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
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.
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
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)
