“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

— Audre Lorde

Erica's CV

The Why

I’m a North Carolina native, licensed clinical social worker, trauma therapist, and consultant.
My work centers people who have been asked—explicitly or implicitly—to adapt to systems that were never designed with them in mind.

Much of what I specialize in grew out of lived experience, not just training.

In 2003, when I was 12 years old, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and later hospitalized. That same year, I was diagnosed with Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus). It was also the year my father died suddenly in a car accident. In adulthood, my medical reality expanded again with a diagnosis of Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD).

Living with chronic illness for more than 20 years—and living as a Black woman for my entire life—taught me how quickly “normal” becomes code for adapt quietly or be left out.

I learned how to plan my day around energy limits.
How to research buildings before entering them.
How to anticipate stairs.
How to minimize microaggressions before I ever had language to name them.
How to advocate for myself long before systems ever considered changing.

Eventually, I realized something important:
What I had normalized was not universal—and it didn’t have to be the standard.

That realization changed how I practice, how I teach, and how I consult.

The Work & Credibility

I’ve worked as a social worker for over a decade, with a clinical focus on trauma—particularly interpersonal violence, racial trauma, chronic and invisible illness, and systemic harm.

I’m the founder of Whole Mentality, a group therapy practice based in Raleigh, North Carolina. A practice built around accessibility, sustainability, and community care. What began as a solo practice has grown into a team-based model that prioritizes both client access and clinician wellbeing.

Alongside my clinical work, I provide:

  • Professional and EMDR consultation

  • Clinical supervision

  • Speaking and training for organizations, clinicians, and leadership teams

I especially enjoy working outside the therapy room—supporting clinicians, organizations, and systems that are trying (sometimes clumsily, sometimes earnestly) to do better than what they inherited.

Values & Voice

I don’t believe in neutral care.
I don’t believe equity can be performative.
And I don’t believe that burnout is a personal failure.

My work is informed by:

  • Trauma-focused and somatic practice

  • Anti-oppressive and abolitionist frameworks

  • Lived experience with chronic illness and systemic harm

  • A deep belief that accessibility includes us, too

I help people and organizations move beyond accommodation as an afterthought and toward systems that actually serve the humans inside them.

This means telling the truth—even when it’s uncomfortable.
It means naming harm without shaming.
And it means building practices, policies, and cultures that don’t require people to disappear parts of themselves just to belong.

If you’re looking for polished language without accountability, I may not be the right fit.
If you’re looking for work that is thoughtful, grounded, and honest—I’m glad you’re here.