Eating Disorder Therapy in Chicago
At Tides Mental Health, eating disorder therapy in Chicago is for anyone whose relationship with food or their body has started to take up more space than it should, whether that's shown up recently or been there for years.
Recovery isn't about willpower, and it isn't something you're expected to already understand before reaching out. Treatment is paced to you, coordinated with dietitians and physicians when needed.
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You Don't Need to Have the Words Ready
A lot of people wait to reach out until they feel like they can explain exactly what's going on. You don't need to have that figured out first. Plenty of clients start by simply saying that something feels off around food, weight, or their body, and let the rest unfold with their therapist over time.
There's no version of this that's "not serious enough" to bring in. If it's taking up real space in your mind, that's reason enough to talk to someone.
Conditions We Treat
Eating disorders take different forms, and treatment is matched to your specific presentation.
Anorexia Nervosa
Restriction of intake alongside an intense fear of weight gain and a distorted sense of body shape or size.
Bulimia Nervosa
A cycle involving loss of control around eating followed by behaviors meant to compensate for it, often driven by shame and secrecy.
Binge Eating Disorder
Recurring episodes of eating that feel out of control, often followed by intense guilt or distress, without compensatory behaviors.
ARFID
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder involves limited eating driven by sensory sensitivity or low interest in food, not body image concerns.
Atypical & Other Presentations
Many people have a serious eating disorder that doesn't fit neatly into one category, and still deserve and benefit from treatment.
Body Image & Related Distress
Sometimes the primary struggle is body image itself, even without a formal eating disorder diagnosis, and that's still worth addressing.
Myths About Eating Disorders
You have to be underweight to have an eating disorder.
Most people with eating disorders are not underweight. Binge eating disorder and many restrictive presentations occur across all body sizes.
Eating disorders are about vanity or willpower.
They're complex mental health conditions shaped by genetics, temperament, and psychological factors, not a lifestyle choice or a lack of discipline.
Only teenage girls develop eating disorders.
Eating disorders affect people of any gender, age, and background, including adults who've quietly managed one for years.
You can tell just by looking at someone.
Many people with eating disorders show no visible signs at all, which is part of why they can go unnoticed for so long.
How We Treat Eating Disorders
CBT-E
Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, a structured, well-studied approach specifically adapted for eating disorders across diagnoses.
DBT-Informed Skills
Emotional regulation and distress tolerance skills for the intense feelings that often sit underneath disordered eating patterns.
Family-Based Treatment
For adolescents, parents often play a direct, active role in supporting recovery, coordinated closely with medical monitoring.
Coordinated Care
We work alongside registered dietitians and physicians when nutritional or medical support is part of your recovery.
Getting Started
Free 15-Minute Consultation
Share as much as feels comfortable. We can often schedule this call within 24 to 48 hours.
Get Matched with a Therapist
Our intake team connects you with someone experienced in eating disorder treatment specifically.
Build Your Care Team
If nutritional or medical support would help, we coordinate with a dietitian or physician alongside therapy.
Why Choose Tides for Eating Disorder Therapy
Fast Access to Care
We can often schedule your first consultation within 24 to 48 hours, since waiting can make an already hard step feel harder.
Culturally Responsive Care
Eating disorders affect people across every body size, gender, and background. Our therapists work to understand your specific experience.
In-Person or Virtual
Come to our Chicago office, convenient for River North and the North Side, or our Wilmette office, or join from anywhere in Illinois.
Family Involvement, When Helpful
Whether it's a teen's treatment team or a partner supporting an adult in recovery, we can bring family in when it strengthens care.
Insurance and Cost
We accept the following insurance plans, along with private pay options.
Coverage still depends on your specific plan, so our intake team confirms your benefits before your first appointment.
What to Expect
Your therapist focuses on building trust and understanding your history first, at whatever pace feels manageable, rather than requiring a full account of everything on day one.
If nutritional or medical support would help, we coordinate with a dietitian or physician so your care is consistent across everyone involved.
Sessions continue at a pace matched to your needs, addressing both the thoughts and feelings driving the eating disorder and the practical work of recovery.
Your therapist checks in regularly on how things are actually going day to day, and adjusts the plan, and your care team, as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Most people with eating disorders are not underweight. Conditions like binge eating disorder and atypical presentations of restrictive eating occur across all body sizes, and treatment isn't limited by what you weigh.
No. You share what you're comfortable with at your own pace. Your therapist builds trust and safety first, and the details come out over time as part of the work, not as a requirement to start.
It depends on your age and situation. For adolescents, family-based treatment often involves parents directly. For adults, family involvement is optional and can be added if it would help.
Yes, for many clients. Some situations benefit from in-person care or closer medical coordination, and your therapist will help you figure out what setup makes sense for you.
We accept BCBS PPO, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, and Medicare, along with private pay options. Our intake team confirms your specific benefits before your first session.
About Tides Mental Health
Tides Mental Health is a Chicago-based practice providing inclusive, evidence-based mental health care for individuals, couples, and families. From our Chicago and Wilmette offices, our licensed clinical therapists offer both in-person and secure telehealth options. New clients start with a free 15-minute consultation before committing to a full intake appointment.
If you're experiencing medical symptoms such as fainting, chest pain, or an irregular heartbeat, seek emergency care right away. This page is educational and isn't a substitute for medical evaluation.
Recovery Is Possible, at Any Stage
Start with a free 15-minute consultation. You don't need to be further along than you are to reach out.
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