Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Samantha Strawser. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Samantha, thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

One of the greatest risks I’ve taken in my life is opening my own business. Of course there are risks inherent to starting any business, but what made this move extra risky for me was the path to get there. I had left my comfortable full-time job the year prior and had taken time away from work to recover and reconnect with myself after experiencing burnout. Towards the end of my recovery when I was ready to re-enter the workforce, I started perusing some agency and group practice jobs. I couldn’t quite find what I was needing in other jobs to make this career sustainable for me at the time, so I decided to create it in opening my own practice. In the matter of a few months, I went from unemployed to business owner thanks to a whole lot of faith, some effort and resources, and a few wonderful colleagues that I could consult with who had gone before me on this journey.

Samantha, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

You know that friend you call when you’re going through a hard time? The same one that asks you all the hard questions? That’s always been me. When I was preparing for college visits junior year of high school, my mom reminded me that I’m the one my friends go to for support and advice, and how there’s a career called counseling that I might want to consider. I was pleasantly shocked that I could do what seemed so natural to me for a job. Well, I haven’t looked back since, except I’ve learned a thing or two since then.

Fast forward to now being in private practice where I offer individual counseling to people 18 years old and above. I am particularly passionate about working with trauma, self-esteem, body image, and relationships with the young adult and Christian populations. I also do a lot of work with anxiety, depression, stress, life transitions, and grief. I am an EMDR Certified Therapist, which allows me to help people efficiently process through trauma, stuck memories, or negative beliefs about themselves, amongst other things. I incorporate frameworks of Health at Every Size (HAES) and Intuitive Eating in my body image and self-esteem work, which offer a unique focus on healing our relationship with food and our bodies. Self-compassion is a key ingredient I sprinkle throughout all my work with clients.

I am proud to say that Healing Waters Wellness is a place of hope, help, and healing. Hope is facilitated through believing in my clients’ ability to change and vision for their freedom. Help comes along the way as they receive care, connection, and guidance in navigating their experiences. Healing happens as my clients rebuild their relationship with themselves.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

It sounds cliche, but stick with me – self-care. That most definitely can include massages, vacations, and reading a good book. However, through my own burnout recovery journey, two of the biggest self-care lessons I learned were checking in with myself regularly and setting boundaries. Checking in with myself meant staying connected to me. I am a helper by nature, so it’s easy to focus on others; but how am I doing? What am I needing? Setting boundaries meant asking myself: what is my capacity right now? What boundaries do I need to set with myself? When did I last take a day off? How much sleep am I getting? Self-care is what helps us to sustain caring for others.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I’ve been unlearning is that the more I get done, the less I’ll have to do later. It sounds ideal, doesn’t it? But the truth is: “productivity is a trap,” as Oliver Burkeman puts it in his book, Four Thousand Weeks. I’ve always had this strong “accomplisher side,” I call it, that wants to achieve and get things off my to-do list. The whole “if I just get this done I’ll be able to relax and not have to do it later” mentality. This drive has worked well for me in some ways, as I’ve excelled at school, work, and personal responsibilities. Yet it’s also cost me sleep and time for recharging, amongst other things. The reality is that the list is never-ending. I get 5 things done, and more things get added. Then, I end up going, going, going, and don’t make time for the other things I value or that balance out life. To make changes in this area, I had to start noticing the pattern, and then consciously choosing to take a break, forego multi-tasking, or leave a task incomplete for the time being. I started to learn to ask myself if getting this task done is what is needed right now, or if I need to prioritize other things I value, like taking time for myself. Through making these changes, I’m able to live a life more aligned with my values and balanced in my well-being; something I also hope to help facilitate with my clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.healingwaterswellnessllc.com
• Instagram: @healing.waters.wellness