Erika Maldonado, LMSW

Healing Work

Therapy with me: As a therapist, my primary goal is to provide a safe and supportive space where clients can feel heard, valued, advocated for, and respected. I believe in the power of patience, compassion, and empathy to foster healing and growth, and I approach everyone with genuine curiosity and understanding of their unique experiences and how it has shaped their lives. My practice is rooted in creating a non-judgmental environment where clients can explore their challenges, develop self-awareness, and uncover their strengths. Through collaborative and client-centered techniques, I help empower individuals to navigate life’s complexities while fostering resilience and personal transformation.

My impacting identifies/roles that inform my work: Growing up, I have faced many adversities not only in my own personal development/life, but in relationships as well, whether they be platonic or romantic. I am a cisgender heterosexual female who is a daughter to divorced parents, as well as a sister, and a trusting friend to many. I have learned through my own experiences how impactful family dynamics can be, and their role when it pertains to the development of a child. I also like to emphasize to clients that they are not their diagnoses and can have a very healthy and fulfilling life.

I feel informed and knowledgeable about:

Peer relationship issues, and/or family conflicts, Stress management, coping skills, Behavior Modification, Life transitions, Depression / Anxiety Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorders, Psychotic Disorders

I work best with clients who… are ready to fully embark on their therapeutic journey as well as evolve from old habits/beliefs that are no longer serving them. I also enjoy working with those who are children, adolescents, adults, and at times families.

I am not a good clinical fit for clients who… expect therapy to be a quick fix for themselves or their young ones. I am also not a good fit for those who are struggling with addiction, severe trauma, eating disorders, severe clinical level depression, and those who are not quite yet ready to be fully present.

What makes me unique… I am born to a Hispanic family with my mother’s side being Puerto Rican but raised in Mexico, and my father’s side Bolivian-born and raised, so I understand how culture and change of environment can also play a significant part in shaping one’s journey. I am also spiritually inclined, aware of the interconnectedness between the body and the mind and like to incorporate holistic approaches to ensure multidimensional facets of healing rather than strictly using Psychotherapeutic modalities.

Learning and Growing

What I am currently doing to learn and grow is to continue working and completing requirements to transition from an LMSW to LCSW-C! I have such a passion for knowledge surrounding the clinical and always look for ways to improve as growing and evolving are both key to being the best version of yourself you can be. I know that with consistency, hard work, and dedication, anything is possible.

Fun Facts/Resilience Building 

Fun Fact: I played the violin for nearly 9 years and enjoyed painting with oil paints as my preferred medium as a child.

What resources me to build resilience: As someone who has intensively worked in not only psychiatric care but also in the service industry simultaneously throughout the years, I have learned first-hand how truly important it is to take time for yourself. For me, that time is spent doing things I enjoy! I love spending time outside, adventuring, researching new things, spending time playing with my animals (I’ve had many throughout my life) and trying new foods. Not to mention baking! Spending time outside and being active this way doing the things that bring joy not only helps clear my mind and reduce stress but also allows me to feel more connected to myself and those around me.

Education

• University of Maryland, School of Social Work: Master’s in social work
• UMBC: Bachelor’s in Psychology
• Carroll Community College: Associates of Arts and Sciences

Certifications/Trainings/What I’m Reading Currently 

• CBT
• MI
• Mindfulness based
• Narrative therapy practices

I am currently reading:

“The Anxious Hearts Guide” by Rikki Cloos and also plan on beginning Neville Goddard’s LOA series in the near future!

Erika is supervised by Christine Coyle, LCSW-C