatic, and psychodynamic approaches into her work with clients. She received her Master’s in Art Therapy from the School of Visual Arts in New York City, and her post-master’s certification in Marriage and Family Therapy from St. Mary’s University in Minneapolis. Tamar hails from California and appreciates visits back home to spend time by the ocean. 

Priscilla sees individual clients in our Duluth office. Previously, she was a therapist at NorthernBridges in Hayward, SMDC, and HRC Mental Health Center in Superior, where she hosted the Mind Matters radio show on KUWS. Priscilla earned a Master of Social Work from UMD and a Master in Expressive Therapies from Lesley University, Cambridge, MA. Active in Twin Ports theater, she often appears in and directs plays.

Lori completes intakes, works with individual clients and families, and facilitates groups. She enjoys working with individuals who have trauma history, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and relational problems. Lori completed her Bachelors and Masters degrees in psychology at Eastern Michigan University before earning her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from The University of Detroit Mercy. Before coming to The Emily Program, she worked at Wayne State University, Detroit Medical Center, The Roeper School for gifted kids, and a pediatrics office in Michigan. For fun, Lori enjoys hiking, bicycling, snow-shoeing, gardening, and reading.

Dirk has been dedicated to the treatment of eating disorders for over 20 years. Dirk oversees all clinical and administrative activities in addition to working directly with clients. He completed his doctorate in psychology at the University of Minnesota. His dissertation was in the area of eating disorders treatment. He developed and administered an inpatient/outpatient eating disorders program at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, which was the first such program in Indiana. In addition to his work with individuals struggling with eating disorders, Dirk also has been involved in the treatment of alcohol and drug abuse.

After a two year relocation to Denver, CO, Laurie rejoins The Emily Program’s St. Louis Park outpatient team. Laurie works with individuals of all ages in individual and family therapy. While in Denver, she worked as a therapist in the inpatient/residential/partial hospitalization unit at The Eating Recovery Center. Laurie received her Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from the College of St. Catherine/University of St. Thomas.

Nicole works with children, adolescents and adults individually and in groups. She also works with clients who have chemical dependency issues. Nicole earned her bachelors in sociology from the College of St. Benedict, and her masters in clinical social work from the College of St. Catherine/University of St. Thomas. She enjoys traveling and photography; she’s also camped in the Himalayas.

Kristen works with adults and adolescents in individual, couples, family, and group therapy as well as in the intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization (intensive day) programs at our Seattle office. She is passionate about supporting and challenging clients working through traumatic experiences, grief and loss, shame, finding and supporting healthy emotional and self expression and engaging in healthy relationships. Kristen cherishes the passion, authenticity, and compassion her coworkers have in their work at The Emily Program. She earned Doctorates in Clinical Psychology and Public Health, Preventive Care, at Loma Linda University. Outside of work, Kristen loves almost any activity with family and friends, including: table and party games; hiking, running, camping and other outdoor adventures; movies; music; dancing; traveling; theme parks and costume parties.

Sarah works with individuals in an outpatient setting in St. Paul.  She earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Washington State University, and completed her doctoral internship at the University of Minnesota Counseling and Consulting Services. Having previously worked as a Senior Clinician at Hazelden addiction treatment center, Sarah brings an interpersonal/emotion-focused approach to her work in therapy. Some of her areas of interest include working with substance abuse, LGBT clients and career/values exploration. She also has experience and a passion for group therapy and holistic treatment approaches. She values all forms of teamwork and empowering relationships with clients, colleagues, and her volleyball team.

Kathryn performs intake assessments, co-facilitates groups, and works with individual clients. She believes in a mindfulness based approach to eating disorders treatment. Kathryn earned a bachelor’s degree in environment, textiles and design from the University of Wisconsin- Madison. She received her master’s in counseling psychology from the University of St. Thomas. Kathryn loves dancing around and spending time outdoors. Schedule permitting, she also enjoys reading books and watching movies.

