Erika Hess, MS, LMFT

Erika Hess is the Clinical Services Director of SHAW - Counseling at UW- Milwaukee.  She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor.  Erika obtained her undergraduate degree in Psychology with minors in Family Social Science and French Studies from the University of Minnesota and her Master’s in Counseling from San Diego State University. Before joining UWM in November 2022, she provided college counseling and clinical supervision at SDSU, and trauma therapy with torture survivors with asylum seekers, refugees, and undocumented legal statuses.  She also brings over a decade of experience in community mental health with individuals, couples, and families.

Erika’s approach is grounded in narrative therapy which centers you as the expert of your life, honors your identities and the effects of sociopolitical context on your health and wellbeing, and focuses on (re)connecting with personal and collective skills, values, and committed actions to shift your relationship with the problems you would like to address. She also draws from psychophysiological approaches (mindfulness, biofeedback, and EMDR), acceptance and commitment therapy, and solution-focused approaches. Additionally, she offers emotionally focused couples therapy. Erika enjoys being able to support students in exploring identity and moving towards preferred and fulfilling lives and relationships. Her clinical interests include trauma, anxiety, mindfulness and body-based approaches, cultural adjustment, and the effects of social narratives and systems on physiology and health.  Outside of work, Erika enjoys playing music, de-stressing through mindfulness and hikes, and spending time with my loved ones and her two shih-tzus.