Erin
Justice

Erin Justice
- Campus: Washington, DC
- Department: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Institution: The Chicago School
- Address: 1015 15th Street NW Washington, DC 20005
- Office Phone: 202-706-5041
Biography
I am a licensed professional counselor (LPC) with seven years of experience working with people of all ages and their families. I earned my Ph.D. from the University of the Cumberlands in August 2022. I worked as an elementary school counselor for 14 years before pursuing a full-time clinical counseling career. I am an adjunct professor at SNHU, teaching practicum and internship classes. I mentored school counselors during their first years at Greenbrier County schools and supervised school and clinical counseling students during practicum and internship classes. I also supervise working counselors seeking licensure (LPC) in West Virginia.
As a school counselor for Greenbrier County Schools, I was an advisor and advocate supporting students' academic, career, and personal/social development. The focus was on creating a well-rounded learning environment that fostered student growth. I was the West Virginia Elementary School Counselor of the Year for the 2020-2021 school year and was named the West Virginia School Counselor of the Year for 2023.
I specialize in child and adolescent therapy but see clients of all ages in the clinic and through telehealth. I credit my high client retention rate to my consistency and effective communication. I am a humanistic counselor proficient in utilizing various therapeutic techniques, including CBT, Play Therapy, Reality Therapy, and TF-CBT. I am a compassionate and empathetic listener who prioritizes building strong therapeutic relationships with clients to create a safe space for healing and growth. I am a licensed professional counselor (LPC), an approved licensed professional supervisor (ALPS), and a certified school counselor in West Virginia. I am a nationally certified counselor (NCC) through the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC). I am also a Board-Certified TeleMental Health Therapist (BC-TMH), a certified Autism Specialist, and certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).
My passion lies in helping individuals overcome challenges and achieve their mental health goals. I love witnessing people's strength and resilience firsthand, helping them navigate challenges and find healthier coping methods. I advocate for those who struggle with mental health challenges. Reducing stigma and increasing access to care is essential.
Education History
Degree Institution Year PhD Counselor Education and Supervision University of the Cumberlands , KY 2022 MEd School Counseling Winthrop University , SC 2010 BA Psychology BA Sociology Minor Coaching Catawba College , NC 2003 Professional Memberships
Role Organization Member American Counseling Assoication Member National Board of Certified Counselor Member American School Counselor Association Member WV Counseling Association Member WV School Counselor Association Member Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Presentations
Title Location Date WV School Counselor Association Conference West Virginia 3/2024 American Counseling Association Conference Toronto, Canada 3/2023 WV Counselor Association Conference West Virginia 3/2023 Hawaii International Conference on Education Waikiki, Hawaii 1/2025 Community Involvement
Role Organization Volunteer Youth Soccer Coach Lee Mt Vernon Sports Club Member Girl Scouts Areas of Expertise
Area Expertise Autism/Developmental Disorders Social Development Child & Adolescent Development Adolescence School Issues (Bullying) Social Development Clinical Psychology / Mental Health ADD/ADHD Oppositional-Defiant Disorders Post-Traumatic Growth Stress/Coping School Psychology Positive Behavior Supports Licenses
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) , WV and VA Approved Licensed Professional Supervisor (ALPS) , WV National Certified Counselor (NCC) , NBCC Board Certified Telemental Health (BC-TMH) , CCE/NBCC Licensed Professional School Counselor , WV and VA Publications
Journal Mikolon, T. M., Murphy, B., and Justice, E. (2022). The online syllabus: A means of communication to enhance student success. Distance Learning, 19 (4), 69-80.
Baggs, A., Duhel, O., Justice, E., & Henderson, F. (2024). Mindfulness Practice and Expressions of Wellness: Experiences of Doctoral Counselor Education and Supervision Students. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, , 1-14.
Question and Answer
Please provide a statement or philosophy regarding the practice of psychology. My therapeutic approach is holistic and includes person-centered theory, reality therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. All people have the tools necessary to become congruent and live happy and successful lives. While understanding the past is important, I focus on the client’s present experience. I help people express themselves honestly by being empathic and genuine and using unconditional positive regard. I help clients figure out what they want and how their current behaviors are helping or hurting their ability to achieve their goals. I believe people can change negative patterns of thinking and behaving to overcome their difficulties. My approach follows the humanistic-relationship model, grounded in psychotherapy and the power of genuineness, empathy, and unconditional positive regard. The focus is on helping clients grow self-confidence, gain an understanding of themselves, and reach congruence. I create an environment where clients feel safe to explore and process complex and challenging thoughts, behaviors, and feelings.
Why did you choose to enter the field of psychology? I love the counseling profession, even declaring that I wanted to be a school counselor in a second-grade project. Fortunately, my elementary and high school counselors were fantastic and encouraged my pursuits. I graduated from Catawba College with my undergraduate degree in Psychology and Sociology but soon realized I would need a graduate degree to work in my chosen profession. I was terrified of graduate school because I was never considered a "good student" and had difficulty with test anxiety and concentration in general (later diagnosed with ADHD). After much encouragement from my family and husband, I attended Winthrop University and graduated with a Master's in School Counseling. To everyone's surprise, I maintained a 4.0 throughout my Master's and Doctoral programs because I truly loved what I was learning and was 100 percent invested in the curriculum. Counseling is one of the most important professions, especially in the current climate. Training highly competent counselors who strive to meet high professional and ethical standards is crucial. I want you all to understand the importance of your position and the power that comes with it. My goal is to pass on my passion for helping people to you, and in turn, you will leave the profession better than you found it.
Professional Skills
Mindfulness, TF-CBT