Hi, I’m Erin!
While life can be absolutely beautiful, it can also be difficult to feel contentment and notice the joy when you are overwhelmed with anxiety, doubt, and negative beliefs about yourself. It can feel comfortable to stay stuck in a pattern that is not serving you, but I’m betting that you’re becoming more uncomfortable with staying the same than you have in the past.
So, lets get to know each other and see what we can do.
While working together, you will learn how to navigate difficult thoughts that promote hard feelings. You will obtain skills to self regulate and accept things outside of your control, while becoming familiar with healthy boundary setting that promotes balance and wellness in all areas of life. You will feel equipped with a roadmap offering direction and support to help you reach your goals.
My Specialties
Therapy can feel overwhelming at the start!
I approach the work that happens in session with openness to meeting you exactly where you’re at, while offering perspective and feedback to challenge you in a direct and compassionate way.
My goals for our first few sessions are to get to know one another so that I can offer you a plan for wellness with specific goals.
To be as holistic as possible in my approach, I am committed to pursuing continued education with an integrative mindset.
I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in humanitarian affairs. Further, I engaged in clinical research focused on motivation and growth mindset. I utilize this knowledge base and experience significantly and maintain an interest in this area of psychology. I then went on to obtain a Master’s degree in Mental Health counseling from the University of Rochester. My research at this time focused on co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder treatment.
My experience within the field of counseling so far has ranged from being a therapist and supervisor in an outpatient setting, to a residential setting, to working within the community offering intensive family therapy. Throughout the changes in my focus over the years, I obtained significant post graduate training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which presents is my primary modality, as well as Multi Dimensional Family System therapy that I utilize when working with couples and parents.
And while all of that is important, other important things about me to note are that I am overly obsessed with my dog, Barkley. Additionally, I am a registered Yoga teacher, a New Hampshire native, and love all things Peloton related. I always have a book in my bag and a hot coffee or tea in my hands. If you want to talk Game of Thrones, I’m your gal.
My Approach to Therapy
My approach to therapy is deeply rooted in behavior change to live in alignment with what is most important to you. With that being said, here are a few themes that will show up in the work we do together.
Exploring your “why”: Developmentally, our brains begin wiring and learning behaviors/patterns of interaction early in our childhood. In many ways, our current behavior or ways of thinking and feeling have been reinforced positively or by our life experiences, even if they are unhealthy or promote internal suffering. Exploring our past is and effective way to learn about our present.
Behavior change/action-oriented work: Often times we become comfortable with behavior that does not serve us well, but can lack the tools and resources to make effective change. In our work together we will explore adaptive and achievable behavior changes in alignment with your values to move you closer to obtaining your goals. Additionally, there will be space to explore feelings that arise when attempting new ways of engaging in life. Progress is often enlightening but also difficult, and my goal is to offer a space free of judgment to share openly about the emotional process.
Mindfulness to the mind body connection: As the research continues to highlight the importance of our physical health and wellness on its impact on our emotional/mental health, I incorporate coping skills and behavior rooted in the way we treat our bodies. Think… temperature regulation, deep breathing, grounding mechanisms, etc. Often times we can stay “in our heads” when working through difficult feelings, and by expanding our focus to the body, new awareness and insight into our feelings can begin to show up.
