Eating Recovery Center Chicago - Huron
Location Details
Start Your Journey
Schedule a Free AssessmentOne of our most renowned facilities, ERC Huron provides Residential and Partial Hospital treatment for adults with serious eating disorders.
This center offers 32-beds and is located in the heart of downtown Chicago within the same building as a hotel for convenient patient visits from their family and friends.
Informed, inclusive, and with the expertise to treat any eating disorder no matter how complex, we offer a compassionate therapeutic environment to light the path for patients towards interrupting maladaptive thoughts and behaviors to live a better and more fruitful life.
Highly Effective Eating Disorder Treatment in Chicago, IL
One of ERC's most renowned facilities in the Midwest, Eating Recovery Center (ERC) Chicago-Huron provides evidence-based eating disorder treatment for adults needing residential, partial hospitalization (PHP), or intensive outpatient (IOP) care. The center also offers a specialized binge eating disorder treatment program. Located in downtown Chicago, the treatment center is next door to a hotel.
Accredited by the Joint Commission, ERC operates multiple eating disorder treatment centers for adults, children and adolescents in the Chicago area, including locations in downtown, Oak Brook and Northbrook. In an inclusive therapeutic environment, we light the way for our patients to recover.
- Trusted by over 20,000 patients and their families
- 87% of former patients agreed that their experience at ERC was helpful
- 91% of parents of former patients would recommend ERC to others in need of services
- Specialized treatment designed by a team of experienced clinicians
Find Recovery with Evidence-Based Therapies
Lighting Your Way to Recover from Eating Disorders
Take home a toolbox filled with new coping skills
Treatment emphasizes support for the whole-person, skill-building and empowerment. Clinicians utilize Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO DBT) that helps patients connect with others and improve their relationships.
Explore new approaches to healing
Work with the same team throughout residential and PHP as you take part in individual & group therapy, art groups, nutritional counseling & education, family therapy and more.
Be your authentic self — without judgement
We want to help you recover and love all of who you are. At ERC Chicago, we take great pride in being an inclusive treatment center. In every interaction, we provide acceptance and respect of our diverse patients and their many cultural differences.
State-of-the-Art Medical Care for Eating Disorders
Our highly experienced physicians, registered dietitians and licensed therapists bring a great deal of expertise to our center. At ERC Chicago-Huron, we address complex co-occurring eating disorders and mental health concerns, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Providing seamless coordination of care, our treatment team includes:
- Psychiatrists and internal medicine physicians
- Therapists and family clinicians
- Registered dietitians
- Nursing support
- Alumni support and other support staff
ERC Chicago-Huron has a strong relationship with Northwestern University Medical School and Rush University Medical School.
“Eating disorders are hard. Recovering from an eating disorder is also very hard. You’re in good hands with the team at ERC Chicago. Our experts make it their primary focus to dedicate their lives to help you recover. We care about you and will care for you here.”
Who We Treat
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Children & Adolescents
We can help guide you and your child on a path to long-lasting change and healing.
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Adults
We provide eating disorder treatment and mood and anxiety disorder treatment for all genders ages 18 and older.
Conditions We Treat
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Eating Disorders
An eating disorder is a treatable mental illness that includes a number of different symptoms, including extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding weight and food issues.
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Anorexia
Anorexia nervosa is characterized by an obsessive fear of weight gain and a refusal to maintain a healthy body weight.
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Atypical Anorexia
You can’t tell if someone has an eating disorder just by looking at them. See how atypical anorexia affects people in a variety of body shapes and sizes.
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ARFID
ARFID is a lesser known eating disorder that frequently begins as early as infancy or childhood, but adults can also suffer.
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Binge Eating Disorder
Binge eating disorder is characterized by frequent overeating – at least once a week for three months – combined with a lack of control, intense feelings of distress and several other characteristic behaviors.
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Bulimia
Bulimia is characterized by patterns of bingeing and purging.
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Compulsive Overeating
Compulsive overeating can involve binge eating and weight gain, but it can also involve other behaviors.
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Diabulimia
The term diabulimia is used to describe the diagnosis of an eating disorder in an individual with type 1 diabetes. These patients intentionally misuse insulin for weight control.
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OSFED
Some eating disorders do not meet all of the diagnostic criteria for specific diagnoses like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
Levels of Care Offered
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Inpatient
Our Inpatient programming is designed to support adults, children and adolescents of all genders who are acutely ill and are experiencing medical and mood instability as a result of their eating disorder.
