SpringSource Psychological Center

In celebration of Pride Month, we thought it would be a great time to explore the principles of Liberation Psychology. It's a model for empowerment, healing, and transformation that takes into account the social and historical context of our individual backgrounds and communities.
Liberation psychology fosters a sense of personal agency by recognizing the systemic nature of oppression and giving individuals a chance to confront and transform their conditions through positive action.
Read more in our recent article, "Liberation Psychology–Context Matters" https://www.springsourcecenter.com/liberation-psychology-context-matters/

The Harm Reduction Model For Eating Disorder Recovery
Harm reduction in the context of eating disorders is an approach that aims to minimize the negative health effects associated with disordered eating behaviors without requiring the complete cessation of these behaviors. The harm reduction approach recognizes that for many individuals, the goal of outright abstinence from disordered eating may not be wanted or immediately achievable and may even be counterproductive.
We delve further into this compelling subject in our latest article, "Exploring the Harm Reduction Model and Abstinence Strategies For Help With Eating Disorders–A Nuanced Approach" https://www.springsourcecenter.com/harm-reduction-model-with-eating-disorders/

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SpringSource is pleased to announce that Sarah Elfman, LSW, has joined us full-time! She is accepting new clients for in-person and virtual appointments at our Chicago and Northbrook locations.
Sarah has worked in higher levels of care and brings compassion, warmth, and knowledge in treating complex eating disorders to her work.
Please call SpringSource at 224.202.6260 to set up a consultation with Sarah.

Codependency can have a profound impact on anxiety symptoms: When we constantly search for validation outside of ourselves to try to bolster self-esteem or seek approval from others through enabling, people-pleasing, or any other manipulative tactic, we are operating under codependency.
We are essentially giving the power over how we feel about ourselves to someone else, and this is a recipe for a lot of anxiety and an unstable, dysregulated sense of self. Learning how to set healthy boundaries is one antidote to treat codependency.
Read more about what can cause or exacerbate an anxiety disorder and what practical steps we can take to recover. https://www.springsourcecenter.com/anxiety-therapy-chicago/
If you or someone you love is suffering from anxiety and want to reach out for help, please get in touch with SpringSource at 224-202-6260 or email [email protected].⁠ We offer free 15-minute initial consultations.

In her eye-opening book "The Defining Decade," psychologist and author Meg Jay, PhD, encourages 20-somethings to be more proactive about caring for their future selves.
Kids are struggling more than ever, the political and social landscape has changed in big ways, the world has become less safe, people are more isolated and disconnected, and yet kids are supposed to enter their 20s ready to set the stage for the rest of their lives. It's an enormous task!
Mental health treatment of common issues in adolescents and young adults can be the key to building a solid foundation in our twenties. Read all about it in our recent blog post, "Our Kids Need Help—Mental Health Challenges & Treatment in Adolescents and Young Adults." https://www.springsourcecenter.com/adolescent-mental-health-treatment/

For Mental Health Awareness Month (May 2024), SpringSource wants you to know that when seeking therapy, anxiety disorders are HIGHLY treatable. You are most definitely not alone in this struggle.⁠
Anxiety disorders do not discriminate. While women and young people are statistically more likely to suffer, these disorders affect both young and old, all classes, genders, and ethnicities. Out-of-control stress can happen to anyone. You might ask yourself, how can I recognize the symptoms, and when should I seek help?
Learn more from our latest blog post, "Anxiety Therapy in Chicago & Beyond—Tools for Recovery." https://www.springsourcecenter.com/anxiety-therapy-chicago/
If you or someone you love is suffering from anxiety and wants to seek help, please contact SpringSource at 224-202-6260 or email [email protected].⁠ We offer free 15-minute initial consultations.

