Erica Woodward, MSW, LCSW
Clinical Supervisor
Alliance Health Centers - Turnstone
Can you share your journey into the work you do? What experiences, moments, or values led you here?
My path into this work is both professional and deeply personal. As an autistic and ADHD clinician, I came into this field trying to make sense of systems that often felt misaligned with how I and many others actually experience the world. Early in my career, I noticed how frequently neurodivergent individuals, especially Black women, were misunderstood, overlooked, or misdiagnosed. Those patterns were not abstract. They were familiar.
​
My own lived experience shaped how I began to question traditional approaches to mental health care. I saw how often behaviors were labeled without context, and how little space there was for understanding sensory needs, executive functioning differences, or the impact of chronic stress and trauma. That realization shifted my work.
​
I now focus on neurodiversity-affirming and whole health care, integrating mental health with the body, environment, and lived experience. My goal is to create spaces where people do not have to mask, over-explain, or prove their needs to receive support.
Who or what has most influenced your leadership and commitment to this work? This could include mentors, community, lived experience, books, faith, or movements.
My leadership is most influenced by lived experience, both my own and that of the people I serve. There is no substitute for listening to real stories and recognizing patterns that systems often overlook. That has shaped my commitment to doing this work differently.
I am also influenced by frameworks rooted in trauma-informed care, neurodiversity-affirming practice, and whole health perspectives. These approaches challenge traditional models that prioritize compliance over understanding. Instead, they center autonomy, context, and the nervous system.
​
Mentorship has played a role, but equally important has been community.
Conversations with other clinicians, advocates, and clients have pushed me to think critically and stay grounded. I have also been shaped by ongoing unlearning. Recognizing bias in healthcare, including racial bias, has been a significant part of my development as both a clinician and a leader.
Ultimately, my leadership is guided by a simple principle: people deserve to be understood before they are treated. That standard informs how I approach clinical work, supervision, and program development.
For those who feel called to doing this work, where would you suggest they begin? Is there a book, organization, practice, or resource that helped shape you?
Start with learning and unlearning at the same time. Foundational knowledge matters, but so does questioning what you were taught. Begin by exploring trauma-informed care and neurodiversity-affirming frameworks, and pay attention to voices with lived experience.
Practical steps include seeking supervision or consultation, engaging in reflective practice, and building cultural humility. Spend time understanding how systems impact the people you serve, not just at the individual level but structurally.
Some useful starting points include books like My Grandmother’s Hands by Resmaa Menakem and Unmasking Autism by Devon Price. Organizations and communities that center neurodiversity and equity in healthcare are also valuable spaces for growth.
Most importantly, stay curious. This work is not about having all the answers. It is about being willing to listen, adapt, and remain accountable.
What wisdom or encouragement would you offer to the next generation of Black women leaders entering this space?
You do not have to shrink to fit into spaces that were not built with you in mind. Your perspective is not a limitation. It is an asset.
There will be moments where your voice is questioned or overlooked. Stay anchored in your clarity. You are allowed to take up space, to ask different questions, and to challenge systems that do not serve your community well.
Protect your capacity. Leadership does not require constant sacrifice. Sustainability matters. Rest, boundaries, and community are not optional. They are part of the work.
Also, do not wait for permission. Much of the change needed in this field comes from people who decided to build something different instead of waiting for existing systems to evolve.
How can people stay connected to and support your work? Please share your website, social media, current campaigns, or other ways to get involved.
You can stay connected through my practice, Pure Intention Services, where I provide therapy, assessment, and consultation. I also offer trainings focused on ADHD, autism, and co-occurring conditions through a neurodiversity-affirming and whole health lens.
Website: www.pureintentionservices.com