Erica Pardi, LMHC

Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Training: Erica earned her Bachelor’s in Psychology from The College of Saint Rose. She attended graduate study in Massachusetts, earning her Master’s in Counseling Psychology, from William James College. Erica is dual- licensed in MA and NY. She has a diverse training background having worked in both states in a variety of settings (hospitals, clinics, family homes) as well as people of all ages, giving her a well-rounded perspective. Erica was trained by the International OCD Foundation in the treatment of OCD (BTTI), leading to this specialty for the past 7 years. She continues to attend training on the most up-to-date methods and is currently working on incorporating the overlap of trauma into her work with OCD.

Clinical Expertise: Erica has lived experience with the symptoms and treatment of OCD which she feels offers a special kind of understanding and empathy when treating others who also have OCD and related illnesses. Erica utilizes evidence based methods including Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral therapy (I-CBT), Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) while also interweaving strategies from person-centered, motivational interviewing, and solution focused therapies to accent treatment.

Approach: Erica views each person as unique and works to create an individualized path to help those she works with reach their specific goals. Erica is collaborative and often proactive in helping create and sustain change. Erica seeks a strong therapeutic alliance to help facilitate this. She values being her authentic self and will often use humor, real life examples, and struggles to not only demonstrate that she is human also, but also to build the trust necessary for treatment.

Diversity & Inclusion: Erica's training has provided her the opportunity to work with a variety of different people. She views a person's background as including many different factors and an important piece to who they are as a whole. Erica works to create a safe space where individuals can feel comfortable to discuss what is most important to them. Erica is also passionate about providing accessible care for all people and strives to remain multiculturally sensitive.

Erica treats teens and adults.

Sarah Van Munster, EdM, LMHC

Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Training: Sarah earned her B.A. in English Literature and Psychology at the State University of New York at Geneseo in 2010. She went on to earn her master’s degree in Education from Nazareth College in 2012, and a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from St. John Fisher College in 2021. For Sarah’s graduate counseling internship, she worked as a family-based treatment counselor at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC).

Clinical Expertise: As a mental health counselor, Sarah offers evidence-based treatment informed by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD, and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). She has also been trained in Narrative Therapy and Motivational Interviewing to help clients establish new behaviors based on their personal strengths and values. At Meridian, Sarah specializes in working with transracial adopted persons, as well as clients experiencing OCD, Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs, skin picking, hair pulling; using the ComB Method) anxiety, depression, and significant life transitions.

Approach: Sarah emphasizes treating the whole client. This involves holding up and integrating all parts of their unique, intersecting identities. Sarah believes in establishing a healthy therapeutic relationship built on compassion and empathy, striving to promote a space for clients to explore and identify areas for growth. She teaches and supports the development of effective coping skills including emotion regulation, mindfulness, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. Sarah honors each individual’s lived experience and works to create a safe environment in which clients are empowered to confront barriers and re-author stories of success.

Diversity & Inclusion: Throughout Sarah’s career, she has worked with clients from a wide range of backgrounds. Her approach incorporates multicultural counseling, and she utilizes these strategies to help clients develop awareness and intention within various cultural systems. Sarah has specific experience with international populations, and regularly attends trainings that provide increased competency regarding sociocultural identities and the needs of underserved communities.

Ages: Sarah treats individual adults.