Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Rutledge.
Hi Erica, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I didn’t grow up saying I wanted to be a therapist. I just grew up being that girl. The one who listened, asked too many questions, and tried to make sense of everyone’s drama. Eventually, I realized there was a whole career for that.
Fast forward to 2016: I graduated with a degree in Mental Health Counseling and dove into group practice life, learning alongside other clinicians who were just as passionate as I was. Four years later, I decided to open my own practice while also working toward my supervisor license (because apparently I thrive on the chaos).
By 2022, I had fallen in love with counselor education and supervision, so I shifted my focus there full-time. Supporting other practices and guiding new clinicians lit a spark within me, and it felt incredible to know I was indirectly reaching hundreds of clients through the therapists I was training and supporting.
And then, in April of this year, I finally launched one of my long-term dreams: Phases Counseling Collective. It’s a fully online group practice serving clients ages 12 and up anywhere in South Carolina. The name “Phases” came naturally. We all go through different seasons of life, and therapy is often about finding the courage to navigate them.
I’ve been a counselor for nearly a decade, but I’ve been a helper for as long as I can remember. Counseling just gave me the language, the training, and the community to keep doing what I was already wired to do.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth road? Not exactly. More like a winding trail with a few potholes. Like a lot of helpers, one of my biggest struggles has been learning where “Erica the therapist” ends and “Erica the human” begins. Early on, I had a hard time saying no. I wanted to help everyone, all the time, even if I was running on fumes. Spoiler: that does not work long-term.
That tendency led me straight into burnout a few times, which forced me to have some honest conversations with colleagues, supervisors, and yes, my own therapist.
The recurring theme? Boundaries, boundaries, boundaries. It turns out I’m not much use to anyone if I’m running on empty, so I’ve had to practice what I preach and prioritize taking care of myself first.
It’s still a work in progress (isn’t it always?), but I’ve learned that setting limits doesn’t make me less of a helper. It actually makes me a better one.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Phases Counseling Collective is a fully online group practice serving clients ages 12 and up anywhere in South Carolina. I chose the name “Phases” because it captures what therapy is all about: navigating the different seasons of life, whether that’s adolescence, parenting, career changes, grief, or just figuring out who you are in this world.
What sets us apart is how personal and relational our approach is. We believe therapy works best when clients feel genuinely seen and understood, not when they’re treated like a number on a caseload. Our therapists are compassionate, down-to-earth, and not afraid to balance warmth with a little bit of challenge when it’s needed.
I’m especially proud of how Phases was built with both clients and clinicians in mind. For clients, that means flexible, accessible care from home (no commute, no waiting rooms). For clinicians, it means supportive supervision, professional growth, and a culture that prioritizes longevity and community over burnout and turnover.
At the end of the day, I want people to know that Phases isn’t just another counseling practice. It’s a space where both clients and therapists can grow.
We’re here for the messy middle, the big transitions, and all the phases in between.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my favorite childhood memories is decorating a straw sun hat with my late Aunt Carolyn, though I always called her Aunt Carla. We were upstairs in her craft room, surrounded by bins of tiny pieces of cloth, sewing patterns, and all things sparkly and pretty. By the end of our creative session, the hat was full of colorful artificial flowers and finished with a large white bow on the back.
Aunt Carla and I were a lot alike: creative, empathic, and endlessly curious about the world around us. I remember feeling completely seen and heard with her, whether we were crafting, writing letters back and forth, or just sharing a quiet moment. Aunt Carla passed away during the peak of COVID and I miss her dearly, but I carry her spirit with me in the way I approach my work: noticing the small details, nurturing creativity, and truly listening to the people I’m with.
Pricing:
- Counseling session, self-pay: $85
- In-network with most insurance plans
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.phasescc.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/phasescc
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericaflemingrutledge/
