Shedding the Old to Make Room for the New

My journey of self-growth began when I was faced with two drastic and unexpected life changes. After the end of my marriage, I experienced dramatic and sudden hair loss. Little did I know that Alopecia, an uncontrollable autoimmune condition, had set in and was ready to take me on the roller coaster ride of my life. Within a few short weeks, I went from having gorgeous, curly, red hair, to absolutely none at all. I was instantly faced with the ultimate identity crisis. With the sudden loss of my relationship AND my unique physical identity, I was presented head-on with the question, “Who am I?”

Feeling confused, alone, and completely devastated by these losses, I resigned myself to isolation, loneliness, and a deep-seeded fear of being seen with my “flaws”.

I felt embarrassed and ashamed, and I assumed that I would never be worthy in the eyes of another. I hid behind a wig as I navigated my work life and maintained a safe distance from the people in my life, including the young students that I taught.

Maybe the World is a Friendly Place?

I stumbled upon a unique and life-changing counselling program and began to reclaim my life. I started the wildly courageous task of excavating my past and challenging old patterns that no longer supported me, and I started to change the way I looked at things. I realized that the way that I experience my Alopecia was completely up to me – it was my responsibility.

If I wanted to experience something different, I would need to DO something different. I put Einstein’s most important question to the test: “Is the universe a friendly place?”

Erin Leach, RPC
Registered Professional Counsellor

Specializing in body and self image, I am an expert in helping women navigate through a wide range of image changes. Click here to learn how turning my struggles into service helps me empower women.

Walking the Talk: Am I an Empowered Woman or Not?

I took steps to reveal my deepest vulnerabilities and gathered enough strength to start sharing and revealing my condition to the world. I realized very quickly that what I believe about myself is what I will experience in the world around me. The more I looked for acceptance and connection, the more I was met with it.

A truly magical and beautiful thing happened from this place of honesty and vulnerability: I felt validated, expansive, and powerful. The more I let people in, the more connected I felt to my authentic self and to those around me. My relationships deepened and become more meaningful. I learned that in honouring and accepting myself in the middle of my struggle, I could explore the fullness of who I truly am.

I began to unfold and discover qualities of myself that I never knew existed. By walking in the world exactly I was, bare and bald, I started to experience my true freedom.

Turning Struggle into Service: The Making of an Empowered Counsellor

I found beauty in the breakdown. I learned to embrace the unknown and to fall in love with my journey. I developed a deep faith and confidence in my inherent worthiness and inner resources, and I believe that I am supported in any challenge that I may face. I am no longer attached to the outcome of my hair growing back. My hair is not who I am anymore. That is a true gift. Perhaps the biggest gift of all is to support others, to share my journey, and to be a soft place to land in a scary time in someone’s life.

I am a Registered Professional Counsellor with the Canadian Professional Counsellor’s Association (RPC #3581) as well as a school counsellor helping young minds and hearts navigate the world around them. I have a diploma in Transpersonal Counselling from Clearmind International Institute, where I completed their cutting edge three-year counselling training program (PRAC). I have been a shadow teacher to their counsellor training level 1 class and I have assisted and team led many workshops, all equipping me with contemporary tools to help others in life’s struggles.

I am deeply passionate about health and well-being, and I find inspiration in many authentic pursuits, most of all figure skating. My Alopecia does not stop me from participating fully in life.

I feel most ALIVE when I embrace all moments and emotions and allow them to contribute to the richness of my human experience. I consider myself to be a lifelong learner with an intense passion for personal development and self-growth. As a school teacher turned counsellor, I am fiercely motivated to help others navigate through life challenges.