Erika Lopez

If you’re here, there’s a good chance you’ve been carrying a lot—maybe managing anxiety, constant overthinking, perfectionism, depression, burnout, or a sense of emotional disconnection, even while appearing “high-functioning” on the outside. You might avoid confrontation, feel rigid or stuck in your patterns, or struggle to let others see what’s really going on. Many of the people I work with also have a history of self-harm or suicidal thoughts due to this and because of that, it's important that we have a space that feels safe, steady, and nonjudgmental. My Approach To Therapy: Therapy with me isn’t about fixing you or pushing you to try harder—you’ve likely been doing that for a long time. My role is to meet you where you are and help you slow things down, understand your patterns, and gently build more flexibility, openness, and connection in your life. Many of the people I work with are thoughtful, self-controlled, and honestly just worn out from holding it all together—and they want relief that actually lasts. I primarily use Radically Open DBT (RO-DBT) along with exposure-based approaches to help you practice responding differently—especially in moments of anxiety, rigidity, or emotional shutdown. This might look like gradually approaching avoided situations, experimenting with new ways of expressing yourself, or learning how to soften control in ways that feel safe and intentional. Together, we’ll focus on helping you feel more connected—to yourself, to others, and to what truly matters—at a pace that feels supportive, respectful, and sustainable. What You Can Expect From Me: In our first session, you can expect a calm, nonjudgmental space where there’s no pressure to perform or share more than you’re ready to. We’ll talk about what’s been bringing you in, what you’ve been dealing with, and what you’re hoping therapy might help with. You don’t need to have everything figured out—I’ll help guide the conversation. I’ll ask thoughtful questions to better understand your patterns, strengths, and challenges, including anxiety, perfectionism, burnout, emotional control, or feeling disconnected. If you have a history of suicidal thoughts or self-harm, we can talk about that in a way that feels safe, respectful, and at your pace—without fear of being judged or pushed. By the end of the session, my goal is for you to feel understood, grounded, and clearer about what working together could look like. We’ll move forward collaboratively and at a pace that feels supportive and manageable for you. Trainings and Certifications: DBT Foundational Training with Behavioral Tech (2022) CAMS Certification (2022) Treating Emotional Avoidance in Stage 1 DBT: Using Informal Exposure Strategies (2022) SIFI Certification (2022) DBT-A Training with Behavioral Tech (2023) Exposure and Response (Ritual) Prevention for OCD - CTSA of UPENN (2023) RO-DBT Levels 1 Training with Radically Open Institute (2024) RO-DBT Level 2 Training with Radically Open institute (2025) RO-DBT Level 3 Training with Radically Open Institute (2025)