July 10, 2025 • 15 mins
How can business leaders strengthen relationships, navigate challenges, and maintain balance—all while staying true to themselves? In this episode, we chat with Alison Sullivan, a therapist, speaker, and consultant who has helped hundreds of women reclaim their voices and align with their deepest dreams.
Alison shares powerful insights on integrating mental health principles into professional relationships, overcoming obstacles, and the transformative impact of self-care. If you're looking to lead with authenticity and build meaningful connections, this conversation is a must-listen.
LinkedIn: https://alisonsintegrativehealth.org/
Website: https://alisonsintegrativehealth.org/
Let's Stay in Touch!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_03 (00:00):
It can be both true that you have opposing beliefs
with this person that you haveto intersect with and also
possible to find common groundto get the task done.
All of that can exist in thesame place.
And what's really interestingabout that in groups and in
(00:20):
working with individuals is thatsimple shift of perspective
usually de-escalates conflictand opens up creative
opportunities for solutions thatyou can't see if things have to
be either this or that.
SPEAKER_02 (00:37):
That was Alison Sullivan.
She's my childhood friend, atherapist, speaker, and
consultant of Alison Sullivanand Associates where she's
helped hundreds of women reclaimtheir voices and use their
personal power and alignmentwith their deeply held dreams.
In this episode, Alison sharesstrategies to optimize
(00:59):
relationship I'm Kelly Leonard,and this is The Boost Podcast.
SPEAKER_00 (01:08):
Welcome to The Boost Podcast, the podcast created to
ignite your business and careerpotential.
Whether you're a seasonedentrepreneur launching your
entrepreneurial journey, anestablished business leader, or
early career professional, we'vegot you covered.
In each episode, host KellyLeonard and her guests dive into
(01:29):
one aspect of of Kelly'ssignature Boost Framework,
ensuring you get practical,actionable insights, tips, and
takeaways to build your brand,optimize relationships, obtain
more leads, secure thoughtleadership space, and tap into
new markets.
Get ready for bite-sized,power-packed interviews with
(01:49):
entrepreneurs and businessleaders.
Greatness awaits you.
So let's boost together.
And now, here's Kelly Leonard.
SPEAKER_02 (02:00):
Hey there, Allison.
Welcome to the Boost Podcast.
SPEAKER_03 (02:03):
I'm so thrilled to be here with you, Kelly.
SPEAKER_02 (02:06):
I'm excited for you being here too.
And so for folks who are meetingyou for the very first time,
share a bit about
SPEAKER_03 (02:13):
yourself.
My name is Allison Sullivan.
I'm a licensed clinical socialworker in the state of Virginia.
And I have a private practice inFredericksburg, Virginia.
I work primarily in the area oftrauma with women.
I host all kinds of workshops,retreats, groups, all the good
things.
SPEAKER_02 (02:33):
Awesome.
Thank you for that.
And so I know your practicefocuses on an integrative
approach to mental health.
How can entrepreneurs andbusiness leaders apply these
integrative approaches andprinciples to optimize their
professional relationships?
SPEAKER_03 (02:49):
They can do that in a really simple way.
I view integrative health from amind, body, spirit lens, also
from a person in environment.
And that matters because when wecan factor in not only who a
person is, is, but the contextof their environment, factors
(03:10):
that influence their life, havehistorically influenced their
life, then we have a broader,wider understanding of who they
are.
When we have a broader, widerunderstanding of who they are,
we can optimize relationshipsthrough optimizing
communication.
SPEAKER_02 (03:26):
And so practically speaking, what's a like, what's
a way like if I'm meetingsomeone for the first time, and
when we're thinking about, youknow, when you talk about mind,
body, spirit, and understandingother folks's like their lived
experiences and things likethat, what's a practical way
that you see that playing out inbuilding relationship with
(03:47):
people?
SPEAKER_03 (03:47):
That's a great question.
I think we typically go to whenwe're meeting somebody for the
first time, small talk questionslike, hey, you know, what do you
do?
How have you been enjoying theweather?
You know, simple things likethat.
I think if we change that up abit and ask people, you know,
what's something fun you've donerecently?
Where have you traveled to?
