Erica McCalden

As a long time Durango resident, parent of young children, and former School Social Worker Erica has a deep, personal understanding of the joys and challenges that come along with raising healthy humans in our beautiful and remote area. She highly values the power of connection and community in the work of growing up and being a parent and truly enjoys helping families appreciate, engage and connect with each other in new, more meaningful ways. Erica has a genuine, light, and down to earth style that fosters feelings of safety, trust, hope and connection. 

Erica specializes in helping children who struggle with emotional regulation and social skills resulting in low self-esteem, challenging behaviors and school problems. She works with school-aged children who have experienced trauma and/or been diagnosed with ADHD, Autism, Anxiety, Depression or other behavioral health disorders. With a comprehensive understanding of school-based interventions and Special Education, she has helped many parents and families learn to navigate challenges at school and be a strong, realistic advocate for their child. 

She empowers clients to set meaningful, attainable goals for themselves and work together to create real solutions for complex issues in their lives. She uses therapeutic approaches grounded in Mindfulness, Play Therapy, Social Thinking, Love and Logic, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Motivational Interviewing.