Erika Frieze

My name is Erika Frieze and I am honored to be highlighted in The Faces of West Sacramento. My family moved to West Sacramento in 2011 from Davis. We have three children (ages 5, 7, and 9) and love living in West Sacramento. I am also a local business owner! I own Bridges of the Mind Psychological Services. Our mission is to serve our community and offer resources that are not otherwise available to our residents. At Bridges of the Mind we are a family with a passion and commitment to serving our community through outreach and individually tailored services. We strive to provide an inclusive, diverse, and accepting workplace, where professionalism and expertise are valued, supporting the growth of our providers through continuing education and professional development. We support people across the lifespan with learning and developmental challenges through clarifying assessments, which provide a framework for understanding and allow for tailored interventions, to bridge from the evaluation to resources and services. We are dedicated to our community and our family is here to support and guide your family. We believe that by lifting up all in our community and supporting our care partners, we contribute to a more vibrant, healthy, and emotionally sustainable world. I am a Clinical Psychologist by profession, a mama, and a wife and I am so thankful I get to connect with our amazing community!

Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My husband and I are celebrating 20 years together this year (13 years married) and we have three wonderful and active children who are 5, 7, and 9.

Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I love connecting with people and helping them get resources they may not otherwise have access too or even know about. I pride myself on finding these resources and bringing them to my business to help families.

Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
We love so many! Our neighbors own Raku Sushi and we love it! We also enjoy Lenise’s , Aloha Poke, Vince’s, Bike Dog, and Ay Jalisco!

Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
We moved to West Sacramento in 2011 and I have owned my business here since 2018.

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
I think West Sacramento is an amazing city where there are SO many local business owners and I enjoy connecting with so many of them!

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Somewhere tropical! I would love to be on a beach, with clear blue water, and staying in a hut over the ocean. I think that after the 2020-2021 we have had that my brain just needs a calming break.

Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
I love My Girl and Center Stage! I am not really into television shows but recently we watched the Queen’s Gambit and Servant and loved them both.

Q: What advice would you give to people?
I feel like this is always a hard one. I think that people should find what they are passionate about and that they will never lose if they feel fulfilled and positive.

Q: What is something on your bucket list?
We want to travel more. I’d love to travel to every continent. I would also love to go to the Gorge to see Dave Matthews Band.

Q: What is your go to band when you cant decide what to listen to?
Dave Matthew Band is my go to. I also toss in some Foo Fighters and Macklemore. I can’t wait for concerts to be back because they really energize my soul.

Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
We loved The Eatery. My kids still talk about going there and I have good memories about going there with my extended family. We LOVE Bike Dog and have had so so many good parties, gatherings, and hangouts there.

Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Definitely Dave Matthew or Mike Michalowicz. Dave because the soul he puts into his music is inspiring and I’d really love to learn more about him. Mike would be up next because he has really helped my business grow and increase my passion to be an entrepreneur. I’d definitely take both of them to Bike Dog or Burgers and Brew.

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
I love that while our community is large we can still be really connected within the community. Our preschool brought us together as a family and we have made so many good friends from our preschools!

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I would love to continue to grow my business and travel more.

Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I don’t ever think that I am interesting….but I would say that I was a competitive gymnast and was recrutied for UCD but decided to move away for college.

Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Prague, Venice, or even right here in Bodega Bay (the sunsets are to die for).

Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
My favorite month is October. Holiday’s are hard but maybe Halloween…and the best single day on the calendar would be my wedding anniversary because I got to marry my best friend and while relationships are tough I have never loved my husband more.

Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
If I had to rate anything a 10 out of 10 I would say sitting on the beach with a drink and relaxing while my family plays.

Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My family. It sounds cliche but I do everything in hopes to give them the lives that they want. Other entrepreneurs inspire me as well. I also find that the families and children I help and work with are a huge inspiration.

Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
Lavender and Vanilla

Q: What is one business you would like to have in West Sacramento? (which we don’t have one already)
This is a hard one because the one I want is one I am hoping to build within the next few months. It will be an outlet for children and families and I think it is something our community desperately needs!

Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Safety, comfort, and relaxing.