Erin Crites
Erin Crites (she/her) earned a bachelor’s in special education from the University of North Florida and is currently completing her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Walden University. After spending several years working within public and private schools, she left to focus on starting a family. Erin has a passion for working with individuals going through transitional periods, such as relationship changes, career transitions, pregnancy, and postpartum adjustments. She is especially dedicated to helping those navigating toxic relationships, struggling with self-worth, and overcoming codependency.
Erin recognizes that intersectionality goes beyond simply acknowledging diverse identities; it’s about understanding how these identities intersect to create distinct life experiences. As a native of rural North Carolina and being part of a military family, she grew up across the southeast and experienced the intersection of identities in her own life. Although she was raised in a conservative family, Erin always felt out of place and uncomfortable in her own skin. It wasn’t until she began counseling on her own and exploring how her experiences influenced her life that she began to discover her authentic self.
As a counselor, Erin seeks to support her clients in discovering their true, authentic selves. She prioritizes creating a safe, inclusive space where clients feel empowered to share their narratives. She approaches everyone she meets with curiosity and empathy, actively listening to their stories and believes that individuals inherently possess the wisdom and answers to their own challenges. Her role as a counselor is to create a supportive space that allows clients to explore and uncover their insights. By centering intersectionality, Erin aims to foster genuine connections, validate diverse experiences, and support her clients in navigating their unique challenges.
Erin’s counseling approach is client-centered, emphasizing a therapeutic partnership between counselor and client. She also incorporates attachment theory, recognizing the impact of early relationships on later in life connections. Erin uses an eclectic approach, drawing from cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, emotional focus therapy, and is especially interested in Internal Family Systems. She approaches her work with a feminist lens, acknowledging the impact of systemic structures and societal barriers on her clients’ lives.
Erin works with clients from all backgrounds and with a variety of experiences, including depression, anxiety, trauma, and perinatal mental health. She is especially passionate about supporting women through life transitions, recognizing the unique challenges they face and empowering them to navigate their experiences with resilience and strength.