We were lucky to catch up with Erica Bales recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Erica thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the best advice you ever gave to a client? How did they benefit / what was the result? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)

Trust yourself, not the circumstances.

I have noticed over my years of practice that people often put so much focus on stressors and neglect to form a healthy sense of self. Circumstances are ever changing in life, but you are a constant. The investment needs to be on boundaries and self esteem. It is not about getting through one thing; it is about acquiring the tools to get through anything. I have been able to help many people heal with this concept.

Erica, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I studied psychology at Binghamton University as an undergraduate student. I got my first job in the field in 2008 working with individuals with severe and persistent mental illness who were living independently in the community and fell in love with supporting others in the mental health field, which inspired me to obtain my master’s degree from Syracuse University in social work.

Currently, I work as a Senior Therapist in a community mental health, non-profit agency. I have a side business of providing clinical supervision for provisionally licensed social workers in North Carolina.

I have worked in various roles and settings in the mental health field in 2 different states over my years of practice. In my current position, my focus is on supervising other therapists and completing diagnostic assessments. I have a particular passion for working with individuals who have experienced trauma and I facilitate 2 trauma support groups.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In May of 2022, I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast Cancer. Over the course of an entire year, I underwent chemotherapy, multiple surgeries, and radiation therapy. Throughout that time, I was able to continue working, as well as, raising my 2 young children. This experience has truly taught me to slow down and appreciate everything that life has to offer and has given me new perspective on connecting with and treating individuals who have experienced trauma.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy in growing clientele in the field of clinical social work is joining. How you make a person feel safe, understood, and cared for. This increases recidivism and strengthens the possibility for positive outcomes in treatment.

Contact Info:

• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/erica-bales-msw-lcsw-76094399
• Other: ericabales.clinicalsupervision@gmail.com