Sasha Quarles

Becoming an entrepreneur outside my career is something I never envisioned for myself, yet here I am. I am both creative and visionary, with a passion for learning, and teaching is one of my favorite ways to connect with others. As a Psychotherapist specializing in EMDR, I work with individuals dealing with Complex Trauma PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression. I also spend time providing consultation to other clinicians learning EMDR. Through my venture, Second Bloom, I offer Energy Healing as a Certified Emotion Code Practitioner. Growing up in Kansas City, Missouri, I was a young girl full of potential but limited by my lack of knowledge. What I cherish most about myself is my innate curiosity, which has always sparked new thoughts, questions, passions, and inspirations in my life.

Second Bloom emerged from a thought sparked by my curiosity, transforming into a vision and ultimately becoming a reality. It wasn't just a fleeting idea; it was born during a challenging period in my life when I felt sad, depressed, grieving, and overwhelmed by burnout and compassion fatigue. I was tired, irritable, emotionally drained, lacking motivation and energy, and struggling with emotional eating and an overwhelming need for sleep—the list goes on. As a therapist, I have the tools, the support, and the knowledge of what to do?!! Yet, after months that stretched into over a year of trying everything I could think of, it often felt like I was going nowhere.

Like many therapists, I am an Empath. For those unfamiliar with the term, an Empath is someone who can deeply understand and share the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of others by putting themselves in their shoes, resulting in a profound emotional connection. Empaths are highly sensitive to the emotions and energies of those around them. While being an Empath is one of the many qualities that enhance my effectiveness as a therapist, I have also discovered through energy work that, often without realizing it, this trait has made life feel incredibly heavy over time.

As I delved into Emotion Code and focused on my own healing, I realized I had been carrying emotional baggage from seemingly every person I’ve ever encountered—family, friends, acquaintances, teammates, teachers, coaches, colleagues, and even strangers I shared a room with, along with the emotional trauma of my clients over the years. As a therapist, holding space for others felt natural, but the sheer volume of trapped emotions that I uncovered and released was astonishing!

I understood that I was creating a vulnerable space for my clients, as that’s the essence of therapy, but I hadn’t realized I was holding onto that energy in my body long after our sessions. As I began to release emotions from my current work, I noticed that feelings were surfacing from all stages of my career. This included experiences from my early days working with foster children, my time as a Clinician in the County Jail, and emotions I released from my role as a School Social Worker. I even absorbed feelings from my colleagues during meetings, particularly throughout the COVID period. Additionally, I released emotions from the inpatient hospital where I spent nearly two years. So far, I’ve let go of over 400 trapped emotions in my body, all stemming from my professional journey.

I also released emotions from my personal life, but I discovered that the majority of trapped emotions came from those around me. This realization was truly eye-opening. After weeks of applying Emotion Code on myself, I began to experience better and deeper sleep, felt less agitated, and noticed an increase in my energy levels in the mornings and my vitality throughout the day. My motivation and optimism grew, and I lost 10 pounds without even trying. Some of my cravings diminished, and I experienced fewer symptoms related to my Fibromyalgia diagnosis. I gained new insights and perspectives about my grief, feeling less overwhelmed by stress and my to-do list. By the end of the day, I felt like I had more to give. In the past, after a full day of sessions—even on my days off—I would feel completely depleted, with nothing left for myself—no words, no socializing, no self-care—just exhaustion and burnout.

It became evident to me that much of what I had been experiencing over the years was simply the weight of the world around me. The symptoms I felt were my body’s way of communicating—trying to capture my attention. This realization inspired me not only to share my story but also to become a healer and educator for others—those who feel like they’ve exhausted every option and still haven’t found progress in their healing journey—mentally, emotionally, and physically. I want to support my fellow colleagues and service workers—therapists, psychologists, social workers, case managers, nurses, doctors, teachers, and more—who give so much every day and are now facing burnout, having nothing left for their own lives. We cannot fully engage in our work when our cups are empty and we’re burdened by a heavy load. And to my fellow empaths—not just professionals, but those who blend into the crowd—blessed with hearts so big that you feel everything deeply and care intensely: Second Bloom is here for you.

Second Bloom was designed not just to aid your healing by releasing and lightening your emotional burden, but also to offer education and tools to help you shield yourself from absorbing emotions that don’t belong to you. Being a support system, an empath, and a safe space for others is truly a gift. I’m here to help you embrace that gift—without the toll of burnout, resentment, or emptiness.

Life doesn’t have to be so heavy,

You can do your job and be happy.

You can be an empath and be happy.

You can heal and be happy.