There’s a quiet strength in choosing to face what’s been avoided, in deciding that you no longer have to carry your pain alone.

I’m Erick Santos, a bilingual (Spanish/English) Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and trauma therapist. I specialize in helping people who are ready to heal from trauma, anxiety, struggling with grief, and the invisible weight of generational patterns. As a child of Salvadoran parents who fled the civil war, I carry a deep personal understanding of what it means to live with intergenerational trauma and the power of breaking cycles so that future generations can experience something different. This lived experience shapes the way I show up as a therapist: with compassion, curiosity, and respect for the strength gained from adversity.

I particularly chose clinical social work to expose myself to various theoretical orientations such as systems theory which conveys that development influenced by interplaying systems. I’m aware of these interplaying forces and also how learning behaviors through the observation of others leading to modeling of those behaviors. While I do draw on these theoretical approaches when working with individuals, I also draw from evidence-based practices to best serve your therapeutic needs. My therapeutic style is client-centered, which means I collaborate with clients to identify an approach that may best work for you.

A young man with dark hair and a bright smile, wearing a light gray blazer and black shirt, standing outdoors in front of green bushes and purple flowers.

How I Work

I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to healing. My sessions often weave together Internal Family Systems (IFS), with EMDR therapy or Brainspotting, giving you space to process not just with your mind, but with your whole body and nervous system. I work collaboratively and welcome feedback; this is your therapy, and I want it to feel like a space where you can show up fully, at your own pace.

Creativity is an important part of my own life and I express it through music, rock climbing, skiing, and making art so I aim to bring that same creativity into sessions. Rather than playing the “expert,” I see therapy as a partnership. Together, we explore what’s coming up for you, honor every part of your experience, and create a plan that feels doable, safe, and empowering. I believe that even when you feel stuck or overwhelmed, you already carry the wisdom and capacity to heal. My role is to help you access that by helping you slow things down, build safety, and create space for your nervous system and inner world to catch up with your present-day self.

Healing can feel uncomfortable at times, but it’s also deeply liberating. My goal is to help you move from survival mode into a life that feels grounded, connected, and fully yours.

Am I the right therapist for you?

I am a client-centered therapist meaning, I meet you with unconditional positive regard, I am non-judgemental, non-directive and empathetic. You may think, well that sounds like most therapists. With me however, this would mean meeting you at the speed and pacing that you are willing to move in our therapeutic work. I am here to hold structured sessions but to also be flexible as “life” arises. 

Working with me means that it is a collaborative approach to work towards your treatment goals. It is often a feedback, reflective process of recognizing what is working and what maybe needs to be approached differently. Together we use fluidity at the right speed to ensure you feel comfortable and always grounded during and in-between our sessions. 

The most important aspect of working with me is to ensure that you are feeling  safe and grounded during and after our individual sessions. I am able to be flexible in scheduling if circumstances prevent us from meeting at our originally scheduled appointment or if you need additional support one particular week. I focus on building our therapeutic relationship so that you feel safe in being vulnerable in our session and as issues arise in our work together.

  • Master of Social Work- California State University of Long Beach

    Bachelor of Arts- University of California, Santa Cruz

    California Licensed Clinical Social Worker #113183

  • Brainspotting Phase 1- Mariya Javed-Payne- Awakening Consulting Services

    EMDR Therapy Phase 1 for Basic Certification- Humanitarian Assistance Program 

    EMDR Therapy Phase 2 for Basic Certification- Humanitarian Assistance Program

    EMDRIA (Eye Movement Desensitization Therapy International Association) Certified Therapist

    EMDR Therapy and IFS Parts: Integration Protocol- Dr. Kendhal Hart (EMDRIA approved training)

    Internal Family System- Transcending Trauma- Frank Anderson 

  • I have over a decade of experience across dual diagnosis residential treatment/PHP centers, substance use recovery, foster youth wraparound services, outpatient mental health and psychiatric hospitals. Now in private practice I specialize and support clients through complex trauma, anxiety, depression, and relationship challenges.