TIREEKA WATSON IN THE PRESS

“The SocialWorkGuru, LCSW, who has 119,400 likes @healingissavibe. In her posts, she describes the 10 types of social workers, shares how she challenges her clients in therapy, and advises other social workers how to land six-figure positions. In one post, Guru explains how social workers need to be social and reach out to organizations. “I made it my business to get to know the resources in the community, and I made it my business to get the resources to know me too,” she said. “That’s how I built relationships. That’s how I made connections.” Read the full article here.

“Watson, the founder of Oregon-based Anchored in Essence Therapy and Consulting, shared with NASW some less recognizable signs that people may be operating in survival mode and how they can emerge from it.

1. You feel guilty getting rest. When you go home, you have a stack of things to get done. Your brain might still be scanning emails. You’re not even resting. You feel like you have to constantly be thinking of solutions. There is no off switch.
   Be intentional. If you feel like you can’t rest, do something else. Set a timer. Go for a walk. Drink some water. Cook yourself something.

2. You need to be in control to feel safe. You won’t take into consideration other views. Your idea is the only idea that should be considered. Control can be a shield, but it’s a sign that your nervous system does not feel safe.
   Say you’re in control. It’s cognitive mapping with yourself. Why do I feel like it’s not going the way I want it to go? Is it me? Is it perfectionism? Practice safe surrendering. Ask, how can I relinquish control?

3. You panic in stillness or slowness. A quiet day at work can cue anxiety. The calm feels eerie because you’re used to chaos. Your body may associate stillness with impending crisis. You always need to be needed. There’s no downtime.
   We’re all given 15-minute breaks. Use them. We often eat lunch at our desks. Go somewhere else. Eat in your car and listen to music. Take a walk. Taking a one-minute pause can help.

4. You’re highly productive but emotionally numb. You’re checking all the boxes, but you feel nothing. You show up, but you don’t feel present anymore. Empathy fatigue has hardened the emotional disconnection between you and yourself.
   Reconnect with yourself. Dance, stretch, and incorporate movement at the job. People should have a sense of community, creative outlets to express themselves, and peer spaces that are not judgmental.”

https://www.helpstartshere.org/surviving-survival-mode/

Tireeka Watson, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker, forensic clinician, and educator specializing in ethical, scope-aligned court-involved mental health work. She is the founder of Anchored in Essence Therapy & Consulting, where she provides clinical services, forensic evaluations, and professional education for clinicians navigating forensic and legal systems. Tireeka is known for helping clinicians understand licensure scope, professional boundaries, and ethical decision-making in high-stakes environments. Through workshops, webinars, and mentorship, she supports clinicians in building clarity and confidence without compromising their license or integrity.

Taylor chatted with Tireeka Watson, LCSW, who has built a thriving forensic evaluation practice serving clients in the criminal justice system. Her background spans jail-based mental health, public defense, crisis response with fire departments, and leadership roles in psychiatric hospitals.

How realistic is Love After Lockup? What’s the balance between accountability and humanity? What’s the problem with “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps”? Join me and Tireeka discussing criminals and culture, accountability and humanity. Tireeka Watson, LCSW, is a forensic social worker and reentry consultant who specializes in trauma informed forensic evaluations and justice involved support services. She is the founder of Anchored in Essence Therapy and Consulting, where she works at the intersection of mental health, the legal system, and community reintegration. Her work focuses on helping courts, attorneys, and individuals better understand the impact of trauma, substance use, and systemic barriers while supporting pathways toward stability, accountability, and successful reentry.

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