The Emily Program

Molly has been with the Anna Westin House since 2006 and loves working in intensive programs and witnessing the incredible transformation clients go through. She is very proud to be part this amazing staff and the individualized care that Emily Program provides. Molly has a master's in marriage and family therapy from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology and received her bachelor's in women's studies and psychology from Hamline University. She has worked in inpatient psychiatry and chemical dependency treatment, and also worked with schizophrenia, adolescent chemical dependency, and severe and persistent mental illness. Molly loves to practice yoga, see movies, and take naps.

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.

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, Minnesota’s first residential treatment facility. As Director of Residential Services, 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.”

Monique is a licensed psychologist and clinical manager at the Anna Westin House. She's worked within residential services for over 5 years. 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.

Before joining The Emily Program, Rachel most recently worked primarily with children and adolescents in a home-based family therapy setting in the Twin Cities. She received her master's in marriage and family therapy at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. She has a post graduate certification in medical family therapy. Her internship was completed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha where she worked with individuals, families and couples dealing with a broad range of medical issues.

Kris is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Program Coordinator at The Anna Westin House. She enjoys helping clients and families achieve a holistic perspective in their treatment experience. 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.

Molly has been with the Anna Westin House since 2006 and loves working in intensive programs and witnessing the incredible transformation clients go through. She is very proud to be part this amazing staff and the individualized care that Emily Program provides. Molly has a master's in marriage and family therapy from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology and received her bachelor's in women's studies and psychology from Hamline University. She has worked in inpatient psychiatry and chemical dependency treatment, and also worked with schizophrenia, adolescent chemical dependency, and severe and persistent mental illness. Molly loves to practice yoga, see movies, and take naps.

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 of Residential Services, 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.”

Monique is a licensed psychologist and clinical manager at the Anna Westin House. She's worked within residential services for over 5 years. 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.

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.

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.

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.

Tamar's experience includes providing individual and group therapy to adults with a history of trauma, mental illness, and brain injury while working at Belleview Hospital Center in New York City. She also conducted research examining the connection between creative therapy and cognitive improvement in patients suffering from traumatic brain injury. Tamar received her graduate degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York City and completed her internships at Incarnation Children's Center, an inpatient facility for children and adolescents with HIV/AIDS, and at Bellevue Hospital Center.

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.

Michelle values the opportunity to build a therapeutic relationships and follow clients throughout their treatment journey as they develop skills to manage their lives in a more healthful way. She was attracted to work here by TEP’s holistic approach towards treatment. Michelle earned her RN at Minneapolis Community and Technical College; she also has a Culinary Arts diploma from Le Cordon Bleu. Michelle manages and plays on a co-rec volleyball team and enjoys gardening, baking, camping, and spending quality time with her husband and her Doberman-coonhound, Remus.

Angela provides medical support and services for residential clients. She holds an Associates of Science degree in nursing from Century College. Angela has experience working with people with special needs at Courage Center and has volunteered for Head Start and Feed My Starving Children.

Patricia was a care manager/mental health specialist with Cigna in Eden Prairie before joining the staff at the Anna Westin House. Her role there was to lead crisis intervention therapy for participants and families and educate and empower participants to make healthy lifestyle decisions to promote a positive self-image for long-term health and wellness. Patricia received her R.N. from St. Anthony College of Nursing in Rockford, Ill.

Allison evaluates and treats child, adolescent and adult clients. As a psychiatrist she does therapy and prescribes medications when indicated. She enjoys working with adolescents and people with substance use issues. Allison views every patient as a unique individual who has a life story that she want to understand. She earned a Bachelor’s in psychology and her Doctor of Medicine from Ohio State University. She did her residency at the University of Minnesota, where she also was Child and Adolescent Psychiatry fellow. Allison likes to read novels, write, and learn yoga. She always wanted to be a detective and work for the FBI, “but I think that ship has sailed.”

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.

Nicole has years of experience working with young people in patient assessments, medication administration, immunizations, patient/family education and diagnostic tests. She earned her associate of science degree and R.N. from North Hennepin Community College. She also worked at Golden Valley Rehabilitation and Care Center as part of a multidisciplinary team providing basic patient care.

