5 Reasons to Travel for Treatment 

In today’s world, seeking specialized treatment for eating disorders and addiction often means traveling to facilities that offer advanced care and expertise. While local options can be convenient, traveling for treatment can provide crucial benefits that significantly enhance the recovery journey. Learn more about why traveling for treatment to SunCloud Health in Chicago may be the right choice for you or a loved one.

1. Focused Recovery Away from Triggers

Traveling for treatment offers a significant advantage by allowing individuals to distance themselves from familiar triggers and stressors. Choosing a dedicated recovery environment like SunCloud Health creates a psychological separation from the situations that may have contributed to their struggles. In these specialized settings, patients benefit from the support of professionals and peers who understand their challenges, fostering connection and reducing feelings of isolation.

The structured nature of SunCloud’s programs enables patients to focus entirely on healing without the distractions of familiar—and sometimes toxic—people, places, and things. This focused approach is crucial for breaking old patterns and establishing healthier habits.

2. Access to Specialized Programs: Residential Treatment for Co-Occurring Eating and Substance Use Disorders

Traveling for treatment opens doors to specialized programs that may not be available nearby, such as The Institute for Eating Disorders and Addiction at SunCloud Health. This unique specialty unit is the first residential center focusing exclusively on co-occurring eating disorders with substance use disorders.

Here, individuals struggling with eating disorders and addiction can access truly integrated, evidence-based therapies designed to meet their unique needs. This comprehensive approach addresses the complexities of these issues, ensuring that each patient receives personalized care.

The Institute for Eating Disorders and Addiction’s highly specialized program offers:

  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
  • 12-Step recovery programs and facilitation
  • Group and family therapy
  • Psychotherapy sessions
  • Yoga and body image therapy
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS Therapy)
  • SPRAVATO (esketamine) treatment

3. Self-Care: Stepping Away from Responsibilities

The pressure of work, family obligations, and social expectations can be overwhelming, especially for those dealing with eating disorders and addiction. Traveling for treatment provides a unique opportunity to prioritize self-care by stepping away from everyday responsibilities. When individuals remove themselves from their usual environments, they create a space for wellness that is often difficult to achieve at home.

By choosing to travel for treatment, patients can dedicate themselves fully to their recovery without the distractions of daily life. This intentional break allows for deep reflection, personal growth, and the chance to develop healthier coping mechanisms. As individuals engage in therapeutic practices, they learn the importance of prioritizing their well-being—an essential lesson that extends beyond treatment.

4. The Benefits of Exceptional Leadership

A pivotal aspect of the SunCloud Health experience is the leadership of Dr. Kim Dennis, whose expertise in treating eating disorders and addiction is highly regarded. Her compassionate approach and deep understanding of the psychological and physiological aspects of these conditions create a supportive environment for patients. Dr. Kim’s commitment to evidence-based practices and her ability to connect with individuals on a personal level make her a world-class addiction specialist. Patients often find that her insights and guidance are instrumental in their recovery journeys, providing a level of care that sets SunCloud Health apart from other facilities.

5. Navigating the Urge to Leave Treatment Early

Many individuals experience a strong desire to leave treatment, often within the first few weeks. As feelings surface that can no longer be numbed, emotions like fear and anger can become overwhelming. This is why treatment professionals often recommend traveling for care: it reduces the risk of leaving Against Medical Advice (AMA).

While rehab isn’t mandatory, staff will encourage patients to stay, and being farther from home adds logistical hurdles—such as booking flights—that make leaving easier said than done. This extra barrier can help individuals focus on their recovery rather than giving in to the urge to escape.

Conclusion

Traveling for treatment can be a transformative decision for those seeking recovery from eating disorders and addiction. The unique advantages of focused recovery away from familiar triggers, access to specialized programs, and the opportunity for self-care create an environment conducive to healing. Facilities like SunCloud Health not only provide expert care but also foster a supportive community that understands the challenges patients face.

By stepping away from daily responsibilities and immersing themselves in a structured recovery program, patients can prioritize their well-being and cultivate healthier habits. While the journey may be difficult, the rewards of traveling for treatment can lead to profound personal growth and lasting change, ultimately setting individuals on a path toward a healthier, more fulfilling life. If you or a loved one are considering this path, take the leap; the investment in recovery can truly change lives.

Learn More about SunCloud Health

Traveling for treatment can be a transformative decision for those seeking recovery from eating disorders and addiction. The unique advantages of focused recovery away from familiar triggers, access to specialized programs, and the opportunity for self-care create an environment conducive to healing. Facilities like SunCloud Health not only provide expert care but also foster a supportive community that understands the challenges patients face.

By stepping away from daily responsibilities and immersing themselves in a structured recovery program, patients can prioritize their well-being and cultivate healthier habits. While the journey may be difficult, the rewards of traveling for treatment can lead to profound personal growth and lasting change, ultimately setting individuals on a path toward a healthier, more fulfilling life. If you or a loved one are considering this path, take the leap; the investment in recovery can truly change lives.

Explaining SunCloud’s Integrated Model Why is an integrated treatment model essential to successfully treating patients?

Dr. Kim Dennis, Co-Founder and Medical Director at SunCloud Health, discusses the vital role the integrated model (that she is pioneering at SunCloud Health) plays in the success of treating patients with co-occurring disorders and underlying trauma. How does SunCloud create an authentic culture of patient support?

Elizabeth E. Sita, MD
Medical Director of Adult Services

Dr. Elizabeth E. Sita, MD, is a Board Certified psychiatrist specializing in the care of patients with eating disorders. She completed her undergraduate training at the University of Chicago and graduated with Highest Honors. She then earned her medical degree at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and was recognized with the Chairman’s Award for Excellence in Psychiatry. She subsequently completed residency with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, where she was elected Chief Resident and received the Resident Psychiatrist Leadership & Service Award.
Upon completing her training, Dr. Sita came to Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, where she served as Assistant Medical Director of the Center for Eating Disorders and Director of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Services before transitioning to lead the new inpatient eating disorder unit as Medical Director of Eating Disorder Services at Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital – Chicago. In these roles, she has cared for a multitude of adolescents and adults struggling with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and other eating disorders as well as severe, cooccurring mood, trauma, personality, and substance use disorders.
Dr. Sita has been recognized throughout her training and practice for a commitment to excellence in patient care and for her ability to engage patients in their most challenging moments. Her passions include the care of treatment-resistant eating and mood disorders as well as questions of medical capacity and end-of-life decision making.
She believes that, first and foremost, human connection is key to mental health and well-being and strives to share this philosophy in each and every patient encounter. She is excited to bring her expertise to SunCloud Health as the Medical Director of Adult Services!
 
VIDEO: Meet Elizabeth E. Sita, MD, Medical Director of Adult Services


 https://youtu.be/JbmELh2UGXE

Lacey Lemke, PsyD
Assistant Vice President of Clinical Services

Dr. Lacey Lemke (she/her) is a licensed clinical health psychologist with specialized expertise in the treatment of eating disorders and the practice of medical and health psychology. She completed her doctoral training in clinical psychology with a Primary Care emphasis at the Adler School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Lemke went on to complete both her predoctoral clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship through Ascension Health, where she gained advanced training working with individuals experiencing eating disorders and self-injurious behaviors, as well as within pediatric subspecialty settings including endocrinology, neurology, and adolescent medicine.

Dr. Lemke is deeply committed to providing evidence-based, compassionate care and collaborates closely with interdisciplinary teams to ensure comprehensive treatment. Her professional mission is to support patients in achieving their fullest potential by guiding them to the most appropriate level of care and empowering them to make meaningful, sustainable progress toward improved health and well-being.