Welcome!
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My Journey
Dr. Erega (she/her) is a native of Croatia, and she arrived to Nebraska in 2007 on an athletic scholarship to pursue her dream of becoming an Olympic athlete. Simultaneously, she pursued a
bachelor's degree in Psychology and Sociology at the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln, where she graduated in 2011. She completed a master's
degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2016 from Webster University.
She then started her clinical career in a non-profit organization serving patients
suffering from severe mental health disorders like Schizophrenia and Bipolar
Disorder. Afterward, she transitioned to an agency until she started work in
private practice in 2017, where she focused on sport and performance
counseling.
Dr. Erega completed her doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Supervision at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her research in graduate school has focused on international students and student-athletes. At UNC Charlotte she successfully defended her dissertation entitled "'To Push or Not To Push?'; Exploring Lived Experiences of Former Women Track and Field Student-Athletes Who Trained And Competed Through Pain and Injury". Dr. Erega's research encompasses the experiences of student-athletes who suffer and play through injuries, the impact of injuries on one's identity, the use of mental skills, and the overall impact of mental health on athletic performance.
Dr. Erega started her athletic career at a young age taking part in various sports, however, she quickly fell in love with Track & Field and hurdling. She was a Croatian national champion numerous times, as well as the Croatian National Record holder for Youth (13.51") and Junior (13.56") categories in 100m Hurdles. She also held the fastest time in the world for 15-year-old girls in 100m Hurdles in a time of 13.63" from 2003 until 2016. Arna competed for a Division I school, where she used all four years of eligibility and helped Huskers win the Big XII Indoor Championship in 2010. Upon graduating from the University of Nebraska- Lincoln in 2011, she moved to Columbia, SC to train with a professional coach in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games. Unfortunately, in February of 2012, she suffered an ankle injury that prevented her from qualifying and resulted in surgery later that year. Arna's professional running career was brief but nevertheless, it contributed to her overall knowledge, skills, and abilities to be a better clinician. Read more about her achievements at her World Athletics Profile.
Currently, Dr. Erega is independently licensed as a professional counselor (LPC) in the states of Texas and South Carolina, and as Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in North Carolina. She is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Psychology and certified as a hypnotherapist by the National Guild of Hypnotists, Inc. She is an expert telemental health clinician recognized by the Telehealth Certification Institute. Dr. Erega is also listed in the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) mental health registry. She is very passionate about her work with the athletic populations and international students in various settings.
Dr. Erega is a professional member of the American Counseling Association (ACA), American Psychological Association (APA), Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), and North Carolina Counseling Association (NCCA). She is currently serving in the role as the Past-President of the North Carolina Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling (NCAARC), after completing her presidential role last year.
Arna is here to serve and if you would like to learn more about how her services can be helpful and beneficial to you or your organization, please do not hesitate to reach out for a joint brainstorming session.
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