Shannon has worked in eating disorders since 1990 conducting research, providing clinical care and developing treatment programs. She returned to Minnesota to open the Anna Westin House, the state’s first residential treatment facility. As Director, she guides, supports and encourages the Anna Westin House staff. Shannon also sees a small caseload of individual clients. Shannon received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology. She loves to dance to just about anything with her two kids (especially the song, “Bust a Move”) and says: “I am also very grateful for the relationships that I have and try to spend as much time as I can with those important people in my life.”

Louise works individually with adults and older adolescents; facilitates an Intensive Outpatient Program; and co-facilitates groups for post-gastric-bypass, compulsive overeating and people with eating disorders who also have chemical dependency (ED/CD). She especially likes working with ED/CD clients and clients recovering from trauma. Louise earned her masters in counseling psychology from the University of Minnesota. She likes spending time with family and friends, knitting, reading, outdoor activities, and has a newfound love of deep-sea fishing.

Jodi facilitates groups in the Partial Hospitalization Program, performs intake assessments, and works with individuals. She has a passion for working with eating disorders, anxiety disorders, attachment disorders, and early trauma, and continually finds herself inspired by the clients with whom she works.  Jodi completed her Mater’s in Clinical Psychology and her Doctoral degree at Argosy University, Hawai’i. Jodi likes domestic and international travel (she enjoyed her experience in a shark cage while in Hawai’i), reading, watching movies, and exploring farmer’s markets.

Elizabeth has a background as an educator. She was a lead teacher and KinderCare Training Coordinator at the Knowledge Learning Corporation for two years and was a parent child interaction therapy intern at Genesis II for Families. She received her Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy at St. Mary’s University, and received her Bachelor’s in Child Psychology, with a minor in Family Social Sciences from the University of Minnesota.

Lori primarily treats adults in individual and group therapy. She often works with people who have eating disorders and a history of trauma. Lori received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia and completed her internship at the Missouri Health Sciences Psychology Consortium. She has facilitated groups for individuals with anorexia, bulimia, compulsive over-eating, and for people who have had bariatric surgery. Lori also has significant experience conducting Dialectical Behavior Therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy groups. She enjoys hiking and traveling with her family.

Lucinda uses different techniques to customize sessions to a client’s needs, using massage therapy, bodywork, and yoga as powerful treatment tools. She calls her yoga classes and massage sessions “gently deep” experiences, because she honors the client’s capacity to release and open into a safe atmosphere where skillful use of the body, mind, and breath can foster deep healing. Lucinda has been a massage therapist since 1996 and a yoga teacher since 2005. A graduate of the Minneapolis School of Massage and Bodywork, she is also trained in basic somatic therapy, which helps clients stay grounded and safe as they explore where trauma is active in their bodies.

Doug is the lead therapist for the Mindfulness Based Intensive Program.  Doug also supervises and mentors therapists new to The Emily Program. He is gay-identified and specializes in working with the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community. Doug received his master’s in counseling and psychological services at St. Mary’s University in Minneapolis. Personally and professionally, he works to use concepts of Eastern Philosophy and mindfulness practice to bring change, meaning and joy in everyday life. Doug enjoys biking, jazz music and gardening. He is an identical twin and says, “We are total opposites!”

Jodi works with individuals, families and groups including the Intensive Outpatient Groups. Originally from Seattle, and an alumni of the University of Washington, she earned her Master’s degree from Bastyr University in Applied Behavioral Science and Systems Counseling. Jodi also works at University of Washington, helping her clients recover from a variety of challenges including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder and mild traumatic brain injury. Jodi is interested in new individual and family based research in the emerging field of brain neuroscience—the end goal being to help clients make long-lasting change. Outside of work, Jodi loves to travel and has done so extensively throughout Europe and Asia. She also loves spending time with her friends and family.

