Meet Erin Runt—Therapist at Best Therapists

Erin specializes in providing relationship therapy to adults; in particular, she most commonly works with couples as well as provides adult family therapy. She utilizes an approach that is predominantly informed by Emotionally-Focused Couple Therapy as well as the Gottman Method, in addition to taking a trauma-competent and trauma-informed approach. She has completed extra training in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Additionally, she engages in ongoing training and learning around anti-racism and anti-bias. She strives to provide an affirming therapy experience for all identities and neurotypes. She is a sex-positive, kink and poly-friendly therapist. Erin's training is rooted in relationship therapy, and Erin takes a relational and systemic view to the work she does with all clients. She has a Master's Degree in Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, OR. She has practiced as a licensed marriage and family therapist since 2013 and is currently licensed to practice in four states. In addition to her experience as a clinician, Erin has provided clinical supervision to graduate students as well as pre-licensed professionals. Erin has also taught courses in clinical skill development at her alma mater, Lewis and Clark College. She has experience as a clinician, a program manager, and an administrator.

I approach therapy as an opportunity to be trusted with a person, couple, or family’s inner and outer worlds. When I’m in the room with you, my attention and energy is focused on understanding you, supporting you, and challenging you. My clients appreciate my direct communication style, my tendency toward being transparent and collaborative, and my sense of humor. Couples tell me that my ability to hold space for each of their perspectives, as well as my tendency to “translate” their experiences to one another, help them overcome the barriers they feel in communication and support them in being more vulnerable and assertive in their relationships. Clients have expressed appreciation for my ability to listen, reflect back, and provide challenge and new insight into their experiences. You can expect me to be intentional, goal-oriented, and structured with my overall therapy approach, while also being flexible and collaborative about the way we reach those goals and how to ensure you feel you’re spending your time in therapy working on what’s most important.

Masters in Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy | Lewis and Clark College, 2011