Tierni brings experience in mental health and social work to her role as a nurse at The Anna Westin House. She completed her social work senior practicum in the Acute Behavioral Health Unit at Abbott Northwestern, and was lead behavioral therapist for The Lazurus Project, a program for children with autism. Tierni received her bachelor’s in social work with a minor in psychology from Minnesota State University in Mankato. More recently, she received her bachelor’s in nursing from Metropolitan State University and was an RN at Fairview Southdale Hospital, providing care for newborns and postpartum patients.

Amy enjoys working as a team to provide care to clients and meeting wonderful people at The Emily Program. She has a bachelors in sociology from Winona State University and earned her certificate as a medical assistant at Hennepin Technical College. Amy likes getting outside as much as possible, especially playing tennis and camping. She also loves taking her Siberian husky for walks whenever she gets the chance.

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.

Lisa created the nutrition program at the Anna Westin House, the state’s first residential treatment facility, and facilitated the start-up of the Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program at The Emily Program. She received her degrees in nutrition science and dietetics from North Dakota State University in Fargo. She completed her dietetic internship through the dietetic internship program for graduate students at the University of Minnesota, where she is pursuing a master’s in nutrition.

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.

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.

Amber is excited to join the Anna Westin House Adolescent program and be a part of its development. Amber has a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Bethel University and received her Bachelor’s degree in Applied Psychology from St. Cloud State University. She is currently pursuing a Dietetic Technician degree. Amber's previous experience includes working in inpatient psychiatry and providing in-home rehabilitative therapy for severe and persistent mental illness. Outside of work and school, Amber loves spending time with her family, planning & hosting dinner parties and reading mysteries.

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.

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.

Kelly encourages and supports individuals through their struggles. She 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.

Arica 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.

Jessica enjoys the individualized, holistic approach to treatment that is offered to every client at The Emily Program. She earned her Bachelor’s in Social Work from Augsburg College and interned in the Adult Psychiatric Unit at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Jessica also has worked as a camp counselor and volunteer mentor for adolescent girls. She loves reading, music, and all things outdoors.

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.

Chelsea works closely with residential clients to support their therapy, activities and other services. She is studying to be a Registered Nurse at Anoka Ramsey Community College, with a special interest in adolescents and eating disorders. After moving to Minnesota from Pennsylvania, Chelsea began regularly checking The Emily Program website for a position because she wanted a working environment with high expectations and where the focus was on client care. She loves supporting and listening to residents while getting to know each resident and finding out what works best for them and their recovery. Chelsea enjoys cooking and traveling.

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 is seeking 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.

Carise is passionate about working with clients in holistic and individualized ways, like The Emily Program's approach. She enjoys connecting with people on their journeys to well-being. Carise received her BA in Psychology from Bethel University and is pursuing a masters in Counseling Psychology from Adler Graduate School. She hopes to be licensed in Marriage and Family Therapy and Clinical Counseling. Carise’s joys in life are traveling, music, her family, and her dog, Dakota (of whom you're sure to hear plenty about if you spend enough time with her).

Megan loves how The Emily program shows everyone that a joyful life without eating disorders is possible and can be obtained. She has a BA in Psychology from California State University, Sacramento and earned her Cosmetologist License from The Model College of Hair Design in St. Cloud. Megan is currently working towards masters in Marriage and Family Therapy at St. Mary's University. Drawing on years of experience working in salons, she enjoys making hair look spectacular for everyone's around her. Megan is crazy about her dog, Leroy, and loves making dance videos with her cousins to show at family weddings.

Laurie enjoys offering encouragement and support to residents in the midst of struggles, and appreciates the "team" aspect of the staff. She earned her bachelors in youth/social science from Crown College in Waconia, Minnesota and is now working on her masters in marriage and family therapy at St. Mary's University of Minnesota. Laurie likes watching movies (mostly dramas), learning new things about people, biking, being outside, playing with her adorable nieces, spending time with friends and family, and coffee dates. She tries to seize every opportunity for free-style dancing and her favorite snack is frozen marshmallows.

Linda enjoys working with all the amazing individuals we serve at the Anna Westin house. She appreciates the focus on high-quality, individualized care. Linda worked for many years managing residential programs for individuals with developmental disabilities. She has B.A. in Sociology from the University of Minnesota. Linda enjoys biking, hiking, canoeing and gardening. She is a volunteer classroom art teacher and reading assistant who loves spending time at the family cabin with her family and her “third child,” a quirky German Shorthair Pointer.

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!

Originally from Alaska, Meghan completed her bachelor's degree 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.