Meet Dr. Erica

Entrepreneur,  Best-Selling Author, Mom, Speaker and Licensed Therapist

Dr. Erica Tatum-Sheade, DSW, LCSW, CAdPT, RPT-S, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Adlerian Play Therapist, and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor with over 20 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and families. She is the founder of Play Well with Dr. Erica, a supervision and professional development program committed to training the next generation of play therapists through a lens of empowerment, identity, and belonging.

Known for her warmth, authenticity, and advocacy for inclusive mental health care, Dr. Erica specializes in using Adlerian Play Therapy to support youth, particularly girls and children of color, in developing courage, connection, and self-worth. She is a former two-term President of the Arizona Association for Play Therapy and continues to serve on its board, championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in therapeutic spaces.

Erica offers Daring Greatly and Rising Strong groups for women, and she has also developed a group curriculum called G.E.M.S. ® (Girls Empowered, Motivated, and Strong), where she teaches concepts of confidence, empowerment, self-esteem, and authenticity to girls from elementary to high school.  She is the co-owner of the Arizona Institute for Advanced Psychotherapy Training (AZIAPT)and CMC (Chief Mom in Charge) of Fight Confront Knockout The Stigma. 

Erica also provides training and clinical supervision to other professionals and speaks regularly about mental health to groups and organizations.