The Awakening Center's approach to Eating Disorder Treatment is multi-faceted, multi-disciplinary, and attacks the problem from all sides: emotional, nutritional, cognitive, behavioral, interpersonal, and spiritual. We emphasize resolving core self-identity issues. The therapists at The Awakening Center can provide help with longstanding or underlying issues that may have contributed to the development of an eating disorder. Your individual counselor will work with you to develop a program to meet your specific needs.

Recovery from an eating disorder requires different levels of care depending on the situation and motivation of the individual person. There are three basic levels of care: 1) Inpatient or residential treatment; 2) Partial or day treatment; and 3) Outpatient treatment. The Awakening Center is a private practice offering outpatient services.

While we are able to help most who seek our services, if you have severe or medically dangerous symptoms, you might need more intensive treatment than we can provide and might require one of the first two levels of care listed above. Often, people receive treatment at The Awakening Center after they have successfully completed one or both of the more intensive levels of care first. You may be uncertain as to which level of care is apporpriate for you at this time. A telephone consultation or an initial evaluation with one of our staff can help you to make the best choice.

Individual Psychotherapy: Our licensed counselors use an effective unique combination of Psychodynamic and Internal Family Systems ("Parts" work) therapies, cognitive/behavioral interventions, and creative psychotherapy techniques. Together you will work to uncover and finally resolve the underlying issues that led to the eating disorder originally. The result is rediscovering who you are and learning to accept and love yourself again.

Individual Nutrition Counseling: Using a gentle, wholistic approach, our licensed dietitians help you focus on nutrition attunement: bringing into harmony the natural processes of eating, tuning into your body and learning to eat naturally. The result is a normalized eating pattern, finding the weight you were meant to be.

For a list of groups and classes that are currently offered, please see our Current Calendar of Groups and Classes.

Group Psychotherapy: In a safe and caring community of individuals committed to one another's growth, you will be encouraged to explore and discover patterns in your life. Group therapy addresses the emotional, cognitive, and interpersonal issues that contribute to disordered eating and helps you to move toward healthier relationships with others, yourself, and your body.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy Groups: A thirteen-week group helping you to identify, experience and regulate emotions, interact more effectively with yourself and others. Lectures and discussions focus on managing emotions, learning to be more effective in relationships, and learning techniques for tolerating distress.

Nutrition Counseling Groups: These highly individualized groups provide gentle guidance to resolve emotionally disordered eating styles. Weekly topics are combined with structure in a small group setting.

Free Support Groups: These ongoing "drop-in" groups are open to any woman who wants an accepting, confidential, and safe place to discuss her struggles and successes with other women in recovery. (Sponsored by ANAD: National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)

Workshops and Classes: Our most popular workshops, "Make Peace With Food" and "Make Peace with Your Body" are held three times a year. We also offer classes on yoga, meditation, assertiveness, empowerment, body image, stress management, and nutrition.

Art and Photo Therapy: Explore emotions and express feelings visually.

Movement/Body Centered Therapy: Improve your body-image and reclaim your body-self.

Family/Marital Therapy: Improve your relationships with those close to you.

The Awakening Center Newsletter: Our newsletter features articles on various health and emotional issues. No Charge.

The professionals at The Awakening Center are available for seminars, lectures, workshops, and consultations.

Call The Awakening Center today for a complimentary initial phone consultation with one of our caring counselors. Rediscover the healthy self within you, and learn to re-establish a peaceful relationship with food. Call today (773) 929-6262.

Other Services at The Awakening Center

Referrals Inside & Outside Chicago Area