Dr. Michelle Echols has brought her dreams to life. Since her days in graduate school, she envisioned opening a wellness center in Downtown Ferguson, a place that felt like home, and she has made that vision a reality.
Michelle “Sunshine” Echols refers to herself as a wellness broker, teaching people how to modify lifestyle choices to be well. As a mental health professional, she believes it’s important to help the community and to meet them where they are. Wellness is an ongoing process of growth and change, and it’s more than just being free from illness. She wanted to offer access to all things wellness in a community that did not have it, but was fully deserving while creating a place that highlighted and implemented wellness in all areas of our lives.
When asked about her goals for Eight Dimensions Wellness Center she shared her prayer for God to continue to give her the vision to provide her community with a sense of wellness. Dr. Echols believes many people are suffering and just existing, however, with a little support they can begin their journey to thriving in wellness.
The concept of the Eight Dimensions of Wellness is based on a model that highlights eight interconnected areas of wellness, each of which is equally important in achieving holistic well-being.
Those areas are
- Physical
- Emotional/Mental
- Environmental
- Financial
- Occupational
- Social
- Intellectual
- Spiritual
One might wonder how she seamlessly juggles her practice, caring for her husband and children, all while launching a new business. Michelle shared, “I’m very intentional about balance, so I’m not afraid to say no to things I’m not interested in and prioritize the ones that matter to me. I put everything on my calendar because if it’s not there, it might not happen. I’ve found ways to include my family in almost everything I do, ensuring I’m present with them in some capacity while still pursuing my goals.”
When asked about her biggest why the word “obedient” was expressed. “I always tell people I don’t want to be popular; I want to be impactful. I also wanted to show my girls that they can achieve anything they work towards.”
Even though therapy and counseling can sometimes be taboo in the Black community Michelle believes that we have become more open to mental health services. However, there is still work to be done in areas of access to affordable/quality services and erasing the stigma.
In the future, Eight Dimensions Wellness Center plans to host community workshops, healing circles, substance abuse education sessions, and a variety of events focused on supporting healing and wellness.
For more information on therapy and other services visit The Eight Dimensions Wellness Center on Facebook.