Counselor Spotlight: Ericka
Ericka Potts, LPC shares her life and counseling journey.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior at age 17 when my mom introduced our family to God and all the things that would restore, redeem, and bring about true life. I have been married to my very patient and godly husband, Chris, for 30 years. I have four beautiful children (3 boys ages 27, 24, 16 and a daughter 13). We adopted our daughter at age 10 so the world of adoption has been very much part of our lives for the past three years.
What do you do for fun?
My greatest joy is my family, including my husband and our four children. My free time is spent reading, cooking, decorating, practicing pilates, and finding every possible opportunity to be by the beach.
Favorite food?
If you ever want to bless me, have Greek salad, Indian food, or tiramisu available when we get together. These are my favorites.
What was your journey to becoming a counselor?
My path to becoming a licensed professional counselor has been shaped by a lifelong desire to serve others and a deep-seated calling to stand alongside those who are suffering. My educational foundation, which includes a Bachelor of Social Work & Bible degree in 1998 from Cairn University and a Master’s degree from Liberty University in 2010, gave me the academic grounding to formalize this purpose.
My early career was forged in the demanding field of mental health and recovery with individuals re-entering the community from halfway houses, as well as in a partial hospital program for clients with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health conditions. I next entered the world of gerontology and grief support, where I discovered a passion for supporting the elderly and their families. Over a decade as a bereavement counselor for a hospice, I learned what it truly means to sit with people in their most vulnerable moments, an immense privilege that I cherish. This work shaped my understanding of loss and human experience, teaching me to "walk people home" in the final stages of life.
Seeking to integrate this experience with a new population, I accepted a role as a guidance counselor at a Christian school. There, I facilitated grief and divorce care groups and worked with children and families to foster developmental growth within an academic setting. This role allowed me to develop a specialty in supporting families with developmental, academic, social, and emotional challenges, including autism and ADHD. Further solidifying this expertise, I trained at the Center for Autism and facilitated parent support groups for Autism of PA and the Joni & Friends ministry.
I earned my clinical hours as a staff counselor at Oasis Counseling Center (now The Center for Christian Counseling & Relational Development) and Robin Downs & Associates. During that time I trained also under Julie Lowe (CCEF) learning foundational counseling skills for working with children. Then in 2017, I joined the staff at Cairn University overseeing the Academic Resource Center where my role focuses largely on Disability Services for students.
Describe your approach to counseling.
My approach to counseling is deeply rooted in family systems theory, attachment theory, and integrates modalities like Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Something I am very interested in providing and learning more about is the nervous system, helping others find ways to feel safer and more connected, particularly when it comes to interventions to calm the body's "fight, flight, or freeze" response, improve emotional regulation, and enhance social engagement. I want to incorporate this work with my clients in therapy as it can accelerate other forms of treatment and is beneficial for individuals dealing with anxiety, trauma, sensory sensitivities, and other related issues.
What areas of counseling are you most passionate about?
Since entering private practice in 2015, I have felt a powerful sense of belonging, where all my diverse experiences have converged into a focused and deeply rewarding career. I specialize in helping families find restoration from trauma and loss, and supporting families with children and young adults who have Autism and ADHD. I am also passionate about mentoring the next generation of professional counselors through supervision, considering it an honor to contribute to the growth of our field.
Any advice for someone considering becoming a counselor?
My advice to you all entering the field is:
Exercise humility.
Heed the counsel in Luke 14:28-30. Count and consider the cost of this very worthy and sacred profession. People are hurting and they need well-trained, committed, and competent counselors to walk alongside them during life’s trials. It is both a blessing and a privilege.
Seek your colleagues out to both support and be supported.
Devote yourself to growing both spiritually and professionally (we cannot teach what we have not understood ourselves). Many times I find myself in the counseling room teaching biblical principles to both Christians and non-Christians. I find myself loving this part of being a counselor: getting to bring hope and helping to shape a biblical perspective to life’s challenges. I get to talk about Jesus, and it is such a joy.