Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Carrie Freshour. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Carrie, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

At my core, I’m driven by an unquenchable thirst for understanding, with a mission sumed up as “Seeking to find meaning in the hard.”

My journey began in the forge of adversity; as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, I know the intimate contours of pain, unworthiness, and their enduring impacts.

From an early age, I honed a unique talent — the ability to read emotions like a human emotion radar. Guided by compassionate therapists, I later chose to delve into individual and organizational psychology.

My career spanned diverse fields, from direct care in residential treatment centers to leadership roles in educational institutions, healthcare, and government agencies.

A pivotal moment struck when my family faced a devastating fire. At the time, I was the acting CEO and COO of an anti-trafficking organization deeply entrenched in trauma understanding. Yet, firsthand experience revealed a gap in our ability to apply this knowledge.

Amidst the kindness and empathy of those around us, the world continued to turn. Payroll and mission decisions marched on, highlighting the limits of the trauma-informed approach.

After a period of healing, I recognized this as an opportunity to become the change I aspired to see in the world. I invested my passion into dismantling stigma and fostering compassionate workplace cultures.

I’ve set my sights on guiding organizations and leaders to navigate human experiences, facilitating difficult conversations, and transforming workplace cultures.

My mission is driven by the realization that we often fall short, not only in mental health and healthcare but also in the corporate landscape. This disparity is amplified by the demand for mental health services and the lack thereof. We have a responsibility as employers to provide better care for our greatest assets, our people.

In a world clouded by bias and resistance to change, my mission champions courage and vulnerability. Numerous layers of systemic bias and cultural norms obstruct the implementation of best practices.

The fire, both literal and metaphorical, within me, is a testament to my belief that every challenge carries the seeds of meaning and opportunity. It’s an opportunity to break down barriers, shatter the silence, and inspire profound change in the world.

Carrie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Sure! I’m Carrie Freshour, the driving force behind Carrie Freshour Consulting, LLC.

With over 25 years of experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I’ve been on a mission to elevate individuals, teams, and entire systems to their peak potential while breaking down stigma and shame and ending the “silence” culture.

I’ve dedicated my career to equipping individuals and teams with the tools they need to navigate the complexities of the workplace and drive meaningful change. My journey combines the lived experience, clinical expertise, and executive leadership that empowers me to lead from a place of strength and resilience.

My focus is eradicating stigma and fostering an environment of equity, fairness, belonging, and empowerment across healthcare, corporate, and individual domains.

Throughout my career, I’ve developed innovative programs, written impactful policies, designed comprehensive training curriculums, and provided invaluable executive coaching. My commitment to breaking down stigma and transforming talk into action has been the cornerstone of my work. I am unafraid to engage in those tough conversations that lead to real progress, and my approach is rooted in empathy with unwavering accountability.

I’m a firm believer that in a time when our country faces a mental health crisis – with statistics revealing over 350 individuals seeking mental health services for every available clinician – it’s our responsibility as employers to prioritize the well-being of our most valuable asset: our employees. We must reevaluate our leadership approach and focus more on humanity within our workforce.

I’ve always been in the people business. In college, I tended to bars to make ends meet and put myself through school. If I am being honest, that job taught me as much about people as any clinical role I’ve ever had.

I am an observer of people, a noticer of emotions. Although I didn’t always manage my own emotions perfectly or grasp those of others, I was driven by curiosity. Through watching, I’ve learned a great deal.

I’ve personally weathered some tough times, and I know I’m not alone. My unwavering drive is to understand and uncover meaning in life’s challenges. To do that, I had to navigate my own struggles, confront my own vulnerabilities, and shatter the walls of generational trauma. It was time to speak out, to let others feel it too.

What I do:
My passion lies in transforming workplace cultures through a foundation in trauma-informed practices, theory, and compassionate care. I’m driven by a genuine desire to create inclusive environments that empower teams to work authentically and transparently.

As a dynamic speaker and facilitator, I lead community conversations and conduct wide-ranging assessments, always with an eye toward collective change.

My focus spans a broad spectrum, from private practice clinical work to corporate leaders, behavioral health professionals, and healthcare leaders, all seeking to be transformational change agents. I’m committed to expanding my reach and increasing my impact while maintaining the urgency and need for transformative action. Through my coaching, consulting, and speaking services, I deliver actionable solutions and strategic plans. These initiatives not only cultivate enduring change but also enhance the human element within organizations. This, in turn, contributes to increased productivity, profitability, and the sustained success of the collective.

As a Trauma-Informed Leadership specialist, my focus on mental health in the workplace goes beyond the ordinary. I passionately advocate for mental health, craft strategic programs, engage in empathetic public speaking and training, foster inclusive relationships, and provide impactful executive coaching and mentorship. This multifaceted approach ensures a comprehensive and transformative impact on individuals and systems alike.

What makes me different? Our unique approach, blending clinical expertise and visionary leadership, fosters comprehensive improvements for individuals and teams.

I differentiate myself by going beyond traditional coaching or consulting services and becoming a true transformation partner. I propel profound change through personalized and professional development, leading with vulnerabilty and employing an innovative appraoch rotted in best practices yet tailored to you and your community.

There are no cookie-cutter approaches to human behavior, and Carrie Freshour Consulting meets clients where they are to apply evidence-informed practices to the mission, vision, culture, and actionable steps of each unique client.

Noteworthy Achievements:

Carrie pioneered an inovative Trauma-Informed Leadership series, shaping compassionate, values-driven leadership. Through groundbreaking workshops, she seamlessly bridges the gap between challenging discussions and actionable steps, revolutionizing the approach to fostering meaningful change in workplace culture.

