Erika Vinson, MAT, MA

Training Specialist (CPP, SPARCS)

Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS),

Erika Vinson, MAT, MA, has worked alongside children and families since 2006, striving to cultivate wellness and connection for individuals, populations, and larger communities. Erika’s background as an intensive in-home Child & Family Therapist, community arts & Girl Scouts program coordinator, Child Care Provider, and dance instructor for folks ages “0 to infinity,” has been a considerable source of gratitude and insight. Before joining the NC Child Treatment Program in 2023, Erika was a District Behavior Support Teacher Assistant and Exceptional Children’s (EC) Resource Teacher with Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools for a combined 10 years. Across all these efforts, Erika has maintained a trauma-informed lens to work toward the most equitable access to what each person needs.

As a Training Specialist with NC CTP, Erika is currently supporting the mental health workforce and fostering relationships by coordinating all aspects of in-person and virtual training for Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) and Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS) Learning Collaboratives. Erika loves helping facilitate meaningful learning experiences for trainees who engage our youngest neighbors ages 0-5 (CPP) as well as those who champion adolescents in schools and agencies across the state (SPARCS). Erika earned her Masters of Arts in Teaching Special Education from North Carolina Central University, her Master of Arts in Art Therapy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and her Bachelor of Arts from The University of Georgia.