Meet Eike Daube
If you’ve ever felt the weight of perfectionism, the pressure to always “get it right,” or the lingering effects of your past, you’re not alone. My journey led me to this work, and now, I help others find a way forward—one that feels real, sustainable, and theirs.
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Keep reading to learn more about my story and how I can support you on yours.
My Journey:
From Survival Mode to Thriving
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I was born in California in 1993 to two immigrant parents—my mother from Germany, my father from New Zealand. As a first-generation American, I grew up straddling cultures, never quite feeling like I fully belonged. With a name like Eike, I was constantly asked, “Where are you from?”—a question that, over time, made me wonder the same thing. Yet, when I visited Germany, I was bullied for being American. I learned early on that belonging wasn’t just about where you were from; it was something deeper, more complex.
Then, at 13, my world shattered. My father died suddenly in a traumatic event that upended everything I knew. Grief, uncertainty, and survival mode took over. My mother was now raising three kids on her own, my grandmother helped where she could, but my father’s absence was undeniable. I had to figure out how to navigate life on my own terms.
Perfectionism as Survival
Before my father’s passing, I was already an anxious child—one who asked deep existential questions about purpose, life, and what comes after death. His loss catapulted that tendency into overdrive. Perfectionism became my survival strategy. I fixated on achievement—if I did everything right, maybe I could create some kind of control, maybe I could make him proud, maybe I could keep everything from unraveling even further.
Water polo became my anchor. I had started playing at 9, but after his death, it became my true north. Through the chaos, I found structure in the sport, pushing myself to exhaustion, ensuring I got good grades, minimizing any extra stress on my already overburdened mother. That relentless drive paid off—I earned a Division 1 scholarship to USC, securing a full ride.
Perfectionism, after all, is rewarded. It gives you the accomplishments, the accolades, the outward success that society praises. But what people don’t see is the cost—the anxiety, the self-doubt, the quiet (or not-so-quiet) voice that tells you it’s never enough.
The Breaking Point & The Unlearning
USC was a turning point. I had spent years perfecting the art of doing everything right, but the weight of expectations, an emotionally abusive coach, and a toxic relationship cracked the foundation I had built my identity on. My usual strategies—people-pleasing, pushing harder, being the “good” athlete, student, and friend—weren’t enough anymore.
After graduating, I did what I knew—I kept moving. I played water polo abroad, made mistakes, trusted the wrong people, partied too much, and searched for meaning in places that only left me feeling more lost. My twenties were a whirlwind of loss, trauma, adventure, joy, and deep spiritual questioning. Somewhere along the way, I started piecing myself back together—not by perfecting, but by unlearning.
I learned to work with my nervous system instead of being hijacked by it. I stopped letting perfectionism and fear dictate my worth. I built a business, found ease in life, created a healthy relationship, and, most importantly, learned how to show up for myself.
Why I do this Work
I know what it’s like to carry the weight of expectation, to feel like no matter what you do, it’s never enough. I know what it’s like to navigate trauma, loss, and the relentless pressure to perform. And I also know that healing is possible—not by “fixing” yourself, but by learning to live in a way that feels authentic, grounded, and yours.
My goal when working with clients isn’t to create some false reality where life suddenly becomes easy or free of challenges. Because the truth is, life will continue to test us in ways we can’t predict. But when it does, we don’t have to meet it with overworking, overdoing, or trying to control everything. Instead, we can build a foundation that allows us to respond—not just react. A foundation that says: It’s safe to feel. It’s safe to be me. I am equipped.
Now, I help professionals, athletes, and high-achievers untangle their past, quiet the inner critic, and find a sense of ease in their present and future. You don’t have to stay stuck in old patterns. You don’t have to figure it all out alone.
Let’s do the work together.
Who I Work With
I help athletes, high achievers, and driven individuals—those who have pushed themselves to excel, overcome immense challenges, or both—break free from mental barriers, heal from relational and complex trauma, and create meaningful, lasting change.
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The people I work with often:
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Appear confident and successful on the surface but feel stuck, anxious, or unfulfilled beneath it all.
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Struggle with perfectionism, self-doubt, or burnout, despite their high performance.
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Feel trapped in survival mode—constantly pushing harder but never finding true ease or satisfaction.
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Want to go beyond just coping and resilience, seeking genuine fulfillment, inner peace, and self-assurance.
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I understand how exhausting it can be to carry the weight of high expectations and relentless pressure to perform. My work is all about helping you transform survival-driven patterns into true mental clarity, emotional strength, and deep self-trust—so you can thrive, both in your performance and in your life.
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EDUCATION:
University of Southern California
MSW in Clinical Social Work (Adult Mental Health)
BA. in Sociology
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PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
Board of Behavioral Sciences
Usui Reiki Level I & II Practitioner
Motivational Interviewing | USC Graduate Studies 2019
Problem-Solving Therapy | USC Graduate Studies 2019
EMDR Basic Training | February 2021
EMDR Intermediate Training "Real-World Challenges" | July 2021
Flash Technique by Victoria Britt LCSW, LMFT | April 2022
Psychological First Aid with Dr. Marlene Wong | October 2023
Distancing Technique by Dr. Paula Krentzel & Jennifer Tattersal LCSW | October 2023
R-TEP & G-TEP Training with Marlene Kenney MA, LCSW & Celia Grand LCSW | November - December 2023
Somatic Experiencing Year 1 Training March -2024
​Athletics:
Professional Athlete Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Brazil, France​
University of Southern California Member, Division 1 Women’s Water Polo Team NCAA championship Team 2013 Captain 2015
​USA Junior National TeamWorld Champion 2013