I am so glad you are here! The most important thing in the world to me is for others to feel safe and comfortable being exactly who they are in my presence. I find that societal expectations of who we “should” be cause so much shame and difficulty in navigating relationships with others as well as ourselves. In my professional and personal life, I have seen these “shoulds” lead to so much pain and suffering. They prevent us from being present and excited about the beautiful world around us. It is no secret that the world has been a challenging place for the past few years. As an Occupational Therapist and pre-licensed Mental Health Counselor I attribute this to a larger unmet need that we are collectively experiencing; a need for connection and to be seen and loved for who we are. The experiences we have as humans shape the way we see the world, and right now the world can be a very lonely place. In times of struggle, developing community and connection is the MOST important skill we can have, and I work every day to help those around me find the place they belong.
For my professional background and history, I am a licensed Occupational Therapist (OT), with 20+ years of experience in the Mental Health field. I feel so fortunate for my OT training that encourages me to see the world from a holistic perspective, to be a creative problem solver, and to always prioritize what is most important to YOU as my client. I hold a master’s degree from Lesley University in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, with a specialization in trauma studies. I completed my undergraduate degrees in Occupational Therapy and Psychology at Worcester State University. I’ve spent much of my career working in high risk residential and inpatient mental health hospitals, as well as community outreach and home care with high-risk families.
Recently, I’ve been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to develop my skills as an educator and program developer. I consult with local schools and agencies regarding trauma informed learning, supporting queer and trans youth, inclusive language, and vicarious trauma and clinician “burnout”. I’ve served on several non-profit boards that has allowed me to be deeply involved in the needs of my community and chosen profession. I have had the privilege of collaborating with various other professionals presenting to local, national, and international conferences. I am extremely passionate about community development and access to education and hope to continue to share that passion with the Greater Worcester community through my work with Darling Mental Health.
In OT we talk often about what roles in your life are important to you and create purpose. My most important roles in my life are as a mother, daughter, sister, partner, auntie and friend. I also identify as a bisexual, polyamorous cis-female, and I recognize the importance of lived experience when supporting traditionally marginalized communities. For fun I love to sing, travel, meet new people, and am an avid reader. I also secretly love terrible reality television.
Worcester has been my home for most of my adult life, and I’ve been lucky enough to find the place and people I belong with. It is such an honor to be able to serve my community and help others find the connection that we all need and deserve.
Credentials
OTR/L #9175 – Massachusetts
M.A. Mental Health Counseling – Lesley University 2009
Contact: Erin@DarlingMentalHealth.com // (508) 305-7263
