Erika is not accepting new clients at this time.
Erika (she/her) is the owner of Mantra Mental Health Counseling. Erika opened the practice (formerly Erika Vargas LMHC) in 2015, having previously worked at an eating disorder treatment center in Intensive Outpatient and Partial Hospitalization levels of care. Erika works with older adolescents (16+) and adults with a clinical focus on disordered eating, anxiety & obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), perinatal mental health, and sexual trauma.
The hallmark of Erika’s clinical approach is acceptance, incorporating aspects of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), and exposure and response prevention (ERP). Erika loves to use analogies and humor in her sessions, and her clients describe her as direct, engaged, and empathic.
Erika is passionate about providing weight-inclusive care, promoting healthy body image, encouraging the practice of self-compassion, and exploring the impact of social media on self-esteem. Outside of work, Erika enjoys walking her dog, discovering new places with her littles, and dreaming about visiting her favorite place (Peru) again.
Trainings:
Jewish Eating Disorder Professionals Conference (JEDPRO); 2025
International OCD Foundation: Virtual Conference, 2022
Cognitive Behavior Institute Four-Day Intensive Workshop: Exposure & Response Prevention Therapy (ERP) for OCD
NOCD Academy: Exposure Therapy for Eating Disorders
Postpartum Support International: Perinatal Mood Disorders: Components of Care
Postpartum Support International: Advanced Perinatal Mental Health Psychotherapy Training
Medical University of South Carolina Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) Training
Person-Centered Tech: Privacy Ethics and HIPAA Fundamentals; HIPAA Ethical and Standard of Care Issues for Teletherapy