We recently had the chance to connect with Crystal Currie and have shared our conversation below.
Crystal, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: When was the last time you felt true joy?
As I joyfully approach the end of my PhD program in Counseling after 3.5 years of hard work, I can hardly contain my excitement! This journey has been filled with challenges, but every moment has contributed to my growth and passion for the field. I’ve learned a great deal, met incredible people, and developed skills that I’m eager to put into practice. I’m thrilled about the opportunities that await me as I prepare to embark on this new chapter in my career!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Crystal R. Currie, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Clinician, Nationally Certified Trauma-Focused CBT Therapist, and Ph.D. Candidate in Counselor Education and Supervision. I serve as Clinical Director at Compass Life Skills and Counseling in Charlotte, NC, where I supervise a team of clinicians. I lead ThriveWell Strategies, where I help businesses and organizations enhance leadership and promote employee and community well-being. My passion lies in breaking cycles of trauma through accessible community education and creating safe spaces for healing, like The Cycle Breakers Conference and The Collective, an online healing community.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
The people who have taught me the most about work are the survivors and cycle breakers themselves. Listening to their stories of resilience and witnessing the courage it takes to heal from generational patterns has shaped not only my view of my work but also my understanding of my purpose. They’ve shown me that true progress isn’t about perfection, it’s about showing up, doing the hard inner work, and creating space for transformation.
Through the Cycle Breakers Conference and virtual community, I’ve learned that work is not just about productivity or outcomes, but about making an impact. The individuals who come to this space remind me daily that healing ripples outward into families, communities, and future generations. That is the most meaningful lesson anyone could teach me about work.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
The defining wounds of my life have been connected to rejection and the weight of responsibility I carried far too early. Like many cycle breakers, I grew up feeling that I had to be strong, to perform, and to take on roles that weren’t meant for me. That left me with deep questions about my worth and an instinct to over-function for others.
Healing for me has looked like learning to give back what was never mine to carry. Therapy, faith, and community have been central. Teaching me that I don’t have to earn love or belonging. Instead, I can rest in knowing I am enough as I am.
I’ve also found healing through the work I now do—helping others break cycles and rewrite their own stories. Every time I guide someone in releasing shame or reclaiming their voice, a part of me is reminded of the same truth. My wounds may have shaped me, but they do not define me. Healing is an ongoing process, and it’s through the daily practice of setting boundaries, resting, and embracing grace that I continue to grow.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies in the mental health industry is that people have to be “ready” to heal before healing can begin. This belief creates an unrealistic barrier, as if someone has to be fully prepared, motivated, or emotionally strong to start the process. The truth is that healing often begins in the middle of resistance, fear, or uncertainty.
I’ve seen countless clients come into therapy saying, “I don’t know if I’m ready,” but they still take one step, and then another. Healing doesn’t require readiness. It requires willingness. Even a small opening, a flicker of hope, or a moment of curiosity can be enough to start.
By telling people they must be “ready,” we unintentionally shame them for struggling or delay their access to support. Healing is not a linear journey where you arrive prepared and stay consistent. It’s messy, imperfect, and sometimes begins when life gives us no choice but to move forward. What matters most is showing up, even in doubt, and allowing the process to unfold.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
The story I hope people tell about me when I’m gone is that I was someone who helped others break cycles and believe in the possibility of healing. I want to be remembered not just for my professional accomplishments, but for the way I made people feel seen, valued, and worthy of love.
I hope people say that I lived with compassion and integrity, that I wasn’t afraid to discuss difficult topics, and that I used my voice to advocate for those who felt silenced. More than accomplishments or titles, I want my legacy to be about planting seeds of hope in others, seeds that grow into healthier families, stronger communities, and lives marked by peace rather than pain.
If the story of my life can remind someone that they don’t have to carry what was passed down to them, that they can choose healing and freedom, then I’ll have lived well.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.crystalcurrie.com/
- Instagram: @crystalrcurrie
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystalrcurrie/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crystalrcurrie/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@crystalrcurrie
- Other: Cycle Breaker Virtual Community: https://www.crystalcurrie.com/collective
