Erica James Counseling, LLC

Affirmation: noun 1. the action or process of affirming something or being affirmed. ... You are all of these things and so much more! As you prepare for the week, what are some positive words or affirmations you can say to yourself each morning? #affirm #affirmations #selftalk #selflove #selfworth #yougotthis #selfcare #therapy #mentalhealth #emotionalhealth #empowerment See more

New month! New goals! What are your self-care goals for April? Write them down, be flexible, and give yourself grace. Things don’t always go how we envision them. That’s okay, shift when needed! There will be a new Journal Journey on Monday. Sign up for yours today!... #newmonth #newgoals #goals #rest #adventure #mindfulness #exercise #therapy #mentalhealth #selfcare #selflove #selfcaregoals #journal #journaljourney See more

Reminder! You morning self-care routine starts the night before. Plan ahead by writing down your morning self-care activity. ... Prepare by having all the items you need handy for the next morning. Execute! #selfcare #selflove #morningroutine #nighttimeroutine See more

How often do you check your internal conversation? What are you saying to yourself? Remember, how you speak to yourself shapes how you see your life. #selftalk #selflove #conversation #confidence #selfcare #mentalhealth #emotionalhealth #wellness

Who can relate?? You find a really cool skin-care routine (or hair-care, make-up tutorial, workout routine, etc) and you’re super excited about it but half-way through, the excitement fades and you want to throw the whole thing away lol!! Yesterday, I posted a video about how I took the extra step in doing my hair and felt better for it. Stick to it, you’ll feel better in the end.....and maybe next time, find something with less steps! ... You got this! #selfcare #selfcaretips #selflove #selfcarematters #selfcarefirst #selfcaresaturday #selfcareroutine #selfcareisntselfish #selfcareeveryday #selfcareissacred #selfhelp #loveyourself #selfcareritual #selfcareselfie #selfcareissexy #selfcarecoach #selfcareideas See more

This little bundle of love arrived on Dec, 11th. Since then, my self-care has changed, as I’m sure you can imagine. The most consistent piece of self-care advice I’ve heard is sleep when the baby sleeps. Sounds easy, however, it’s a bit challenging in practice. Me taking a nap just doesn’t happen. Either I don’t fall asleep or I do a chore, eat, take a shower, etc. This lead me to wonder if all new moms experience this inability to sleep when baby sleeps.... According to a January 2020 Huffington Post article, I am not alone. Many moms struggle with sleeping when baby sleeps, for reasons such as chores to be done, errands to run, or a clingy baby who doesn’t want to be put down (). The great news is there are ways to take care of yourself while the baby sleeps, other than sleeping. (These tips are great for everyone. Not just new moms): Make sure you eat and stay hydrated (especially if you are breastfeeding). Keep your body moving. That can look like basic stretching, yoga, or going for a walk (make sure you are cleared by your health care provide first, of course). Create a mantra or intention for each day to help center you when the going gets tough. Spend time alone, even if it’s 5min, to connect with yourself, meditate, get some fresh air, or do breathing exercises. It can be overwhelming when your sweet-faced little one is on you all the time. Make me time a priority. Use your community, however that looks for you. You could have people drop off food or send money for food delivery. Or even have someone grocery shop for you. Make sure you stay connected with others during this time. These self-care tips are not ONLY for new moms, anyone could benefit from these ideas! #selfcare #newmom #momlife #therapist #lmft #counselor #balance #metime #mantra #yoga #meditation #community See more

My passion is helping YOU deepen your relationship with yourself through self-care; and I'm great at it because I live it! You can live it too! Remember to give yourself permission to put yourself first. Recognize and let go of the limiting beliefs that prevent you from taking the best care of YOU. #selfcare #selflove #limitingbeliefs #therapy #relationships #mentalhealthhacks

What am I still learning? Everything! One of the most interesting things about being a therapist is that people think I have all the answers to everything. Its my job to guide clients to finding the answers on their own. Leaning into the things I’m still learning makes life exciting! I’m still learning about myself, my husband, my family, my clients, the world, everything! Keeping this perspective and always being open to learning allows you to see life anew AND invites in ...more compassion and patience for yourself and others. What are you still learning? #learning #student #therapist #mentalhealth #compassion #patience

Did you know that journaling can improve your brain health? Writing activates neural pathways that improve overall brain function! We spend time working out our bodies, journaling is a way to work out your brain. I have the perfect program for those brain work outs....The Journal Journey. Have you signed up? New followers, The Journal Journey is an email based journaling program. You will recieve a weekly journaling prompt in your in-box and its competely free. (Link in bio). #journaljourney #selfcare #therapy #mentalhealth #mentalhealthhack #balance #healing #journaling #writing #balance

Lately, I’ve helped guide clients through navigating the holiday season. That’s common this time of year. The holidays are not joyous and cheerful for everyone. For some, this time of year triggers challenging feelings like grief, anxiety, and stress. Compound that with a global pandemic when people are encouraged not to spend time with extended family and loved ones, a tradition that many of us practice. For those struggling with not being close to family and fri...ends, my most frequent suggestion is to create NEW traditions for yourself and your family. This can look like introducing a new food item during the holiday meal, playing new games, finding creative ways to express gratitude, create a new spin on gift giving, spend time outside, have an arts and crafts night, dance contest, food making contest. The possibilities are endless. What new traditions are you excited to start this year? See more

