We recently connected with Erika Ware and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Erika thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you share a story with us from back when you were an intern or apprentice? Maybe it’s a story that illustrates an important lesson you learned or maybe it’s a just a story that makes you laugh (or cry)?
My last two semester of my graduate program I interned at Selah Counseling Associates under Shauna Aningo. Shauna helped lay the foundation of having clinical skills along with being business savvy. Shauna taught me that it was okay to be a beast of a therapist and business owner simultaneously. When I left my internship, I was confident in my abilities as a clinician but also had the tools to run a business; most people do not graduate with the ability to handle both roles. To this day, I maintain my relationship with Shauna. She had a huge positive impact on my career.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I was born and raised in Saint Louis, MO. Being from Saint Louis, you see some interesting things. Gorwing up, I often wondered why people make the decisions that we do. I believe that is was sparked my love for understanding the brain and led me to pursuing a degree in psychology. Ultimately I used that knowledge to become a psychotherapist and owner of BALM Therapeutic Services, LLC. I focus on helping clients heal from past traumas, current life stressors, and anything in between. I am not a problem solver, I help clients facilite the problem solver within self. That’s the key to healing, it has to come from within.
From my clients’ point of view, what sets me a part is what I mentioned above. They tell me how they appreciate that I allow them to think and solve thier own issues instead of just listening to them talk. It allows everyone involved in sessions to be thier true authentic self; even me. And that’s one of our greatest super powers.
I am most proud of the passion I put into my work. I go hard for my clients, potential clients, and even those I have to refer out. I do this for us (Black people) because we live in a country where, for years, we did not have the opportunity to heal. IT’S OUR TIME NOW!
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
Being a psychotherapist is not easy. I hear so many stories about anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, etc. The most helpful advice I can give about working in this field is understanding secondary truamatic stress and how it can impact our lives. Being in the helping profession you pour out so much into other people. It is very important to make sure your personal cup is filled and flowing over. This allows you to fill others from the overflow while your cup stays full. There are too many people that need assistance for helping professionals to be burntout.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Honestly, life is a constant pivot. Things are always moving, changing, and taking shape. I am a wife, mom of three toddlers, and a business owner. There is always something shifting in life. The key is not trying to control the shift but instead control how you respond to the shift. We have to allow life to life and find peace with the changes it brings.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.balmme.com
- Instagram: balm_ts
- Facebook: BALM Therapeutic Services
- Linkedin: Erika Ware, LPC, NCC