What is Almond Parenting? AKA Almond Mom (but it can also be a dad!)—the "Almond Mom" label might be new, but the concept most certainly is not.
The term was coined recently after a video surfaced of model Gigi Hadid's mom telling her to treat her physical weakness/hunger by eating a few almonds and chewing them really well.
An Almond Mom is a parent steeped in diet culture, fatphobia, and food policing. It's a parent who projects their fears around food onto their children. It's worth noting that dads and men can be every bit as toxic when it comes to body size, shape, and food policing. We feel the need to point this out as we live in a culture that also tends to blame moms and hold them accountable at an unfair and universal rate.
Diet culture is deeply entrenched and harms us all. Breaking the cycle requires us to combat it actively. We recently wrote an in-depth analysis of toxic diet culture and practical steps we can take to overcome it. Read more here: https://www.springsourcecenter.com/toxic-diet-culture/

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. 🧡 We celebrate everyone who has the courage to reach out for help, and we want also to encourage family and friends to seek the support and education they need. 💜
💚 For every person who struggles with their mental health, there is a sea of people around them who also suffer and often have no idea how to help or support their loved ones. 💛 To that end, we are including this link to resources to help you get started: https://www.nami.org/support-education/mental-health-education/
❤️ As always, SpringSource is here for you and ready to help if you are suffering from any mental health challenges. Let today be the day that you start (or re-start!) your path to recovery. 💙 Please get in touch with us at 224-202-6260 or email [email protected].⁠

Self-abandonment comes in many forms:
• not trusting our instincts
• not acting according to our values
• not using our voice or actions to stand up for ourselves
• over-working
• under-working
• not tending to our physical and emotional needs
• people pleasing
• suppressing feelings
• prioritizing other people's needs wants, and problems to the detriment of our own
• acting out with food, s*x, substances, gambling, po*******hy, etc
We could spend all day adding to this list, and it can be frightening to become aware of all the ways we self-abandon. Self-compassion can teach us to focus on taking care of ourselves in a way that confirms and reinforces that we are worthy of love, kindness, gentleness, and respect. When we practice self-compassion, we are much more likely to seek the help we need to overcome our self-abandonment and all that stems from it.
Read more here: https://www.springsourcecenter.com/self-compassion-will-not-make-me-lazy-weak-or-self-indulgent/

Cultivating self-compassion plays a vital role in mental health.
Self-compassion helps us grow and thrive by challenging our inner critic, connecting to others through our shared humanity, building resilience, and taking a balanced, mindful approach to suffering.
We are enthusiastic about the research on self-compassion and have explored it in depth in our new blog post, "Self-Compassion Will Not Make Me Lazy, Weak, or Self-Indulgent." Check it out here: https://www.springsourcecenter.com/self-compassion-will-not-make-me-lazy-weak-or-self-indulgent/

Self-Kindness Challenge!⁠⁠
IT IS OKAY to not know everything.⁠
IT IS OKAY to explore and say "I like this" or "I like that."
IT IS OKAY my feelings are okay (even if I am still learning how to distinguish them).⁠
Let us know the ways you show yourself kindness in the comments!⁠

Diet culture is everywhere. It has been around for a long time and is not going away anytime soon. It affects how we receive medical care and our experience in fitness spaces. It’s a system that rewards thin bodies and equates thinness with moral superiority.
Diet culture promotes weight bias (fatphobia) and upholds perfectionistic belief patterns. We have so much to say on this subject, so we did in our most recent blog post! Check it out here: https://www.springsourcecenter.com/toxic-diet-culture/

Dr. Angela Derrick was recently in New York, representing SpringSource at the 2024 International Conference on Eating Disorders. What an excellent and informative experience! The theme this year was "Cultivating Belonging and Building Connections." The topics were timely and included:
• Building hope for recovery among those impacted by longstanding illness
• Understanding the implications of weight-loss medications in our patients
• Increasing attention to issues of diversity and representation in our research and clinical focus
About the Academy For Eating Disorders (AED) : https://www.facebook.com/AcademyforEatingDisorders
Founded in 1993, the AED helps physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, nutritionists, academic researchers, students, and experts, through lived experience, connect and collaborate with each other and keep abreast of recent developments in eating disorders research.
AED's main event is the annual International Conference on Eating Disorders (ICED), a scientific conference that spans research and education from basic science to cutting-edge emerging research in the field. ICED is attended by both leaders and future leaders in the field of Eating Disorders from around the world.
SpringSource stays on top of the leading-edge research in eating disorders for the sake of science (we are researchers!) and to best serve our clients. If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to us at 224-202-6260 or email [email protected].⁠

Let’s talk about emotional regulation. Here are 3 Strategies that can help you process and navigate big feelings (or little ones!)

