
Hope+Wellness
Erica Ardern, LCMHC
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor
About me
Erica Ardern LCMHC
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Licensed in: north carolina, pending: VA, DC
Supervisor: Dr. Michelle Hallahan
Locations: Teletherapy, Washington DC
I’m deeply passionate about walking alongside women, mothers, and teen girls through life’s many transitions and challenges. Whether supporting teens and young adults as they navigate the complexities of growing up and discovering who they are, or helping women find strength and resilience amid the demands of home, work, and relationships, I am here to fully support you and create a space where you feel genuinely seen, heard, and supported.
I have specialized expertise in women’s mental health and work with clients facing a wide range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, trauma, and OCD. I also help women navigate the pressures of their multiple roles, offering you support grounded in compassion and understanding.
In addition, I specialize in perinatal mental health and feel especially called to support women through pregnancy, postpartum, and reproductive challenges including infertility. I earned my Master’s in Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and completed advanced training in perinatal mental health through Postpartum Support International.
This work is both a deep honor and a continuing passion. I’m grateful for the trust my clients place in me and in our work together.
Philosophy
I see counseling as a collaborative process—one where we work together to identify and move toward the goals that bring you greater fulfillment and peace.I bring clinical knowledge, tools, and insight, and you bring a deep, lived understanding of your life, experiences, and what you need. You are the expert on your life, and I’m here to listen without judgment, hold space for what matters most to you, and support you on your journey toward greater well-being and mental health. I am the person in your corner—someone who will always meet you with compassion and offer honest, thoughtful feedback.
As an attachment-based therapist, I believe that our relationships—especially the ones we formed early in life—play a powerful role in shaping how we think, feel, and relate to others today. In therapy, we may explore your past experiences, such as childhood relationships, family dynamics, and other key moments in your personal history, to understand how they may be influencing your current challenges. At the core of our work is a safe, trusting therapeutic relationship, where you can feel grounded, seen, and supported as you make meaningful change.
I believe that self-understanding and self-compassion are powerful catalysts for healing. When you gain insight into the emotional patterns and protective responses that developed over time, you can begin to respond to yourself—and to life—with greater clarity, freedom, and intention.
My approach is integrative and personalized. I incorporate techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and mindfulness practices to create an empowering and supportive environment for you. I tailor each session to your unique needs, strengths, and goals, creating a space where you feel empowered to explore, grow, and heal.
Specialty Areas
teen Girls with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship issues, stress, identity, and/or adjutment concerns
Adolescence is a crucial time in a person’s life. In a world that often values achievement, grades, and planning for the future over well-being, building a strong sense of self-worth can feel like an uphill climb. Doing that plus navigating friendships and figuring out who you are, and it’s no wonder teens are often overwhelmed.
I’m passionate about working with teenagers during this formative time. My goal is to help them develop a healthy relationship with themselves and with others as they move toward adulthood. I support teens who are navigating depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship issues, stress, communication challenges, and building a positive identity. In therapy, we work together to build the skills and insight they need to feel more confident, connected, and find contentment.
Perinatal mental health, depression, anxiety, and mood concerns
Becoming a mother is one of the most profound transitions in a woman’s life. The challenges of motherhood are immense and the measures of success are invisible— often with little recognition or clear markers of success. The emotional weight of motherhood can bring up past wounds and trauma, challenge self worth and leave your self esteem feeling shaken on even the most capable women.
I’m here to support you through this transition with care, compassion, and a nonjudgmental space to process it all. Together, we can work to cultivate a healthier relationship with your emotions so you can feel more empowered to show up the way you want to for yourself and your children. If you're hoping to break cycles of intergenerational trauma, I am honored to walk beside you as you create a new path—one grounded in healing, insight, and intention.
Women's mental health, depression, anxiety, stress, and life adjustment
I have specialized expertise in women’s mental health and work with clients facing a wide range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, trauma, and OCD. I also help women navigate the pressures of their multiple roles, offering you support grounded in compassion and understanding.
depression and Mood concerns
Living with a mood disorder can feel like being at the mercy of something you can’t fully name or control. The highs and lows can distort how you see yourself, your relationships, and your future. I work with clients to make sense of these shifts, identify patterns, and build tools that support emotional stability and self-compassion. Whether your mood feels persistently low, overwhelmingly high, or caught in a confusing cycle of both, we’ll work together to restore a sense of balance, meaning, and connection in your daily life.
anxiety, OCD
Anxiety is often a sign of a mind working overtime to keep you safe—but when it becomes overwhelming, it can shrink your world and steal your peace. Whether it shows up as constant worry, panic attacks, obsessive thoughts, or social fears, anxiety can make even everyday tasks feel daunting. My goal is to help you understand what your anxiety is trying to say, and to equip you with strategies that quiet the noise while building trust in your own resilience. Together, we’ll work toward a life that feels more open, grounded, and manageable.
Certifications
Perinatal Mental Health Certification from Postpartum Support International
Additional Areas of Expertise
Academic Stress and Pressure
Adjusting to Life Transitions
Adolescence
Anxiety
Attachment
Bipolar Disorder
Depression
Existential Depression
Finding Meaning and Purpose
Finding Passion and Creativity Again
Generalized Anxiety
General Stress of Being Human
Generational Trauma
Grief and Loss
Identity
Infertility and Reproductive Challenges
Low Self Esteem
Maternal Depression
Maternal Anxiety
Mood disorders
Perfectionism
Persistent Depressive Disorder
Personal Growth
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Pre-teens
Relationship and Communication Difficulties
Seasonal Affective Disorders
Self-Care
Self-Criticism
Sensitivity
Social Anxiety
Stress Management
Struggling to Launch
Young Adults
more about ME
hobbies + what I like to do for fun
Outside of therapy, you can usually find me curled up with a good fantasy or romantasy book, walking my dog, or singing along to something that moves me. I’ll intermittently pick up a craft—crocheting, painting, sewing—whatever feels creatively grounding at the time. Lately, I’ve been curious about mythology and nature-based spirituality—both for the stories they tell and the way they connect us to something bigger than ourselves. I believe joy, rest, and creativity are just as important to our healing as insight and effort, and I try to honor those values in my own life, too.
Some of my favorite approaches and resources include:
Values Clarification
DBT-Based Mindfulness (“What” and “How”) Skills
Mapping the Nervous System
Visualization Exercises
favorite QUOTES
“Boundaries are the distance at which I can love you and me simultaneously.”
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.”
“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.”