Meet Caroline Lewis | Holistic Psychotherapist and Women’s Empowerment Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Caroline Lewis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Caroline, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I grew up in Louisiana in a white Southern family. As a child I think I was courageous and extroverted, but overtime I received many messages that girls and women natural talent’s and abilities weren’t as valued as men’s. In college I was passionate about politics, but noticed immediately that this was a male dominated field and in order to succeed I would have to become more masculine. i often experienced shame and self doubt for who I was because of these outdated narratives and conditioning. Through nature based experiences, and studying anthropology and psychology, and my own healing journey, I eventually understood that the problem wasn’t me. The culture that we live and breathe places higher value on the intellect, financial success, greed, and winning over instead of collaboration, intuition, self- awareness, and compassion. I think after the 2016 election, and the pandemic I began to feel restless. I finally realized that oftentimes change doesn’t happen within the current paradigm or institution. We have to think and imagine beyond what we currently know. I wanted to create spaces and culture that was completely outside the box for sensitive women to feel empowered to step into their own leadership and unique gifts. Imagine a world where creative and sensitive people and women could be empowered to lead, and not just lead, but lead from their highest authentic selves? How different would our world look?

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I create 1:1 healing sessions, groups, and nature retreats to support Sensitive Women and Entrepreneurs in crossing their next threshold into Creative Abundance and soul alignment. I integrate Ecopsychology, Energy Medicine Meditation, and time connecting in community and in Nature for women and non-binary folks to heal, transform and step into powerful leadership.

I am so proud of just completing an incredible retreat “River’s Wild Soul” where we had 12 women and non-binary folks paddle canoes through canyon country while learning how to connect to their own unique wildness and inner creativity. I am also SUPER excited that I just completed a 12 part podcast series where I share personal healing stories of my own life integrated with interviews of wise and sensitive women and non-binary folks deeply rooted and connected with Earth.

Both of these recent projects were not easy. I had to overcome so many fears along the way and temptations to give up. There were many points in time where I didn’t feel good enough to complete such massive projects, but I stayed true to my vision and purpose, and I am truly proud of the work that I have released into the world that I know is helping and inspiring others. I overcame these challenges through mentorship, reaching out for help, prayer, taking breaks when I felt overwhelmed, screaming and crying sometimes in the forest, and showing up for my goals one step at a time.

The lessons I am learning are about how to be in flow and co-create with the universe. We can only do as much as we can and then trust that whatever happens is happening for the best. Last year I had to cancel the retreat because I wasn’t getting as much signups I would have liked, and I was already busy working on the podcast. Instead of viewing this as a failure, I trusted that I could take a step back, and the retreat would happen at the right time. I had no interest in burning myself out to make something happen. I know myself well enough to know that I love to create, but I need time and space to do so! The retreat happened with so much grace this year, and I know that is because I took the pause that I needed.

I am also learning about the power and challenges that come with collaboration. I think so many women and many marginalized folks have been taught to “bootstrap” and we are afraid of working with others on our creative projects. I learn so much about my own edges when collaborating and giving and receiving feedback along the way.

Root Awareness is my brand, and I am so proud of the work that I offer! I was trained in traditional psychotherapy, but I know that true holistic healing happens not just in the therapy room between 4 walls but outside in nature while connected with community, just like our ancestors. I believe that incredible integrated empowerment happens when immersed in the elements, as nature can be our greatest teacher. Root Awareness supports visionary sensitive women and non-binary leaders with learning to channel their power and creativity so that their unique and necessary gifts can flow during these threshold times.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is such a funny question for where I live, because I live in the very tiny town of Mancos, Colorado so nothing crazy happening here, but I love it so much.

I would take someone to fenceline cidery to either get a cider or a kombucha on tap and listen to the fun and funky live band that is passing through. We could eat at the new restaurant in town “Global Kitchen” that serves delicious organic and local menu items. We would also go to Mesa Verde and visit the ancient ruins. Mesa Verde is only 6 miles away. And last but not least, we would take a short trip to Durango, and do a float on the Animas River that runs through town.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Yes!! Absolutely. I want to shoutout Ahri Golden at AhriGolden.com who mentored and collaborated with me on my recent podcast series. I also want to shout out Cheryl and Larry at LeadFeather.org for recent mentorship in Wilderness Guiding and DeerHill Expeditions at DeerhillExpeditions. com for their incredible collaboration in the River retreats I have been facilitating

Website: https://www.rootawareness.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/root_awareness/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caroline.lewis.94651/

Other: Podcast! https://www.rootawareness.com/podcast

Image Credits
Callie Neal @ https://www.ftpcollective.com/ Sam Ryden @ https://www.samryden.me/portfolio Mallorie Metzger and Sandhya Atkinson