Ms. Erin Lockwood is a therapist and a Counsel at First Appearance case manager with the Capital Area Private Defender Service, a managed assigned counsel program providing holistic defense services to the indigent population of Travis County, Texas. Previously, she worked with the Travis County Sheriff’s Office as a behavioral health counselor in a large county jail, where she focused on crisis intervention and risk assessment. This experience informed her professional development and led her to pursue Certified Correctional Health Professional certification and advocate for individuals impacted by serious and persistent mental illness. She was the 2022 recipient of the St. Edward’s University Safe Connections professional development award and a scholarship recipient at the NCCHC 2023 Spring Conference. Trained in child-centered play therapy, she maintains a private psychotherapy practice focused on helping individuals find meaning and fulfillment.