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Residential
Within ERC Pathlight's step-down model of care, the Residential eating disorder treatment program as well as the Residential mood & anxiety treatment program offer medically stable patients a highly-structured and supportive 24-hour treatment environment.
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Partial Hospitalization
Our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) offers some of the same intensity and structure of Residential mood, anxiety, and eating disorder treatment while providing additional opportunities to practice recovery outside of the controlled eating disorder treatment environment during evenings at home or in peer-supported apartment communities.
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On-Site Intensive Outpatient Treatment
Our Intensive Outpatient program is a flexible mood, anxiety, and eating disorder treatment program that allows patients to work, go to school, or care for children during the day and sleep at home at night.
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Virtual Intensive Outpatient - Eating Recovery At Home
ERC is removing the barriers that can keep patients with anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders from receiving treatment. Through telebehavioral health programming, Eating Recovery At Home (our virtual Intensive Outpatient Program) offers the same proven care as our in-person treatment centers.
Specialized Treatment for Binge Eating Disorder
Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder in the U.S. Marked by frequent episodes of overeating, followed by distress and shame, BED is often misunderstood, misdiagnosed and mistreated.
ERC Chicago-Huron provides a national center of excellence to help people recover from BED. Led by a therapist and registered dietitian who have specialized in BED for many years, our trauma-informed approach focuses on education, awareness and skill-building. Team members work with compassion and sensitivity, honoring the unique history, strengths, and personalities of each of our patients. In the program, we will work with you to:
- Provide re-education about health, weight and nutrition from a weight-inclusive perspective
- Address the causes and the impact of binge eating
- Teach mindful eating with an “all foods fit” approach
- Emphasize body neutrality
- Help you break free from food rules and diet mindsets to support sustainable eating
PHP Eating Disorder Treatment — Backed by Research
Research shows that individuals in 5-day (weekday-only) eating disorder treatment programs struggle over the weekend. Since eating disorders don’t take the weekend off, we don’t either. We provide programming 7 days a week for individuals in our partial hospitalization program (PHP), because it offers you the best chance of recovery.
Patients in PHP are able to stay in ERC apartments located within walking distance of the treatment center. Apartment housing offers patients a calm, safe and comfortable space to practice the recovery skills learned in treatment. Sharing an apartment with other patients provides you with peer support and a sense of community as you move through treatment.
Nutritional Counseling
ERC Chicago-Huron is located in downtown Chicago. Each week, staff members accompany patients on outings to some of the nation’s best restaurants. With so many options to choose from, we can support many types of food exposures. Within the treatment center, patients choose their own meals, and work on meal planning and preparation, with support from our registered dietitians.
Travel and Housing Assistance
Traveling for care? You are not alone. Many patients seeking care at ERC Chicago come from out of state. To help you get here with peace of mind, we offer travel concierge services to connect you with additional support and resources. We can assist you with:
- Flights
- Accommodations
- Local transportation options, and more
You focus on recovery. We’ll take care of the details to help you get here.
How to Get Started with Treatment
We’ve seen eating disorders completely take over people’s lives. While some individuals and families think that they can treat the eating disorder on their own, recovery often requires a specialized team of professionals to address the medical, nutritional and emotional components. If you are ready to take the brave step towards treatment, give us a call and we will walk you through the entire process with care and support.
No referral is ever needed for you to access the treatment you need and deserve.
Paying for Eating Disorder Treatment
Paying for health care — and dealing with insurance — can be complicated. When facing a life-threatening eating disorder, you shouldn’t have to worry about how to pay for treatment. Our insurance verification experts can contact your insurance company for you and communicate back to you in easy-to-understand terms exactly what your coverage includes and how you can get care.
Covered by Most Commercial Insurance Plans
Our patient access team is here to advocate for you. We can help you address financial challenges and work with you to get you the maximum coverage offered by your plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What makes ERC Chicago-Huron stand apart from other eating disorder treatment centers?
The urban city location of ERC Chicago-Huron, easily accessible from Chicago’s O’Hare airport, makes it easy for people to travel for care. Family members and friends can find lodging nearby, since the treatment center shares a building with a hotel. On a personal note, our team places a big emphasis on compassion and empathy. We take pride in being a highly inclusive treatment center and accept everyone — no matter what your race, body size, gender identity, or faith might be — all are welcome here.
