Erin Carnahan
She/Her/Hers
Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor, CCMHC Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, LPCC National Certified Counselor, NCCShe/Her/Hers
Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor, CCMHC Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, LPCC National Certified Counselor, NCCErin Carnahan is a licensed mental health counselor based in Oakland, CA who provides online therapy to individuals with multiple marginalized identities and adults undergoing major life changes. Many of Erin’s clients come in to address painful experiences, religious trauma and abuse in un-affirming communities and relationships. She creates space and safety for people whose identities don’t fit neatly in one box to question and explore their identities and beliefs without judgment or condemnation. Erin is passionate about serving mixed-race and multicultural folks, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, neurodivergent people, and ex-vangelicals or Christians deconstructing their faith.
Erin’s practice is grounded in Client-Centered and Feminist Therapy and frequently incorporates cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). She collaborates with clients to unpack traumatic experiences and develop personalized strategies to dismantle and heal from harmful legacies of imposed and internalized beliefs.
In session, Erin continually works to acknowledge the layers of broader contexts to clients’ experiences (i.e. power imbalances in relationships, systems of oppression). In validating her clients’ experiences, Erin supports and empowers them towards greater acceptance and celebration of their intersectional identities and a life that is genuinely their own. Erin's style is warm, collaborative, and unconditionally accepting. When clients first start therapy, she respects and trusts their past and present experiences, boundaries, and self-knowledge to co-create a therapeutic environment and priorities that work for them .
Identity development - Understanding, accepting, and strengthening one’s sense of self through the exploration of family, work, and personal values; addressing issues such as, race, class, gender, and sexual orientation, in the context of self experience
LGBTQIA, gender, & sexuality topics - Exploring topics of sexuality, gender, and identity; coping with discrimination and oppression; navigating relationship, family, and cultural challenges
Race & cultural identity - Exploring topics of racial, cultural, and ethnic background as it relates to one’s family origins and personal identity
Spirituality & religion - Exploring beliefs and practices related to meaning, existence, and spiritual health and healing; enjoying a deeper felt connection with the spiritual dimension of one's life
Shame - Exploring how shame shows up in one’s life and the origins of this shame, especially in specific situations or environments; processing through this shame and developing an empowerment to feel less ashamed in daily life
Values clarification - Exploring one’s values, including their origins and how they impact daily decision-making and behaviors; making life changes according to these values and living a life aligned to one’s values
Erin Carnahan is not in-network with any insurances.
Read about the benefits of seeing an out-of-network provider here.
Years of Experience: 7 years
Living Oak Counseling, 2020 - Present
Earth Circles Counseling Center, 2017 - Present
Christian Counseling Centers, 2017 - 2021
Lincoln Families, 2016 - 2017
Wheaton College Counseling Center, 2015 - 2016
Wheaton College Graduate School, M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, 2016
Whitman College, B.A. in Psychology, 2009
California: 9075
English