1. Gentleness Breaks: take them whenever you need them. Making time for a gentleness break can seem impossible for the perpetually behind pushing through the day or when you are in the middle of a triggering interaction, but trust us, it is a loving thing to do for yourself that will pay in clarity and serenity.
2. Name & Talk Through Your Emotions: This can seem advanced if you find it difficult or are unpracticed at identifying your emotions. No worries; with time and possibly help from a therapist, you will become more aware and concise about naming your feelings. Talking them through with someone understanding will help you process and release them. You become an actor instead of a reactor.
3. Acceptance: Your feelings are valid. Practice accepting your feelings without judging or labeling the emotions “good” or “bad.” Self-compassion dictates we allow ourselves to be fully human. There is a saying that applies here – what we resist persists. (an abbreviated version of Carl Jung’s contention that “what we resist not only persists, but will grow in size”) If we don’t allow ourselves to feel or judge ourselves harshly over our emotions, it will prolong suffering, and nobody wants that!
SpringSource is here to help—you can contact us at 224-202-6260 or email [email protected].⁠

Shoutout to anyone just trying to eat and exist in the world shame-free today!
“Since I’ve been in recovery, I have noticed changes in how I think about food. I no longer feel guilt and shame whenever I put food in my mouth. That guilt was ever present, no matter the type of food. It was like white noise; I didn’t even realize how bad I felt every time I ate until it disappeared.”
Deconstructing from diet culture, trauma, and all the other factors that trigger disordered eating is a serious process, and we recommend seeking the help of a therapist who specializes in eating disorders.
You can reach out to us at 224-202-6260 or email [email protected] for help.⁠

“When I was a kid, I internalized my mom’s anxiety around food and calorie counting (I had no idea what a calorie even was!). I remember looking at my lunch, a cheese sandwich on white bread, and wondering if I was overeating. I was four years old.”
We have heard many variations of this type of story in our eating disorder therapy sessions, and it is heartbreaking. It takes a lot of courage to seek help with eating disorders. We see you, and we support you!
Connect with us at 224-202-6260 or email [email protected].⁠

We are right in the middle of Eating Disorder Awareness Week (February 26 – March 3), and we want to celebrate everyone who is in recovery from this severe and often fatal illness. You are all some of the most courageous, empathetic, and creative people we know. The world is a better place because you are in it. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Isolation keeps us sick. Recovering from eating disorders and other mental health conditions is enhanced by finding connection and community. Being alone with our disease is not only unnecessary, it thwarts recovery. Find help, find your people, and recovery will follow.
Connect with us at 224-202-6260 or email [email protected] and start to recover.

On this Valentine’s Day, let’s consider the benefits of learning to love ourselves better. We so often treat others with kindness and compassion while our inner critics relentlessly dog our thoughts about ourselves. What will self-compassion and a greater sense of self-love get us? More resilience, motivation, joy, mental health, and physical health. Yes, please!
Start your journey to greater self-compassion by reaching out to us at 224-202-6260 or email [email protected].

Eating disorders do not discriminate; boys and men are also affected. They conservatively comprise 25% of the cases and are significantly less likely to seek help. Some barriers to going to therapy can include equating getting help with weakness, discomfort with the change in power dynamic required to get help, and healthcare providers not recognizing the symptoms in boys and men–to name a few.
At SpringSource, we have several virtual groups inclusive of all genders starting on Thursday nights. Please reach out to us at 224-202-6260 or email [email protected] for more information.

We❤️yoga! Research has shown it can enhance the treatment of eating disorders by providing a process of integration: connecting mind, body, breath, and spirit. Yoga’s ability to connect our mind to our body can help with emotion regulation, awareness, and self-acceptance.
While we do not offer yoga at our office, we have several yoga teachers on staff who support the practice. Many of us are also trained in mindfulness, breathing techniques, and light stretching, which we can incorporate into sessions. We know how difficult it is to stay with our bodies–ED recovery requires a multifaceted approach, and SpringSource is here to provide critical support on your journey.
Please reach out to us at 224-202-6260 or email [email protected] to begin.

