Written by: Angela Derrick, Ph.D. & Susan McClanahan, Ph.D.
Date Posted: August 22, 2025 9:22 pm
Adulthood brings many seasons of deep change. Career shifts, family transitions, health issues, and an evolving sense of self are just a few of the challenges faced by those in midlife and beyond. For many adults in Chicago and the northern suburbs, these changes can trigger or worsen eating disorders, anxiety, depression, weight concerns, and mood disorders.
At SpringSource: Eating, Weight & Mood Disorders, we understand that the mental health needs of midlife and beyond are unique. We have created our adult IOP to navigate these needs and provide personalized, flexible, evidence-based treatment that fits into your daily routine.
Our aim is to restore psychological health, improve mood, and reduce anxiety by utilizing a developmental, relational framework. Psychological research shows that the quality of our relationships with ourselves, others, and our environment greatly impacts mental health and is key to our well-being.
Serving communities across Chicago, Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka, Northbrook, Glenview, Highland Park, and more, we provide the structure and support you need to heal while maintaining your daily responsibilities.
Learn More About the SpringSource Intensive Outpatient Program for Adults
Founded by the team behind Insight Behavioral Health Centers, SpringSource Psychological Center brings a wealth of clinical excellence into a new chapter of healing.
SpringSource Co-Founders Dr. Susan McClanahan & Dr. Angela Derrick have a rich and expansive history in Chicago’s behavioral health and eating disorder community. Dr. McClanahan is the original founder of Insight Behavioral Health Centers (now ERC/Pathlight), a prominent eating disorder clinic and the first intensive outpatient program in Chicago for treating eating, mood, and anxiety disorders.
Through Dr. McClanahan’s leadership, Insight Behavioral Health grew to provide IOP & PHP programs in 7 Chicago Area locations, as well as the first residential treatment center for eating disorders in the city of Chicago
Dr. Angela Derrick joined Insight soon after its founding and played an integral role as a Clinical Director for Insight Behavioral Health and ERC/Pathlight.
Dr. Derrick notes, “I’m proud of having been at Insight and helping develop the services from an IOP [Intensive Outpatient Program] into a PHP [Partial Hospitalization Program]. We were one of the first eating disorder and behavioral health treatment centers in the area and the foremost practice in downtown Chicago for many years. It was amazing to see how many people thrived when finally getting access to this level of support. Twenty years later, I still have former clients reach out to me to tell me how their lives were positively impacted by their time at Insight.”
This wealth of experience makes SpringSource a leading expert in eating disorders and behavioral health today and a trusted specialist in IOP treatment.
Midlife often brings a complex mix of emotional and physical stressors that can greatly affect mental health. Many adults face changing family dynamics, such as children leaving home or caring for aging parents, while also managing career shifts, grief, and financial pressures. At the same time, physical changes related to aging, such as hormonal fluctuations and health concerns, can increase feelings of vulnerability and stress. These overlapping demands often create a sense of being “stretched thin,” leaving adults more vulnerable to mood disorders, anxiety, depression, and disordered eating patterns as they search for balance and stability.
Midlife transitions can significantly impact the development or resurgence of eating disorders, often in ways that go unnoticed. After all, the stereotype persists that eating disorders are only for the young; therefore, it is more likely than not to go unrecognized in midlife and older adults. Changes such as menopause, divorce, career shifts, or children leaving home can trigger feelings of loss, uncertainty, or lack of control. For some adults, food and body image become a way to cope with these overwhelming shifts, leading to restrictive eating, bingeing, or disordered patterns that reflect earlier life struggles.
Social pressures related to aging, especially the unrealistic expectation to stay youthful and thin, can further intensify body dissatisfaction during this stage. Many women in their 40s and older turn to GLP-1 drugs to cope and recapture a sense of control. While this isn’t necessarily negative, it can be problematic if driven by toxic diet culture and harmful societal expectations. It can also worsen existing eating disorders or cause issues if psychological support is lacking.
At SpringSource, we recognize that midlife eating disorders are real and treatable, and our Adult Intensive Outpatient Program and personalized therapy can compassionately address these challenges directly.
