Today we’d like to introduce you to Natasha Ewa
Hi Natasha, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started my career by obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Psychobiology, and after taking 3 years off post-undergrad, returned for my Master of social work. I have worked in mental health since 2009, and over the years have worked in various settings (residential, group homes, community based, hospital, outpatient etc) and in a variety of positions.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I would say that it has been a smooth ride.
The only bump was for a short period being unsure HOW I wanted to pursue higher education to get closer to my goals of being a mental health practitioner. I was unsure if I wanted to go into psychiatry, criminal-related work, or the provider who treats without the administration of medication.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I-Thrive Therapy and Wellness was built out of a passion to continue my career working with individuals I know my skills can effectively serve and do so in a way that would not burn me out or put my own mental and physical health at risk. I had just finished chemotherapy for stage 2 breast cancer when I decided to open my practice, picking the name of my practice on my very last infusion.
All of the work and positions I had held leading up to that point, I became accepting of the fact that it took a very likely toll on my stress management and overall health.
Moving forward I needed to do something different.
I had survived a time in my life (cancer) when I was unsure if I would see the next 2 years. My life goal was to be a human who was focused on wellness and my ability to thrive (hence the name of my practice, “I – Thrive Therapy and Wellness”).
This also meant I would need to make adjustments to the type of setting I worked in. One where I had more control over the clients I served, and where my expertise actually had a voice to make sound clinical decisions without repeated pushback by those who were not clinical.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Absolutely!
The biggest lesson Covid-19 awarded me to learn, is that slowly down is not harmful. Slowing down helps us to grow because we have no choice but to increase awareness of what our experiences are.
Slowing down is imperative. Granted, I have ALWAYS known this. But like the average human living the average American life, we often do not do the many things we know we should. And we have been trained to guise this under there “not being enough time in the day”.
As a modern day society we have also been taught that if you are not striving for what comes next, are you even striving at all? Leaving many of us feeling unwavering pressure to move through life fast, but not effectively.
Covid made us sit still.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ittandwellness.cm
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/i_thrive_therapy_and_wellness/?hl=en
- Facebook: I-Thrive Therapy and Wellness
- Other: @ittandwellnessllc (tiktok)
Image Credits
all photos taken by NATASHA EWA