Therapist ~ Speaker ~ Advocate
Erica has practiced in mental health for over 30 years. She earned her Master of Social Work from Louisiana State University in 1996 and has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2000. She has worked with children and adults, specializing in assessment, crisis intervention, individual and group therapy, and advocacy for those coping with mental illness and stigma.
Having worked in each level of care from outpatient services to residential, she has had the privilege of working with the Baton Rouge Crisis Intervention Center, Youth Service Bureau, DePaul-Tulane Behavioral Health Center, River Oaks Hospital, Louis Crisis Center, Catholic Charities, in private practice, and currently with Mindstrong. Her clinical practice focuses on treating anxiety, depression, chronic mental illness, trauma, grief and loss, family of origin issues, and suicide prevention and intervention.
Currently a doctoral student at the Tulane University School of Social Work, her research focus is suicidology, psychiatric social work, trauma recovery, the effects of COVID-19 on mental health, adolescent and young adult mental health, chronic mental illness, and therapeutic writing. She also has a special interest in research regarding domestic violence and human trafficking. After earning her Doctor of Social Work, she is pursuing a career in higher education and will continue to engage in research.
She has volunteered as a speaker and consultant for Positive Action and Positive Attitude Camps, a youth leadership program sponsored by Action Youth and Community Resources. She served as Vice-President 2016-2018 and a Board Member 2010-2020 of the St. Tammany Outreach for the Prevention of Suicide (STOPS).
She trained intensively with the Center for Journal Therapy in Denver, Colorado and became a Certified Journal to the Self® Instructor and has presented experiential workshops on the empirically tested benefits and techniques of therapeutic writing. She has taught therapeutic writing courses for Nicholls State University, presented at the NASW-Louisiana Chapter State Conference, and presented her highly regarded continuing education workshop, Therapeutic Writing for Clinicians, to clinicians state-wide through NASW and local agencies.
Known for her engaging presence, Erica has extensive experience presenting trainings and workshops focused on mental health including, suicide, adolescent and young adult mental health, trauma recovery, clinician self-care, psychological abuse, women’s issues, the dynamics of depression and anxiety, cognitive-behavioral basics, youth leadership, spirituality, and overcoming the stigma of mental illness. Erica has been a personal writer for more than 30 years and has witnessed its benefits first-hand. Through the journaling process, she has helped clients work through a wide range of issues, such as, crises, loss, spiritual growth, daily coping and, and untapped creativity.
Having worked in each level of care from outpatient services to residential, she has had the privilege of working with the Baton Rouge Crisis Intervention Center, Youth Service Bureau, DePaul-Tulane Behavioral Health Center, River Oaks Hospital, Louis Crisis Center, Catholic Charities, in private practice, and currently with Mindstrong. Her clinical practice focuses on treating anxiety, depression, chronic mental illness, trauma, grief and loss, family of origin issues, and suicide prevention and intervention.
Currently a doctoral student at the Tulane University School of Social Work, her research focus is suicidology, psychiatric social work, trauma recovery, the effects of COVID-19 on mental health, adolescent and young adult mental health, chronic mental illness, and therapeutic writing. She also has a special interest in research regarding domestic violence and human trafficking. After earning her Doctor of Social Work, she is pursuing a career in higher education and will continue to engage in research.
She has volunteered as a speaker and consultant for Positive Action and Positive Attitude Camps, a youth leadership program sponsored by Action Youth and Community Resources. She served as Vice-President 2016-2018 and a Board Member 2010-2020 of the St. Tammany Outreach for the Prevention of Suicide (STOPS).
She trained intensively with the Center for Journal Therapy in Denver, Colorado and became a Certified Journal to the Self® Instructor and has presented experiential workshops on the empirically tested benefits and techniques of therapeutic writing. She has taught therapeutic writing courses for Nicholls State University, presented at the NASW-Louisiana Chapter State Conference, and presented her highly regarded continuing education workshop, Therapeutic Writing for Clinicians, to clinicians state-wide through NASW and local agencies.
Known for her engaging presence, Erica has extensive experience presenting trainings and workshops focused on mental health including, suicide, adolescent and young adult mental health, trauma recovery, clinician self-care, psychological abuse, women’s issues, the dynamics of depression and anxiety, cognitive-behavioral basics, youth leadership, spirituality, and overcoming the stigma of mental illness. Erica has been a personal writer for more than 30 years and has witnessed its benefits first-hand. Through the journaling process, she has helped clients work through a wide range of issues, such as, crises, loss, spiritual growth, daily coping and, and untapped creativity.
