Licensed to practice in Illinois and accepts 44 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Trauma and PTSD, Life Transitions and 9 more.
(she/her)
Greetings! Welcome and thank you for taking the time to read my page. My name is Erika and I am a LCPC (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor) & ATR (registered Art Therapist) in Illinois. I earned my Master's Degree in Art Therapy & Counseling Psychology from The Adler School of Professional Psychology in 2015. I believe that there is an innate creativity in each and every one of us. I have worked in various settings such as, a domestic violence safe house, a residential treatment facility, therapeutic day schools, private practice, and with first responders in an EAP, using art therapy and somatic therapy as a way to help clients regulate and express their emotions. I have experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families from various backgrounds and those struggling with anxiety, depression, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), trauma, stress management, and grief & loss. I am a firm believer that the therapeutic relationship is founded on nurturing a compassionately curious and supportive environment, fostering creativity and collaboration, and building the capacity for the full spectrum of expression and resiliency. I am trained in Somatic Experiencing & EMDR (eye movement desensitization & reprocessing). I trust in the mind-body-spirit connection and have the utmost regard for the intrinsic ability everyone possesses to grow and create lasting change in our lives. It is truly an honor to have the privilege of witnessing the strength, vulnerability, and courage embedded within each individual's personal journey.
The first session can be an uncomfortable one, as it is a vulnerable place to be in. I am gentle in my approach and we will begin with introductions, what brings you to therapy, and what you are hoping to receive from therapy. From there, we will collaborate in tailoring treatment goals that are best suited for you.
I think some of my greatest strengths as a provider are empathy, attunement, observing others' strengths, and compassionate curiosity. I have been described by former coworkers as zesty and gregarious, and I love a bad dad joke.
I enjoy working with clients from all varying walks of life, and believe that we can learn something from everyone we meet.
Other specialties
I identify as
Cash - $180 per session
Aetna
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Medicare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Amerihealth Administrators
Amerihealth NJ Medicare Advantage
Anthem
Arlo
AvMed
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Centivo
Cigna
Cigna - HealthEZ
EAP:Cigna
EAP:Evernorth
EAP:UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Evernorth
Golden Rule
GTEB
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
Humana - Medicare
Humana Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)
Independence Administrators
Independence Blue Cross
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Surest (formerly Bind)
Tufts Health/Cigna
UMR - Advocate Aurora Health
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare Complete Care (C-SNP)
UnitedHealthcare Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
UnitedHealthcare/Optum - Medicare
Eclectic
Therapy is not a one size fit all approach. I like to incorporate techniques from various therapeutic approaches to best meet the individual needs of the client.
Strength-Based
As humans just trying to navigate this thing called life, we are hardwired for something called a negativity bias, which served as a survival mechanism in the evolution of humankind. This treatment approach focuses on your strengths and positive attributes and I like to add a dash of self-compassion into the mix. We are all doing the best we can with what we have.
Somatic
I like to bring awareness for our bodies by integrating Somatic Experiencing during sessions to enhance nervous system regulation, coregulation, and connection. Our bodies and nervous systems are rich with information and more times than not, we are disconnected from them, due to various factors. Gently building embodiment through experiential activities and art therapy (if you would like to, but not a prerequisite for somatic therapy) can foster integration and wholeness.