About
ERICA MERRILL, MA, LMHC, SEP
HOW I WORK:
I believe that every individual possesses compassion, creativity, curiosity, and courage to bring about positive change in their life.
I am here to support you in feeling comfortable bringing your true self to therapy. Our sessions will explore how current patterns stemming from past circumstances may keep you from moving forward in life. Life can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. If you have experienced an adverse event in your life, whether recurring or an isolated incident, even the stress of a typical day can invoke anger, sadness, and anxiety. Luckily, therapy can support you in learning helpful tools to feel more resilient to cope with life's challenges, helping reduce your stress levels and create a greater feeling of ease. I have a passion for assisting people in deepening their sense of self and working on their relationships, whether it be with their family of origin or their family of choice.
My therapeutic approach is to broaden your understanding of who you are and how the past and present connect. Using evidence-based techniques, including EMDR and Somatic Experiencing, we will explore what has kept you stuck and learn new skills for moving forward. Your feedback and engagement are essential to healing; you are the expert in your experience.
I work with clients to support shifts that lead to feeling they have more choice in their lives as we uncover the blocks that have kept them stuck. Continually, I've had the pleasure of seeing those gripped by their struggles move through their pain and self-doubt to create fulfilling lives.
TOGETHER, WE WILL FIND REAL SOLUTIONS THAT WILL BRING ABOUT EFFECTIVE CHANGE.
“We're all just walking each other home.”
—Ram Dass
ABOUT ME:
A beloved teacher of mine once said, “We spend our lives searching for our home or trying to return home.” I remember the first time I came to Olympia as a young adult, just as the sun was beginning to rise I followed a small wooded path to a tiny forest cabin. The mist was dense, and the ferns up to my waist carpeted the forest floor. It was magical. I remember intuitively feeling I was truly home. I have lived in Olympia ever since, created a life with my partner as we raised our family. I am continually awed and renewed by the natural beauty.
I love to dance, hike and spend time outside. I also love to spend time in cozy inside spaces with family, friends, and my animal companions.
My work as a therapist is to support others to feel at home in themselves and connected to community. I would describe myself as intuitive, creative, authentic, and loving.
I earned a Master’s Degree in the Art of Counseling from Saint Martin’s University. Additionally, I am EMDR certified, am a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner(SEP), supporting increased nervous system regulation and trauma renegotiation, and utilize Internal Family Systems and art therapy in my work. These modalities support clients to process traumatic events both “big T traumas” often single events and “little t traumas” ongoing difficulties often in childhood in which for whatever reason we did not get our needs met.
In addition to private practice, I have previous experience working in an agency setting with children, adolescents, adults, and families with diverse racial, socioeconomic, gender identity, and sexual orientations; many of whom have experienced complex trauma (negative experiences in early childhood) and cope with depressive, anxious, and PTSD symptoms.
License no. WA LH61487923
WORK WITH ME
Finding the the right therapist is so important! Want to explore if we are a good therapeutic fit? Contact me to schedule a brief initial consultation at no charge.