Rebecca holds a master’s degree in clinical social work from the University of St. Thomas/College of St. Catherine and a bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She interned at the Minneapolis Fire Department (trauma-related issues) Hennepin County Adolescent Parent Unit at Broadway High School, and the Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center. Rebecca also completed two research projects on treatment and public perception of eating disorders.  Rebecca’s favorite season is football season, when she can cheer on the Badgers. 

Kari was an educator, pastor and chaplain before joining The Emily Program. She first gained awareness of eating disorders while serving as a parish pastor in Richfield and Chaska, and later during her chaplain residency at Methodist Hospital. She was drawn to The Emily Program’s holistic, multi-disciplinary team approach to treatment. Kari appreciates the opportunities chaplaincy offers to connect with diverse religious and spiritual traditions. She received her bachelor’s in communications and social work from Concordia College in Moorhead, and master of divinity from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, where she also was associate director of contextual education and an internship consultant.

Vanessa is part of the intake assessment team and provides individual and group therapy. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg and gradually worked her way south since then, completing her M.A. and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of North Dakota. Vanessa says Minneapolis/St. Paul is the warmest climate her Canadian skin can withstand. She loves to sing, read (anything and everything), bike, hike, and watch movies with her husband.

Joanna provides individual therapy, intake assessments, and intensive outpatient treatment. She enjoys being a part of the healing process and helping people develop a new relationship with their emotions and more power and freedom in their lives. She also is passionate about helping people through the process of healing from trauma and offers specialized trauma therapy, including EMDR. In addition to her role as a therapist, Joanna provides management support to the Seattle office and loves being a part of the gifted and passionate Seattle staff team. Joanna earned a Master’s degree and Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University. She completed her internship at The Fremont Community Therapy Project where she was trained in trauma therapy and mindfulness-based treatments, including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. Joanna loves walking in the woods or by the water, exploring all that Seattle has to offer, and spending time with friends and family.

Mary provides individual therapy to clients. She earned her undergraduate degree in occupational therapy at The College of St. Catherine and completed her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology at St. Mary’s University. Mary enjoys creating a place of safety and connection when working with individuals, groups, couples, and families. She has completed the intermediate training level for Somatic Experiencing therapy, and is skilled in helping clients address life issues that include abuse/trauma, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, relationship difficulties, parenting, addiction/recovery, and self care. In addition to being the proud mom of two sons, Mary enjoys gardening, biking, reading, hiking, and hanging out with friends and family.

Kate conducts intake assessments and provides individual and group psychotherapy for adults. She earned her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Loyola College in Maryland and completed her predoctoral internship at the Hamm Clinic in St. Paul. Kate is committed to forming non-judgmental and trusting relationships with clients and helping them to more fully understand themselves. With this deeper understanding of themselves, clients are able to make personally meaningful choices and to live in ways that are important to them. Kate’s approach to therapy draws on psychodynamic and mindfulness-informed perspectives. At the heart of her work is the belief that difficulties in life are inevitable for all of us and that they are opportunities to deepen our compassion for ourselves and others. Outside of work, Kate enjoys jogging around the lakes, biking, seeing live music of all sorts, and dancing.

Diane works with adolescents and adults struggling with a range of eating disorders and disordered eating in individual and group therapy. She enjoys working with 8-12 year olds struggling with disordered eating and their families.  Diane also has experience with in-vivo exposure training and addressing anxiety (i.e., abuse, sexual trauma, phobias, social anxiety, and obsessive compulsive issues). She also provides career counseling for Emily Program clients and works with practicum students learning to be therapists.

Diane earned her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of St. Thomas. She also has Masters degrees in Education and Second Languges and Cultures from the University of Minnesota. Diane loves learning other languages and cultures.

