Meet the Team

Dr. Erika Swanson is a senior supervising Clinical Psychologist, DBT-Linehan Board of Certification Certified Clinician™ and the Clinical Director for the DBT Program at Clearwater. Since 2009, Dr. Swanson has specialized in DBT and trauma healing for adolescents, adults, and families.

She has also received intensive training in DBT Prolonged Exposure (DBT PE), which treats PTSD in adults and adolescents, as well as attachment-focused EMDR, an integrative trauma therapy developed by Laurel Parnell. She is a lead instructor for adult and multi-family DBT skills classes. She received her Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley and an M.A. in School Psychology from Teachers College. She completed her undergraduate degree in a joint program with Columbia University and Manhattan School of Music. Dr. Swanson brings a strong research background to her clinical work. Her original research has been published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology. Dr. Swanson is a mother of three children, a high-schooler and two middle-schoolers. Dr. Swanson is dedicated to the ongoing practice of DBT in her personal healing work. She strives to bring sincerity, respect, collaboration, and humor to her work with clients.

Dr. Swanson is not accepting new clients at this time.

Karen Erickson, LMFT is a senior supervising therapist and Assistant Clinical Director for the DBT Program at Clearwater. Ms. Erickson was intensively trained in DBT in 2008.  Prior to that, she specialized in trauma therapy, non directive play therapy, and attachment issues.  Ms. Erickson works with children, teens, and adults, and provides parent coaching, with a primary focus on the young adult population (she teaches the young adult DBT skills classes).  She is also one of the architects of the new DBT-informed child program, CAMMP, helping 3rd to 5th graders develop the skills to manage  anxiety, depression and mood volatility.  Karen specializes in trauma recovery and has completed level I training in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, DBT Prolonged Exposure (DBT PE), as well as attachment-focused EMDR, an integrative trauma therapy developed by Laurel Parnell, Ph.D. Ms. Erickson received her masters degree in clinical psychology from Saint Mary’s College in 2002 and has been a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist since 2009.

Karen is not accepting new DBT clients. She maintains limited availability for short-term trauma-focused therapy for clients who have an existing therapist. 

Hannah Sabet, MS is a queer, multiethnic, multilingual and highly sensitive PhD student in the Humanistic Clinical Psychology program at Saybrook University. They have been training in DBT at Clearwater under the supervision of Dr. Erika Swanson since 2023. Hannah was pre-med during their undergrad at Sarah Lawrence College, and also studied Spanish Literature and Poetry. They completed an MS in Mind-Body Medicine at Saybrook, where they honed an approach that is holistic and integrative, viewing mind-body-spirit connections as inextricable components to healing. Hannah has extensive experience teaching, counseling, and mentoring children, adolescents, and adults in various capacities, and worked as a lifeline counselor on the Trevor Project hotline. Their research focuses on ecotherapy, psychedelic-assisted therapy, and post-traumatic growth. Hannah has a deep passion for working with highly sensitive people and LGBTQ+ populations. In their free time, Hannah enjoys camping and spending time in nature with their two pups, reading and writing poetry, and playing cello in a band.

If you are interested in working with Hannah, please contact their supervisor, Dr. Erika Swanson, at erika@clearwaterclinic.com.

Carly Spagnola, AMFT is a registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist working under the supervision of Karen Erickson, LMFT. Carly is a graduate of the University of San Francisco where she received a masters in Counseling Psychology with a focus in marriage and family therapy. Carly’s coursework and clinical training at Alameda Family Services integrated multiple therapeutic approaches including family systems, psychodynamic, attachment, cognitive behavioral therapy, and narrative therapy. Throughout her time at Alameda Family Services, she received additional training in motivational interviewing and postmodern modalities. In her work with adolescent-aged youth, Carly enjoys incorporating art and play therapy as well as mindfulness into her practice. Previously, Carly trained as a trauma-informed sexual assault counselor in San Mateo where she supported adolescent and adult survivors in processing grief and trauma while navigating the legal and medical systems. In her free time, Carly is cooking for her friends and family and spending time outside.

If you are interested in working with Carly, please contact their supervisor, Karen Erickson, at karen@clearwaterclinic.com. 

Zoe Ashton Witt, AMFT is a registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist working under the supervision of Karen Erickson, LMFT. Zoe is a graduate of Touro University Worldwide where she received a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology. Zoe’s clinical training at Peace-it-Together Mental Health Services in Santa Clara County involved working with individuals, children and teens, couples, and families, and utilized multiple therapeutic approaches including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She received additional training in trauma-informed therapy, as well as in working with members of the neurodivergent community. Zoe enjoys incorporating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy techniques into her client care and has a particular interest in working with survivors of sexual assault and other traumas. When she has time off, Zoe loves to dance, drink good coffee, and cook creative (if not always tasty) meals.

If you are interested in working with Zoe, please contact their supervisor, Karen Erickson, at karen@clearwaterclinic.com

Kelly Dombek, BA, MPS, is a trainee at Clearwater working under the supervision of Dr. Erika Swanson. They are a fourth-year PhD student in UC Berkeley’s Clinical Science program and received their BA in Philosophy from Haverford College. Kelly’s research explores the psychophysiology of emotion regulation and sleep, and how variability in sleep patterns impact daily emotional experience. Prior to joining Clearwater as a DBT therapist, Kelly received training and supervision in cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic therapeutic approaches. Outside of the clinic, Kelly enjoys spending time with cats, eating burritos, and playing The Sims.

If you are interested in working with Kelly, please contact their supervisor, Dr. Erika Swanson, at: erika@clearwaterclinic.com.

Jocelyne is a bilingual, first-generation therapist who identifies with both BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. She brings clinical expertise and lived experience into the therapy space. She is an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor who works with children, adolescents, young adults, and families experiencing anxiety, depression, self-harm, trauma, grief, life transitions, and identity exploration. Jocelyne holds a B.A. in Psychology from California State University, East Bay, and an M.S. in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Clinical Counseling from Capella University. Fluent in English and advanced in Spanish, she has worked with individuals from diverse cultural, neurological, sexual, and gender identities, including children on the autism spectrum, transitional-aged youth, individuals involved in the foster care system, survivors of sexual and domestic violence, and those experiencing homelessness, substance use, and other co-occurring challenges. Her background includes work as a Registered Behavioral Interventionist, a bilingual research interviewer with the University of Wisconsin Survey Center, and clinical training at MindFit DBT, Kiva Spirit Foundation and the YMCA Youth Service Bureau of San Mateo County. Jocelyne has completed foundational training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).  She also draws from CBT, SFBT, and play- and art-informed approaches within a culturally responsive framework, offering a warm, collaborative space where clients feel seen, supported, and empowered. Outside of her clinical work, Jocelyne enjoys art and crafting, cooking, travel, spending time in nature, channeling her inner mermaid, and being a devoted dog mom to Stella.

If you are interested in working with Jocelyne, please contact their supervisor, Dr. Erika Swanson, at: erika@clearwaterclinic.com.