Erik Westegaard

Hello! My name is Erik Westegaard, and I’m a graduate level clinician at Grace Integrated. I’m currently pursuing my master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

I have experience working as a crisis counselor in an emergency department, supporting individuals, couples, and families who come for help with their mental health. I have worked with people of all ages and backgrounds struggling with a wide variety of mental health issues including mood disorders, mania, psychosis, and trauma.

My approach to therapy is based on empathy, collaboration, and trust. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness-based methods to help clients build distress tolerance and change unproductive and negative thinking patterns. I believe that all behavior is learned because it was at one point useful to us. Sometimes unlearning that behavior when it is no longer useful, or even harmful, is difficult to do alone. My goal is to provide a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment. Anything that is learned can be unlearned, and new things can always be learned too!