Connecticut Destigmatized - Erin Gilmore, LCSW

Erin Gilmore, LCSW | email

Why do you do what you do?

I do what I do for many reasons. I do what I do because I believe that part of healing and growth comes from getting outside of ourselves and allowing ourselves to be in the presence of others. I do what I do because I believe that people heal through connection, compassion, empathy and love; and I believe that people grow from being challenged to move towards things that they fear, as well as supported in saying goodbye to the things that no longer serve them. As a therapist, I do what I do in order to help others see the love, potential and light inside of themselves, and help them move towards that. Ironically, it is at times the light and power inside of themselves that they fear the most.

How are you making the world a better place?

I am hoping to make the world a better place through kindness and openness to individuals who are courageous enough to open up to me about their struggles, fears, hopes and desires. My hope is that everyone who sits with me sees that I possess no judgment or pre-conceived belief about who he is or where he is headed. In doing this, I hope to be making the world a better place. When someone can open up, when he believes that only respect is present, he can heal.

What are your thoughts on the stigma around mental health and what solution(s) do you have to destigmatize it?

Stigma surrounding mental illness and mental health is nothing new. It is nothing unique to one’s race, culture or sex. Any sort of stigma or prejudice blocks us from seeing the innate beauty of each person. It blocks us from connection. It limits our ability to help that person if she needs help, for that person to help us if we need help, and it often leads to depression or anger for the person who is prejudiced against another, or the person being stigmatized. We, as therapists and health care professionals, need to do more to help others dispel the social stigma surrounding mental illness; as well as self-stigma, which is the prejudice that those who struggle with mental illness have about themselves.  One way is through being an example in our personal life, as well as professional life. The other is through educating the community about stigma and the benefits to being more inclusive of all people, no matter what race, gender, religion or sexual orientation.

What would you like to promote at this time?

I feel very grateful to have the opportunity to start a small private practice on Sunday mornings in Hartford, CT beginning in Mid-July. I will be specializing in eating disorders and addictions, as my major was Co-occurring Disorders in my graduate degree program and I have experience treating both illnesses. At this time, I would like to promote awareness of the prevalence of substance abuse in the eating disorder population. According to the National Eating Disorder Association, up to half of the people who have eating disorders also have a co-occurring substance abuse problem. This is compared to 9% of the general population. Recovery from both substance abuse and eating disorders takes time, patience, a secure support network, hope and a willingness to be vulnerable and move towards one’s fear. Recently, I have known far too many individuals who have died due to their eating disorder or substance abuse. It is my hope that with more awareness of these two diseases, we will be able to lessen the stigma associated with each; see less people suffering and dying, and see more people recovering and living their lives to the fullest.

What is the best way for people to contact you to learn more?

To connect with me, people can call 860-251-9121 or email me at egilmorelcsw@privatep.hush.com. In addition to private practice, I am the Assistant Program Director at Walden Behavioral Care in South Windsor, CT. For an intake appointment or to learn more information about our Eating Disorder treatment programs, call 888-305-2997.