About Erica Cornelius
Discover your true self, heal from the past and embrace new beginnings.
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Erica Cornelius, MA, LPC - trained Licensed Professional Counselor, trained in EMDR, CBT, Play Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS)
she/her/hers
You might wake up each day with a pit in your stomach, dreading the tasks ahead or fearing the unknown.
Everyday situations that others navigate with ease can feel overwhelming, leaving you exhausted just trying to keep up. It often feels like your mind is racing, filled with "what if" scenarios that create paralyzing doubt and uncertainty.
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Social interactions may become a source of intense discomfort, where you constantly worry about how others perceive you or fear making a mistake. As a result, you isolate. Ultimately, you just want to feel free from this burden and find a way to live more fully, without the constant weight of anxiety holding you back.
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Or, you may feel a deep sense of worry and helplessness when your child struggles with big emotions. Watching them experience overwhelming sadness, anger, or anxiety can be incredibly painful, especially when you don’t know how to support them effectively. Ultimately, you just want your child to feel safe, understood, and capable of navigating their emotions, but the uncertainty of how to get there can be a heavy burden to bear.
Erica works with DC and VA clients in person and virtually.
What would it be like to have more mental space for the things you love, free from the grip of anxiety?
My Approach
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Thanks for stopping by! I'm Erica, and we can work together to understand why you are finding yourself in the same (unwanted) situations over and over again. Are you eager to learn effective strategies, and how current thinking patterns and behaviors are blocking you from achieving what you want in life?
Do you feel as though parts from your past are "running the show", and they are the reason why you are constantly feeling unable to connect with others, rejected, and/or unable to regulate upsetting emotions and anxiety? I will help you to understand events, memories, and core beliefs you hold about yourself and how they impact you today. We will also identify what present triggers, thoughts, actions, etc. are interfering with you living your life to the fullest. Another component we'd explore is your future self. How do you want to handle, react, feel in these situations in the future? This is where we put into fruition the way you wish to navigate them, with more confidence and ease.
I truly enjoy working with a variety of ages and stages including children, teens and adults. My areas of interest and specialization include working with anxiety, ADHD symptom management, phase of life stressors, and childhood trauma. Please reach out for a brief consultation and I'd be happy to discuss your needs and what your therapy experience with me could look like.
Outside of the therapy office, I love to spend time with my family including my husband and 2 young children. I am a big animal lover and have 2 cats and a dog. I enjoy being active and going on runs as well as strength training."
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My Experience and Training
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Primary Theoretical Orientation(s): EMDR, Person centered, cognitive behavioral therapy, experiential therapy (i.e., play therapy), IFS, and mindfulness based interventions.
Areas of Clinical Interests: anxiety, parenting, identity, trauma, LGBTQIA+, and ADHD management.
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Erica graduated from The College of New Jersey with a Master's in Clinical Counseling.