We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Caroline Neshyba a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Caroline, thanks for joining us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

From a young age, I knew I wanted to work with children. It is apparent that my foundational passion for working with children comes from a place of gratitude for the educators and adult mentors who poured into me as I was growing up. Those who know me well know I experienced a wide range of childhood trauma, and a huge portion of my resilience stems from those individuals. After graduating from Texas A&M, I landed my dream job as an elementary school teacher. I experienced 6 wonderful years serving the public school system and building relationships with brilliant little minds. In 2020 COVID altered education and mental health as we knew it. Through virtual education and transitioning back into the classroom, I witnessed home life of these small faces effect them more than ever before. There were gaps in learning, but even greater gaps in emotional and behavioral health of these children. In 2021, my husband and I welcomed our first child into the world, my son. I continued teaching, while learning my new role as a mother. Having a child changes your heart and I watched mine grow more tender every day. As I would grow closer to knowing my son, I was also growing closer to knowing my 42 students each day. The trauma was apparent from the 2020 lockdown and the public school system no longer offered the time it took to help these children cope, recover, and heal. I spent countless hours in prayer asking God to reveal a path for me and He did. I dove into psychology and self-help books and found a clear path to the field of mental health. I wanted to be very intentional in my career, so I continued working on myself, researching the field, and praying for God to guide me. In 2022, I began the path to my graduate degree and licensing to be a Licensed Professional Counselor.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Lionsear (LE) was originally founded in 2021 and devolved for a year through intentional prayer and planning. Around July of 2022, I met with a trusted brand designer to begin building a concrete foundation for what Lionsear would become.

LE came to life to offer a safe and informative experience through social media for survivors of trauma and abuse. The mission of Lionsear is to go to war with abuse and trauma and allow internal freedom for survivors. Through education, awareness, and courage, our community will overcome and persevere to break the silence of abuse victims.

LE offers a unique place founded on true passion for healing the inner child. Although the services are to change the lives of individuals of all ages, the inner child comes into focus through educational and therapy techniques.

I am most proud of the intention that has gone into founding the mission of Lions Ear, because as with human development, I believe foundation offers a crucial impact on all later stages.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Aside from training and knowledge, authenticity offers the most in the field of clinical mental health. To truly engage organically with clients, I have found my history and background can serve as a tool in supporting individuals to gain self-awareness and offer healing.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

In my initial journey of working in the field of mental health, I read a book called Get Out of Your Head by Jennie Allen. This book opened a door for my mind to understand the true impact our thoughts make in our daily life and how prevention and coping skills can help you live a more peaceful life.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @lionsearmentalhealth