Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Labuzan-Lopez, LMFT, LPC.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I always say I began my journey to becoming a therapist in first grade because I was the kid of the playground who all the other kids came to talk about their problems! I have always been the person who sits back and observes what others are doing before jumping into a situation, and people love to open up to me.
People I met randomly in life feel the need to tell me all kinds of things, which I often wonder if my being a therapist has anything to do with that. Then I remember, this has always been the case, so I probably became a therapist because of that.
I decided to study Psychology in undergraduate school at Baylor University because human behavior has always fascinated me. Then the more you learn and explore within yourself, the more you understand that the decision to get into this field is not a coincidence or accident. There are so many relationships and complicated dynamics in life that need exploration and healing, and I started to understand that I had a distinct purpose and desire to look at these issues. Ultimately, the journey to becoming a therapist is the start of a life altering healing process for yourself, and when you can get through that mess, you can really apply your knowledge and skills to be able to help others. Pain is pain, and we’re all in need of healing.
I studied Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of Houston-Clear Lake where I had the opportunity to hone in on my passion, working with couples. I’ve seen divorces, blended families, marriages that lasted but always in crisis, partners living as strangers, partners with resentments, couples afraid to commit, and then every so often there’s the couple that loves each other so deeply and endlessly. I wanted to know what those couples were doing right so I could figure out how to help the couples that were struggling. And I’ve learned a lot.
My other passions stem from personal and professional experiences with infertility and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, and simply becoming a parent. These transitions and life crises result in high levels of conflict for couples and further distance at times when coming together is so important. The more experience I gain, the more connection I see between each group of people that I work with. We’re all afraid that our foundation is cracking, that the tough stuff we go through in life will break us, and that no one will be there to help us get put back together. I’m here to say, as a therapist and a person, that’s simply not true – and I feel honored to have been part of people’s journey to understanding and accepting that.
Great, 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?
I can’t lie and say that running a business and becoming the best possible therapist has been easy or smooth.
Being a great therapist doesn’t stop when you graduate or become fully licensed, it’s a lifelong journey. I’ve had to give myself permission to not always be perfect at my job or come to terms with not being the perfect fit for every client that comes to see me. There’s no one thing that will work for everyone, and you can’t be everything to everybody. As a recovering perfectionist, this can be a hard thing to accept at times. But that’s also what’s so great about therapy, it’s based on a special and unique relationship between the therapist and client. So it’s okay to not be perfect (in fact, it’s encouraged), and it’s okay to not have all the answers. A good therapist is open to exploring anything and everything that comes up, accepting that, challenging your thinking, and still being there as a support even if there’s conflict.
Running a business can also be a challenge. There are so many things that are out of your control, and without the business knowledge or training it’s difficult to know how to be intentional about certain decisions. It has been a learning experience, which can be fun and stressful at the same time. Narrowing my focus and getting specific about what I really want to work with and who I work best with was a process in itself, and then understanding the nuts and bolts of being an entrepreneur was a whole new ball game.
The best thing about throwing yourself into a business is having the opportunity to make your own choices and changing things that aren’t working. It’s empowering to be able to take control of your life and purpose in this way.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Erika Labuzan-Lopez Therapy – what should we know?
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor with a private practice called Erika Labuzan-Lopez Therapy. I also work within a group practice called South Shore Center for Couples and Families in which we have several therapists available to work with a variety of populations from children to adults, couples, individuals, and families.
I personally specialize in working with high conflict couples, infertility counseling, postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, and the transition to parenthood. I am known for my expertise in infertility counseling and have been featured on several blogs and podcasts regarding this subject. I have a certification in the treatment of postpartum depression and anxiety disorders.
I am most proud of the progress my clients are able to make in the time they spend with me. It amazes and humbles me to see how resilient people are, how vulnerable people can get, how real we can be together, and how deeply connecting pain can be as the path to healing occurs. Not everyone is ready to dig in, and that’s okay. I always say you can’t be somewhere you’re not, and I strive to meet clients where they are. The growth and relationship changes I get to witness keeps me motivated to continue in my work, and I am honored to be part of this process with my clients.
My dedication to growing in my expertise and my trust in the therapeutic process are what sets me apart from other therapists. I am always on a mission to learn and grow, both in training and learning new scientific evidence that will influence my techniques, but also on a personal level. Therapy is based on relationships, and in order for me to maintain and understand the relationship I have with my clients, I must be willing to work on and understand myself in the deepest of ways.
I enjoy spending time in all the messy parts of life because I truly believe those are the times we grow from the most. Through my professional experiences, knowledge, and work, I realize that I have an undying trust in my clients to make meaningful changes in their lives, I trust that the process of therapy does work, and I trust that it will be messy and difficult but that’s what makes it amazing.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I think my level of motivation contributes most to my success, both on the therapy side and business side of my work. I also try to be very intentional about the decisions I make and put effort into being purposeful – and not perfect. It’s super easy to forget that your life can really look any way that you want it to, and that’s true in careers and business as well. I find it helpful to examine what the overall vision is, assess what’s working and what’s not, and then go back and make adjustments. It’s not helpful to spend time on staying busy or completing tasks that do not contribute to allowing you to reach your goals, and I use a process to make sure I’m making the best decisions for myself, my family, and my business.
Pricing:
- $135/50-minute session and $215/80-minute session for individual, couple, or family therapy, both in person and online options available.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1100 Nasa Pkwy Suite 101
- Website: ErikaLLTherapy.com
- Phone: (832) 827-3288
- Email: ell@erikalabuzanlopeztherapy.com
- Facebook: Facebook.com/ELLTherapy
- Twitter: @ErikaLLTherapy
- Other: Southshorefamilies.com
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