Meet Erin Braden, LCPC

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You don’t need to become less creative or intense to feel better—you need support that understands you.

Creative minds often experience the world intensely. You may be thoughtful, driven, imaginative—and also dealing with anxiety, burnout, imposter syndrome, relationship stress, or a nervous system that feels constantly “on.”

As a fiber artist myself, and the partner of a stand-up comic, many of my clients are artists, writers, designers, performers, entrepreneurs, and adults with ADHD who want support that understands both their creativity and the pressures that come with it.

Therapy can help you slow down, understand your patterns, regulate stress, and build a life that supports your creativity instead of exhausting it.

All sessions are 100% telehealth for adolescents and adults located in Illinois and Indiana.

I often work with:

• Artists, writers, performers, and creative professionals
• Entrepreneurs and self-employed professionals
• Adults with ADHD or attention regulation challenges
• People experiencing imposter syndrome or self-doubt
• Emerging adults navigating identity and career direction
• Neurodivergent adults, including autism spectrum presentations
• Professionals experiencing burnout or work/life imbalance

Clients often come to therapy for support with:

• Anxiety disorders, including OCD and social anxiety
• Depression and mood disorders
• ADHD and executive functioning challenges
• Trauma healing
• Imposter syndrome
• Codependency and difficulty prioritizing your own needs
• Relationship and intimacy concerns
• Attachment patterns and emotional regulation
• Career stress and work/life balance
• Emerging adulthood and life transitions
• Autism spectrum support for adults and families

I believe coping strategies develop for a reason. Many emotional and behavioral patterns began as ways to protect or help you adapt to stress. In therapy, we explore these patterns with curiosity rather than judgment. Together we develop new strategies that help you respond to stress more effectively while staying aligned with your values.

My work integrates several evidence-based approaches:

EMDR Therapy
A trauma-focused approach that helps reduce the intensity of distressing memories and experiences.

Somatic Psychotherapy
Body-based methods that support nervous system regulation and help release stored stress responses.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Helps identify and shift unhelpful thinking patterns.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Provides practical skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and communication.

These approaches allow us to work with both thinking patterns and nervous system responses, which can be particularly helpful for creative and neurodivergent individuals.

Every person enters therapy with their own cultural background, beliefs, and life experiences.

My role is not to tell you what to believe or how to live. Instead, I help you explore what matters most to you and support you in living according to your own values.

Sometimes personal growth involves making changes that others may not immediately understand. Therapy can help you build the clarity, confidence, and boundaries needed to move forward in ways that feel authentic to you.

I served as President of the Illinois Association for Multicultural Counseling (2021–2022) and approach my work through a culturally informed lens.

I received my Master’s Degree in Counseling from Northwestern University, with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Therapy. I also earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Indiana University.

My professional training includes:

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
Recommended for trauma treatment by the Veterans Administration and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

Somatic Experiencing® Training
Over 160 hours of training, including:

• Beginning Year I, II, III
• Intermediate Year I, II, III
• Advanced Year I
   

I continue to pursue advanced training in somatic psychotherapy to deepen my skills.

Additional certifications and training include:

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Youth Mental Health First Aid
• CPR and Handle with Care training

Before joining RTPC, I completed my clinical internship at a large group practice.

I also worked as a Graduate Assistant at Northwestern University and as a Pediatric Behavior Therapist in a practice specializing in autism spectrum support.

Through these roles and my current work, I have supported clients navigating:

• anxiety and depression
• trauma and nervous system dysregulation
• ADHD and neurodivergence
• relationship challenges
• career transitions and work-life balance
   

I also enjoy incorporating somatic career therapy tools to help clients align their work and life goals with their values, personality, and energy patterns.

Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
License #178.016397

Indiana Licensed Mental Health Associate
License #88002324A

Ohio Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
License #E.2607052 

Erin provides psychotherapy to adults located in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio via secure telehealth sessions.

As a partner of a performer, I enjoy attending comic performances in New York City and creating fiber arts in my spare time. Maintaining my own wellness practices, including yoga, hiking, spending time outdoors, helps me stay grounded and regulated so I can bring presence and care into my work with clients. I am also fluent in conversational Spanish.