In this episode of The Ripple Effect of Wellbeing in Work and Life, host Dr. Stephanie Romero speaks with Erica Strasser—a licensed clinical psychotherapist, practice owner, adjunct psychology professor, and yoga and pilates instructor based in Pittsburgh. Erica shares her clinical insights and deeply personal journey of using mindfulness and somatic practices to anchor through grief, life transitions, and trauma.

• Mindfulness Roots & Unconventional Career Path: Erica details her early introduction to Buddhism and meditation at age 15, taking a college mindfulness course while earning an art history degree, and her eventual pivot into professional counseling following a major life tragedy.

• Transforming Grief into Purpose: How losing her first husband, Joe, to a drug overdose at age 27 inspired Erica to earn her Master’s degree in counseling with a focus on substance use recovery, grief, and mindfulness tools.

• Somatic & Body-Based Healing: The role of physical and sensory practices—such as running, yoga, walking meditation, and engaging the five senses—in moving grief and strong emotions through the body.

• Breaking the Stigma around Overdose Loss: Overcoming judgment, shame, and isolation associated with substance use disorder, and creating non-judgmental spaces through community work like Awaken Pittsburgh’s Mindful Connections for Healing After Loss course.

• Navigating Parental Loss: Reflecting on the ongoing journey of mother loss, holding space for grief, and recognizing subtle signs of presence and connection.

• Sustaining Wellbeing & Boundaries: Practical routines for avoiding burnout, including hard digital cutoffs (turning off phone and social media at 9 PM), hydration habits, and fitness walking.

1. Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations For Working Through Grief – A daily meditation book providing compassionate reflections for grief processing.

2. Boundary Boss: The Essential Guide to Talk True, Be Seen, and (Finally) Live Free by Terri Cole – A guide to setting healthy boundaries, practicing self-care, and building foundational mental health habits.

Learn More at www.awakencollaborative.com

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

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Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.