Erin Poniewaz, LPC | NCC
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 18 years of experience walking alongside individuals and families through some of life’s most vulnerable seasons. I hold a Master’s degree in Art Therapy and Clinical Counseling from Southwestern College in Santa Fe, NM, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Webster University in St. Louis, where I was born, raised, and now live with my husband and two children.
My work has been deeply shaped by my passion for supporting women and families during pregnancy, postpartum, and the transition into parenthood. Prior to co-founding Lumen Wellness & Counseling, I specialized in perinatal mental health at the St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute and previously created and led the Mother-Baby Intensive Outpatient Program at Mercy Hospital. I hold advanced certification in the treatment of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders and feel honored to journey with families as they move toward healing, connection, and hope.
Beyond perinatal mental health, I work with individuals navigating depression, anxiety, relationship challenges, grief and loss, life transitions, parenting a disabled child, bonding/attachment concerns, and chronic stress. I am trained in art therapy and often incorporate creative expression as a powerful tool for insight, healing, and self-discovery. My background includes extensive inpatient and outpatient psychiatric experience, as well as licensure supervision.
My work is rooted in a deep trust in people’s capacity to heal, adapt, and grow. I strive to create a safe, compassionate space where you can show up exactly as you are—messy, uncertain, hopeful, or overwhelmed—and feel truly seen and heard. I take an honest, person-centered, and collaborative approach, helping you set intentional goals and remain accountable to the life you want to create. Change can feel frightening and uncomfortable, but it is also where growth and transformation live. You were never meant to do this work alone, and while I am not interested in making your decisions for you, I do commit to offering you a new perspective and will perhaps, teach you a thing or two along the way…I look forward to the journey!