NEW Wellness Blog
Introducing a new wellness blog focused on health and human psychology.
As a counselor and wellness coach, I have witnessed people’s innermost thoughts and feelings for over two decades. Mostly women.
And what unites us is this: we want to feel seen, heard, understood, and accepted. No matter what. We long for connection and belonging, whether to another, a community, a sense of purpose, or our own inner peace and contentment. We want to feel worthy and valued as we are, yet we often struggle with accepting ourselves unconditionally and compassionately. As a result, we may undermine our needs with others, avoid showing our authentic selves for fear of rejection, or turn to coping behaviors that numb these deeper yearnings. Until - the day we realize the cost of self-denial is too high. This awareness can awaken the courage to have a voice, be seen, honor needs, and chase dreams. There is, at last, a readiness to try different.
Hello and welcome. My name is Erin Risius (pronounced Ree-Shus), and I help people (re)align with what makes them come alive and thrive in life. I am a licensed professional counselor, wellness and relationship with food coach, health educator, wisdom seeker, curious observer, and lifelong learner of all things related to mental health and wellness. My approach to counseling, coaching, and teaching is rooted in health psychology, which considers the inner and outer influences on our mental, emotional, physical, relational, and spiritual well-being. In short - I support people on their journey toward wholeness.
The inspiration for this blog began in 2020 when life as we knew it came to a screeching halt. The pandemic was the mother of all wake-up calls, catalyzing significant inner and outer change for many. Concerns lying dormant beneath the surface of everyday life were revealed, transforming relationships, jobs, living situations, and support systems - myself included. In July 2020, I quit my job, opened an online counseling and consulting business, and moved closer to my support system and one true love - the mountains. For the first time in over a decade, I chose my personal life over my career. Scary? Yep. Worth it? Absolutely. But my journey has had its ups and downs and unexpected detours. I have learned much about what I need – and don’t need – for personal fulfillment. I have faced the inner turmoil of disappointing others to stay true to myself and the unwelcome feelings of guilt and self-doubt that followed. I’m still on that path less traveled, and it’s been a trust fall, but I know from my work with clients that all we can do during times of significant change is to do what feels right – for right now. One step, one day at a time.
Over the past few years, I have heard of similar life upheavals on behalf of my clients. Some life choices were their own, while others were chosen for them. I have witnessed a lot of grief and loss, but I have also seen remarkable resiliency, personal triumph, and inner growth. Change has been common ground. Yet, I often heard from my clients how disconnected and alone they felt while navigating change. Thus, the purpose of this blog is to give voice to our collective experiences so that we may feel validated and less alone in them.
This blog will explore insights from my 25+ years of experience supporting people through life’s peaks and valleys and my own half-century of imperfect striving and earned wisdom. I will cover topics needing more open conversation, ranging from the quarter-life and midlife transitions to healing our relationships with self-esteem, worthiness, and overall self-care. I will shine a light in the dark spaces so that we might gain understanding, self-compassion, and self-permission to move toward thriving - not just surviving this precious life.
My hope is that this offering plants fertile seeds for you - dear reader - to bridge that gap between insight and action. May you have a voice, be seen, honor your needs, and chase those dreams.
Until next time…