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A New Approach: Combined ED and SUD Treatment

Earlier this year, Chicago-based SunCloud Health opened one of the nation’s only residential treatment centers for people living with both an eating disorder and a substance use disorder.

We’re so excited to help this woefully underserved population. Many treatment centers offer eating disorder treatment, often with a “side” of addiction treatment support. Many other centers provide addiction treatment—and patients are sometimes put on an eating disorder “track” if they’re identified with that need.

At our new Institute for Eating Disorders and Addiction at SunCloud Health, we have the capacity and sophistication to treat both illnesses simultaneously, with depth, in a wholly tailored way for each patient.

A Fully Integrated Approach to Care

At the Institute for Eating Disorders and Addiction at SunCloud Health, we don’t think in terms of silos when it comes to eating disorders and substance use disorders. More importantly, we also try to steer our patients away from that thinking.

Eating Disorders and Substance Use: A Deadly Combination

Eating disorders and substance use disorders each come with a high mortality rate. When a person is battling both, the picture gets even bleaker.  For example, in a new study in the American Journal of Psychiatry, researchers compared people in three groups: those with anorexia nervosa (AN), those with AN along with a substance use disorder, and a third group with neither illness.  When compared to patients with neither illness, mortality risk was:

  • 3 times higher in people with anorexia nervosa but no substance use disorder.
  • 11 times higher in people with both anorexia and alcohol use disorder and/or cannabis use disorder.
  • 22 times higher in people with both anorexia and a hard drug disorder (i.e., heroin, cocaine, sedatives, and so on).

NOTE: When the researchers looked at mortality risk among people with bulimia nervosa, mortality risk also increased significantly—and went higher when substance use disorder was present.

Our team at the Institute for Eating Disorders and Addiction at SunCloud Health

Our new center is run by dedicated professionals who provide a healing space for people to discover their innate potential. We help our patients develop the skills and connections they need for lifelong recovery. Our multi-disciplinary team includes:

  • Psychiatrists
  • Internal medicine/family practice physicians
  • Psychologists
  • Registered dietitians
  • Nurse practitioners
  • Licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT)
  • Certified addiction counselors

Get Help Now

Thinking about seeking help or know someone who does? Click below to have one of our professional team members contact you.
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Rachel Collins, LCSW
Site Director of Northbrook PHP and IOP

Rachel Collins, LCSW, is the Site Director of SunCloud Health’s Northbrook Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) programs for both adolescents and adults. Rachel earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and went on to complete her master’s degree in social work from Michigan State University. She has since worked in a wide range of settings, including inpatient treatment, PHP/IOP programs, therapeutic group homes, and private practice. Rachel specializes in treating trauma (using Cognitive Processing Therapy) and anxiety, practicing through a relational, compassionate, and client-centered lens. She is passionate about creating a therapeutic space in which clients feel safe and able to explore various parts of themselves with curiosity as opposed to judgement. In addition to her leadership and clinical work, she is passionate about creating art, and learning about the intersection between creativity and mental health.

Kayla Corirossi, MA, LCSW
Site Director, Naperville PHP/IOP (Adolescents & Adults)

Kayla Corirossi, MA, LCSW, is the Site Director of SunCloud Health’s Naperville Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) programs for adolescents and adults. She brings extensive experience working with individuals across the lifespan, including adolescents, adults, and geriatric populations, and specializes in the treatment of mood disorders, trauma, substance use, family systems, forensic populations, and individuals in crisis.

Kayla has worked in a wide range of clinical and community settings, including community-based interventions, police crisis response, correctional facilities, inpatient treatment, PHP/IOP programs, and with vulnerable and underserved populations. In addition to her clinical and leadership work, she is passionate about providing mental health education and advocacy within the community.

Kayla earned her Bachelor’s degree with a double major in Psychology and Sociology from Aurora University and went on to complete her Master’s degree in Forensic Social Work, also at Aurora University. Her clinical approach is evidence-based, compassionate, trauma-informed, and integrative, emphasizing collaboration and individualized care.

Driven by a personal mission to meet individuals where they are, Kayla is committed to helping clients feel safe, supported, and understood. She strives to create a natural and empathetic healing environment while ensuring individuals from all backgrounds and identities know they are not alone and have access to meaningful resources and 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  
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.

VIDEO: 2. Meet Lacey Lemke, PsyD.