(04:09):
What kind of food are you intoright now, then it gives us all
kinds of openings to start tounderstand in a deeper way who
that person is.
SPEAKER_02 (04:19):
And so even from that perspective, like what
advice would you have have forbusiness leaders who are facing
challenges in theirrelationships with like either
clients or their colleagues?
Like how can they navigate thesedifficulties effectively?
SPEAKER_03 (04:34):
Challenges just happen in relationships.
And I don't know anybody really,myself included, who really
enjoys those things.
I don't think any of us arelike, woohoo, got some good
conflict going on.
Love when this happens.
It's just not, it's not what wewant to deal with.
And so I think sometimesreactively or reflexively, we
(04:58):
try to avoid those types ofthings, move around it, smooth
it over, bypass it.
The problem with that is that itjust really pushes the problem
into the future, sometimes in abigger way.
So I think People can approachthis from a perspective of
listening.
When we listen to understand,then we figure out where common
(05:23):
ground is.
We're really well-versed in ourworldview, our point of view.
And many times conflict happensbecause there's just a
difference in a point of view.
So when we can really understandanother person's perspective,
then it's pretty easy to findthat common ground to build on.
SPEAKER_02 (05:42):
Okay, so our view, we don't have video.
So our viewers can't see megiving you the side eye right
now.
Because right now, more thanever, like, With the climate,
like when we talk aboutlistening to seek understanding
that we should, I would hope, beable to find some sort of common
ground.
And the reality is, is we'reliving in a time that.
(06:04):
like relationships are really onthe brink because, um, people
are like 10 toes down on, thisis what I stand for.
This is, so how do, how do werealistically even navigate that
type of challenge when we likediametrically oppose what
someone else may think, feel,believe?
(06:26):
Um, yeah, but, but yet and stillwe need to like, this could be,
let's say it's a colleague.
Let's say it's, you know, in awork environment, it could be a
client, it could be someone thatyou lead in the business, or
maybe it's your leader in thebusiness.
So what are practical ways thatwe approach where we are right
now?
SPEAKER_03 (06:45):
Well, how much time do we have?
I mean, yeah, let's just diveright in.
So That is the reality thatwe're all living in.
And there's not a simple answerfor that.
I think a useful framework tostart from is moving away from
(07:06):
dualistic thinking to a morenon-dualistic approach.
What you know simply you canthink of as both and it can be
both true that you have opposingbeliefs with this person that
you have to intersect with andalso possible to find common
(07:27):
ground to get the task done allof that can exist in the same
place and what's reallyinteresting about that in groups
and in working with individualsis that simple shift of
perspective usually de-escalatesconflict and opens up creative
opportunities for solutions thatyou can't see if things have to
(07:50):
be either this or that.
SPEAKER_02 (07:53):
I appreciate what you're sharing.
And yeah, I definitelyappreciate that perspective.
And, you know, a part of me isalways like,
SPEAKER_03 (08:02):
but this is...
Yes.
So it's important to make roomfor that too.
When we make room for all of it,then we have a better vantage
point to see what we need to seerelated to the role we're in in
that situation.
(08:22):
I think the interesting thingthat can happen sometimes with
that approach is that you see apart of a person you wouldn't
see before.
You see maybe a glimpse of...
common humanity that isn'treally readily visible.
SPEAKER_02 (08:42):
Yeah, and that's good.
And it takes time too, right?
I think that's where we gettripped up is that oftentimes,
especially in business, it'slike you're so you're in these
systems where you're working towhether it's a deadline or
something.
And so it's like buildingmeaningful connection with
(09:03):
people takes time.
It takes time and attention.
It takes energy.
And oftentimes when we findourselves in these spaces, it's
like, well, you know, you aremaking a choice who you want to
exert energy towards.
with or receive energy from.
And so I think it's really easyto fall into this place where
(09:24):
it's like, it's almost becomeslike a protective mechanism as
well to just say, well, yeah, Icould do what Allison suggested,
but the quick way for me torespond to this is to just
disconnect, which isn't healthyeither, right?
Because I feel, and especiallyfor people who are really
feeling people and who arereally People, people, it really
(09:45):
hurts you to your core becauseyou're like, oh, I'm so sad that
I can't be your friend anymore.
