**Release the weight of your stress. Currently booking for Intensives. Schedule Today**
Hi! I'm Erica Cuni.
A Motivational Speaker, Licensed Therapist, Life Coach, and fellow survivor.
I'm dedicated to showing the go-getters, perfectionists, and people-pleasers how to stress better, live better, and feel better.
Let me be the first to tell you - you are not broken.
My Approach
A revolutionary and impactful experience designed to help you level up your stress management game and start to thrive.
​
From the way you motivate yourself, think about situations, connect with yourself and others, and take healthy risks, the nervous system is the root of it all.​​
It's important to note that stress isn't the bad guy. A stuck nervous system is the culprit and there are several reasons as to why it can stay dysregulated.
​
I am also a firm believer that not everyone needs therapy. Sometimes we need a life coach and other times we need a therapist. This is because it depends on the state of your nervous system. To help with preventing and recovering from burnout, I offer life coaching and therapy.
​
Life coaching is great for prevention and you need to learn a skill set while adding in some accountability. Therapy is needed when learning the skillset isn't enough. You keep repeating the same self-sabotaging patterns, no matter how hard you try to stop.​​
Burnout (noun):
Burnout is the activation of the “fight or flight” response and little to no stimulation of the “social engagement” system. This imbalance can lead to emotional, physical, & mental exhaustion, reduced resilience, and social disconnection.
Burnout is a physiological, psychological, and systemic issue.
​
This is one of the reasons why traditional talk therapy isn’t always the answer. My approach isn’t like the old idea of therapy where we diagnose, analyze the past, talk about stressors endlessly, and prescribe medicine.
Rather, it’s focused on finding a new way of being from this point forward so that you can start to successfully manage life’s curveballs and create the life you want. It’s trauma-informed, nervous system-based, and integrative. You’ll learn how to befriend stress so you can start to think clearly and make sound decisions.​
Specialties
The Burnout Professor's
Stress Management: Chronic Stress, Overwhelm & Functional Freeze
Trauma, PTSD & C-PTSD
ADHD
Anxiety
Self-Confidence, People Pleasing & Codependency
Life Transitions
Grief & Loss
Burnout,
Compassion Fatigue & Moral Injury
The roadmap I provide you is practical and integrative and it creates long-lasting transformation in your life.
If you are all in, I am, too!
Roadmap
The Burnout Professor's
PHYSICAL
EMOTIONAL
MENTAL
RELATIONSHIPS
CAREER
SPIRITUAL
Get out of exhaustion and find balance
Stop going through the motions and become intentional
Ditch the over-thinking and take control of your thoughts
Say goodbye to over-giving and hello to boundaries
Evaluate and align your values
Cultivate a purpose driven life outside of work
Named one of the 22 Leaders to Learn from in 2022 by
Education, Certifications & Trainings
The Burnout Professor's
-
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in CT (#001685) and NC (#20115)
-
B.A. in Communications & Business Admin. from CCSU
-
M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from CCSU
-
Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional (CIMHP)
-
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Level 1 Certificate
-
Trauma Research Foundation's Traumatic Stress Studies Certificate - includes courses in Neurobiology of Trauma
-
NASM Personal Fitness Trainer (In progress)
-
(6) Polyvagal Theory from Dr. Stephen Porges & Deb Dana, LCSW
-
(5) Somatic Experiencing with Dr. Peter Levine
-
Understanding the Gut Brain: Stress, Appetite, Digestion, and Mood
-
Neuroscience & Yoga in the treatment for Complex, Developmental and Repeated Trauma
-
Tapping/Emotional Freedom Technique
-
Risking Connections
-
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
-
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
-
Forensic Cognitive Behavioral therapy (F-CBT)
-
Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT)
My Burnout Story
In 2014, while driving to work, I was hit by a Mack Truck (literally).​
Over the next 18 months, as every area of my life spiraled out of control, I asked, "what the heck am I missing?"
I need to keep it real, though.
Before the Mack Truck Accident, I looked like I had it together on the outside. I was high-achieving and living life! But in actuality, I was at my breaking point.​ I was people-pleasing, codependent, and had no boundaries. I truly thought a stressed life was normal.
​
Does this sound familiar?
​
​You keep doing what you think you "should" be doing, yet you hit roadblock after roadblock. You feel drained, frustrated, and stuck on the never-ending hamster wheel. It's freaking exhausting.
​
I went back to traditional talk therapy; it didn't work. Diving into the "woo-woo" side of wellness and trauma therapy, I found "me" and learned the practical tools to take control of my life and thrive consciously.​​​
This is what I wish I had on my journey— an integrative mental health approach, a community, and a roadmap that said, "this way next."
I know if I can do this, you can, too!
Some Parts of My Personal Journey
I've been fired. A male director said, "you're extremely smart and think quickly on your feet. You should think about how you come across because some people can find it intimidating." A few months later, I was fired from my supervisor position suddenly even though I successfully increased productivity in my department by 49% under 9 months. This completely made me second guess who I was and my strengths as an employee with a strong work ethic.
I have a rare genetic lung disease that went undiagnosed for 32 years which resulted in part of my lung being removed at 17. I understand 'living with a chronic illness,' medical trauma, and no one believing you.
I've experienced intergenerational trauma (family of Italian & Sicilian immigrants and Combat War Veterans), childhood trauma (ACES score: 7), work trauma (burnout, compassion fatigue, moral injury, vicarious trauma, & first-hand trauma) and a near-death experience from the Mack Truck accident. I've learned how to successfully break the cycles, heal, and move forward - thanks to understanding how my nervous system works.
Several friends and family have passed 'before their time,' with the most impactful being my boyfriend in my early 20's, Aunt, and best friend of 23 years.
I've been intentionally single for 9 years so I could figure out who I was and successfully ditch my attraction to codependency.
Some Fun Facts About Me
Founder of the largest club for stress & burnout, "The Burnout Club," on the Clubhouse app, where I hosted free rooms during 2020-2021. This is when the "The Burnout Professor" was born.
I love to dance. I competed, taught, and took instructional dance for fifteen years. After being told that I'd most likely lose my foot from the Mack Truck accident, I've been able to rehab it so that I'm back on the dance floor in my heels.
First woman DJ at two different bars in one of my 10 careers (yes, I've had 10).
Fastest promoted manager, to lead a multi-million dollar team, at a major company based on my high sales, customer retention rate, relationship building skills, and ability to motivate others.
Landed largest first sale for a rookie in the history of radio station when working in radio sales.
When I was a Professor, I was recognized by the University for how I handled my classes during the start of the pandemic, which was based on student surveys.
I have an 9-year-old rescue Pitbull/Boxer mix named Bear, who's been by my side since one month after the Mack Truck accident - not sure who rescued who.
This 40-something woman's transformation.
Today, I live my life where...
-
​I live a sober lifestyle.
-
I'm metabolically healthy.
-
I have a mindfulness and spiritual practice that I utilize daily.
-
I practice strong boundaries in my relationships with people, places, and things.
-
I listen to my body and know that rest is productive.
-
I practice forgiveness. It's for me and I know it doesn't equate to letting people back into my life.
-
When things are not in my control, I truly do surrender and trust.
-
It's not about perfection. It's about progress.​​​​
