Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Emily?
She’s both a real person and a philosophy.
When Dirk Miller went into private practice in 1993 to offer treatment for people with eating disorders, he needed a name for his new clinic.
It was important the name reflect his belief that the ‘person’ seeking help is of primary importance, not the practice itself.
His wife, Jennifer, suggested naming the program after his sister, Emily, who had recovered from an eating disorder.
The name ‘Emily’ has now come to signify personalized care for all individuals struggling with eating disorders – the hallmark of The Emily Program.
That care is provided by members of a treatment team who develop a personal connection with clients.
This connection is often the start of long-term relationships, because the very nature of eating disorders is that they tend to be difficult, long-term illnesses, Miller said. Strengthening this connection is The Emily Program staff’s unparalleled commitment, not only to helping clients heal, but to preventing eating disorders by promoting awareness of their cause and the effect on families and society as a whole.
In addition to extensive experience in the field, several members of the staff also have a personal connection to the struggle of recovery.
“We think like people with eating disorders think,” said Miller. “We ‘are’ our clients… we know the changes people need to make to live through patterns of thoughts and feelings.”
2. What happens during the assessment process?
We try to keep the assessment process thorough, simple, and tailored to your needs. Once you call us at 651.645.5323 or 1.800.EmilyProgram to set up your confidential evaluation, you’ll be scheduled for the two parts of the assessment at the Emily Program location most convenient for you.
Our reception staff will schedule a time for you to complete some paperwork and psychological assessment measures and a time for the face-to-face assessment with one of our experienced intake therapists.
At this assessment, you and the intake therapist will decide together what makes the most sense for you in terms of treatment options. After your intake session, you’ll meet with one of our client care coordinators who will walk you through the next steps and work with you to set up appointments with a team of providers most suited to your individual needs.
3. How long will I be in treatment?
We personalize treatment for each individual, so the answer is different for each person. Recovery from an eating disorder happens lots of different ways. Together we’ll determine what set of services seems to be the best fit for you in terms of meeting your needs. We’ll work with you for as long as you need to meet your goals.
4. How do I know what program I’ll be in?
At your Assessment, you and the intake therapist will decide together what makes the most sense for you in terms of treatment options. After your intake session, you’ll meet with one of our client care coordinators who will walk you through the next steps and work with you to set up appointments with a team of providers most suited to your individual needs.
5. Will my insurance cover The Emily Program?
The Emily Program works with numerous insurance companies and will work with you to determine what your insurance will cover. Lynette, The Emily Program’s benefits coordinator, will help you navigate the insurance system. If you do not have insurance, she can help you identify what community resources might be available to you. If you have a specific question about your insurance coverage, call Lynette at 651.645.5323, ext. 115.
6. How do I get a family member or a friend to call and schedule an appointment?
We understand how difficult it is to be very concerned about someone and unsure of how to help. The steps below can help frame how you present your concerns to your family member or friend.
- Ask to speak to the person in a private setting.
- Explain your specific concerns to the person in a non-judgmental, compassionate way (e.g. “I’m concerned because you seem to be isolated and not wanting to be involved in any activities, especially when there is food involved”; “I see a large amount of food disappearing in the house and I’m concerned that you may be struggling with an eating problem”; “Your mood seems to be changing these days and I’m concerned about you”, etc.).
- Offer to be with the person while they make the phone call. Offer to accompany the person to the assessment evaluation.
- If the person is resistant to making the call, let him/her know that you will continue to check in with him/her.
- Get support for yourself. Being concerned about someone else who is reluctant to seek help can be a very emotionally draining situation. If the individual you are concerned about is very resistant to accessing treatment and you would like help in discussing your concerns with him/her, we have staff available to help you with this process. Call us at 651.645.5323 or 888.EMILY77.
7. Do I need a referral?
Again, each insurance plan is a bit different. Please check with your insurance carrier to determine if you need a referral. Often a referral is not necessary to access care at The Emily Program.
8. Is this a weight-loss program?
Often people struggling with compulsive overeating or binge eating disorder are interested in losing weight. The desire for weight loss is typically intricately linked to the whole spectrum of eating disorder behaviors. We work with each individual to determine what is most helpful for him/her in the process of recovery from an eating disorder. Given the nature of eating disorder behaviors, it is most helpful to focus on decreasing or stopping the eating disorder behaviors and strengthening coping skills and alternative behaviors prior to addressing weight loss.