Stacy takes a systems approach to healing the mind, body and spirit; she is the family services coordinator and believes that our families are our first world and, within this context, we began the process of authoring our life-story. Stacy provides outpatient family, couples and individual therapy. She co-facilitates a Compulsive Overeating Intensive Outpatient program and groups for Creative Arts and Sexual Healing, Yoga and Body Image, and College Age clients. Stacy also supervises marriage and family therapy students and trainees. Stacy received her bachelor’s in family social science from the University of Minnesota and her master’s in psychotherapy and counseling, with a focus on marriage and family therapy from Alfred Adler Graduate School in Hopkins. She believes that healing and insight lie in the intersection between self and others. Stacy finds it highly rewarding to witness and navigate towards this sacred space.

Deborah has worked in the area of eating disorder treatment since 1987 as an individual, family and group therapist. She helped develop and administer an outpatient eating disorders clinic at Allina. She is committed to providing education to health professionals and the public regarding eating disorders prevention and treatment. Most recently, she has participated in research and has developed expertise in the area of obesity treatments.

Angie supervises the 2265 Como office in St. Paul and sees clients individually. She loves the mix of things she does here – working with clients across the spectrum of eating disorders as individuals and in groups. Angie completed her doctoral degree in Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology at the University of Minnesota. She interned at the University of St. Thomas Personal Counseling Center. She has worked with depression, anxiety, relationships, developmental transitions, eating disorders, and abuse recovery in university settings and community mental health agencies. Angie still has family in her native Rhode Island, so her children get to experience the ocean. She has also officiated at two weddings.

Tara teaches therapeutic yoga to residential and outpatient adults and adolescents. She feels both grateful and blessed to be able to share such an important part of her life, and the profoundly healing benefits of yoga to a population so deserving. Tara has multiple yoga certifications in a variety of styles: 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Certification from Expanding Light in Grass Valley, California; 120 Hour Yoga Dance Certification from Kripalu Center in Lenox, Massachusetts; 200 Hour Atma Yoga Certification from Christopher Baxter in Red Wing, Minnesota; 90 Hour Yoga of the Heart Certification from Nischala Devi in Grass Valley, California; and 35 Hour JAI Prenatal Certification from Jennifer Gray in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In her free time Tara loves being in nature, being with loved ones, and being creative. She also studies African djembe drumming and teaches an ensemble drum group that performs locally.

Jessica works with clients within the outpatient and intensive programs. She conducts intake assessments and provides individual, family, and group therapy. She values the chance to build therapeutic relationships with clients. Jessica received her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from the Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, IL, where she is also working toward her Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D.). Her special interests include eating disorder prevention, developmental psychology, and mindfulness-based treatment approaches. Jessica enjoys exploring her surroundings with walks and bike rides. She also enjoys reading, spending time with her fiancé, and taking trips around the Midwest to visit family and friends.

Monique is a licensed psychologist and clinical manager at the Anna Westin House. She’s worked within residential services for over 5 years.  As clinical manager, she provides individual and group therapy, supervises EDTs, and participates in various meetings. She received her master’s in counseling and psychological services from St. Mary’s University, Minneapolis. Outside of work, Monique spends time (preferably outdoors) with her dog, family and friends. She also enjoys a good read.

Rachel sees individual clients, facilitates groups, and works with the assessment and intake team. She loves spending her days working with others to seek out and develop strengths and understanding in our lives. Rachel completed her Ph.D. in Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology at the University of Minnesota. She has experience working with depression, anxiety, developmental transitions, relationships, and sexual assault and trauma. Rachel has three cats, a husband and a British accent. She tries to bike to work and admits to domesticity, enjoying cooking, baking bread, and knitting.

Cindy works with clients who struggle with both eating disorders and chemical dependency. She provides assessments, group therapy, and awareness of cross addiction to clients and staff. Cindy enjoys being able to provide services for people who struggle with dual disorder of CD and ED. Cindy received her Master’s in Addiction Studies from Hazelden Graduate School and her Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work from Metropolitan State University. Outside of work she enjoys traveling—while studying in England she lived in Alnwick Castle where the first two Harry Potter movies were filmed. Cindy likes to spend time outdoors, fishing, taking walks, and playing with her dogs.

