Erin O’Connor

As we move through seasons of life, therapy honors moments of growth and moments of loss. Whether it's your first time in therapy or your fifth, you deserve to feel seen. I bring warmth and presence - a space to feel held and affirmed in your identities, strengths, and struggles. *** A grad student sits across the room, tears in her eyes, naming all the ways she feels “betrayed” by her body. From navigating a chronic physical disability and experiences of sexual harassment, to cycling through inconsistent eating patterns and changes in body size, her body feels like a stranger at best, an enemy at worst. Her relationship with her body is a source of emotional and physical pain. She feels limited and less-than, never able to meet society’s standards for a “good” body. Our sessions are a place of curiosity, validation, and deep exploration. She is able to share her discomfort while knowing it’s okay to feel this way. She learns practices to quiet the critical thoughts and the pressure to monitor, restrict, and punish her body. She builds tools to ground herself when feeling overwhelmed and begins to explore what it’s like to trust and support her body - to nourish it, to engage in movement she enjoys and that honors her disability, and to push back on narratives that blame and shame the body. She can finally focus her energy on her academics, and her board game nights with friends. We often feel activated in our body, or completely disconnected from it. One moment, we’re on edge; the next, we’re moving through fog, while trying to balance it all. I support busy students and professionals who carry stress and trauma in their bodies as they heal from sexual violence or emotional harm, grieve chronic/invisible illness and health-related changes, or struggle with body image and eating concerns. Being in your body may feel unfamiliar, uncomfortable, or even unsafe. Therapy invites us to pause and learn ways of reconnecting to the body so we can experience safety, trust, peace, and wholeness. *** ABOUT ERIN I’m a clinical social worker and trauma therapist. I was drawn to social work because of its commitment to justice and human dignity, and the recognition that we can’t truly experience wellbeing without them. I identify as a white, Irish American, Muslim, hijabi, cisgender woman. Connection and authenticity infuse my life and my work, and I provide a culturally-affirming therapy space where all parts of you are welcome. WHO I SUPPORT I am passionate about serving students and professionals ages 18-45 as they navigate complex transitions. I've worked with this population for more than a decade, and I’ve supported UC Berkeley students for six years. I enjoy serving diverse multicultural and multi-faith communities. HOW I SUPPORT I blend somatic, cognitive, and mindfulness practices to help you experience self-awareness and self-compassion, stress release, trauma healing, and sustainable coping and care practices. As an Accredited Certified Practitioner in Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT Tapping), I offer trauma-informed mind-body tools to support wellbeing. To help you cultivate a peaceful relationship with your body, I work from a weight-inclusive and Body Trust-informed framework. This approach is anti-diet culture and centers body acceptance & liberation and joyful movement while helping you shift away from rigid, restrictive, and unsustainable health and beauty standards. LET'S CONNECT I offer a free 20-minute phone consultation so we can determine if I am the best therapist for your needs. While I am currently out-of-network with insurance plans, I am happy to provide a superbill that you can submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement. At times, I am able to offer a sliding scale (reduced fee) for those experiencing financial hardship.