LGBTQIA+ Process Group
This group aims to provide a safe and affirming space to engage in constructive dialogue, self-reflection, and process experiences that uniquely impact the LGBTQ community.
Virtual meetings are weekly on Tuesdays at 5:00 PM CST. Participants must be 18 years or older and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. —Facilitated by Kirstin Schafer, Psy.D.
To register, please email [email protected]

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ANNOUNCEMENT: SpringSource clinician Ali Mayer is starting two new groups that will meet virtually on Thursday nights. Below are the descriptions, and you can contact us at 224-202-6260 or email [email protected] for more information.⁠
Group #1- For Adults:
Eating Disorder Recovery Process and Skills Group For Adults 18 years and older (must be out of high school), with all genders welcome. This group will provide a safe space to process the challenges and benefits of going through eating disorder recovery with others who are on a similar journey. The group aims to build connection and support and reduce emotional loneliness and shame. The group will also offer an opportunity to learn new coping strategies to manage thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that are common in the recovery process. The group will be led by a clinician with expertise in treating eating disorders at multiple levels of care.
Group #2- For Adolescents:
Eating Disorder Recovery Process and Skills Group For Adolescents, 12-18 years old, with all genders welcomed. As an adolescent struggling with an eating disorder, it can feel isolating and lonely. We designed this group to build understanding, support, and connection among members to reduce loneliness and shame. The group will encourage each member to explore their thoughts and emotions and the challenges of being an adolescent struggling with an eating disorder. The group will offer ways to manage common challenges in eating disorder recovery through the introduction of new coping strategies. The group will be led by a clinician with expertise in treating eating disorders who has also worked extensively with the adolescent population.

By immersing myself in the present moment, I become aware of myself in relation to my environment. I can recognize negative self-talk and stressors that cause me to question my self-worth and work to eliminate them. I am now free to do the things that feed my spirit in meaningful ways, such as making art, meditating, or practicing yoga.

We find self-compassion to be a powerful tool. Treating ourselves with gentleness, humor, love, and respect may not come naturally, but it is often the way forward in recovery from an eating disorder and more. A therapist can help guide you in reframing negative beliefs and developing healthier thought processes and actions. Recovery is possible with connection and support. SpringSource is here to help. Please reach out to us at 224-202-6260⁠.

Consistently claiming these fundamental truths can challenge our inner critic and help us learn to give ourselves a break!
IT IS OK to say no without feeling guilty.
IT IS OK to have fun and celebrate.
IT IS OK to make mistakes and learn.
IT IS OK to dream and have hope.
IT IS OK to give myself a break.

Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses with biological, psychological, social, and cultural risk factors contributing to their development. At SpringSource, we have therapists who specialize in treating eating disorders and their co-occurring disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and trauma-related PTSD.
Our clinicians specialize in evidence-based treatments, including RO DBT, ACT, DBT, CBT, CPT, ERT, FBT, EFFT, ERP, and DPT PE. Reach out to us today to be paired with a therapist who best fits your recovery needs. 224-202-6260⁠

Social media is rife with content that can negatively affect body image, promote comparison culture, and seriously trigger those at risk for disordered eating. However, there are also ways to engage with social media that can potentially protect and aid your recovery. Here are just a few tips:
UNFOLLOW any account that triggers or makes you feel bad about your appearance.
FOLLOW accounts that inspire, educate, and bring you joy.
BE AUTHENTICALLY YOU on your personal accounts. Many find comfort and confidence in honesty, such as sharing unedited pictures or opening up on difficult days.
CREATE/JOIN a community with others on your recovery journey. There is strength in a society of people who understand.

Take this moment to celebrate the strength and self-compassion you exhibited throughout the past year. You are powerful—you are enough—you are worthy of unconditional love. Never forget it!
Happy New Year from SpringSource Psychological Center.