Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT

About Erica Thomas

Welcome, I’m really glad you’re here.

If you’re struggling with binge eating or emotional eating, you may have spent a long time feeling confused, ashamed, or frustrated with yourself. Many of the people I work with have tried to change their eating again and again, only to feel more discouraged over time. My role is not to judge or control your eating, but to help you understand it.

I’m a licensed therapist with over 15 years of experience, and my work today is focused on helping people heal their relationship with food through self-compassion, curiosity, and understanding. I believe that binge eating makes sense in context. Food often becomes a way to cope with stress, overwhelm, emotional pain, or unmet needs. When we understand why eating has taken on this role, change becomes possible without shame.

Like many therapists, I consider my work a labor of love. Early in my career, I spent countless hours listening, asking questions, and learning how to sit with people in their most vulnerable moments. Over time, I’ve developed a strong ability to help people recognize the patterns they feel stuck in and to gently find new ways forward.

Therapy with me is collaborative. Some people need space to explore their history and process emotions. Others want practical tools, structure, and guidance. Often, it’s a combination of both. We move at a pace that feels respectful of your nervous system and your lived experience.

My background includes extensive experience with addiction-informed approaches, including 12-step frameworks, Motivational Interviewing, and Harm Reduction. I also bring training in mindfulness meditation and Whole Body Focusing, a guided, body-based approach that can be especially helpful when you feel stuck or disconnected from yourself. These approaches support awareness, self-regulation, and compassion rather than self-criticism.

In case you’re wondering about my training, I hold a B.A. in Psychology with a focus on Child Development from Smith College, and an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies.

At the heart of my work is a simple belief: you are not broken. Healing doesn’t come from trying harder or being more disciplined. It comes from learning to respond to yourself with understanding and care. You don’t need to have it all figured out to begin.