Carrie is a published thought leader in the National Association of Social Workers (NASW-DC) Intersections Journal.

Spring 2024 will mark the debut of “Brave Kids 2,”Carrie will be among esteemed authors in a collection of children’s stories dedicated to bravery. As a featured author, she will contribute to inspiring the next generation of world change-makers through narratives that foster resilience and courage. Stay tuned for a transformative addition to this empowering literary collection.

In her role, Carrie has led transformative jurisdictional assessments, developed emotional and behavioral health models in schools, and collaborated with State Departments of Education to create and execute a Human Trafficking Prevention Training curriculum for their schools.

Inspirational Contributions:

I am a catalyst for change, committed to fostering mental health and well-being while propelling inclusivity. I champion impactful conversations, driving organizational transitions, and empowering sustainable growth. As a speaker, trainer, and visionary, my approach celebrates the humanness in all of us and embraces the unique experiences that define us. By blending these individual narratives, I cultivate integrated workplace cultures where both people and businesses not only coexist but thrive harmoniously.

Philanthropy:
I’ve served on advisory boards for The Center for Hope at LifeBridge Health and The Baltimore Child Abuse Center Board of Directors. I’m also an active committee member for The National Association of Social Workers, Specialty Practice, and the Maryland Trauma-Informed Care Commission, where I co-chair the Ace Aware Sub-Committee.

Ignite Transformation:
My dynamic presence as a clinical social work consultant and coach redefines leadership, transcending sectors and systems. My resilient spirit, clinical expertise, and strategic prowess unleash the potential for genuine transformation in individuals, teams, and organizations.

I’m proud of the genuine, lasting change I’ve ignited in the lives of those I work with.

I want potential clients and followers to know that I’m not just a consultant or coach but a catalyst for transformation. My commitment to eradicating stigma, promoting mental health, and fostering inclusivity sets me apart.

Whether you’re an individual looking to overcome challenges, a team seeking to maximize its potential, or an organization aiming for a culture of lasting change, I’m here to guide your journey toward meaningful transformation. You can find me at Carriefreshourconsulting.com.

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Professional Trajectory:
Founder & CEO, Carrie Freshour Consulting, LLC
Clinical Private Practice Therapsit

Chief Operating Officer & Interim Executive Director, Araminta Freedom Initiative
Director of Office of Consumer Affairs, Behavioral Health Administration, State of Maryland
Director of Community Services, Keystone Service Systems Mental Health
Child Abuse Social Worker, CARES Northwest/The Children’s Hospital

Education:
Master of Science in Social Work (MSW), Portland State University
Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Portland State University
Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical (LCSW-C)

Have you ever had to pivot?

In 2019, our lives were dramatically upended when we lost our home to a fire. At the time, I was serving as the acting CEO and COO for an anti-trafficking organization. I faced an immense challenge. Payroll deadlines loomed, and a board meeting was scheduled for Tuesday. It was a surreal experience; typically, I was the steady hand in a crisis, but now I felt entirely frozen.

I couldn’t mobilize or process the day’s demands. Instead, I was overwhelmed with basic questions like where to go, what to wear, and whether to send my kids to school the next day without backpacks or books. Life doesn’t pause for a crisis, and I felt stranded. I realized the urgency of my work and how vital the organization’s functions were. Still, I also recognized that I needed time to heal to help my children adjust to a dramatically altered routine.

As the weeks went on, I navigated a complex process: itemizing a lifetime of belongings for insurance claims, recalling purchase details, and managing the logistics of everyday life without a home. I was stuck, and it became clear that I couldn’t give my career the attention it deserved while juggling this personal crisis. It was then that I realized the importance of supportive leadership during challenging times.

I observed how my husband’s non-behavioral health corporation adapted to support him. Meanwhile, my own organization, despite its trauma-informed roots, fell short in providing the necessary support. The contrast was striking. In the wake of the fire, my family was safe but traumatized, and that became a pivotal moment. The fire itself ignited something within me, a drive to take the risk and forge ahead, leading to the creation of Carrie Freshour Consulting LLC, which has become what it is today.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

I remember the turning point in my career when I decided to start consulting on the side. I was already feeling the early signs of burnout while working for a government agency, overseeing peer-run recovery programs across the state. We were in the midst of a significant shift towards integrating behavioral health services, and the tension in every meeting room was palpable. I began to notice something essential – many of my colleagues were burnt out and traumatized by the system’s constant changes. The trauma-informed knowledge we promoted in our programs wasn’t being applied internally to those working in a chronically stressful, toxic environment.

Then it happened to me; I had a breakdown. I realized that if I didn’t make a change, I’d eventually leave the field I loved. A former colleague asked for my help in writing a Request for Proposal for a jurisdictional contract, and that’s when I started consulting. I left my government job for the flexibility and passion that consulting provided. It was fantastic, but the “feast or famine” aspect was challenging. I took on a full-time “contract” job to maintain stability.

Seven years later, after a fire and a global pandemic, I took the leap to go all-in on my consultancy. It was a scary move, but I’ve never looked back. I’ve learned to pivot instead of giving up, and it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.carriefreshourconsulting.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carriefreshourllc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarriefreshourLLC/
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/carriefreshourllc
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1xHwAI1_qM
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@carriefreshourllc?lang=en

Image Credits
Matt Ryb Photography

Video Credit
Producing The Dream; Kia Hicks.