So like, yeah, so it'snavigating those spaces as well.
SPEAKER_03 (09:56):
It's navigating those spaces and it really is.
I think the veil has been pulledback on this, this illusion that
there are simple fixes.
There are easy solutions.
There are quick workarounds.
Those just don't exist in ourmessy human experience.
Things are complicated.
Things are uncertain.
(10:18):
Things certainly aren'treasonable and don't make sense
sometimes.
And so we, In the midst of thesedeadlines, in the midst of these
competing priorities, when wecan also understand that we can
slow down a bit to listen moredeeply, we can open our
(10:38):
perspective to see what else isthere that maybe we haven't seen
before?
Does it mean that we're turningaway from what we need to get
done?
It doesn't mean that we'rebetraying ourselves or our
values.
It just means, honestly, thatwe're cultivating the capacity
for more complexity.
SPEAKER_02 (10:56):
Yeah, I appreciate that.
And so let's talk aboutself-care.
You emphasize the importance ofself-care in your practice.
So how does taking care ofoneself impact the quality of
professional relationships?
And then what self-carepractices do you recommend?
SPEAKER_03 (11:18):
So I had an argument with one of my grad school
professors about this, and Ijust wouldn't back down about
this.
I firmly believe you can onlymeet people as deeply as you've
met yourself.
SPEAKER_01 (11:33):
There's
SPEAKER_03 (11:34):
just no way that that can't be how connection
happens.
And so if you're not caring foryourself, understanding yourself
more deeply, then that's goingto impact how you show up in
everything you do.
And unfortunately, self-care hasgotten really distorted in
(11:54):
media.
We look at self-care as spatreatments, an afternoon lunch,
a brunch with people.
And while those things at timesmay be self-care, self-care is
really something deeper and moreprofound.
It's and it often actually isbroken down into components of
(12:17):
our life self-care can berelated to relational self-care
emotional self-care physicalself-care financial self-care so
it's hard for me to give tipsbut i can say that when you take
the time to really understandokay where do I need care in my
life?
Do I need connection?
(12:38):
Do I need to journal because I'moverwhelmed and all the thoughts
are, I can't get all thethoughts in my head.
Do I actually need to go totherapy?
Do I need to sit down and writea budget out because I'm just
spending, spending, spending?
If we try to put a Band-Aidwhere a wound doesn't exist,
(12:59):
it's not going to care for thewound.
And so we have to understand toactually care for ourselves
where we need the care.
SPEAKER_02 (13:06):
Wow.
And so how do we evenidentify...
that like what does that processand i know you're probably gonna
be like how much time do we haveonce again but like yeah how do
you even identify what the bestlike where do i need care
SPEAKER_03 (13:20):
pay attention to what is uh living rent free in
your head If you're worried,worried, worried about money,
chances are you need some carethere.
If all you can think about isrunning away from everything and
everyone, if you're having allkinds of escape fantasies about
just living on the beach, thenmaybe you need to start looking
(13:46):
at what psychological andemotional self-care you need.
If you feel overwhelmed andoverburdened, And your thoughts
are centered on that.
That's a good clue to look atrelational self-care.
What's the quality of myconnections?
Do I need to invite moreconnection in my life?
Do I need to invest more inconnection in my life?
SPEAKER_02 (14:09):
Nice, nice.
So Allison, if someone'slistening and they're like, hey,
I need Allison in my life,what's the best way for them to
tap into you and your team andthe extraordinary work and
workshops that you all provide?
SPEAKER_03 (14:25):
Well, they can find me on the internet.
You can Google Alison Sullivan,LCSW.
You can go directly to mywebsite,
alisonsintegrativehealth.org.
We're everywhere.
You can find us on social media.
I actually have a half-dayretreat coming up that I have
partnered with a good friend andcolleague of mine who's skilled
(14:49):
in Reiki and embodied movement.
We're offering a half-dayretreat for women, experiential,
to help them connect more deeplywith themselves in a more
authentic way.
That's happening in April andI'm pretty excited about that.
SPEAKER_02 (15:04):
Awesome.
