Ellie Erickson

I’m a believer that you are the expert of your life. I’m here to provide evidence based techniques to help you to reach your full potential. Whether you’re looking to progress relationally or professionally, I’m excited to start this journey with you. I have my Masters in Social Work and 10 years of experience working on the southwest side of Chicago. Through this time I’ve walked with people through the joy of reaching long term goals and the pain of unexpected grief. My training is grounded in trauma-centered care while being mindful of the various socio-political factors that affect our lives.

In the last few years I’ve taken up gardening. I’ve found this practice to connect in unexpected way with my attitude towards therapy. There’s often the messy part at the start (dirt, soil, compost), then there’s the daily watering when it feels like nothing much is happening, but through those consistent practices our roots are taking hold preparing us for something bigger. Finally once we begin to bloom you can see and experience the fruits of the labor we started in the previous season.

I have worked with teens and their parents for the last 10 years. The anxiety and stress that comes with a life change: new school, new friends, new family situation, can affect us all. I’m here to be with you during these transitional times, and help clarify what your goals are in this moment. It may feel overwhelming thinking about what is next in the midst of change, and it can be daunting to know where to start.

We are a team. We’ll first start by getting to know each other. I’m a big believer in building a solid relationship before diving into the heavier topics. I’m looking to better understand how you’ve used your strengths to approach similar situations in the past. Once we identify those strengths we can look to the present moment and eventually the future to build on those strengths. We will practice a variety of coping skills and see which ones you want to keep in your toolbox. Once we have a foundation of tools to use in the difficult times, we can dive into the tougher subjects. Through this process together we can arrive at a place of healing and peace.

If you’ve gotten this far, I encourage you to go one step further. You don’t need to wait another day, week or month to start this journey.  I’m looking forward to connecting with you and learning about your goals. Today is the perfect day to reach out and schedule an appointment.