Ryan performs intake assessments, works with individuals and families, and facilitates groups. He enjoys working with eating disorders, anxiety disorders, compulsive hoarding, chemical dependency, and mood disorders. Ryan completed his B.A. in History at the University of Minnesota before returning to refocus on psychology. He completed his Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and his Doctoral degree at the University of Saint Thomas. Ryan likes to run, play golf, follow the Timberwolves, Vikings, and Twins, watch documentaries, and read non-fiction.

Samantha works with adult clients in individual and couples therapy, conducts intakes, and is also involved in The Emily Program’s intensive programs. She received her Doctoral degree from the University of St. Thomas and completed her internship at Hamm Clinic in St. Paul, Minnesota. Samantha has clinical experience with depression, anxiety, trauma, and interpersonal problems. For fun, Samantha loves to travel, read, and spend time outdoors with friends and family.

Angie performs intake assessments and works with clients in individual and group therapies, as well as the Intensive Day Program. She enjoys helping clients explore meaning and purpose in their lives, as they develop an identity freedom from their eating disorders. Angie earned a Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in the Assessment and Treatment of Eating Disorders from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. She received her Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Counseling Psychology at the University of St. Thomas. Her clinical training experiences prior joining The Emily Program included inpatient eating disorder treatment, community mental health, crisis counseling, and chemical dependency treatment. Angie loves spending time with her husband and their dog, as well as practicing yoga, and ‘skyping’ with her nephews and other family back in North Dakota.

Anna facilitates adult IOP and a couples group; she also sees individuals, couples, and families. She especially enjoys working with couples and with individuals who have had a relationship with trauma. She also loves working with clients around the idea of mind/body/spirit wellness Anna earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Augsburg College, and a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Anna loves to camp, hike, and play outside with her family.

Quinn sees individuals, couples, and families; and works with our intensive programs. He also performs intake assessments and chemical dependency assessments. Quinn earned his doctorate at The Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, where he received the school’s Presidential Leadership Award. His dissertation studied identity development in the age of social networking. Quinn had clinical training at the Hazelden Foundation, UW-Stout Counseling Center, and The Emily Program. He has a BA in Cultural Anthropology and Studio Art from Connecticut College where he created mixed media pieces from Mapuche myths. He was in business in the Americas and Europe until getting up enough courage to quit his job and follow his intuition to work in psychology. Quinn is left-handed in a right-handed world.

Brandie works with adults and adolescents in individual, couples, and family therapy. She believes all healing is done in the context of our relationships. Brandie earned her Masters of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Argosy University, Twin Cities. She enjoys international traveling, reading, crossword puzzles, and spending time with friends and family.

Kimberly sees individual adults, adolescents, families and couples and works in the Intensive Day Program.  She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from The University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University.
Kimberly provides a safe, nonjudgmental and empathic environment.  She has witnessed her clients successfully use therapy to break troublesome patterns, challenge negative beliefs and find healthy alternatives to problematic behaviors that have left them feeling stuck or dissatisfied.  The main goal of her work is to help her clients gain self-awareness and expand their capacity to be more fully alive.

Joan provides outpatient individual, couple, and family therapy. She invites a holistic approach to healing and personal growth, recognizing the impact of relationships and spirituality upon this journey. Joan loves collaborating with clients to develop self awareness, positive self regard, and emotional balance so that clients can live their lives to the fullest. Joan worked as a Registered Nurse before returning to school at mid life to pursue her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Bethel University. Prior to joining The Emily Program, she worked with individuals, couples, and families for 6 years in private practice. In addition to her passion for helping others with eating disorders and body image, she has experience working with depression, anxiety, trauma-related concerns, and relationship distress. Away from work, Joan enjoys walking in the woods, taking in a beautiful sunset, and sharing coffee and conversation with friends and family.