Hi!!! Happy Wednesday! I've gained some new followers over the past few weeks, so allow me to re-introduce myself! My name is Erica James-Strayhorn. I’m a new mom! Baby Ava arrived on December 11, 2020! I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist. I started my private practice, Erica James Counseling, in 2016. Yesterday we celebrated the 5 year anniversary! I love working with millennials who are inspired to the nurture the relationship they have with them...selves through radical self-care. I’m originally from Greensboro, NC and have lived in Atlanta since 2006. I went to undergrad at North Carolina State University and grad school at Mercer. I’ve been married since 2017. I really enjoy public speaking and workshops. I recently revamped my website and revealed a new logo. I have an online journaling program that you can sign up for on my website called The Journal Journey! I’m vegan. I love fashion and I love to laugh! What you can look forward to seeing here is posts about self-care, relationships, and mental-health hacks! To learn more about me and stay up to date with all things Erica James Counseling sign up for the newsletter (link in bio). #ericajamescounseling #lmft #therapist #coach #atlanta #maternityleave #website #newsletter #mompreneur See more

Bumpdate! Hi everyone! It’s been a while since I’ve posted. Nesting is real! I’ve been hanging out at home, preparing for baby girl! I wanted to share a few updates with you all:... 1) I’m no longer accepting new clients. I will start maternity leave on Dec 4th and return March 8th. At that time I’ll resume seeing current clients and start taking new clients later in the spring. 2) Make sure you sign up for my weekly newsletter so you can have access to The Journal Journey and blog posts. 3) I’ll have a new website coming soon!! 4) Remember, continue your self-care practice, especially now during the holiday season. We are experiencing a unique one this year which may require you to try out some new things as far as your self-care is concerned. See more

Take your time today. Be gentle with yourself. Reach out to someone if you feel the need. ... #selfcare #selflove #compassion #takecare See more

Happy Friday! Checking in! How’s everyone been lately? Have you made time for self-care? Spending time on my balcony in the mornings has been the newest addition to my self-care plan. I love sitting outside, in the cool autumn air. This is my favorite time of year. #friday #happyfriday #autumn #selfcare #pregnant #thirdtrimester #checkin

Do you have an oasis in your home? A room or a space in your home that’s just for you. It can be a room, the balcony, a corner, anywhere really. I find that having someplace that is just for you can provide peace and balance when you need to get away but can’t really get away.

When was the last time you laughed? A cheeks hurting, tears falling, deep belly laugh? Believe it or not, there are mental health benefits of laughter. 1. When we laugh, our bodies produce endorphins (the happy hormone). We also release dopamine and serotonin. These all combat depression and anxiety. ... 2. Laughter combats hormones like cortisol and epinephrine which are stress-response hormones. 3. Laughter improves our way of seeing things by making us more optimistic and maintain a sense of humor. 4. Catecholamine, another neurotransmitter, is also released when you laugh. It takes part in crucial braid functions like movement, cognition, emotions, learning and memory. 5. When you and someone else are laughing at something together, you create a bind. Sharing laughter with others creates closer social experiences and can improve our social skills. LAUGH MORE! See more

New month. New happenings at Erica James Counseling! Have you signed up for the newsletter? A new one, with some awesome updates, will be sent out later today. Hop on board!

When you need to take a break from social media and the news cycle, what do you do? Do you delete apps or limit your time spent on your phone in general? #pause #takeabreak #socialmedia #newscycle #selfcare

New Erica James Counseling newsletter.

A reminder as you start your week. Fill YOUR tank FIRST!

Cheers to the freakin’ weekend! Have any exciting self-care plans? #weekend #selfcare #selflove

Remember, self-care can be indulgent. #selfcare #friends #love #fun #beach #picnic #indulge

Which one are you? Which one do you need more of? I’m feeling like a combination of each of these.

We need a time for healing. Swipe to check out Black Women Therapists to follow + support.

How many of you create as a form of self-care? So, obviously, I’m in full creation mode right now (ya know......being pregnant) however, being creative, in general has proven to be a consistent form of self-care for me. I love creating fashion looks and at-home photo shoots as well painting. Putting energy and focus into making things allows me to press the pause button and get really present. Especially, as things have shifted related to COVID, many of us have found new wa...ys to be creative. So I want to know, is being creative part of your self-care plan? #selfcare #selflove #creative #creativity #art #painting #flow #fun #pregnant #pregnantselfcare

Self-care while pregnant, let’s talk about it. As I enter my 24th week of pregnancy, I’ve noticed how my relationship to self-care has changed. Before, it was all about me, which I loved! Lol Its still about me, however, I am reminded of how consistent self-care impacts myself, my baby, and my pregnancy as a whole. How many of you on #teampregnant are being consistent with your self-care? Is physical activity part of your pregnancy self-care plan? Adjusting to my body as it adjusts to baby has been a learning experience for me. The biggest lesson so far is to take it one day at a time and be present and grateful to all that my body can do!

What’s on your self-care agenda this weekend?? I’ll be running and resting. What about you? #selfcare #selflove #weekend #balance #love #health #wellness