Join Rock Recovery for a powerful keynote on how mental health can help us build trust and foster belong in our work and home communities.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and at Rock Recovery, we believe that healing happens in community. Join us for a powerful evening of connection that will explore how mental health shapes the way we connect, lead, and support one another.
We all want thriving communities, but in today’s high-pressure world, even the most capable people are running on empty– juggling too much, sleeping too little, and bracing for the next crisis. Today, 80% of people say that work undermines their mental health. And when mental health suffers, everything else suffers: Conversations get strained, mistakes happen, burnout spreads, and the most vibrant people withdraw.
Through this event, Dr. Carylynn Larson, keynote speaker and Founder of Rock Recovery, will deliver an engaging and thought-provoking keynote on how mental health drives the way we show up in our workplaces, friendships, and communities. She will explore how fear—of saying the wrong thing, of being vulnerable, of breaking the stigma—often holds us back from meaningful connection.
Through storytelling, research, and real-life strategies, Dr. Larson will introduce her, "Recipe for Healing Community," offering a blueprint to:
✔️ Shift from surviving to thriving
✔️ Build resilient, high-performing, human-centered teams
✔️ Embrace a proactive approach to mental health
Break|Through will rewire your thinking and give you actionable tools – along with the confidence to use them. You’ll laugh, reflect, and experience the power of connection. If you're ready to lead the way in creating communities that foster true wellbeing, this talk is for you.
Following the keynote, we’ll host a panel discussion with local Arlington community members who are passionate advocates for mental health and experts in leadership and community building to dive deeper into how we can create spaces of true belonging and care.
Registration is free, but donations to support Rock Recovery’s eating disorder therapy services are highly appreciated. Light appetizers and refreshments will be served.
Meet Speaker Dr. Carylynn Larson
Dr. Larson is an Organizational Psychologist, CEO of Creating Open Space, Founder of Rock Recovery, and a dynamic keynote speaker who brings research, real-world experience, and personal insight to the stage.
Meet Speaker Stacy Huston
Stacy is a renowned social impact expert, podcast producer, public speaker, and the Executive Director of Kevin Bacon's nonprofit, SixDegrees.Org.
Meet Speaker Hon. Julius D. Spain Sr.
Mr. Spain is an Arlington County Board Member (elected 2024) and retired combat veteran with deep civic roots in the Arlington community and a passion for mental health advocacy.
Meet Speaker Rebecca Kiessling
Rebecca is the Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Northern Virginia, serving Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun counties, plus the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church.
Meet Speaker Christie Dondero Bettwy
Christie is the Executive Director of Rock Recovery. Having gone through recovery from an eating disorder, she understands the depth of support needed to recover and is passionate about spreading the message that complete freedom is possible.