Jason works with residents at Anna Westin House. He earned his master’s degree in counseling and completed his post-master’s coursework in marriage and family therapy at Adler Graduate School. In his free time he loves spending time with his wife and three children. He also enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, camping, and bow hunting or spending time with “the guys” sailing by the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior.

Mary is a therapist at our Duluth location. She has over 20 years of experience working with adolescents and their families. She earned a Master’s degree in Social Work from The University of Minnesota-Duluth. Her program emphasis was working with American Indians, especially in rural communities. Mary loves playing with her dogs, hiking, listening to music, and reading.

Anna performs intake assessments and provides psychotherapy to adult clients. Her interests are in clinical and health psychology. Anna’s priority is to provide a safe and comforting environment to allow clients to heal. Anna earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the St. Louis University.  She completed her clinical psychology internship and postdoctoral fellowship in Primary Care Psychology at the St. Louis VA Medical Center. She also worked as a psychologist at Webster Wellness/McCallum Place, an eating disorder treatment facility, in St. Louis, Missouri before coming to The Emily Program. In addition to eating disorders, Anna also has expertise in the areas of mood and anxiety disorders, obesity, trauma, and comorbid medical conditions. Anna enjoys walking her chocolate lab Charlie, reading, hiking, running, and spending time with friends and family.

Kandee provides individual and family therapy and facilitates groups, including the Compulsive Overeating Intensive Outpatient Program in Saint Paul. She earned her master’s in social work from Eastern Washington University and has worked in eating disorders since 1990. Kandee is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to facilitate healing in adoption/attachment issues and trauma. She was hit by a train and lived to tell about it, would like to learn how to knit, and loves opening the pages of a new book.

Ann is co-leader of the Individual Day Treatment Program and provides individual, group and couples therapy. She is also interested in adoption, infertility, attachment, grief and loss, death and dying, depression, cross-cultural issues, and schizophrenia. Ann is passionate about building community and helping others discover the wonder and beauty that is already within. She earned her BA from St. Olaf College and Master of Science in Social Work from University of Wisconsin, Madison. Ann has worked in adoption and hospice care, and her clinical internships included training at the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Unit at the Mental Health Center of Dane County, Wisconsin.

Nancy Dawn works with individuals, couples, families, and groups; and she is trained in emotionally focused couples’ therapy. Nancy Dawn enjoys working with clients on issues related to artistic expression and creativity, self esteem, anxiety, depression, extended family issues. She has a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Minnesota. She is very interested in exploring places where creativity, emotional well being, and spirit all come together. A published poet, Nancy Dawn loves jazz, blues and theater, kayaking, hiking, and walking on the beach.

Janelle received her Bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and completed her dietetic internship at Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Janelle has worked in the eating disorders field for over five years, and recently moved to Seattle, WA for the opportunity to expand The Emily Program’s reach at our first out-of-state office.

Janelle is passionate about helping her clients of all ages and sizes restore balance in their intricate relationships between health, food, and body image.  She uses a non-diet, educational approach and supports her clients’ innate abilities to eat intuitively.  Janelle is also skilled in helping clients manage diet-related conditions such as PCOS and food allergies/sensitivities. Away from work, Janelle enjoys exploring hiking trails, gathering sea glass and vintage dresses, bluegrass music, and taking on random DIY projects.   

Kathleen works in the Partial Hospitalization Program in Seattle providing psychiatric medication management and consultation. She really appreciates the team atmosphere and working collaboratively. Kathleen received her BA in Psychology in conjunction with her nursing degree at The University of Washington in 2001. She returned to University of Washington in 2005 to get her Master’s degree and Psychiatric A.R.N.P. Kathleen also works in the outpatient setting at the University of Washington and has previously worked in the inpatient psychiatric unit at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Outside of work Kathleen loves spending time with her twin girls and getting away to practice yoga when she can. She also enjoys gardening, traveling, and spending time outdoors during Seattle summers.

