Erik Engel, LCSW, has been clinically counseling for over 25 years in a variety of treatment settings with various, traumatized populations.  He has worked in therapeutic schools, hospitals, residential settings, aftercare community mental health centers, private practice, and military installations. 

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He is an Air Force Veteran from a military family with a sister who is a retired Colonel and World War II Army Veteran father.  Engel received the Illinois Veteran’s Grant with which he earned two Masters degrees in Social Work and Art Therapy.  He now speaks as a Department of Defense Cadre Speaker for the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program (YRRP).  At YRRP Events he addresses various mental health topics with military service members and their families during Pre- and Post-Deployment.  Previously, he was a Military and Family Life Counselor directly counseling veterans and their families.  Currently, he is a therapist with the First Responders Wellness Center, counseling first responders and their families. 

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Engel was recently published as a co-author of “Virtual Termination amid COVID-19:  Strategies for School Social Work Interns and Field Instructors,” found in the May, 2021, edition of Children & Schools.  He supervises interns in his role as the school social worker of Willowbrook High School.  While there he has received awards and recognition:  2015 CHICAGO BEARS & SYMETRA Classroom Hero Award; 2015 Illinois State Board of Education Award of Merit—Those Who Excel; 2015 Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association Distinguished Service Award; 2015 IL Interagency Committee on Employees with Disabilities Media Award (for Producing Disney’s High School Musical Jr, performed by students with disabilities).  To serve the local community he volunteered by coordinating a PADS homeless shelter for 15 years and was named the ItascaCares.org 2018 Volunteer of the Year.  He plans to continue to serve his community in the helping professions.