Erin Paavola

I have experience working with children, adolescents, young adults, adults, and parents through a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and relationship challenges. I believe that gaining a better understanding of ourselves—our emotions, thoughts, behaviors, and relationships—can create meaningful opportunities for growth and positive change.

I especially enjoy helping children learn to understand and express their emotions in healthy ways while partnering with parents to better understand their own stress, parenting styles, and their child’s individual needs. I also work with adults and young adults navigating concerns such as anxiety, depression, stress, health challenges, and relationships.

My approach is supportive, collaborative, and tailored to each client's age and individual needs. With adults and young adults, I use talk therapy grounded in Adlerian and cognitive behavioral approaches to help clients gain insight into their concerns, recognize patterns, and develop healthier ways of navigating life's challenges.

When working with children, I incorporate both play and talk therapy to help them explore their thoughts and emotions in a way that feels natural and accessible. I also take a family systems approach, involving parents in the therapeutic process when appropriate so that the entire family can work toward meaningful and lasting change.

Our first session will focus on getting to know you, understanding what brings you to therapy, and learning more about the experiences and concerns you would like to address. We will begin exploring your goals and identifying what you hope to gain from our work together.

For children and families, I also want to understand the child within the context of the family. Parents can expect to be an important part of the process as we discuss their concerns, their child's needs, and ways we can work together to support their child's emotional and behavioral growth.