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Where is ERC Chicago-Huron located?
ERC Chicago-Huron is located in downtown Chicago. We are located near the campus of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, one block east of Michigan Avenue on Huron Street. We are also close to the Magnificent Mile.
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What type of eating disorder support do you offer once treatment ends?
Extensive aftercare planning conducted by our community outreach team ensures you have a “plan of action” to maintain the progress you make in treatment. Follow-up phone calls and emails at regular intervals help you stay focused on recovery. We can also help you find an outpatient team near you — experienced in treating eating disorders.
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What type of eating disorder support is offered for caregivers, family members and friends?
Family members, caregivers and friends are often critical to helping a loved one recover from an eating disorder. Each week, family members take part in family therapy sessions. Visits with family members are easy and convenient since the treatment center is housed in the same building as a hotel. Along with family therapy, family members and caregivers are invited to take part in:
Expert Care for Eating Disorders in Chicago, IL
Meet the leadership team at Eating Recovery Center Chicago.
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Kim Effertz LinkKim Effertz
Regional Vice PresidentKim Effertz joined Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center in September 2021 as an Operating Vice President ...READ MORE -
Lara Kenik Link
Lara Kenik
Regional Nursing DirectorLara Kenik joined Eating Recovery Center/Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center (ERCPL) in August 2016 as a full-time overnight nurse ...READ MORE -
Theodore Weltzin Link
Theodore Weltzin
Medical Director, PsychiatristTheodore Weltzin, MD, FAED, FAPA, joined Eating Recovery Center in 2021. Dr. Weltzin has been involved in treatment and research ...READ MORE -
Colleen Pipia Link
Colleen Pipia
Clinical DirectorColleen graduated with her M.A in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Colleen ...READ MORE -
Kelsey Estry Link
Kelsey Estry
Regional Nutrition DirectorKelsey Estry, MS, RD, LDN, is a graduate of Michigan State University. She completed her Dietetic Internship at Loyola ...READ MORE -
Steven F. Crawford Link
Steven F. Crawford
Regional Medical DirectorDr. Steven Crawford is the Medical Director at Eating Recovery Center and Assistant Chief of Psychiatry at University of ...READ MORE -
Toya Roberson-Moore Link
Toya Roberson-Moore
Physician LeaderToya Roberson-Moore, MD is a staff Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist for Pathlight. Board certified in General Psychiatry and ...READ MORE -
Ellen Astrachan-Fletcher Link
Ellen Astrachan-Fletcher
Regional Clinical DirectorEllen Astrachan-Fletcher, PhD, FAED, CEDS-S, is the Regional Clinical Director, Midwest for Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight ...READ MORE -
Zach Marselle Link
Zach Marselle
Director of Operational ExcellenceZach joined ERC and Pathlight in 2020, bringing a combined 15 years of experience between healthcare administration and public ...READ MORE -
Stephanie Stewart Link
Stephanie Stewart
Executive DirectorStephanie Stewart has a background in Social Work having received her Master’s from Washington University in St Louis. She also ...READ MORE -
Heather VanHooser Link
Heather VanHooser
Chief Nursing OfficerHeather joined ERC Pathlight as Chief Nursing Officer in 2023. She holds three bachelor’s degrees, a MBA, and a Master’s in ...READ MORE -
Ellen Class Link
Ellen Class
Ellen Class joined Eating Recovery Center/Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center (ERC PL) in August 2017 as an overnight nurse. Ellen ...READ MORE
Find Virtual Eating Disorder Treatment in Illinois
We also offer virtual eating disorder treatment for individuals in Illinois through our Eating Recovery At Home program. Individuals in all cities and towns across Illinois, including the cities listed below, are eligible to participate in Eating Recovery At Home.
- Chicago
- Aurora
- Joliet
- Naperville
- Rockford
- Springfield
- Elgin
- Peoria
- Champaign
- Waukegan
- Cicero
- Bloomington
- Schaumburg
- Evanston
- Arlington Heights
Explore Our Other Illinois Locations
Eating Recovery Center Northbrook
4201 Lake Cook Rd #200
Northbrook, IL 60062
United States
Eating Recovery Center Chicago Oak Brook
1010 Jorie Blvd Suite 200
Oak Brook, IL 60523
United States
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