Jenny provides individual and family therapy, groups, and intensive programming. She received her master’s from Seattle Pacific University, and previously worked at Seattle Children’s Hospital and the University of Washington. Jenny is passionate about this work. She enjoys collaborating with people as they build meaningful lives and relationships, and supports them to challenge those areas that keep them stuck. Jenny uses a variety of approaches based on what people need, and is experienced in family systems therapy, Family-Based Treatment (FBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and other mindfulness-based approaches.  In her free time she enjoys outdoor adventure and travel, her violin and music community, and spending time with family and friends.

Kelsey works with adults and adolescents in individual and group nutrition therapy sessions as well as the intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs. She enjoys getting to know and caring holistically for each of her clients. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Dietetics at Seattle Pacific University, and completed her dietetic internship and Master’s degree in Nutrition at State University of New York at Oneonta. Kelsey enjoys spending her time playing cribbage, traveling abroad, hiking, and is currently searching for the tastiest tamale in Seattle.

Lepha is a therapist at our Seattle location. She thoroughly enjoys working with this population of intelligent, sensitive, soulful individuals and their families. She received her Bachelor’s in Nutrition from Bastyr University and Master’s in Applied Behavioral Science with an emphasis in systems counseling from the Leadership Institute of Seattle. Lepha grew up in Alaska and loves to visit her home state. She also enjoys yoga, hiking, biking, baking, and the company of friends and family.

Shawna obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Women’s Studies, and her Master’s degree in Communications. She has completed a variety of work, which ranges from working with the Girl Scouts to Catalyst Domestic Violence Services to Animal Samaritans SPCA. Shawna has also worked in the field of eating disorders for a number of years, some of which were with Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program and Center for Discovery.

Joan works with individuals, couples, families and groups. She believes that within this work an explorative journey takes place. In sessions, Joan creates a safe, supportive environment that enables clients to discover what is enhancing, empowering and discard what is hindering. She views counseling as a therapeutic partnership; her philosophy is to adapt and combine various modalities to meet her clients’ wants and needs.  Joan received a Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Hawaii, Manoa. Away from work, Joan loves being in, on and/or around water: the ocean, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, pools, natural hot springs, aroma therapy baths, and long hot showers. She loves to swim too!

Kristen offers administrative support to the Seattle staff. She appreciates working alongside such a talented treatment team and particularly enjoys knowing that she’s able to assist a group of people that care so much about helping people who struggle with body image and eating issues. Kristen also enjoys interacting with clients at the front desk and fostering the connection between clients and staff to ensure things run smoothly. Kristen attended the University of Washington and graduated with a B.A. in Psychology. She loves being outside, whether it’s hiking, biking, horseback riding or playing in the snow. At some point in her life she would like to complete the Pacific Crest Trail. She also enjoys listening to a wide variety of music and likes to read in her spare time.

Kristen works with adults and adolescents in individual, couples, family, and group therapy as well as in the intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization (intensive day) programs at our Seattle office. She is passionate about supporting and challenging clients working through traumatic experiences, grief and loss, shame, finding and supporting healthy emotional and self expression and engaging in healthy relationships. Kristen cherishes the passion, authenticity, and compassion her coworkers have in their work at The Emily Program. She earned Doctorates in Clinical Psychology and Public Health, Preventive Care, at Loma Linda University. Outside of work, Kristen loves almost any activity with family and friends, including: table and party games; hiking, running, camping and other outdoor adventures; movies; music; dancing; traveling; theme parks and costume parties.

Jodi facilitates groups in the Partial Hospitalization Program, performs intake assessments, and works with individuals. She has a passion for working with eating disorders, anxiety disorders, attachment disorders, and early trauma, and continually finds herself inspired by the clients with whom she works.  Jodi completed her Mater’s in Clinical Psychology and her Doctoral degree at Argosy University, Hawai’i. Jodi likes domestic and international travel (she enjoyed her experience in a shark cage while in Hawai’i), reading, watching movies, and exploring farmer’s markets.

