Erin Chapel

Welcome! My name is Erin and somehow (the stars aligning, boredom, desperation, friend, family member, coworker, or a ruthless Google search) you’ve found me! I am a military spouse with five great kids; a rollercoaster ride that has taught me the true meaning of unconditional love and sacrifice, the importance of picking my battles, what it means to be truly humbled, and that when my mom shared, ‘just because you CAN doesn’t mean you should’ she might have been onto something profound. I’ve learned that while 3+6=9 so does 2+7; there is rarely a single way to reach a common goal. If you enjoy visuals, imagine five kids attempting to get ready for school before 7:30 in the morning. Even with three bathrooms we have limited hot water so flushing a toilet has become an effective way to get another sibling (or parent) out of the shower! Patience, long-suffering and the ability to laugh at absurdity are other lessons learned through my ongoing experience of being a wife and mother.

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I have a special place in my heart for military members and their families and can relate to the unique lifestyle and other sacrifices that they are asked to make on a daily basis. I appreciate my husband, brother and son-in-law for their military service and the lessons I’ve learned through their experiences. I’ve worked with clients from numerous fire and law enforcement departments in both NV and CA and recognize the reality that their service is not without sacrifice from both themselves and their families. Being 'voluntold' to work overtime on holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and any other day that might be personally meaningful, regularly, is an unfortunate norm. I appreciate working with a demographic that shows up when called throughout COVID, riots where their safety is jeopardized, the worst fire season(s) in history, and any other event or situation that necessitates a response. I am passionate about helping the helpers and am honored to receive their call(s) for service. I currently serve as clinical advisor to Reno Fire Department’s Peer Support  Team, I have also served as a clinical advisor to the Nevada  Peer Support Network. Recently, I became the first Certified First Responder Counselor in the State of NV. I will never stop learning how best to help...you

Unfortunately, military service, a career in law enforcement, fire or emergency medicine takes a toll in many areas of an individual’s life. Anxiety, depression, troubled relationships, sleepless nights, anger, substance overuse (you like that one?), isolation and feeling that no one gets ‘It’, are a handful of the issues that often plague veterans and first responders. You're the first ones in and the last to reach out for help. I can guarantee, you're not as alone as you feel…at least you don’t have to be. You speak your own language and I get that. I provide a safe and confidential place for you to share your experiences, hardships, trials and successes. I'm very familiar with our community agencies and many of the powers that be within them, and I believe that this familiarity helps us to get to what brings YOU in, sooner and with a lot less explanation needed on your part.  I've been told that I get 'It', one of the highest compliments a clinician serving your demographic can receive. You don’t serve alone and you don’t have to figure out how to work out the things that go bump in the night, alone. I am here.