Kristen Harness is a Former Nonprofit Founder and the Founder/CEO of GoodHeart Collaborative, LLC a Wellness-Tech Company passionate about disrupting the burnout cycle in helping professions through providing evidence-based supportive services and community for women. As a survivor of sexual assault and exploitation, Kristen is also passionate about advocating for other survivors and sharing her story of hope and healing, so others can know they are not alone. She is a Court Appointed Special Advocate for Jefferson County, Colorado and has been actively involved in fighting against human trafficking for 17 years. In 2013, she founded a Colorado-based nonprofit that offered safe housing, mental health support, community services, and education for teen girls recovered out of sex trafficking.
FWM: Tell us about your background and your advocacy to help fight against human trafficking.
I am a passionate advocate for victims of abuse, especially sex trafficking. As a survivor of sexual assault as a minor and sexual exploitation, I know just how damaging and painful it is to experience that type of violence and violation. When I learned about human trafficking in 2004 during a mission trip to Pattaya, Thailand, I was even more disturbed with the fact that not only were adults and children being sexually abused and assaulted, but someone else was profiting off of their abuse. I made a commitment in my heart to do something about it that moment I was on my knees in the middle of Pattaya bawling my eyes out because my heart was broken. I spent years educating myself on this crime and realized that I didn’t need to go back to Thailand to fight it; sex trafficking was happening all over the US, including my beautiful home state of Colorado. After months of assessing the needs of victims in the Denver-metro area, I started a local nonprofit to offer safe housing and supportive services to teen girls recovered from sex trafficking and exploitation. I transitioned out of that nonprofit last November, but my passion for this cause is the same. It is NOT ok that babies, children, teens, and adults are experiencing this, and we can no longer be fine with turning a blind eye and pretending it’s not happening all around us.
FWM: You launched the GoodHeart Collaborative to provide a wellness platform with supportive services and to build a community for women. Tell us more.
During my time running that nonprofit, I experienced extreme burnout, compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress, and sickness. I really didn’t have a name for what I was experiencing for so long because I was so focused on helping trauma victims, that I didn’t really consider how being chronically exposed to the trauma of others was actually impacting me, and our staff. I literally made myself sick in service to this cause. I had many times where I couldn’t leave my bed for days. I was completely depleted, exhausted, irritable, emotional, and so on.
I developed multiple diagnosis over the years; like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Migraines, Insomnia, and more. I knew that I couldn’t go on like this any longer and I needed to take care of myself, if I wanted to continue to “take care of others”. I began researching my symptoms, talking to doctors, and learning more about the consequences and implications that can come from working around human suffering and trauma on a regular basis. I started putting names to my experiences, which helped me understand the direction I needed to go in order to begin healing my body and mind.
During all of my research, and through many conversations with others in similar fields or roles, I began learning that I was not alone in my experiences. Many people in these types of fields, were experiencing the same or even worse. There were common stories of feelings of isolation, sickness, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and exhaustion. Some were event committing suicide or experiencing suicidal ideation. Too many were leaving their professions altogether for a job that had less stress. I found this to be a huge detriment to our world because these are men and women who are literally saving lives. They are there helping during people’s most difficult times, and yet, they are not well.
In a lot of cases, they are under-valued, under-supported, most are under-paid, and under-appreciated. It started with me feeling grieved and then angry. This was not OK to me. I feel like we need these incredible people staying in these fields, but something needs to change. That’s why I started GoodHeart Collaborative. I saw a need for community with like-minded women professionals, and an opportunity to provide resources that will help these women see that they are just as important as the people they help, and they need to begin re-introducing self-care practices into their lives, and engage in resilience building for long-term professional sustainability. This is not the cure for everything that ails you, and there needs to be a major overhaul in systemic and organizational practices in these fields which leads to burnout; however, if you are going to choose to stay working in these fields, then individual self-care and wellness needs to be a priority.
FWM: What will women find on your platform?
The GoodHeart App platform is a subscription-based model, all centered around providing opportunities for Professional Growth and Learning, Resilience Building, Stress Management, and Community. The app features Guided Mediations for before, after, or during work, Guided Deep Breathing Exercises, Guided Imagery, Video Training Sessions, an Event Calendar to share events, and/or see what other members in your area are doing, and connect with them, Gratitude Journaling, and connecting with members in the Community Forum.
I spent months researching evidence-based practices that are focused on the 5 domains of self-care, especially for women who work in helping professions and are at high risk for secondary and vicarious trauma. I partnered with 11 Expert Mentors, who represent the different professions we target. They have provided over 100 audio and video sessions around topics like Secondary Traumatic Stress, Building Resilience, Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, Stress Management and Coping Skills, Trauma-informed Care, and Personal Wellness. We add new bite-sized sessions every single day and new mediations and trainings every month.
When we are informed and can put a name to our experiences, and have support around us, we can then begin to recognize when it’s happening and manage it before it gets out of our control.
The Limited Membership is $3.99 a month and the Premium All Access Membership is $9.99/month.
FWM: You launched the GoodHeart app. Why is this so important?
This app is so important because it has the potential to reach these women all over the world, no matter the time of day. That’s the beauty of technology. We can connect with someone across the globe from us. There are so many out there that are not supported and feel alone. Everyone carries around a phone and so it’s easy for them to download the GoodHeart App and immediately be connected to other like-minded powerhouse women. It’s really as simple as that.
FWM: What is your mission for 2021?
My mission for 2021 is to continue my own healing from burnout and compassion fatigue, while also getting the word out there about these occupational hazards that are so prevalent in these fields, and gain more exposure for the GoodHeart App. Like I mentioned before, it’s not about the app, it’s about what we are accomplishing through and in this app. To me, this app is just an outlet for our community. It’s about supporting each other with understanding and no judgments. Right now, it’s our first iteration of the app, and so my goal for the next 6 months, is to gather feedback, and work on improving the user experience, add new features, and make this a really special place for these women. I really don’t want this to be “just another self-care app” they could live without. I want this to be something where members can’t go one day without, because they feel so connected to what’s happening in there. I know it’s a process and perfecting this app will take time, but even as it is right now, I’m confident in its value and potential.
FWM: Tell us about the GoodHeart Gals Podcast. What are your upcoming topics?
The GoodHeart Gals Podcast is available on all of your favorite podcast stations. What I love about this podcast, is it’s an opportunity for me to shout out and highlight these incredible women who have dedicated their lives and careers to helping others in various ways. These are women that most people will never hear about, yet they are changing their communities and this world for the better. I like to ask them about their WHY, and hear more about what motivates them. We also center some of our discussion around how they practice self-care and what tips they have for other helping professionals. So far, I have interviewed mental health professionals, nonprofit leaders, healthcare providers, founders, victim advocates, and more. My goal with this podcast is to show these women they are amazing and inspiring others who are listening.
FWM: How will the GoodHeart Collaborate change lives?
My hope for GoodHeart Collaborative is that it will genuinely be a valuable service to these women. I never pursue something unless I know there is a need and I know that I can help in a real and tangible way. I know how it feels to be up against these real threats to our health and wellbeing while working to help others. Because of my experience, I can empathize with what these women are going through or may go through. I believe the most important piece to GoodHeart Collaborative is its member community. These are the people that will motivate change, encourage each other, and inspire wellness together.
Please provide your social media handles/video
WEBSITE: www.goodheart.app
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-harness/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/goodheartapp
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/goodheartapp/?hl=en=
