Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Krider.
Hi Erica, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My career began in the hospitality industry, where I spent nearly two decades advancing to a leadership role in Human Resources. I supported teams through hiring, conflict, crises, and organizational change. I was often becoming the person employees trusted with what they were carrying beneath the surface. Over time, I saw a pattern: burnout was normalized, emotional distress was overlooked, and leaders were rarely equipped to support the mental health realities of their teams.
Two losses changed everything. During my HR career, I lost two employees to suicide. Those experiences, along with walking beside leaders who quietly disclosed their own mental health struggles, made it impossible for me to keep treating well-being as a secondary issue.
I returned to school to become a licensed mental health counselor, integrating my background in HR with clinical training in trauma-informed, mind-body psychotherapy. Today, I am the Founder and CEO of Human Freely LLC, with divisions dedicated to psychotherapy and wellness, leadership development, and somatic healing. My work sits at the intersection of mental health, leadership, and culture, helping individuals and organizations build environments where people are supported as whole humans, not just performers.
This path wasn’t about a career pivot; it was a calling shaped by experience, loss, and a deep commitment to prevention, healing, and purpose-driven leadership.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. Transitioning from corporate leadership to mental health required starting over, both financially and professionally, as well as emotionally. Leaving a stable career to return to school meant trusting a long-term vision without immediate rewards.
As a wife and mother, the sacrifices were personal. There were seasons when work, school, and a mandatory graduate internship meant I barely saw my children. I carried deep guilt and often questioned whether the cost was worth it.
Professionally, I had to confront grief from the losses I experienced in HR while learning to hold space as a clinician. Building a values-driven business also meant turning down opportunities that didn’t align with integrity.
The greatest lesson was learning to prioritize sustainability over urgency. Choosing depth, ethics, and long-term impact in a hustle-driven culture has required patience and faith.
None of it was easy, but every part of it shaped the work I do today.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Human Freely, LLC is the parent company behind my work, with Human Freely Psychotherapy & Wellness operating as a d/b/a. The practice is rooted in mind-body, trauma-informed psychotherapy, serving adults and adolescents who are navigating chronic stress, trauma, and relational wounds—particularly those who have spent much of their lives carrying responsibility for others.
What sets my work apart is the integration of clinical mental health care with real-world leadership and organizational experience. Before becoming a therapist, I spent nearly two decades in Human Resources leadership, which deeply informs how I understand burnout, workplace stress, and the emotional toll of leadership. I specialize in culturally responsive psychotherapy, somatic and body-based approaches, and therapy intensives designed to support deeper healing beyond weekly sessions.
While Human Freely also includes leadership education and speaking, I’ve intentionally streamlined the brand to keep psychotherapy and wellness at the center. My speaking and workshops offerings live within the practice and focus on mental health education, burnout prevention, leadership well-being, and creating healthier workplace cultures.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that Human Freely honors the full human experience, including strength and struggle, ambition and rest, pain and healing. Everything I offer is grounded in integrity, depth, and sustainability. I want readers to know this is not surface-level wellness or motivational work. It’s thoughtful, ethical, and rooted in the belief that when people are supported as whole humans, meaningful change becomes possible.
What makes you happy?
I’m happiest when I can see the impact of my work. When someone is less weighed down, more connected to themselves, or better supported in how they lead and live. That kind of change, especially when it’s earned through real effort and trust, is deeply meaningful to me.
I’m also genuinely grateful for what I have. There’s a steady sense of blessing that comes from knowing the sacrifices were not in vain and that my life today reflects alignment rather than achievement alone.
My children bring me a different kind of joy. Seeing their curiosity about entrepreneurship and purpose tells me they were paying attention, not just to what I said, but to how I lived. That matters more to me than any title.
Nature also brings me joy because it draws me closer to God. Stepping outside, breathing fresh air, and noticing what He created reminds me to slow down, stay grounded, and trust that I’m part of something far bigger than myself.
Pricing:
- Individual therapy sessions (private pay): starting at $160
- Therapy intensives and mind-body sessions: starting at $1,250
- Speaking engagements and workshops: available upon request
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.therapyhumanfreely.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/human.freely2.0
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-krider-humanfreely/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HumanFreely
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/human-freely-psychotherapy-and-wellness-davie
- Other: https://www.abidemovement.com
