Erika, a proud Latina immigrant born and raised in Mexico City, embodies a life dedicated to understanding and navigating multiple cultures. Fluent in both English and Spanish, her bicultural background enriches her approach, making her a relatable and empathetic ally in the therapeutic process. After moving to the USA to attend St. Mary’s University in Minnesota, she embraced her new identity, combining her passion for social justice with her commitment to mental health advocacy.
Therapeutic Approach:
Her therapeutic toolbox is extensive, featuring modalities like EMDR, trauma-informed practices, Internal Family Systems (IFS), psychodynamic and relational therapies, experiential techniques, and mindfulness, among others. Erika’s approach is holistic and tailored, emphasizing ego state therapy and parts work to foster deep, transformative healing.
Specialization:
Erika’s clinical expertise spans a wide range of areas, including complex trauma and dissociation, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, intergenerational trauma, family of origin issues, and more. She is especially passionate about supporting individuals who tend to overfunction—those who often carry the weight for others, strive to meet high expectations, and find it difficult to rest or ask for help. Erika helps these clients gently explore patterns rooted in perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and shame, while guiding them toward greater self-compassion, confidence, and balance in their pursuit of a more fulfilling, sustainable life.
Education:
Erika is currently a doctoral candidate in Counselor Education and Supervision at Adler University, projected to complete her degree in 2025. Her dissertation focuses on exploring EMDR modifications when working with bilingual clients. She holds a degree in Counseling Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology and an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Counseling Education from Winona State University. Erika is also trained in Internal Family Systems Level 2 from the IFS Institute, and is progressing toward her EMDR certification with EMDRIA, along with training in understanding ketamine assisted therapy from Fluence. Her clinical and research interests include the intersection of trauma and identity, trauma in athletes and endurance sports, and culturally responsive trauma treatment. Her work is grounded in the integration of somatic approaches, EMDR, and Internal Family Systems to support holistic healing and post-traumatic growth.
Hobbies:
As an endurance athlete, Erika enjoys pushing her physical limits and connecting with nature. She regularly engages in running, biking, and rock climbing, finding these activities vital for maintaining her physical health and mental clarity. Occasionally, she also enjoys swimming, which adds a refreshing variety to her fitness regimen. These hobbies not only provide her with personal fulfillment but also enhance her therapeutic presence through increased empathy, resilience, and a balanced lifestyle.
Join Erika at our center, where her expertise and compassionate approach help clients navigate their paths to healing, grounded in an understanding of cultural, personal, and systemic contexts.
Madeline is a Licensed Professional Counselor focusing on the treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD, ADHD, chronic pain and illness, life transitions, and interpersonal difficulties. She uses an integrative, biopsychosocial approach to help clients improve their physical and emotional well-being and to strengthen their interpersonal relationships.
Therapeutic approach:
Madeline’s goal is to help clients foster deep personal understanding and growth to create long-lasting change. She has a specific interest in supporting clients from a variety of cultural backgrounds in exploring gender, sexuality, and identity development. My understanding of diverse identities and backgrounds is informed by my experience as an LGBTQIA+ individual.
Specialization:
Madeline strives to bring compassion, empathy, humor, and strength-based approaches to the therapeutic change process. Drawing from my clinical, research, and teaching experience, I integrate ideas and approaches from relational and trauma-informed therapy, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). I also utilize mindfulness, relaxation, and stress management tools to develop active coping and self-care strategies. Through these techniques and the therapeutic relationship, I am committed to helping clients achieve their goals and create a meaningful life.
Education:
Madeline holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology from Knox College and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Her comprehensive educational background has equipped her with a strong foundation in psychological principles and clinical practices, enabling her to provide high-quality, evidence-based care to her clients.
Hobbies:
In her personal time, Madeline enjoys long-distance running, playing piano and crosswords, going to the theater, reading, and gardening.
Daniela is a highly versatile and dedicated healthcare leader with 23 years of experience in administrative support and physician practice management operations. Known for fostering a strong and positive work atmosphere, she brings exceptional multitasking skills and the ability to quickly prioritize tasks to achieve successful outcomes. Daniela is detail-oriented and has advanced expertise in HCPCS coding systems and guidelines.
As our Billing Coordinator, she utilizes her skills to coordinate and verify benefits while addressing any questions related to scheduling or billing. Fluent in both Spanish and English, Daniela is an excellent communicator who connects seamlessly with a diverse range of people.
Education:
Daniela attended Saint Mary’s University in Minnesota and completed her advanced training at Purdue University.
Specialization:
Daniela brings over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry and has specialized in medical billing for the past five years. As our Billing Coordinator, she expertly handles benefit coordination and verification and is happy to assist with any questions regarding scheduling or billing.
Hobbies: Daniela enjoys spending quality time with her family, friends, and dog. An avid reader, she’s always ready to share a great book recommendation, so don’t hesitate to ask!
Hello and welcome to Urban Summit Psychotherapy!
We are thrilled to introduce you to our newest team member, Kylo, 11 month old European Boxer with a heart full of love and a passion for helping others.
Kylo may be young, but he already understands the importance of healing and companionship. His gentle spirit and playful nature create a comforting atmosphere for everyone who walks through our doors. As he begins his journey as a therapy dog, Kylo is dedicated to supporting you in your healing process and helping you achieve your personal goals.
Whether it’s a wag of his tail or a nuzzle of affection, Kylo is here to remind you that you are never alone. Together, we can navigate the ups and downs of therapy, fostering a space where growth and connection flourish.
Join us in welcoming Kylo to the Urban Summit family! We can’t wait for you to meet him and experience the joy he brings to our community.
With love,
The Urban Summit Team
