We recently had the chance to connect with Dr. Ecclesia Savage and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Ecclesia, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
The biggest misconception about my business is that therapists have it all together. People often imagine us as perfectly calm, perpetually balanced individuals who glide through life without a single misstep. The reality? Therapists have therapists!
As a busy mother of two with a significant age gap between my children, and a wife, my days are a constant dance of showing up for my family, my clients, and myself. This means that, yes, sometimes I absolutely have to practice what I preach. Sometimes that means learning to say “no,” or consciously prioritizing rest, even when it feels like there’s a million things to do.
Therapists aren’t exempt from life’s challenges; we’re navigating our own journeys, learning and growing just like our clients. The key difference is that we possess a specialized toolkit designed to help others understand themselves, their patterns, and their choices more clearly, empowering them to make better decisions. Therapy isn’t about us being perfect; it’s about mastering a skillset that truly helps people thrive. And that’s a skill we do exceptionally well.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Dr. Savage, a therapist dedicated to empowering women. My work is unique because it blends two crucial areas: my expertise as a sex therapist and my passion for deconstructing the Black Superwoman Scheme.
I help women move away from the expectation that they must carry the weight of everything and everyone. By combining my professional skills with my personal understanding of the pressures women face, I empower my clients to learn how to say no, prioritize their own needs, and create a life that is truly pleasurable and authentic.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that has most shaped how I see myself is with my teenage son. He is everything I am and so much more—challenging, highly intelligent, and creative. He is unafraid to deconstruct narratives that do not serve him and is kind yet protective of himself. He reminds me of the areas in life where I need to grow, as well as my greatest achievements.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me a truth that success could never: that pain is universal, and so is the fight to overcome it. In moments of success, it was easy to believe my accomplishments made me unique or set me apart. But in the midst of suffering, I learned a humbling lesson—that the feelings of despair, anxiety, and struggle are a shared human experience.
This realization built a kind of empathy that success could never teach. It’s not just about feeling bad for someone; it’s a deep, gut-level understanding of what they might be enduring, because I’ve been there too. It broke down the walls that success had built and connected me to others in a far more meaningful way.
Success taught me what I was capable of achieving, but suffering taught me what it means to simply be human.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely. The public version of me is the real me. I am a naturally bubbly person who loves to find the humor in almost any situation. I will push back with compassion and set boundaries with grace. I’ve been told that I can uplift the energy in a room when I walk in, and that was one of the most beautiful compliments I have ever received. I take myself everywhere I go, so you can be sure you’re always getting the real Dr. Savage.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Yes, and the greatest example is my doctorate degree. Earning it was a long and demanding journey, and it stands as one of the hardest accomplishments of my life—an achievement I am incredibly proud of. But I found that the satisfaction didn’t come from the title itself.
I realized that being a “stuffy, uptight Doctor of Philosophy and Clinical Psychology” was far less fulfilling than simply being me. My true joy comes from meeting my clients exactly where they are—without the pretense or formality. I much prefer to see myself as a woman, a daughter, a mother, a sister, and a friend who understands, rather than a title on a wall. The degree gave me the tools, but being a human is what allows me to do the real work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stayanchored.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stay.anchored/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-ecclesia-s-b8890433/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAnchoredOne
