Therapeutic Modalities
Erin’s education and training are deeply-rooted in both relational psychodynamic thought and evidence-based + trauma-informed interventions, such as EMDR and IFS. Each client is different, and Erin believes it is important to get to know you as an individual in order to craft your work together.
Relational Psychodynamic Pyschotherapy
What it is:
Relational psychodynamic (or psychoanalytic) therapy is a type of talk therapy that balances facilitating a warm, safe, and supportive therapeutic relationship with helping clients get to know themselves on a deep level. This work aims to co-create a safe place to explore clients’ inner worlds, past experiences, and unconscious patterns. It is less about quick relief; it is a deep approach that gets to the root of emotional and relational struggles, leading to long-lasting changes, over time.
How it works:
Relational psychodynamic therapy explores your thoughts, feelings, and experiences - anything that comes up, as it comes up. This work explores the past in order to heal the present. Erin pays close attention to what you have to say, eventually getting to know you and your patterns. Over time, a safe, open, and honest relationship is created where you can experience unconditional support, understand yourself better, undo unhelpful patterns, and ultimately feel more connected to yourself and others. There is no script, and no “right” way to do this - and Erin will be there with you every step of the way. They will help you to slow down, notice deeper feelings, and connect dots you may not have been able to see on your own. Growing in self awareness leads to big changes in the long run.
Who it is for:
Those wanting meaningful long term growth and change, as opposed to quick symptom relief. It is for those struggling with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, relationship issues, major life changes, and other personal difficulties. If you are curious about your own inner world, and want to make big changes in the long-term, psychodynamic therapy may be for you.
EMDR Therapy
What it is:
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of therapy that helps people to recover from and to integrate trauma and challenging life experiences. It is most famous for helping people with PTSD or CPTSD, but can help with other issues like anxiety, grief, and internalized oppression.
How it works:
First, Erin will get to know you and assess if you are a good candidate for EMDR at this time. Sometimes clients are experiencing heightened nervous system dysregulation (high levels of anxiety or dissociation), and to safely do EMDR, nervous system regulating practices (known as “resourcing”) and relationship building will be needed for a period of time. If you both decide that more regulation tools are needed, Erin will lead you in practices such as guided imagery, breath work, movement, and parts-work to help your nervous system with regulation. All of this is part of a collaborative process - nothing is ever imposed on you.
When you both agree that it is time to begin the reprocessing phase, Erin will first go over the EMDR process with you. She will then guide you in thinking about a painful memory and have you think about the memory while you watch her hands move back and forth or while gentle tapping on yourself. This gets both the right and left hemispheres of your brain engaged while you are also thinking about your painful memory. This “dual attention process” helps your brain to “reprocess” the memory, meaning that, over time, the memory loses its emotional charge. It will feel like the painful event is more in the past and that you have a greater understanding of it. This process also often leads to deep insights and greater awareness.
EMDR is for:
EMDR is for many different clients. Classically, it is for those who have experienced a traumatic event or series of traumatic events. It is also for those who have anxiety, depression, phobias, and panic attacks.
EMDR might not be for:
People in active crisis, those experiencing psychosis or severe dissociation, or clients who don’t feel emotionally safe or ready to bring up difficult memories.
Erin practices therapy that is:
Trauma trained and trauma-informed
Anti-racist
Devoted to decolonization and liberation
LBGTQIA+ affirming
Neurodivergent supportive
Health at Every Size supportive
Accessible
“Pain is important: how we evade it, how we succumb to it, how we deal with it, how we transcend it.”
― Audre Lorde
