Erica Cuni, the Burnout Professor, in a portrait with her arms crossed

I’m Erica Cuni, The Burnout Professor

Let me be the first to tell you—you are not broken. It’s time to stress better, live better, and feel better.

Burned out? You’ve come to the right place .

Hi, I’m Erica Cuni (LMFT, CIMHP), a.k.a. The Burnout Professor.

I help neurodivergent women recover from chronic stress, anxiety, perfectionism, and burnout by working with your brain, not against it.

Over the last 19 years, I’ve held many roles: psychotherapist, supervisor, program director, clinical professor, adjunct lecturer, trauma-informed coach, and fellow burnout survivor. 

My journey spans multiple systems of care, from private practice to medical detox, the Department of Veterans Affairs, public schools, juvenile justice, psychiatric outpatient clinics, corrections, and beyond. 

Today, I bring all of that experience to clients ready to reclaim their nervous system, rebuild self-trust, and live from a grounded, healed place.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional

Trauma-Informed Burnout Recovery Expert

acting clinical director

Turn Burnout into Balance

Whether it’s burnout, anxiety, trauma, depression, or people-pleasing, many neurodivergent women live in a constant state of protection, unable to feel safe in the present or imagine a future beyond overwhelm.

Are you burned out? Take the quiz 

You might notice:

  • Constant overthinking or emotional numbing
  • Doomsday scrolling, stress eating, or overworking
  • Chronic guilt, micromanaging, or perfectionism
  • Difficulty expressing emotions in real time

These are all signs of nervous system dysregulation and unprocessed emotional trauma, not personal failure.

My Approach to Healing

Burnout is a physiological, psychological, and systemic issue, and traditional talk therapy isn’t always the answer. 

As an acting clincial director, and nervous system-based and trauma-informed therapist, I use an integrative model that blends evidence-based therapy with holistic health insights. My process looks at the whole person:

Genetics

Culture

Gender

Lifestyle Habits

Sleep

Diet

Trauma History

Relationships

Community/Work

Spiritual Roots

Mindset

No more diagnoses, analysis of the past, endless conversations about stressors, and medication prescriptions that don’t work.

I help my clients find new ways of being. 

Sometimes, you need a safe space for unconditional support. Other times, you need help with emotional processing, education, accountability, and gaining a new perspective. 

“Everything is figureoutable.”
— Maria Forleo

I believe this wholeheartedly. Not in a toxic positivity way, but in knowing we can healthily face uncertainty.

Why Clients Choose to Work With Me

I’m compassionate, direct, and deeply invested in helping you get your life back. If you’re looking for a clinician who has done her own healing work, doesn’t sugarcoat the hard stuff, and shows up with heart and humor, you’ve found her.

The Burnout Professor’s Specialties

The Burnout Professor’s Roadmap

PHYSICAL

Get out of exhaustion and find balance

MENTAL

Ditch the overthinking and take control of your thoughts

CAREER

Evaluate and align your values

EMOTIONAL

Stop going through the motions and become intentional

RELATIONSHIPS

Say goodbye to over-giving and hello to boundaries

SPIRITUAL

Cultivate a purpose-driven life outside of work

Named 1 of 22 Leaders to Learn From in 2022 by Bunch

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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.

Traditional talk therapy didn’t work. It wasn’t until I ventured into a more holistic approach to therapy (the “woo-woo” side!) that I found “me” and learned the practical tools to take control of my life.​​​ Keep reading 

You can intentionally enjoy your life, too. Ready to join me?

Credentials & Advanced Training

Education & Certifications:

  • B.A. in Communications & Business Admin. from CCSU
  • M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from CCSU
  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in CT (#001685) and NC (#20115)
  • Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional (CIMHP)
  • Internal Family Systems (IFS) Level 1 Certificate
  • Trauma Research Foundation’s Traumatic Stress Studies Certificate, including courses in Neurobiology of Trauma
  • Certified Reiki Level 1 & 2 and Reiki Master (2015, 2016, and 2017)
  • Enhance Your Intuition Certificate (6 months)
  • NASM Personal Fitness Trainer (In progress)

Training In:

  • Polyvagal Theory from Dr. Stephen Porges & Deb Dana, LCSW
  • 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)

Where to Learn More

Follow me for education, insight, and nervous system support:

Explore my Specialties:

Visit my Resources for tips on emotional recovery and stress relief: