education & background

My name is Erin Link and I live in Los Angeles, California. I went to college at the University of Oregon, where I studied biological psychology and chemistry, and graduated magna cum laude. I attended graduate school at Pepperdine University, and earned my master’s degree in clinical psychology. After completing school I spent several years accumulating the 3000 hours of supervised clinical fieldwork required by the State of California to become eligible for licensure. In 2008, I passed both board exams and officially became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (if you would like to know more about the discipline of marriage & family therapy, please visit the FAQs).

I spent the first 10 years of my career in public service; I worked exclusively with children and families in multiple settings, and on all levels of care, including schools, outpatient clinics, group homes, foster care, residential facilities, a partial hospitalization program, and an inpatient psychiatric hospital. At that time, my areas of specialization were abuse and trauma, early infant attachment, family systems, and behavior management. I also became certified in two evidenced-based practices (as defined in the FAQs) called Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). 

I went into private practice in June of 2012, and since that time I've been working primarily with individual adults and couples. Currently, my areas of specialization include post-traumatic stress, mood dysregulation (anxiety and depression), codependence, attachment and family of origin issues, and problematic relationships.

My approach is trauma-informed first and foremost, because trauma is widespread and it profoundly impacts everyone it touches, disrupting their sense of safety, impairing their ability to trust, and causing significant harm to physical and mental health. The therapeutic environment should foster safety, empowerment, and choice, because healing can only occur when people feel truly seen, heard, and supported. 

In addition to being trauma-informed, I have an integrative approach, which means I borrow from multiple therapeutic models instead of limiting myself to just one; this strategy allows me to adapt my treatment plan to my clients' unique needs, strengths, and preferences. Gilbert et. al. (2011) refers to integrative therapy as a "unifying approach" and a "multi-dimensional relational framework that can be created anew for each individual."  If you would like additional information about integrative psychotherapy, please click LEARN MORE below.  The following is a list of my preferred treatment models:

1. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): This method involves learning to control thoughts and change fundamental beliefs in order to reduce symptoms and problematic behaviors. CBT is the gold standard in mental healthcare because it is research-based and proven effective for treating a range of different issues and client populations. I am certified in several evidence-based practices (as defined in the FAQs) with foundations in CBT, including Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). 
2. Psychodynamic therapy: This is the traditional form of psychotherapy; the interventions are intended to facilitate insight and self-awareness, unmask the unconscious, examine underlying drives and defense mechanisms, and achieve self-actualization, among many other things. Psychodynamic therapy is effective for clients with problematic interpersonal relationships, unresolved conflict within their family of origin, unmet developmental needs from childhood, and avoidant or insecure attachment styles (just to name a few).
3. Humanistic: This approach falls under the "psychodynamic" umbrella; the interventions include expression of empathy, active listening, and      unconditional positive regard in order to build a strong therapeutic alliance, promote self-acceptance, and facilitate personal growth.
4. Existential: This approach also falls under the "psychodynamic" umbrella; it involves helping clients search for meaning, embrace both freedom and responsibility, and confront mortality.
5. Mindfulness & meditation help with staying present in the moment while tolerating unpleasant emotions.