Erica Bales’ journey to becoming a Senior Therapist at Monarch began in upstate New York, as an undergraduate student at Binghamton University. While the mental health field had always piqued her interest, a Psychology 101 course helped serve as the catalyst for her professional career.
Now over a decade into her vocation, Erica has spent the last eight years at Monarch, helping the people tackle their behavioral and mental health challenges.
Erica sports many hats in her day-to-day work. While leading individual and group sessions are her primary patient-focused duties, she refers to herself as a multi-tasking wizard. She serves as a liaison between Monarch’s management and therapists, supports therapists on the Virtual Open Access team and provides training to Monarch’s new therapists.
Leadership development is among her main passions, as she feels a responsibility to mentor other therapists and social workers, duties her role as a Senior Therapist allows for.
Throughout her time, she has made a difference in the lives of her patients, receiving high praise along the way.
“I was a social worker for 35 years, and of all my peers, people I worked with, people I supervised, she’s the best, hands down,” said Laura Conn, a patient of Erica’s. “I just feel so safe and so accepted. She’s not afraid to challenge me. She will confront me, but she’s very gentle. It’s really been a wonderful, wonderful experience.”
Fostering a safe and supportive environment has been a pillar of her success, as she approaches each session with a non-judgmental, empathetic and kind attitude.
Like Monarch, Erica focuses on helping people live the lives they choose and desire. She upholds this motto every day, applying her knowledge and expertise to the wants of her patients.
“I may be an expert in my field, but people are experts on themselves,” said Erica. “I marry my knowledge with their life experience so that we can collaboratively work toward their success in reaching goals. I support people in defining what success looks like for them and working toward that vision.”
Erica enjoys celebrating the people we serve finding success, building them up along the way.
In many instances, however, the road to success is not a walk in the park, as progress is not always linear. Setbacks occur, ups and downs are present and some patients may stagnate in their growth.
It’s a reality in the world of behavioral health, but one Erica is equipped for.
As setbacks occur for her patients, they also made their way into Erica’s personal life. In 2022, she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. However, the roadblock did not deter Erica, as she went through chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation treatments all while continuing her role with Monarch.
Despite the life-changing diagnosis, Erica has always been dedicated to her career and staying up to date with research and best practices in the world of behavioral health. She recently attended the National Association of Social Work – Fall Conference, a convention she takes part in annually.
While she remains educated on the current trends in therapy, she also provides insights to things people may misunderstand about the world of behavioral health. One of which is confrontation.
“People often avoid confrontation, but it can actually be healthy and necessary. In order for people to change what is not working for them, they need honesty, genuine concern and support,” said Erica. “Healthy confrontation means identifying specifically what is not working for someone and being willing to address uncomfortable feelings. There is no change without struggle, honesty, and forgiveness.”
While Erica relishes helping those she serves break barriers and make strides in their battles with mental health issues, she also enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.
The cancer survivor and mother of two serves a primary role in helping Monarch meet its mission of supporting people through caring and compassionate services.
If you are interested in learning more about roles similar to Erica’s, visit our careers page to see open positions.