Congratulations.
Thank you so much for investingtime in your busy schedule to
share just some strategies tooptimize relationships for our
listeners.
SPEAKER_03 (15:18):
Absolutely.
My pleasure.
Thank
SPEAKER_00 (15:21):
you for tuning into the boost podcast.
Thank you.
It can be both true that you have opposing beliefs
with this person that you haveto intersect with and also
possible to find common groundto get the task done.
All of that can exist in thesame place.
And what's really interestingabout that in groups and in
(00:20):
working with individuals is thatsimple shift of perspective
usually de-escalates conflictand opens up creative
opportunities for solutions thatyou can't see if things have to
be either this or that.
SPEAKER_02 (00:37):
That was Alison Sullivan.
She's my childhood friend, atherapist, speaker, and
consultant of Alison Sullivanand Associates where she's
helped hundreds of women reclaimtheir voices and use their
personal power and alignmentwith their deeply held dreams.
In this episode, Alison sharesstrategies to optimize
(00:59):
relationship I'm Kelly Leonard,and this is The Boost Podcast.
SPEAKER_00 (01:08):
Welcome to The Boost Podcast, the podcast created to
ignite your business and careerpotential.
Whether you're a seasonedentrepreneur launching your
entrepreneurial journey, anestablished business leader, or
early career professional, we'vegot you covered.
In each episode, host KellyLeonard and her guests dive into
(01:29):
one aspect of of Kelly'ssignature Boost Framework,
ensuring you get practical,actionable insights, tips, and
takeaways to build your brand,optimize relationships, obtain
more leads, secure thoughtleadership space, and tap into
new markets.
Get ready for bite-sized,power-packed interviews with
(01:49):
entrepreneurs and businessleaders.
Greatness awaits you.
So let's boost together.
And now, here's Kelly Leonard.
SPEAKER_02 (02:00):
Hey there, Allison.
Welcome to the Boost Podcast.
SPEAKER_03 (02:03):
I'm so thrilled to be here with you, Kelly.
SPEAKER_02 (02:06):
I'm excited for you being here too.
And so for folks who are meetingyou for the very first time,
share a bit about
SPEAKER_03 (02:13):
yourself.
My name is Allison Sullivan.
I'm a licensed clinical socialworker in the state of Virginia.
And I have a private practice inFredericksburg, Virginia.
I work primarily in the area oftrauma with women.
I host all kinds of workshops,retreats, groups, all the good
things.
SPEAKER_02 (02:33):
Awesome.
Thank you for that.
And so I know your practicefocuses on an integrative
approach to mental health.
How can entrepreneurs andbusiness leaders apply these
integrative approaches andprinciples to optimize their
professional relationships?
SPEAKER_03 (02:49):
They can do that in a really simple way.
I view integrative health from amind, body, spirit lens, also
from a person in environment.
And that matters because when wecan factor in not only who a
person is, is, but the contextof their environment, factors
(03:10):
that influence their life, havehistorically influenced their
life, then we have a broader,wider understanding of who they
are.
When we have a broader, widerunderstanding of who they are,
we can optimize relationshipsthrough optimizing
communication.
SPEAKER_02 (03:26):
And so practically speaking, what's a like, what's
a way like if I'm meetingsomeone for the first time, and
when we're thinking about, youknow, when you talk about mind,
body, spirit, and understandingother folks's like their lived
experiences and things likethat, what's a practical way
that you see that playing out inbuilding relationship with
(03:47):
people?
SPEAKER_03 (03:47):
That's a great question.
I think we typically go to whenwe're meeting somebody for the
first time, small talk questionslike, hey, you know, what do you
do?
How have you been enjoying theweather?
You know, simple things likethat.
I think if we change that up abit and ask people, you know,
what's something fun you've donerecently?
Where have you traveled to?
(04:09):
What kind of food are you intoright now, then it gives us all
kinds of openings to start tounderstand in a deeper way who
that person is.
SPEAKER_02 (04:19):
And so even from that perspective, like what
advice would you have have forbusiness leaders who are facing
challenges in theirrelationships with like either
clients or their colleagues?
Like how can they navigate thesedifficulties effectively?
