Get advanced care for eating disorders

Experiencing an eating disorder can be difficult to manage alone and should not be ignored. Eating disorders are extreme disturbances in eating behaviors and can affect one's physical and mental health. Call the 24/7 Ascension Illinois Behavioral Medicine Call Center at 855-383-2224. Our care team is experienced. We'll listen to understand your concerns and can help connect you to an eating disorder specialist who specializes in care for children, adolescents and adults.

Care from experienced eating disorder specialists

When you choose Ascension Illinois, you receive care from a team of highly specialized doctors with expertise in the field of eating disorders diagnosis, treatment and management. The Ascension Illinois Eating Disorders Program leadership team includes:

Medical directors

Kumundi Ginde, MD, medical director at Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital

Elizabeth Sita, MD, at Ascension Saint Joseph - Chicago (medical director) and Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital

Program services

Dr. Lacey Lemke, PsyD, eating disorders service line director at Ascension Illinois

Your team will include psychiatrists, psychologists, case managers, nutrition services through registered dietitians, nursing, and mental health counselors. Working together, we’ll create a personalized care plan to treat your physical and mental health.

Eating Disorder Program delivers comprehensive treatment for complex conditions 

Ascension Illinois is uniquely positioned to treat complex eating disorders. All of our specialists and therapists have expertise in the diagnosis, treatment and management of eating disorders, often with comorbid psychiatric diagnoses. Types of eating disorders we treat include:

• Anorexia nervosa – an eating disorder associated with an intense fear of weight gain, even if you are underweight.
• Binge eating disorder – craving and eating large amounts of foods faster than normal and often in isolation.
• Bulimia nervosa – an abnormal daily eating pattern of food binges, purging and a feeling of guilt or fear.
• Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) – eating a limited variety of food, which can affect a child’s growth and development. 

Benefits of our Ascension Illinois Partial Hospitalization Program for Eating Disorders

At Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, we provide a Partial Hospitalization Program for Eating Disorders with extended and weekend hours. Partial hospitalization provides 30 hours per week of treatment for children, adolescents and adults who are stepping down from inpatient hospitalization or residential care. Our program provides a highly structured environment for patients when outpatient therapy has not been sufficient. We also provide virtual visits with your mental health specialist to help make getting the care you need more convenient for you and your schedule. 

Highlights of our Partial Hospitalization Eating Disorders Program

Many types of treatments are available, including:

• Acceptance and commitment therapy
• Cognitive behavior therapy
• Dialectical behavior therapy
• Exposure and response prevention
• Family therapy
• Medication management

Our partial hospital and intensive outpatient programs are personalized for children, adolescents and adults and include:

• Individual and group therapy to address low self-esteem, negative thinking, obsessions, perfectionism, and body image issues
• Coordinated meals and snacks
• Learning in our specialized demonstration kitchen
• Prompt access to our psychiatrists for medication management, consultations, and review and treatment of a comorbid psychiatric condition

At Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, we provide many different treatment options for an eating disorder and other behavioral and mental health conditions. Our goal is to deliver care for your overall health and well-being. Your team will support you in your journey toward facing your fears, managing your triggers, and helping you to regain confidence and control in your life.   

Inpatient mental health care

Care teams at Ascension Illinois provide inpatient services in the city and northwest suburbs when a higher level of care is needed. Ascension Saint Joseph in Chicago delivers inpatient care with private rooms for adults age 18 and over. 

When you choose Ascension Illinois for you or your loved one’s care, you will benefit from a comprehensive care plan that includes:

• Multidisciplinary teams led by psychiatrists with specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of all eating disorders
• Highly-specialized care team including psychologists, nurses, registered dietitians and nutritionists, case managers and mental health counselors
• Personalized care plans designed to meet the needs of each patient
• Treatment options such as individual, group and family therapy; medication management; nutrition services; nursing care; and meal planning
• Inpatient program treating psychiatric conditions, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mood disorders

Ascension Illinois Behavioral Medicine Call Center is open 24/7

Call the Ascension Illinois Behavioral Medicine Call Center 24/7 when you or a loved one is struggling with an eating disorder and emotional distress. You will talk to an experienced care team member who listens and can connect you to a specialist. 

CALL 855-383-2224

24/7 care for a mental health emergency

Quickly recognizing the signs that you or a loved one is experiencing moderate to severe mental or emotional distress is the first step in getting necessary care. For emergencies, including severe mental health distress and suspected substance overdose, ERs at our hospitals are open 24/7. 

Find an ER location near you

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or dial 911.

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

No matter what problems you're dealing with, if you need someone to lean on for emotional support, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org/chat.

Confidential | Free | Available 24/7

Connect with trained crisis counselors | Available call or text

If you or a loved one is experiencing an immediate life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.

Frequently asked questions about Ascension Illinois eating disorder care