Eryka Sandridge

I attribute my success to a combination of ambition, passion, and a deep commitment to making meaningful conversations more accessible. My work is centered around creating resources that help people navigate topics like mental health in a way that feels approachable, especially for those who may not feel comfortable in traditional settings. That drive has led me to develop tools like children’s books focused on self-esteem and positive affirmations, journals that encourage open dialogue between teens and parents, and communication resources designed to support individuals who face barriers with verbal expression. Ultimately, my success comes from staying focused on impact—finding creative, practical ways to break stigmas, foster understanding, and provide support across different communities and age groups.

The best career advice I’ve received isn’t something that was said in a single moment—it’s what’s been shown to me through the people who believed in me before I fully believed in myself. My best friend Octavia, for example, invested her own money to help me obtain my associate license when I was struggling. That level of belief and support has stayed with me and continues to motivate me every day. I’ve also been deeply impacted by others in my support system, including my son’s babysitter, Cameron, and her mother, who showed up for me in meaningful ways when I needed it most. Those experiences reinforced how important it is to have people around you who genuinely want to see you succeed. Because of that, the advice I carry with me is to build and appreciate a strong support system—and to be that same source of support for others whenever I can.

I would say being open to what self-awareness is going to bring about you is so important. One of the things that isn't talked about enough is what you really learn about yourself as a therapist. You have to kind of hold yourself accountable. You can't preach mental health if you're not practicing it yourself. You can't tell your clients to engage in self-care if you are not engaging in it. Don't be the hypocrite. I think of it in terms of like a pastor - how they'll tell their congregation to be holy, and then they have a due diligence to live that way. As a therapist, when you do step into this role, you're gonna learn a lot of things about yourself that you don't like, and you'll have to do the work to change the things that you don't like. Remember what that feels like, so when you are dealing with clients who have to make behavioral changes, you can understand why it's such a struggle. It makes you more relatable and approachable, and clients can feel when you're coming from a place that's authentic.

Being authentic and being true are my core values. As a therapist who's been in therapy, you get an experience on the client's point of view of what authentic really looks like from a therapist, and I carry that into my personal life as well. I try to teach my kids to be true to who they are - being authentic, being honest. Honest doesn't mean saying the right thing all the time, it's just being honest and tactful. I also push ambitiousness in this house. I expect my kids to do their very best. If their very best is a C, I'm okay with that. If their very best is an A, I'm okay with that, and they get the same celebration. I got one that's straight A's and I got one that struggles, and as long as you're doing your best, that's what matters. You're gonna do your very best, you're gonna push yourself, and that's important. Life is hard. I could have given up and said forget it when I had to go back to school and pay for classes out of pocket and drive around town, but I refused to have done all of this and not get that last little bit of what they needed. I believe in myself, and I'm gonna always invest in me. Nobody's gonna fail me.