Embracing Vulnerability, Transforming Lives, and Redefining Resilience
Robin Houser is a transformative leader in personal development and therapy, known for her deep compassion and ability to connect with people on a profound level. With a career dedicated to helping others overcome life’s challenges, Robin specializes in guiding women through their personal struggles and empowering them to embrace their full potential. Her journey into therapy began early, when she realized that people naturally gravitated to her for support and understanding. This inspired her to pursue a career where she could make a real difference in people’s lives.
Having personally battled depression, suicidal thoughts, and trauma, Robin’s approach is rooted in empathy and resilience. She believes in the power of vulnerability and uses her own experiences to create a safe space for clients to heal and grow. Gratitude has been a pivotal tool in her life, one she now shares with others to help them shift their mindset and create lasting change.
Robin’s unique combination of therapeutic expertise and personal insight enables her to empower women to not only survive but thrive. She encourages women to embrace their imperfections, step into their strength, and live with purpose. Her passion for seeing others succeed drives everything she does, making her a powerful ally on any personal growth journey.
Tell us about you ; especially the fun parts that are not so known from your online presence.
For Mother’s Day, my five-year-old’s school had the kids draw pictures of their moms and answer questions about them. One question was, “What does your mom do?” and he answered, “Make salads.” I do love salads, but art has been a big part of my life for eight years. After having children, I moved away from it, thinking it was something frivolous, but I’ve always loved photography. I’ve done newborn photoshoots for friends and even traveled to Jamaica to shoot a friend’s wedding. That creative side of me—appreciating and expressing art—still lights me up. I also love capturing nature in my photography.
This might sound a little old-ladyish, but I love birdwatching. Learning about birds, feeding them, and simply being in nature is one of my greatest joys. Nature provides the most simple and profound reminders of the miracles around us every single day. It’s incredibly humbling. Even now, we have baby birds and nests around our home. What it takes for them to make it to adulthood is amazing. Teaching my kids about that—how nature brings us back to our hearts and to stillness—is important to me. And it doesn’t always have to involve sitting in quiet meditation. I need stimulation, but nature provides the perfect balance of calming energy for me to reset.
At 45, I told my husband, “I feel like I’ve lived longer than I will live,” and that’s a humbling thought. But it’s also freeing. I’ve pushed, pulled, sacrificed, and endured. Now, I can say I’ve earned the freedom to truly make my life mine. So many of us get trapped in identities we formed in middle school, high school, or even within our families, thinking we can’t change. But we can.
I was adopted, molested when I was five, and raised by a father who believed women existed for men. I had my first child after being raped and gave her up for adoption. I also survived an abusive marriage. But now I tell my kids, “At any point, you can change your identity.” I don’t think we’re given the freedom to understand that. It’s not talked about enough, but it’s really powerful, especially for the women I work with. I tell them, “Just because you’ve been through things doesn’t mean that’s who you are. That’s a part of your story, but you get to decide who you want to be.”
At what point in your journey did you truly begin to recognize and embrace your personal power?
It’s been fairly recent, though it’s been building for a while. My adoptive mom passed away, and I think we often feel like we can’t fully see ourselves unless our parents see us. I cared for her for several years while she was sick, and now I care for my father, who has dementia. Healing from that took time, and it’s still ongoing. I definitely still get triggered, but I use those moments as opportunities to see where I need more healing. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it.
When my mom passed, I realized that becoming my true self didn’t mean I was betraying her or separating from her just because she didn’t understand it. That realization was liberating. Now, I teach my clients to give themselves permission to be who they are—not through the lens of their parents’ approval. Parents can only validate us based on their own capacity, and sometimes that’s just not enough.
One of my biggest accomplishments is having a 14-year-old daughter who has never experienced any type of sexual abuse. I see that as a testament to the healing work I’ve done. When I gave up my first child for adoption, I had to testify that I was an unfit parent. That label stayed with me for a long time, and I felt I had to prove my worth as a parent with my other children.
What sparked your interest in personal development, and how did your early experiences shape your career path?
It all started in 10th grade. I had just transitioned to a new high school after being homeschooled for two years. Strangers would come up to me, sharing their deepest secrets, their stories, and what was weighing them down. It never felt like a burden—more like an honor that people trusted me.
Growing up, I knew staying at home wasn’t an option. Both of my parents struggled with mental health issues, and I realized that education was my ticket out. I decided to pursue therapy because I wanted to help people feel seen and understood, just as I had done for my peers. I didn’t just want to diagnose—I wanted to be in the trenches, truly helping people change their lives. That’s where my passion for personal development really took off.
Gratitude became a major turning point for me. As a teenager, I battled depression and suicidal thoughts. Therapy wasn’t helpful at first, and the medication I was prescribed led to seizures. When I was in college, I made the decision to stop relying on medication and find a different path. Gratitude shifted everything for me, and it’s a practice I still rely on today.
As someone who has overcome significant personal challenges, what advice would you give to your younger self during those tough times?
Growing up, I didn’t have a strong female role model. My adoptive mom had a big heart but struggled with severe mental health issues, which left her emotionally unavailable. That made it hard for me to understand what being a woman, a leader, or a mother should look like.
When I had my first child and later lost our first pregnancy to miscarriage, I felt like I was failing. But now, I realize that wasn’t true. Comparison was my biggest enemy. I kept looking at other women who seemed to have it all figured out, but I’ve learned that everyone is on their own journey. Anytime we put someone on a pedestal, we’re bound to be disappointed because they’re human, too. Now, I tell my clients, “Comparison is like cake. If you indulge in it too much, it won’t feel good. But if you take a small slice and use it as inspiration, it can help you grow.”
“My younger self needed to hear that the amount of energy and focus I was putting into trying to fit in and belong needed to be redirected. I needed to rather focus on embracing and accepting my uniqueness, because I was never meant to fit in. I have always been a leader.
What has been the most transformative lesson you’ve learned in your personal growth journey?
The most profound realization for me has been that I am the only one who can give myself permission to be authentically me. It’s about accepting that I’m here to learn, not to be perfect. The word “human” inherently means we’re going to make mistakes—that’s part of the process. My 14-year-old daughter has taught me so much about this. She’s strong and self-assured, and her friends even say they’re “scared of her” because of how direct she is. I admire her ability to set boundaries and forgive without holding grudges. She constantly reminds me that forgiveness doesn’t mean giving back trust—it means freeing yourself from the burden of resentment. I’ve learned from many mentors throughout my life, but my daughter’s wisdom about forgiveness and boundaries has been one of the most transformative lessons I’ve received.
How do you stay grounded and resilient when life feels overwhelming?
Whenever I feel like everything’s falling apart, I pause and ask myself, “What’s going well right now?” Shifting my focus from what’s wrong to what’s working brings clarity and reminds me that not everything needs to be fixed. It’s easy to get caught up in problems, but focusing on the good helps me stay centered and resilient.
Photo Credit – Anna Mantini
