MEET ERIN CHILSON

A Maryland-native, Erin Chilson LCSW-C earned her Masters Degree from the University of Maryland. She has over 10 years of experience serving Baltimore, Bel Air and the surrounding central Maryland communities.

Philosophy

Wellness can take many forms.  Through compassion, deep listening, and the most current training, my goal is to help clients reach a healthy state of self-worth, provide strategies for coping with deep loss and promote behaviors that result in overall physical and mental wellness. 

  BACKGROUND

I believe that some people are natural born helpers. Throughout my life I have always taken pride in using this skill to motivate people to live the lives they want. This role began early in life through volunteering as a teenager helping children with special needs to achieve their personal goals within a classroom setting. It allowed me to grow and bridge the gap between personal differences, and encouraged these differences to shine, highlighting each persons’ strengths.

I carried this personal philosophy as I chose to attend Towson University, earning a BS in psychology. This is where my interest continued to grow in learning how to help people who struggle with the every day pressure of life. Through self exploration and acceptance I was able to truly understand the process of healing and of how people have their own unique ways of recovering from life stress.

After college, I continued my passion in helping people with special needs through working at a community agency helping adults with developmental disabilities integrate into the community. Focusing on each persons positive strengths and abilities in order to learn new skills to achieve independence. 

This career choice encouraged my decision to further my education at University of Maryland, School of Social Work earning a Masters of Social Work degree in 2011, as well as a sub-specialization in Employee Assistance Programs. This experience allowed the opportunity to work directly with the aging population, providing support to those experiencing early stages of dementia, and working with caregivers experiencing grief over the loss of a loved one. 

I have provided one-on-one counseling and group therapy to veterans using mindfulness acceptance and commitment therapy techniques  in an intensive outpatient program targeting those who have history of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse issues. 

I have sharpened my clinical skills working as a therapist for a community mental health program providing one-on-one, couples, and group therapy for people who are experiencing anxiety, depression, life transitions, divorce, career counseling, excessive stress and worry.  I currently have the opportunity to work in an outpatient hospice center, assisting people who are nearing the end of life with grief and loss, as well as their families and support systems.

My journey as a therapist has been one of personal fulfillment. It has provided me with opportunity to assist with others personal wellness goals. To learn more, please contact me for a free phone consultation at 410-593-3481.

credentials

CERTIFICATION:  Licensed Certified Social Worker - Clinical (LCSW-C)

License No. and State: 17219 Maryland - MD Board of  Social Work Examiners

POST-GRAD EDUCATION:  UNIVERSITY of MarylanD

Masters in Social Work (MSW) 2011

Under-Grad Education: Towson University

BS in Psychology 2005