Meet Erica Trestyn, LCSW
Online Holistic Psychotherapist Across New Jersey and New York
Find freedom within yourself to cultivate nourishment from the inside out
Does This Sound Familiar?
You constantly criticize yourself and are always playing the “if only” game inside your head. You start to recognize that you may be using food for comfort or emotional support. You long for the days when you could stop chasing that “magical number” on the scale. Ultimately you begin to realize that you want to create a healthier relationship with food . You recognize it all begins with you, but you don’t know where to begin?
This is where it all begins.
Hi, I’m Erica and I work with clients who:
Are motivated to do the work, but feel overwhelmed
Are looking for a therapist with a unique and individualized approach
Are constantly criticizing themselves and always comparing themselves to others
Want to create a healthier relationship with food and their body
Want to learn how to decrease overthinking and self doubt
Want to cultivate more positive relationships in their lives
Clients come here in order to break free from unhealthy patterns and behaviors in their lives that they feel may be holding them back. Clients come here because they are looking for a unique and different approach in therapy. Clients come here who are looking to challenge themselves, dig deep, and uncover new things about themselves. Through my holistic and individualized approach in therapy we will set goals together and prioritize your needs. I believe in using a client-centered focus in order to tailor each session specific to you and ensure your success. Using holistic psychotherapy allows me to teach you about the mind-body connection and how mindfulness can be used to enable you to make positive changes in your life.
As your therapist I want you to be in the driver’s seat
As your therapist I want our time to be productive and effective. That is also why I believe it is important for us to figure out what fits best into your individual and perhaps busy lifestyle. My hope is to offer a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental space. Each session may look and feel a little different, but clients often say that after a session they are able to see things from a different perspective or learn something new about themselves.
I have been where you may be right now.
I used to be morbidly obese and I know what it is like to feel insecure about my body, how I look in the mirror, and feel like I could never “measure up”. I used to have an unhealthy relationship with food. I used to chase that “magical” number on the scale, constantly overthink and doubt myself, wondering if I was ever going to be enough.
My ability to love myself and stop negative thinking took a lot of hard work, dedication, and education. That is why I love doing this work and I'm here to help you. However, this is not about me, it’s about you. I won't make our work about my experience, but it can be a useful place to help understand what you might be going through.
I am a former New York City Public School Art Teacher and Certified Holistic Health Counselor. In my role as a Holistic Health Counselor I owned my own health and wellness company. I created original and individualized programs for weight loss, stress reduction, and mindfulness. In 2011, I left my role as an art teacher in the South Bronx and returned to school at Fordham University to earn my Master of Social Work. Prior to becoming a psychotherapist in private practice I worked with children and adolescents in more formal psychiatric settings.
Clients describe me as supportive, non-judgmental and affirming. After working with me clients say they feel more accepting of themselves and are able to navigate through difficult relationships in their lives. Through our work clients have said they feel more at peace with things around them that are beyond their control. Other clients have mentioned in sessions that they are able to push themselves beyond their “comfort zone” and start to step into feeling confident for the first time in their lives.
Specializing in Holistic Psychotherapy
For Life Long Results
01 Disordered Eating
Learn to have a healthy relationship with food.
02 Body Image
Learn to live in a body you love.
03 Anxiety & Self-Esteem
Learn to have peace of mind & let go of self-doubt.
04 Young Adults
Learn to embrace who you are.
My Background & Training
Education
Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service-Westchester, NY -Master of Social Work-August 2016
State University of New York, Purchase, Institute of Integrative Nutrition-New York, NY Certified Holistic Health Counselor -August 2012
College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY Master of Art Education-August 2005
University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI -Bachelor of Fine Art-May 2002
License & Certification
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW (New York LCSW and New Jersey LCSW)
School Social Worker -Permanent
Public School Visual Art Teacher-Permanent
Certified Holistic Health Counselor, CHHC
My Modalities/approaches
-
Utilizing a holistic approach in therapy we will explore how the mind and body are connected. We will discuss how through mind and body we can utilize tools to decrease stress, build awareness, and change our mindset. This can help improve our overall physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
-
I incorporate mindfulness throughout my practice to help teach individuals how to be more present in their everyday lives. Mindfulness can be a helpful tool for anyone looking to become more aware and increase positive thinking. Mindfulness can help decrease stress, reduce overthinking, and cultivate more positive relationships in your life.
-
I practice psychodynamic theory and utilize it if it is appropriate for you. It can serve as a starting point for us to see if there are unhealthy patterns or behaviors that you may feel may be holding you back from achieving your goals.