SPEAKER_03 (04:34):
Challenges just happen in relationships.
And I don't know anybody really,myself included, who really
enjoys those things.
I don't think any of us arelike, woohoo, got some good
conflict going on.
Love when this happens.
It's just not, it's not what wewant to deal with.
And so I think sometimesreactively or reflexively, we
(04:58):
try to avoid those types ofthings, move around it, smooth
it over, bypass it.
The problem with that is that itjust really pushes the problem
into the future, sometimes in abigger way.
So I think People can approachthis from a perspective of
listening.
When we listen to understand,then we figure out where common
(05:23):
ground is.
We're really well-versed in ourworldview, our point of view.
And many times conflict happensbecause there's just a
difference in a point of view.
So when we can really understandanother person's perspective,
then it's pretty easy to findthat common ground to build on.
SPEAKER_02 (05:42):
Okay, so our view, we don't have video.
So our viewers can't see megiving you the side eye right
now.
Because right now, more thanever, like, With the climate,
like when we talk aboutlistening to seek understanding
that we should, I would hope, beable to find some sort of common
ground.
And the reality is, is we'reliving in a time that.
(06:04):
like relationships are really onthe brink because, um, people
are like 10 toes down on, thisis what I stand for.
This is, so how do, how do werealistically even navigate that
type of challenge when we likediametrically oppose what
someone else may think, feel,believe?
(06:26):
Um, yeah, but, but yet and stillwe need to like, this could be,
let's say it's a colleague.
Let's say it's, you know, in awork environment, it could be a
client, it could be someone thatyou lead in the business, or
maybe it's your leader in thebusiness.
So what are practical ways thatwe approach where we are right
now?
SPEAKER_03 (06:45):
Well, how much time do we have?
I mean, yeah, let's just diveright in.
So That is the reality thatwe're all living in.
And there's not a simple answerfor that.
I think a useful framework tostart from is moving away from
(07:06):
dualistic thinking to a morenon-dualistic approach.
What you know simply you canthink of as both and it can be
both true that you have opposingbeliefs with this person that
you have to intersect with andalso possible to find common
(07:27):
ground to get the task done allof that can exist in the same
place and what's reallyinteresting about that in groups
and in working with individualsis that simple shift of
perspective usually de-escalatesconflict and opens up creative
opportunities for solutions thatyou can't see if things have to
(07:50):
be either this or that.
SPEAKER_02 (07:53):
I appreciate what you're sharing.
And yeah, I definitelyappreciate that perspective.
And, you know, a part of me isalways like,
SPEAKER_03 (08:02):
but this is...
Yes.
So it's important to make roomfor that too.
When we make room for all of it,then we have a better vantage
point to see what we need to seerelated to the role we're in in
that situation.
(08:22):
I think the interesting thingthat can happen sometimes with
that approach is that you see apart of a person you wouldn't
see before.
You see maybe a glimpse of...
common humanity that isn'treally readily visible.
SPEAKER_02 (08:42):
Yeah, and that's good.
And it takes time too, right?
I think that's where we gettripped up is that oftentimes,
especially in business, it'slike you're so you're in these
systems where you're working towhether it's a deadline or
something.
And so it's like buildingmeaningful connection with
(09:03):
people takes time.
It takes time and attention.
It takes energy.
And oftentimes when we findourselves in these spaces, it's
like, well, you know, you aremaking a choice who you want to
exert energy towards.
with or receive energy from.
And so I think it's really easyto fall into this place where
(09:24):
it's like, it's almost becomeslike a protective mechanism as
well to just say, well, yeah, Icould do what Allison suggested,
but the quick way for me torespond to this is to just
disconnect, which isn't healthyeither, right?
Because I feel, and especiallyfor people who are really
feeling people and who arereally People, people, it really
(09:45):
hurts you to your core becauseyou're like, oh, I'm so sad that
I can't be your friend anymore.
So like, yeah, so it'snavigating those spaces as well.
SPEAKER_03 (09:56):
It's navigating those spaces and it really is.
I think the veil has been pulledback on this, this illusion that
there are simple fixes.
There are easy solutions.
There are quick workarounds.
