For immediate release:
Chicago, IL, October 19, 2026 — Compass Health Center today announced the launch of a new virtual program treating eating disorders at the Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) levels of care. According to the Harvard T.H. School of Public Health, over 1.1 million Illinois residents will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime, with onset ranging from as young as age 5 to over 80. This wide age range underscores an important point: eating disorders can affect people throughout the lifespan, and recognizing the signs early can help individuals access appropriate support and treatment.
“An eating disorder doesn’t just take a seat at the table; it takes over the whole table,” said Samuel Cares, PhD, Director of Eating Disorder Programs at Compass Health Center. “It steals birthdays, family dinners, the ability to just be present with the people you love. Treatment is about giving people their lives back.”
To meet the growing need for eating disorder treatment in Illinois, Compass Health Center, a nationally recognized leader in intermediate-level mental health care, is launching a virtual eating disorder program in Illinois, bringing immediate, specialized care to individuals and families across the state. With years of experience delivering evidence-based programming and a proven virtual care model already serving patients nationwide, Compass is uniquely positioned to close that gap.
“We built Compass Health Center on the belief that specialized mental health care should never be out of reach or slow to access,” said Dr. David Schreiber, founder of Compass Health Center and a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist. “With this virtual program, we’re bringing that same standard of care to eating disorder treatment, directly into homes across Illinois. When someone reaches out for help, we want to meet them in that moment, not weeks later.”
The program offers evidence-based treatment for eating disorders through Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT-E), CBT for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (CBT-AR), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and exposure-based therapy. The program also offers concurrent treatment for comorbid mental health disorders such as OCD, PTSD, and depression. Clinical nutrition support follows a weight-inclusive, Health At Every Size (HAES)-aligned philosophy. All clinical staff are fully licensed, registered dietitian support is available at every meal and snack, and patients have a clear pathway to step down from residential or inpatient care to Compass, and from Compass to outpatient care.
Unique to Compass Health Center is its commitment to immediate access: assessments are available within 24 hours of initial inquiry, helping prevent unnecessary ER visits and inpatient admissions, and psychiatric evaluations are completed within 24–48 hours of program start. This speed is especially critical in eating disorder care, where even modest delays allow symptoms and medical risk to compound. To help ensure immediate access to care, medical clearance is not required prior to admission; instead, a comprehensive medical assessment and care process begins after admission, removing a barrier that can delay access to treatment.
“We’ve seen firsthand what happens when someone with an eating disorder can’t access treatment quickly enough; it often means a trip to the ER or a hospital admission that could have been prevented,” said Claudia Welke, MD, Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Compass Health Center. “This program ensures that Illinois families don’t have to choose between waiting for the right care and getting any care at all.”
Compass aims to expand this program to all operational states, as well as at on-site locations throughout 2027. For more information or to schedule an assessment, please call 877.552.6672 or visit compasshealthcenter.net.
About Compass Health Center
Compass Health Center is a leading provider of intermediate-level mental health care, offering in-person and virtual Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) programs for children, teens, young adults, and adults across Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Washington, D.C., Wisconsin, and Virginia. Compass Health Center provides specialized treatment for mood and anxiety disorders, OCD, trauma, school refusal, mental health, chronic pain, and illness, and co-occurring mental health and substance use. With a focus on accessibility, outcomes, and personalized care, Compass Health Center helps individuals and families find real, measurable relief without the wait.
Learn more: www.compasshealthcenter.net
For immediate support, call: 877-552-6672
Media Contact:
Brittney Teasdale
Associate Director, Brand Management
bteasdale@compasshealthcenter.net
