Dr. Catharine Devlin
OCD and Eating Disorder Specialist
Catharine Devlin (she/her/hers) is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and IAEDP-Approved Consultant (CEDS-C), and the owner of Birch Tree Psychotherapy. In 2012, she opened her private practice in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. She has locations in the Chicago loop and the Northwest Chicago Suburbs (South Barrington, IL).
Dr. Devlin has two main specialty areas: eating disorder treatment and OCD/Anxiety Disorders. Her services include individual, group, and family therapy, student training, supervision, and professional lectures.
Dr. Devlin is an eating disorder specialist in the Chicago Loop and South Barrington Offices. Additionally, she holds a PsyPact Passport and provides therapy virtually to clients in PsyPact states.
Education and Training
Dr. Devlin has received the Certified Eating Disorder Specialist IAEDP-Approved Consultant(CEDS-C) designation from the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP). Additionally, she has attended the Behavioral Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) through the International OCD Foundation.
For her undergraduate work, Dr. Devlin received her B.S. from SUNY Brockport. With a double major in Psychology and Health Science, 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.
After moving to Chicago for her graduate work, Dr. Devlin received her Doctor of Psychology degree (Psy.D.) from the APA-Accredited Clinical Psychology program at Roosevelt University Under the mentorship of Dr. Cami McBride, she completed her dissertation, which focused on custodial grandparents and adolescent risk-taking. Additionally, she completed her APA-Accredited Internship at Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital (now AMITA Health) in the Eating Disorders and Self-Injury tract.
While in graduate school, Dr. Devlin was 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 HIV risk-taking and mental illness.
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 has worked as 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 – Eating Disorder Specialist & Feminist Psychology
Presently, Dr. Devlin focuses her clinical work on applying integrative therapies within feminist and Health at Every Size (HAES) frameworks. In much of her work, she focuses on women’s/gender expansive folx relationships with their bodies. She is also interested in unpacking the relationships among childhood experiences with food, social learning, and weight concerns. Within a feminist lens, she helps people understand both social and personal contributions to these relationships and create meaningful change. As a HAES therapist and advocate for size inclusivity and body liberation, she loves helping people with eating disorders and body image concerns learn to care for and accept their bodies. She also specializes in working with clients with both eating disorders and diabetes (both Type I and Type II).
Dr. Devlin continues to enjoy working with kids and families. Therefore, she often provides individual parent-coaching to help parents manage behavioral or mental health challenges.
Professional Development
Dr. Devlin hold current membership with: 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. Furthermore, frequently presents at various professional meetings and has been quoted in a number of popular press publications.