Erin L. Neill, PhD, LCSW, EMDR Certified Therapist
I am a trauma specialist with experience seeing clients with a range of issues from childhood abuse or neglect, sexual abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, accidents, natural disasters, survivors of violence, and first responders.
I am trained and fully certified in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) as well as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)—the top two gold standard treatments for trauma exposure and PTSD. I also have specific training in TF-CBT, or Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, a treatment specifically for kids and teens who have experienced traumatic events.
CBT is also used to treat anxiety and depression, and I have a wealth of experience treating these conditions as well.
I created HEART Counseling because I believe that health and healing can be achieved through education, active participation in your treatment, and the use of effective, researched-based treatments.
I am a strengths-based, trauma-informed clinical social worker. I believe that we all have the strength within us to heal, we may just need someone to walk along side us and remind us of that strength from time to time.
I see everyone from kids as young as 10, to teens, college students, young adults, and adults. I’m also particularly passionate about perinatal mental health and working with parents at all stages.
I care deeply for my clients and am passionate about helping them live their best lives. I often use humor in my sessions and love to connect with clients on their interests.
I am not currently accepting new clients. I will re-evaluate my ability to take new clients in the spring of 2025.
Professional Licenses
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Wisconsin
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University
- Master of Science (MS) in Applied Developmental Psychology, University of New Orleans
- Master of Social Work (MSW), University of Pennsylvania
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (BA), The Catholic University of America
Research
Dr. Neill has an extensive educational background and training in the clinical and research applications of evidence-based treatments for trauma exposure and PTSD, experience teaching at the university level, as well as authorship of over 25 peer-reviewed journal articles and conference presentations of original research.
Espil, F. M., Rettger, J., Weems, C. F., Neill, E. L., & Carrion, V. G. (2021). Measuring the fidelity of a school-based yoga and mindfulness curriculum for youth: A transdisciplinary feasibility study. Child & Youth Care Forum, 50(1), 57 -75. DOI: 10.1007/s10566-020-09558-1
Weems, C. F., Camp, R. D., Neill, E. L., & Scott, B. G. (2020). Developmental differences in child and adolescent reasoning about anxiety sensations. Cognitive Therapy and Research. DOI: 10.1007/s10608-020-10182-5
Weems, C. F., Russell, J. D., Neill, E. L., & McCurdy, B. (2018). Annual Research Review: Pediatric posttraumatic stress disorder from a neurodevelopmental network perspective. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12996
Neill, E. L., Weems, C. F., & Scheeringa, M. S. (2018). CBT for child PTSD is associated with reductions in maternal depression: Evidence for bidirectional effects. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 47(3), 410-420. DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2016.1212359
Neill, E. L. (2017, Apr. 25). The role of parents in mental health and trauma therapy. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach: Science of Parenting blog.
Weems, C. F., Russell, J.D., Banks, D. M., Graham, R. A., Neill, E. L. & Scott, B. G. (2014). Memories of traumatic events in childhood fade after experiencing similar less stressful events: Results from two natural experiments. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 143(5), 2046-2055. DOI: 10.1037/xge0000016
