Meet Erin
Erin Carpenter (she/her) is a trauma-informed therapist and Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist who believes healing can happen through conversation, connection, movement, creativity, and meaningful experiences. With nearly two decades of experience working with children, youth, young adults, families, and individuals with disabilities, Erin brings a whole-person perspective to therapy and a deep understanding of the many ways people learn, process, cope, and grow.
Erin began her career as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist in 2007, supporting children and young adults in residential treatment as they developed social, coping, and community-integration skills. Her work has also included children and adults with developmental disabilities, active-duty service members and veterans navigating illness and injury, and young people with complex behavioral and mental health needs. Along the way, she has worked within multidisciplinary treatment teams and used everything from movement and expressive arts to camping, backpacking, biking, and other adventure-based experiences as part of the therapeutic process.
Today, Erin feels especially connected to people navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, disability, neurodivergence, and major life transitions. She also enjoys supporting parents, families, and caregivers as they navigate change alongside the people they love. Erin wants clients to leave therapy with more than insight. She wants them to build confidence, strengthen coping skills, find meaningful sources of connection and support, and rediscover experiences that bring comfort, possibility, and joy.
Education & Credentials:
MSW, Master of Social Work
MA, Organizational Development
LSWAIC • CTRS • CCAT
Experience Highlights:
Children, youth & young adults navigating complex needs
Trauma, grief, life transitions & neurodivergence
Experiential, adventure-based & expressive arts approaches
Growth and healing don’t have to happen sitting still.
Erin brings an experiential, strengths-based, and person-centered approach to therapy. She believes people learn and heal in different ways, and for some clients, talking is only one part of the process. Movement, art, reflective writing, time outdoors, and hands-on experiences can offer another way to understand emotions, practice new skills, reconnect with the body, and discover what helps.
Her clinical approach draws from therapeutic recreation, adventure-based therapy, DBT skills, Motivational Interviewing, Collaborative Problem Solving, expressive arts, and trauma-informed care. One of Erin’s favorite areas to teach is emotional regulation. She helps clients understand what emotions are communicating, how they show up in the body and behavior, and what they can do when those feelings become difficult to manage.
Erin believes growth and healing happen through connection. She takes time to listen for what matters to each person, checks for understanding, and adapts strategies around a client’s interests, strengths, and needs. She sees her role as a guide rather than someone there to fix another person. Her goal is to be firmly on your team while helping you build the skills, relationships, confidence, and resilience to keep moving forward.
In Erin’s words:
Favorite quote : “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” Antonie de Saint-Exupery; The Little Prince
Random Fun Fact about me: I own backyard chickens.
When it’s time for self-care, you’ll find me: Hiking, paddling, or gardening.
When you’re ready, we’re here to walk beside you.
You don’t have to navigate this alone. Reach out today to take the first step toward care that’s grounded, transparent, and built around you. We would be honored to support you.
We’ll respond personally within 1–2 business days. No forms, no bots — just real people ready to help.