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

Hi Kristen, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Society assumes by the time we hit midlife, we’ve pretty much got life figured out. The reality is, this couldn’t be further from the truth! Midlife is a developmental life stage we go through like childhood, adolescence, or end of life, however, there is next to nothing in the way of support, research, or understanding of the complexities of midlife and all that comes with it. We know midlife is a stage between our 40’s and mid-60’s that brings many transitions such as career shifts, marital separations or divorce, kids leaving for college, empty nest, illness, caring for aging or sick parents, financial woes, and so forth.

As a woman going through my own midlife emergence and having figured out some of the secrets of thriving during this chapter of life, I feel deeply passionate about supporting women moving through their own midlife journey with greater clarity and inspired action. Over the years my counseling and coaching practice has evolved with me–from doing intuitive readings, working in substance abuse and addiction recovery, to young people launching in the world, to couple’s counseling, to now solely serving women in midlife. The work with women absolutely inspires and lights me up. I often say that midlife is only a crisis if we miss the awakening!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
As I have changed over the years, so has my business. It is a dynamic relationship after all, and I believe all businesses have a sort of “nervous system” that dictates the health and trajectory of the organization.

In the spirit of showing up to serve at a high level and simultaneously love what I get to do, I understood early on that I needed to adapt, pivot, and make adjustments to suit the clients showing up in my practice. This means I regularly revisit my brand’s focus and refine the language to reflect my fresh and relevant offerings. Today, I help women stop feeling stuck in an unfulfilling midlife through my signature counseling and coaching programs. I guide, nurture and inspire them to create a life rich with purpose, deepen their relationships, and connect to their gifts, freeing them to embody a life they love.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Food brings people together. Sharing a meal together is an intimate act. Let’s imagine it’s Friday. I would kick off an arousing weekend with a highly curated and delicious meal at any number of the incredible restaurants in the Denver area. A few that come to mind are Major Tom’s, The Wolf’s Tailor, or Vendome. Always be ready to eat something delicious you would likely never prepare at home. It’s such an exciting adventure! From there we would stroll to find a gorgeous rooftop bar and sip a well crafted cocktail, and then hit up the First Friday art walk in the Dairy Block.

What I love about meandering without an agenda and staying curious is that you simply never know who you might meet, what connections you might make, and what opportunities can spark from a singular interaction. It’s always worth it to talk to strangers, in my opinion.

Getting outside is what makes Colorado enchanting. Come Saturday and Sunday, we would be hiking to Emerald Lake or the Upper Forest trail behind Nederland. Famished, we would stop in Crosscut Pizza and sit out on the deck to sip well earned ice cold beer and any number of their incredibly sumptuous pizzas.

What is summer in Colorado without catching some live music? Obviously, we would land at Red Rocks for an evening of world class memory making. It doesn’t get more iconic than that.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Women supporting and uplifting other women is a remarkable gift we can give one another throughout life, and it is especially meaningful when we are at our worst, but need love the most. Shoutouts for my long standing friendships and sisterhood bonds for being a sanctuary amidst the chaos, and in particular, to my dearest friend, colleague, and soul sister, Allison Weliky for being constant North Star in my life. That connection led me to me to Dona Morgan, my my mentor, therapist, healer, and author who has been pivotal in setting me back on course after one of the most difficult periods of my life. Big mojo shoutout to her as well! As I have healed and unleveled, so has my business.

Website: https://kristenbrickl.com

Instagram: @kristen.brickl

Image Credits
Photographer: Sara L. Price

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.