Question 1

What does it mean to be high-performing or high-functioning?

Accepted Answer

When I use the words high-performing or high-functioning, I am not only talking about women with executive titles, advanced degrees, public recognition, or traditional markers of success.

A high-performing woman may be leading a team, running a business, managing a household, raising children, caring for family, serving her community, going to school, working multiple jobs, or holding together responsibilities that no one else fully sees.

High-performing does not always mean highly visible. Sometimes it means you have learned how to keep showing up, keep producing, keep caring, keep organizing, keep leading, and keep meeting expectations even when you are tired, anxious, grieving, overwhelmed, or disconnected from yourself.

In my work, high-functioning is not treated as proof that everything is fine. It is often a sign that you have become skilled at moving through life while carrying more than people realize.

Question 2

What is the difference between therapy and coaching?

Accepted Answer

Therapy is a clinical service. It is designed to assess, diagnose when appropriate, and treat mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma responses, grief, emotional distress, relationship strain, or symptoms that are interfering with daily functioning. Because therapy is regulated by state licensing laws, I provide therapy only to clients residing in Washington State. Coaching is a non-clinical service. It does not include mental health diagnosis, psychotherapy, crisis care, or treatment of a mental health condition. My coaching is identity-forward and self-leadership driven. It supports clients who are ready to examine the roles, expectations, values, and patterns shaping how they live, lead, work, relate, and make decisions.My therapeutic training absolutely informs how I coach. I do not turn off my ability to listen deeply, notice patterns, ask meaningful questions, attend to emotional responses, or recognize when something may need clinical support. The difference is that in coaching, we are not entering a therapist-client relationship or treating a mental health diagnosis. We are using a reflective, values-centered process to build awareness, clarify direction, and support intentional change.For many high-performing women, coaching can feel like a more accessible entry point because it meets them through language they already recognize: leadership, values, decisions, capacity, alignment, and change. But if your primary need is clinical care, symptom stabilization, trauma processing, or support for significant emotional distress, therapy may be the more appropriate starting point.If you are unsure which path fits, we can use the consultation call to talk through what you need and determine whether therapy, coaching, or a referral would be the most responsible next step.

Question 3

How do I know where to begin?

Accepted Answer

Start with what kind of support you need right now.

If you need clinical care, emotional processing, symptom support, or help navigating anxiety, grief, burnout, relationship strain, or emotional overwhelm, therapy may be the best fit.

If you are not seeking therapy but want support examining identity, values, patterns, decisions, leadership, or life direction, coaching may be the better starting point.

If you want to bring this work to an organization, team, conference, or community, explore speaking and facilitation.

And if you are not ready for a direct service yet, the podcast or mailing list can be a softer place to begin.

Question 4

What if I’m not ready for therapy or coaching yet?

Accepted Answer

That's okay.You can begin by listening to The SheSHEDS® Podcast or joining the mailing list to be updated on new articles and essays. Both offer a lower-pressure way to engage with the work, reflect on your own patterns, and stay connected until you are ready for a more direct form of support.

Question 5

Do you only work with women?

Accepted Answer

My work is centered around the hearts, stories, and lived experiences of women—especially high-performing women and women of color who are navigating identity, responsibility, leadership, caregiving, self-sacrifice, and change.

That said, I do work with men who are willing to engage the process with honesty, curiosity, and emotional responsibility. The work still centers identity, patterns, values, emotional awareness, and intentional change.

If you are not sure whether my approach is the right fit, the best next step is to reach out or schedule a consultation so we can determine whether the support I offer aligns with what you need.

Question 6

Do you speak or facilitate workshops for organizations, teams, or communities?

Accepted Answer

Yes. I offer speaking and facilitated workshops for organizations, leadership teams, conferences, and communities exploring burnout, leadership pressure, identity, values, and change.These engagements help participants examine how roles, expectations, and learned narratives influence leadership, communication, decision-making, and responses to pressure. Participants leave with shared language and practical questions they can use to consider what is shaping their current practices, where those practices may conflict with their stated values, and what may require greater intention.

Erika Michelle Cherry, MS, LMHC

Speaker | Licensed Therapist | Self-Leadership Guide for High Performing Women Navigating Identity & Change

Work with Erika Michelle Cherry, MS, LMHC

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Executive Assistant, Washington State