Community Highlights: Meet Scarlett Ekeroma of Elevate Healing

Hi Scarlett, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Whew! Let me start by saying I never thought I would be a business owner. One, the word ‘business’ intimidated me and lastly, I didn’t feel ‘business savvy’ enough. I initially withheld starting a therapy private practice (TPP) because the thought of the start-up costs was overwhelming and daunting. In addition, I didn’t want a traditional brick & mortar office. At the time, there were some barriers I did not want to explore. Fast forward to 2018-2019, my colleague/friend informed me she had an exclusive online TPP. I immediately was intrigued and said to myself, ‘Yep, that’s what I want to do!’ She started her online TPP before the pandemic, despite the backlash she received at that time. After picking her brain, I finally decided to move forward and began building my business.

In 2020, I started my business because my goals was to no longer work a traditional 9 to 5 job; I have been in full private practice since June 2021. At the traditional job, I was always exhausted and felt burnt out as the job didn’t necessarily end at 5 o’clock. Despite working in mental health programs, the environments were toxic, ‘squeezed every ounce out of you,’ and had low pay. For example, when working at a community behavioral health program, I would have eight to nine client sessions per day for several days in a row. It was taxing mentally and emotionally. I desired freedom from that complexity and really envisioned my life a different way. I envisioned showing up better as a therapist and enjoying life outside of my career. I wanted to create time wealth, mental wealth, along with financial wealth, which is what owning my business has done for me.

Having my own business has also allowed me to venture in different avenues as well. For example, this year I authored a successful therapeutic journal called My Worries & Wins Journal ©️ (available on Amazon) and I have been transitioning into coaching.  I will be releasing my new course on Setting Healthy Boundaries in 2023 and I am hosting a free masterclass on boundaries this November. Such exciting times!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
With any business, especially a new business, it’s never a smooth road. There are always peaks and valleys in any adventure you forge forward with. Some of my struggles along the way was believing in myself and believing I would be a successful business owner. Another obstacle I faced was overcoming my doubts of having my own business and have a successful business. There were so many self-doubts that arose and so many dark days that I had to figuratively fight to get out of it. I had to frequently remind myself of my greatness and surround myself around people who would pour into me and my vision. I thank God for my amazing circle who challenges me to be/do better and wouldn’t allow me to sink. They are an amazing lifeline.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Elevate Healing, LLC?
I am a Boundaries Coach and Licensed Professional (LP). As an LP, I am allowed to provide therapy services in Georgia, Florida, and Washington (state). As a coach, I specialize in helping individuals learn how to set healthy boundaries and navigate healing inner wounds. These two go hand-in-hand because there is no one without the other. I work with women and BIPOC adults who are tired of ‘holding it all together’ and being the strong one in their personal life and career. Working with me we discuss and explore giving a voice to the inner wounds you carry and learn how to heal those wounds. We also explore and identify solutions to break negative generational cycles and so much more. I help my clients discover the best and healed version of themselves. It’s hard, powerful, and rewarding work for my clients. I get extremely excited about this work!

I get excited because I have definitely been ‘the strong one’ in my personal life and career. It got to the point where it was unhealthy physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally for me. I had to start doing my inner wound-healing work to break out of toxic and negative behavioral cycles. This meant standing up for myself by setting healthy boundaries with several people in (and some now out) of my life.

When I started to think about my business name, I thought about my life story and how I assist my clients. Hence, the birth of Elevate Healing, LLC. Healing is in all of us and we must be intentional about elevating it. In addition, when you do your inner healing work, there is a different life elevation you experience as well. This essentially requires you to do the necessary work to encounter it.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Active, active, active. Did I mention I was active? My siblings and I were always playing outside. We played outside past when the streetlights came on. We played a variety of childhood games to sports. I was the forever quarterback and field goal kicker when my siblings or neighborhood friends and I would play football. In addition, I truly enjoyed learning. I’m a kinesthetic, tactile, visual learner. So anytime at school there was a lab to use my hands, I thrived. I was also very driven. I really thrived off achieving any goals or challenges set before me. I also was highly competitive. I was a part of several varsity school sports teams and had much success in this area as well. I was blessed to be able to take my athletic abilities to compete at The University of Florida (Go Gators!)