About
Hi, I'm Eric Lutz
I specialize in teaching mindfulness and providing psychotherapy to individuals experiencing difficult life transitions, stress, anxiety, chronic pain, burn-out, depression, and grief. I work authentically, drawing on professional and personal life experience.
Background: I grew up on a small farm in Downeast Maine, where my love for nature and life itself was fostered. After working in outdoor leadership programs, I earned multiple science degrees and became a snow scientist. I led and published original research in the fields of avalanche science, snow hydrology, climate change, and arctic glaciology, and worked as an avalanche forecaster - all while raising a family. Eventually chronic stress and tick-borne illnesses brought physical and cognitive struggles that led me to reassessing my life values. Intensive mindfulness training became the foundation of a long healing and awakening process that led me to serving others in need, first as a hospice volunteer and facilitator for grieving children, and later in clinical social work.
Clinical realm: I earned a Master of Social Work with a clinical concentration from the University of Southern Maine in 2020, after interning as a caseworker at homeless shelters and completing my clinical internship counseling people impacted by cancer. I have since gained extensive clinical experience working with individuals, families and groups along the care continuum, in mental health and substance use treatment, in public and private sectors. I collaborate with clients to build awareness and stability in the present moment experience, from which we explore core values and needs, and develop healthy perspectives, coping strategies, lifestyles, and relationships. I am a Certified Clinical Telemental Health Provider (CTMH) and have completed Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Certification (DBT-C).
Mindfulness realm: I began practicing mindfulness and insight meditation daily in 2014 as an MBSR course participant at UMass' Center for Mindfulness (CFM). I have since completed teacher trainings at CFM and Brown University, and am registered as a Level 1 MBSR teacher. I have also studied meditation in the Buddhist and Sufi traditions, and integrated yoga, taiji and qi-gong into my practice and teaching. I have taught mindfulness to individuals and groups, in schools, community, and medical settings.
Spiritual realm: I am drawn to understanding spiritualities and religions of the world. I welcome working with individuals regardless of faith or spirituality.