An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) provides a level of mental health care that is more structured than traditional outpatient therapy but less restrictive than inpatient hospitalization. Adults in IOPs attend therapy several days a week for multiple hours at a time, engaging in a combination of individual counseling, group therapy, and skill-building sessions. This model allows midlife adults to receive evidence-based treatment for depression, anxiety, mood disorders, and eating disorders while still maintaining work, family, and community responsibilities. For those in Chicago and the northern suburbs, SpringSource’s IOP offers the flexibility and the framework needed to heal without stepping away from daily life.
At SpringSource, we understand that each journey is unique, which is why our Adult IOP is tailored to meet each client’s specific needs. Our clinicians use a blend of evidence-based therapies, including CBT, DBT, ACT, ERP, and EFFT, to target the root causes of anxiety, depression, mood instability, and disordered eating. We focus on helping adults regain emotional stability, enhance coping skills, and develop healthier patterns that promote long-term recovery. By focusing on compassion and collaboration, SpringSource offers a safe, welcoming space for healing.
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SpringSource: Eating, Weight & Mood Disorders proudly serves adults across Chicago and the North Shore, including Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka, Northbrook, Glenview, Highland Park, and more. We understand the demands of commuting, work schedules, and family responsibilities, which is why our Intensive Outpatient Program is designed with flexibility in mind. Whether you’re balancing a demanding career downtown or family life in the suburbs, our IOP ensures that high-quality mental health care is accessible close to home. Our location and tailored scheduling make it easier for adults to prioritize treatment without having to sacrifice their daily commitments.
The SpringSource IOP for Adults uses a hybrid model, meaning it can be attended either virtually or in person. We designed the IOP to help individuals navigate the unique factors associated with early, mid, and late adulthood. Our transdiagnostic approach provides support for managing developmental transitions specific to these life stages. We help patients gain insight into their relationships, not only with themselves but also with others and their environment, focusing on their thoughts, feelings, behaviors, self-talk, and perception of their bodies.
A transdiagnostic approach in mental health focuses on the underlying psychological processes that cut across multiple diagnoses, rather than treating each disorder separately. We aim to address common root causes—such as emotion dysregulation, avoidance, or negative thinking patterns—that contribute to a range of mental health conditions, making treatment more flexible and broadly applicable.
When joining SpringSource’s Adult Intensive Outpatient Program, clients can expect a structured and supportive environment that combines therapeutic rigor with compassionate care.
A typical program includes three hours a day, three times a week. Our expert team ensures that each client receives a personalized care plan designed to foster and assess progress in managing depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, mood disorders, or eating-related struggles.
Dr. Derrick notes that “based on what we are reading in the psychological literature, and the feedback we are receiving from our clients, we have designed our Adult IOP to have two tracks-one for emerging adults and one for mid-adulthood and later. We recognize that the transitions inherent to developmental life stages are unique across the lifespan and that our outcomes are best when our interventions are tailored to address these differences specifically. Our clients also appreciate being in groups with peers who are going through similar life transitions.”
SpringSource: Eating, Weight & Mood Disorders has been awarded a CARF (Three-Year) accreditation for Intensive Outpatient Treatment: Mental Health (Adults).
What does this mean?
CARF accreditation officially recognizes that SpringSource Psychological Center adheres to internationally recognized service standards and best practices. It also publicly affirms our dedication to delivering the highest quality of care to our clients through participating in ongoing consultation and in-depth on-site reviews to help us achieve excellence in our Adult IOP.
Starting treatment can feel overwhelming, but SpringSource is a warm and welcoming practice that makes the process simple and straightforward. Adults in Chicago and the northern suburbs can begin with a confidential assessment to identify their unique needs. From there, we create a personalized treatment plan that aligns with both therapy goals and daily responsibilities. Our team also offers support on insurance coverage and payment options, helping with accessibility for those who need care. Taking the first step toward therapy or joining our Adult IOP means choosing healing, balance, and renewed hope for the future.
If you’re in Chicago or the northern suburbs and are ready to take the next step toward healing, SpringSource: Eating, Weight & Mood Disorders is here for you. Our therapy options and our Adult Intensive Outpatient Program provide compassionate, personalized care for early, midlife, and older adults. You don’t have to face these challenges alone — we’ll walk with you every step of the way. Call 224-202-6260 or visit our contact page today to schedule a confidential consultation and start your journey toward lasting wellness.
Learn More About the SpringSource Hybrid Adult IOP
We provide in-person therapy in Northbrook and Chicago, with telehealth therapy available throughout Illinois.
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