Jodi works with individuals, families and groups including the Intensive Outpatient Groups. Originally from Seattle, and an alumni of the University of Washington, she earned her Master’s degree from Bastyr University in Applied Behavioral Science and Systems Counseling. Jodi also works at University of Washington, helping her clients recover from a variety of challenges including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder and mild traumatic brain injury. Jodi is interested in new individual and family based research in the emerging field of brain neuroscience—the end goal being to help clients make long-lasting change. Outside of work, Jodi loves to travel and has done so extensively throughout Europe and Asia. She also loves spending time with her friends and family.

Joanna provides individual therapy, intake assessments, and intensive outpatient treatment. She enjoys being a part of the healing process and helping people develop a new relationship with their emotions and more power and freedom in their lives. She also is passionate about helping people through the process of healing from trauma and offers specialized trauma therapy, including EMDR. In addition to her role as a therapist, Joanna provides management support to the Seattle office and loves being a part of the gifted and passionate Seattle staff team. Joanna earned a Master’s degree and Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University. She completed her internship at The Fremont Community Therapy Project where she was trained in trauma therapy and mindfulness-based treatments, including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. Joanna loves walking in the woods or by the water, exploring all that Seattle has to offer, and spending time with friends and family.

Iliana handles all front desk and client care for the Seattle office—helping clients navigate their insurance and benefits, scheduling appointments, and any other questions or concerns that arise. She loves building relationships with clients and making the Seattle office a warm and welcoming space. Iliana earned her B.S. in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Idaho. And as a Panama native, Iliana is fluent in Spanish. During her free time she loves trying out new recipes, reading, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Solina provides administrative support for clients and staff at the new Spokane, Washington office.  She loves being the first positive impression for clients and providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere.  She enjoys helping others and being part of a Program that provides excellent personalized care. Solina earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the University of Idaho and multiple Associate of Science degrees in Business Administration from North Idaho College.  She enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, journaling, photography, and traveling.  After studying abroad at the University of Oslo, Solina had an exciting trip exploring Western Europe.  She loves performing with her mother and brother in a musical singing trio, which has produced a full-length CD of Norwegian folk tunes entitled Reflections of Norway.

Krista is the site manager for Spokane. In addition, she works with clients of varying ages and diagnoses. Krista loves working with clients around body image issues. She draws from a variety of methods including narrative therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy. Krista loves the use of the creative process in conjunction with the therapeutic process. She earned her Master’s of Science from Fuller Theological Seminary, School of Psychology and her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in family and pediatrics from Azusa Pacific University. She trained at Harbor UCLA medical center and Loma Linda Children’s Hospital. She is also a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist through the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals. Away from work, Krista loves being a mom to her three boys, playing outside, going on adventures with her family, skiing, hiking, biking, and camping.

Monique works with adolescents and adults in Spokane. She is trained in ACT, DBT, CBT, and MI. She uses a humanistic approach to help clients address disordered eating. Monique earned her undergraduate degree from Washington State University, and her Master’s degree in Counseling, Community Agency from Whitworth University. She is an avid outdoors person. Living in the great Northwest, she enjoys boating, camping, snowmobiling, and riding her ATV.

Vivienne enjoys working with clients of all ages; helping them to learn the art of self-care and experience the joy of mindful health. She earned a Master’s in Nutrition at Washington State University and recently became a certified presence-based coach. Vivienne is a wildly enthusiastic grandma; she loves gardening, dogs, western riding, cooking, and reading.

Michelle works with people of all ages to find a comfortable relationship with food that enhances their overall health and quality of life through individual and group nutrition counseling. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Food and Nutrition and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology from Central Washington University. Michelle loves spending time with her family, renovating their old house, learning to fly fish, and is an avid college basketball fan.