Those just don't exist in ourmessy human experience.
Things are complicated.
Things are uncertain.
(10:18):
Things certainly aren'treasonable and don't make sense
sometimes.
And so we, In the midst of thesedeadlines, in the midst of these
competing priorities, when wecan also understand that we can
slow down a bit to listen moredeeply, we can open our
(10:38):
perspective to see what else isthere that maybe we haven't seen
before?
Does it mean that we're turningaway from what we need to get
done?
It doesn't mean that we'rebetraying ourselves or our
values.
It just means, honestly, thatwe're cultivating the capacity
for more complexity.
SPEAKER_02 (10:56):
Yeah, I appreciate that.
And so let's talk aboutself-care.
You emphasize the importance ofself-care in your practice.
So how does taking care ofoneself impact the quality of
professional relationships?
And then what self-carepractices do you recommend?
SPEAKER_03 (11:18):
So I had an argument with one of my grad school
professors about this, and Ijust wouldn't back down about
this.
I firmly believe you can onlymeet people as deeply as you've
met yourself.
SPEAKER_01 (11:33):
There's
SPEAKER_03 (11:34):
just no way that that can't be how connection
happens.
And so if you're not caring foryourself, understanding yourself
more deeply, then that's goingto impact how you show up in
everything you do.
And unfortunately, self-care hasgotten really distorted in
(11:54):
media.
We look at self-care as spatreatments, an afternoon lunch,
a brunch with people.
And while those things at timesmay be self-care, self-care is
really something deeper and moreprofound.
It's and it often actually isbroken down into components of
(12:17):
our life self-care can berelated to relational self-care
emotional self-care physicalself-care financial self-care so
it's hard for me to give tipsbut i can say that when you take
the time to really understandokay where do I need care in my
life?
Do I need connection?
(12:38):
Do I need to journal because I'moverwhelmed and all the thoughts
are, I can't get all thethoughts in my head.
Do I actually need to go totherapy?
Do I need to sit down and writea budget out because I'm just
spending, spending, spending?
If we try to put a Band-Aidwhere a wound doesn't exist,
(12:59):
it's not going to care for thewound.
And so we have to understand toactually care for ourselves
where we need the care.
SPEAKER_02 (13:06):
Wow.
And so how do we evenidentify...
that like what does that processand i know you're probably gonna
be like how much time do we haveonce again but like yeah how do
you even identify what the bestlike where do i need care
SPEAKER_03 (13:20):
pay attention to what is uh living rent free in
your head If you're worried,worried, worried about money,
chances are you need some carethere.
If all you can think about isrunning away from everything and
everyone, if you're having allkinds of escape fantasies about
just living on the beach, thenmaybe you need to start looking
(13:46):
at what psychological andemotional self-care you need.
If you feel overwhelmed andoverburdened, And your thoughts
are centered on that.
That's a good clue to look atrelational self-care.
What's the quality of myconnections?
Do I need to invite moreconnection in my life?
Do I need to invest more inconnection in my life?
SPEAKER_02 (14:09):
Nice, nice.
So Allison, if someone'slistening and they're like, hey,
I need Allison in my life,what's the best way for them to
tap into you and your team andthe extraordinary work and
workshops that you all provide?
SPEAKER_03 (14:25):
Well, they can find me on the internet.
You can Google Alison Sullivan,LCSW.
You can go directly to mywebsite,
alisonsintegrativehealth.org.
We're everywhere.
You can find us on social media.
I actually have a half-dayretreat coming up that I have
partnered with a good friend andcolleague of mine who's skilled
(14:49):
in Reiki and embodied movement.
We're offering a half-dayretreat for women, experiential,
to help them connect more deeplywith themselves in a more
authentic way.
That's happening in April andI'm pretty excited about that.
SPEAKER_02 (15:04):
Awesome.
Congratulations.
Thank you so much for investingtime in your busy schedule to
share just some strategies tooptimize relationships for our
listeners.
SPEAKER_03 (15:18):
Absolutely.
My pleasure.
Thank
SPEAKER_00 (15:21):
you for tuning into the boost podcast.
Thank you.
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Dateline NBC
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The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!