We’re looking forward to introducing you to Erika Ware. Check out our conversation below.
Erika, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
Being a therapist comes with a lot of myths. The one I hear the most is that therapists have it easy because we just sit down and talk to people all day. I honestly wish it was that easy. Therapists pour out so much into other people and often neglect self. Each client’s needs are different which forces us to have to dig into our toolboxes to suggest techniques that fit each individual’s needs. This is not us giving advice (which is another common misconception). We have to collaborate collectively with clients and other team members who may be involved to assist clients in discovering their own insights that have been within all along. Adding being a Black therapist on top of this can be even more challenging. There’s already a significant amount of anxiousness that comes with being Black in America because of the historical and systemic oppression that our ancestors faced and then our own lived experiences come into play. Black therapists take on all of it and may experience secondary traumatic stress as a result. Nothing about helping others tackle their mental and emotional needs while trying to figure out your own is easy. BUT I would not trade in my role for anything else!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hey! I’m Erika! I was born and raised in St. Louis City and I am a product of the St. Louis City Public Schools (SLPS). I like to make sure that is a part of my introduction because SLPS doesn’t have the greatest reputation but honestly it breeds some of the most successful people in this city. I think it’s important to highlight because no matter what school you attend, success can be yours!
I am a wife and mother of three. Those are my two favorite titles. I put a lot of extra effort into being a mother because there are so many generational cycles that I want to change within my family. In my spare time, I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the states of Georgia, Missouri, and Texas. I have been licensed for eleven years and have been in private practice for the entire time. I love collaborating with community organizations around the city to help assist in the mental and emotional wellness needs of their members and clients. The name of my company is BALM Therapeutic Services. You can read more about it below.
I was at Bible study in 2012 and my Pastor taught about the Balm plant and how it was known for its healing power. I was so intrigued and said to myself “I will use that for something one day. ” Fast forward several years later and I was ready to create my own therapy business brand. As a psychotherapist, I help people along their healing journey. What better word to represent what I do than BALM. Although Balm has its own definition, I wanted to give it purpose that was personal to my brand. This is where Believe Affirm Liberate Manifest comes into play. We have to Believe in self and our inner power, Affirm (state) our hurt, trauma and mistakes, Liberate (free) ourselves from the same hurt and guilt, Manifest (display) our newly healed self. My hope is that BALM, in some way, registers and touches many people so they can begin to make changes in their lives. I want everyone to know YOU ARE THE BALM (HEALING)!
I am currently working on a new project that I believe will change the game! I am not ready to go into the details. Hopefully by my next interview, I will have the first phase completed.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I think my experience was actually the opposite. In the beginning, I was who the world, specifically America, told me to be. I grew up thinking of myself as a minority, believing that systemic racism was simply the way life was supposed to be. I didn’t yet understand how much of my identity had been shaped by a society designed to limit it.
As I got older, I began to self-educate. I started reading and studying the work of powerful Black leaders and thinkers like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and Maya Angelou, just to name a few. Their words and sacrifices opened my eyes to the truth: that I am not a minority, but part of the worldwide majority. That realization changed everything for me.
It gave me the courage to live boldly and unapologetically in a country that often tries to silence voices like mine. Yes, systemic racism still exists, and it likely will for some time, but it will never stop me from living proudly as a Black woman. I now recognize that so much of our true history has been hidden or distorted to bury the strength and brilliance of our ancestors and ourselves.
That’s why I feel called to be a voice and a vessel for truth; to help shift mindsets, especially within my community, so that we remember who we really are. I encourage everyone to read beyond what’s taught in schools and explore the stories and writings that were left out. I truly believe self-education is a form of liberation and it’s how I reclaimed my identity.
The words of James Brown, “I’m Black and I’m Proud,” have never resonated more deeply with me than they do now. This journey of unlearning and rediscovery has reminded me that before the world told me who to be, I was already whole, powerful, and worthy just as I am.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
Public speaking! It’s been a fear of mine since I was a little girl. I was forced to do it at church at such a young age. When I was old enough to choose, I left the groups that forced public speaking and joined the usher board so I wouldn’t have to do much talking. Even now, when I’m asked to do a workshop or host an event, the fear that little girl felt comes rushing back. It holds me back because I will decline an invitation to speak all because of fear. I’m starting to see it’s not fair to myself or the community because I have so much passion and knowledge just waiting to be let out. I have been working with a therapist and life coach on this so that it no longer hinders me. I want to use my voice to help people around the world but I cannot do that being afraid.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My friends would say my children are my world! They see how hard I go for them and how much love I pour into them. I think it’s ironic because I really didn’t have dreams of becoming a mother, but they’ve watched me grow into this role in a way that feels so natural and full of purpose. They tell me all the time that motherhood has softened me in the best way. It has made me more patient, grounded, and intentional about everything I do.
What really matters to me now is creating a life filled with love, stability, and joy for my kids. I want to raise them with empathy, strength, and a deep sense of pride in who they are. My friends would say that my kids gave me direction and purpose and that everything I do, whether in my work or in how I show up for others, is about building a future they can be proud of.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
There are several things that come to mind. First, I would stop overworking (which is something that I currently working on). We live in a country that pretty much forces us to focus on working and making money, and in the process, we miss out on the full extent of life’s joy and pleasure. We get caught in a cycle of busyness, always striving, always hustling, and forget to simply live. There is so much more to life than work and money.
We have families and friends we barely talk to, homes we barely spend time in, and a big world we rarely get to explore. I would want to reclaim that time to slow down, to laugh more, to enjoy mornings without rushing and nights without stress.
Which brings me to my next point: I’d travel more. There are so many places I want to visit and cultures I want to experience. The world is filled with so much beauty, wisdom, and history waiting to be discovered. I especially want to visit the continent of Africa, the birthplace of civilization and a place filled with such spiritual and cultural richness. I want to walk the land of my ancestors, learn, connect, and honor where it all began.
Come to think of it, I shouldn’t wait until I only have ten years left to start living this way. Life is unpredictable, and none of us know when our last day will be. So maybe the real lesson is to start living fully now: working less, loving harder, and embracing the moments that truly matter.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.balmme.com
- Instagram: https://www.intagram.com/balm_ts
- Facebook: BAlM Therapeutic Services
Image Credits
Cup photo captured by Casual Candids
