ERICA GIVNER, DSW, LCSW, EMDR-C

Lead Clinician / Owner

Erica L. Givner is a pioneer in the social work space who has served Black/African American clients for the past two decades. Since the beginning of her professional career, she has been inspired by the plight of Black America and uses her professionalism as a tool to heal her community. Givner has stated that her agility and focus when she has had to “hit the ground running” in various life circumstances has defined her outlook and workflow in the most positive way. From being a teen mother, a veteran, to an entrepreneur of 2 businesses Givner is thankful for the many challenges in her life which have allowed her to remain deeply connected to her clients and colleagues. In 2007, Givner received her Bachelor’s and Master of Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh and began her career as a therapist and soul connector, contributing to healing Black America. She received her doctorate in social work from Simmons University in 2023.

A doer, risk taker, and critical thinker, Givner exemplifies commitment to her community by standing on the frontlines of intergenerational wellness. She founded her passion project, A Vision Towards Peace Counseling Services, LLC in 2012 and takes pride in her direct and hands on and approach to healing from a culturally sensitive perspective. During this time, one of the many ways in which she ensured her services would remain accessible to her community was by working with the Pre Trial Services Supervision Unit to provide free and reduced-price mental health evaluations and drug and alcohol assessments.

By 2013, Givner was ready to add a brick and mortar to her resume and opened A Peace of Mind (APOM). APOM is a non-traditional therapeutic wellness studio which also provides a soon to be 20-hour day care center for Allegheny county. APOM is truly a family project and was proudly founded by Givner and her daughter, Felicia Robinson.

Givner draws strength from her family and prefers to spend her valuable time with her husband, four children, and three grandchildren soon to be four, when she is not working. She views her family as a close knit unit and safe space, which empowers her to do her absolute best, every day. Because of her unit, she is able to stay committed to healing and exemplifying her best self, every day.

Known for her “feelings aren’t facts” mentality, Givner’s resiliency, reliability, and commitment to Wilkinsburg earned her the recognition of Business Person of the Year in 2013. She is a past member of the Pittsburgh African American Leadership Association and also won the 2013 Blazing Leader Award.

In 2014, she was nominated for the 50 Women of Excellence Award and joined the inaugural class of Who’s Who in Black Pittsburgh. That spring, she was also invited to join the Greater Pittsburgh Business and Professional Women’s Club. She is currently a member of the African American Leadership Council.

She has been featured in the Pittsburgh Courier, SoulPitt, the Wilkinsburg Sun, the Atlanta Daily World, Whirl Magazine and PublicSource detailing topics related to purpose, health and community. Along with Pennsylvania State and Allegheny County Proclamations from both Governor Tom Wolf and Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto. She was also on nationally syndicated talk show host Mel Robbins of the Mel Robbins Show invited her as an expert to discuss addiction and trauma and their correlation to mental health.

In 2017, Givner was recognized as Entrepreneur/Business of the Year through the Wilkinsburg Chamber of Commerce and by Softer Side Seminars as a Champion for Building Self Esteem in Women.

In an effort to give back the honors and accolades which have been presented to her, Givner created “Passion Meets the Road” in 2013. Which is a platform she uses to honor local professionals in the social service industry, who work diligently and consistently to serve others. She is happy to have been honoring professionals of color in her network for the past 7 years. Erica draws her inspiration from media icon Beyoncé and has embodied her work ethic from a therapeutic and trauma-informed healing perspective. While staying committed to her husband and family, she personifies black woman excellence and proudly continues to lift as she climbs. She has been described as fearless, faithful, loving, and proud, gives all glory for God for her trials and tribulations and stands proudly on the frontlines of healing and mental health.