Dr. Catharine Devlin
OCD and Eating Disorder Specialist
Catharine Devlin (she/her/hers) is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist Supervisor (CEDS-S), and the owner of Birch Tree Psychotherapy. She opened her private practice in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago in 2012. She now has locations in the Chicago loop and the Northwest Chicago Suburbs (South Barrington, IL).
Dr. Devlin has three main specialty areas: eating disorder treatment, treatment for OCD/Anxiety Disorders, and youth and family therapy. She provides individual, group, and family therapy, student training, supervision, and professional lectures.
In addition to providing therapy in the Chicago Loop and South Barrington Offices, Dr. Devlin holds a PsyPact Passport and is able to provide therapy virtually to clients residing in PsyPact states.
Education and Training
Dr. Devlin has received the Certified Eating Disorder Specialist IAEDP-Approved Supervisor (CEDS-S) designation from the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP). Dr. Devlin has also attended the Behavioral Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) through the International OCD Foundation.
Dr. Devlin received her B.S. from SUNY Brockport, where she completed a double major in Psychology and Health Science. At SUNY, she also completed a specialized concentration in Alcoholism and Substance-Abuse Treatment. Her research focused on sexual risk taking and how changes in HIV treatment options influence decision-making.
Dr. Devlin received her Doctor of Psychology degree (Psy.D.) from the APA-Accredited Clinical Psychology program at Roosevelt University, in Chicago, IL. Under the mentorship of Dr. Cami McBride, she completed her dissertation, which focused on the parenting behaviors of custodial grandparents and the implications for adolescent risk-taking.
While in graduate school, Dr. Devlin worked as a project director at University of Illinois, Chicago, with the Institute for Juvenile Research. Under Dr. Geri Donenberg, she directed two federally funded studies, investigating the associations between health behaviors and mental illness with the aim of developing more effective interventions to reduce HIV risk-taking.
Catharine Devlin completed her APA-Accredited Internship at Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital (now AMITA Health) in the Eating Disorders and Self-Injury tract.
Dr. Devlin’s post-doctoral training was with South Campus Therapeutic Day School in Palatine, IL. At South Campus, she conducted therapy with 1st-12th grade students and their families in a therapeutic educational setting. In addition to her clinical work with at risk youth and their families, she also became increasingly familiar with educational law and client advocacy.
Additionally, Dr. Devlin is an adjunct faculty member at Roosevelt University. She has taught Research Methods, Psychology of Women, Health Psychology, Adult Development, and Tests and Measurements to both undergraduate and graduate students.
Current Clinical Interests
In her clinical work, Dr. Devlin focuses on applying behavioral therapies within a feminist and Health at Every Size (HAES) framework. She has a strong interest in women’s relationships with their bodies and the relationships among childhood experiences with food, social learning, and weight concerns. She works within a feminist lens, to help people understand both social and personal contributions to these relationships and create meaningful change within them. As a HAES therapist and advocate for size inclusivity and body liberation, she is passionate about helping people with eating disorders and body image concerns learn to love and accept their bodies. She is also particularly interested in working with clients with co-morbid eating disorders and diabetes (both Type I and Type II).
Dr. Devlin continues to love working with kids and families. She often provides individual parent-coaching to help parents trouble-shoot behavioral or mental health challenges.
Professional Development
Dr. Devlin is currently a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Illinois Psychological Association (IPA), International Association of Eating Disorders Professional Foundation (IAEDP), The Society for Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, the Association for Size Diversity & Health (ASDAH), the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), and the Society for the Psychology of Women. Dr. Devlin consistently attends continuing education and is committed to life-long learning. Dr. Devlin also frequently presents at various professional meetings and has been quoted in a number of popular press publications.