Erica Saunders

LCSW
Mental Health Clinician
headshot of a person
Pronouns:
she, her, hers

CAPS providers support any student with any concern. Our providers also complete continuing education and specialized trainings. Learn more about this provider below.

Demographics

  • Cis Woman
  • Straight/Heterosexual
  • White

Education & License

Erica graduated with a Bachelor's in Social Work from California State, Los Angeles and a Master's in Social Work from Arizona State University. Erica is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).

Role at CAPS

As a site-based counselor for the College of Veterinary Medicine, Erica is dedicated to providing compassionate, trauma-informed mental health support tailored to the unique needs of veterinary students.

Specialty Populations

  • Couples
  • LGBTQIA2S+
  • Neurodiverse

Specialty Areas

  • Academic Concerns
  • ADHD
  • Anxiety
  • Career Counseling
  • Coping Skills
  • Depression
  • Divorce
  • Family Conflict/Family of Origin
  • Gender Identity Concerns or Gender Dysphoria
  • Grief
  • Marital and Premarital Counseling
  • Non-suicidal Self-Injury/Self-Harm
  • Panic
  • Parenting
  • Peer Relationships
  • Poly/Kink/Sex Work
  • Relationship Issues
  • Self-Esteem
  • Sexual Abuse
  • Sexual Orientation Concerns
  • Social Anxiety
  • Stress
  • Suicidal Ideation
  • Trauma and PTSD
  • Women's Issues

 

Treatment Approach

  • Attachment-Based
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Compassion-Based
  • Internal Family Systems (IFS)
  • Mindfulness
  • Narrative
  • Positive Psychology
  • Solution-Focused
  • Somatic
  • Strength-Based
  • Trauma-Focused

Professional Interests

As a licensed clinician, Erica has supported the mental wellbeing of the Arizona community for over 20 years. Erica has worked in academic settings, helping students manage stress and build resilience to thrive personally and professionally. As a trauma-informed clinical therapist, Erica’s areas of focus include anxiety, depression, relationship issues (including relationship structures and preferences), identity-formation, LGBTQIA+, neurodivergence, life transitions, grief and childhood trauma. Erica values a person-centered approach, informed by mindfulness-cognitive therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS) and somatic experiencing. Throughout her work, Erica has focused on the significance of the mind-body connection for mental wellbeing.

Personal Interests

Erica loves practicing yoga, hiking, traveling and learning about the ways other cultures approach mental and physical health and wellbeing.