Leading with Heart: Chelsea Elliott's Journey to Creating Emotionally Safe Spaces

In a world where uncertainty feels constant and community support is more crucial than ever, Chelsea Elliott stands as a beacon of hope and healing. As the founder and CEO of Somocom Lab (Social Emotional Communication Lab), Chelsea is on a mission to help people create emotionally healthy and safe spaces wherever they are—at home, at work, in schools, and throughout their communities.

The Power of Lived Experience

What makes Chelsea's approach unique isn't just her expertise in emotional intelligence—it's her authentic commitment to living the work she teaches. "I tell people this all the time. I live the work that I do. I am not a perfect person. I do this work because I am dealing with it on a regular daily basis," Chelsea shared during her recent appearance on the ALC ChangeMakers Podcast.

Chelsea's journey began with her own struggles with mental health after a childhood move from sunny Los Angeles to Dayton, Ohio, left her feeling lost and without the tools to process grief and uncertainty. What started as personal challenges—including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation—ultimately became her calling to help others navigate their emotional landscapes with compassion and practical tools.

Building Emotional Intelligence for All Ages

At Somocom Lab, Chelsea works across generations, recognizing that emotional intelligence isn't just for adults. Her EQ Kids Crew card game teaches children about 130 recognizable emotions, helping them expand their emotional vocabulary and develop self-regulation skills. But as Chelsea notes with a smile, "I always get, 'Oh my gosh, you need to make an adult version.' But spoiler alert, it's really for the grownups."

Her approach to professional development focuses on three key areas:

Self-awareness: Understanding your triggers and default responses
Self-care: Developing healthy coping mechanisms that work for you
Creating safety: Building environments where emotions can be expressed and processed healthily

Community Care in Action

One of Chelsea's most exciting new initiatives is the Community Care Collective, a four-week mental health training program designed for those who serve as informal support systems in their communities. "I'm sure the people that are listening to this are often the go-to person for their people. They're the strong friends, the ones that are always looked to," Chelsea observed.

This program addresses a critical gap—providing evidence-based knowledge and tools to people who are naturally called to support others but may lack formal training. It's about equipping our communities' natural helpers with the skills they need to provide meaningful support while maintaining their own well-being.

Redefining Emotional Intelligence

Chelsea challenges common misconceptions about emotional intelligence. "When people hear emotional intelligence, they think, 'Oh, you don't have emotions, or you're not showing them.' And that's not true at all," she explains. True emotional intelligence includes:

Recognizing your triggers and patterns
Having healthy coping mechanisms (yes, including crying and feeling your feelings)
Knowing what works for you individually
Being able to identify and support emotions in others

"It's okay to cry. It's okay to have feelings. We are human and they are needed, and more people need to share them so others know that it's okay too."

Leadership Through Vulnerability

Chelsea's leadership style reflects her values of authenticity and autonomy. She describes herself as "like a cat" in her approach—loving independence while creating space for others to explore and grow. This extends to her own vulnerability as a leader, including sharing her ongoing journey with mental health on social media and seeking support when needed.

Recently, during a panic attack, Chelsea shared her struggle on Facebook, writing simply: "I'm not doing well today. I need prayer." The response was overwhelming—an outpouring of love, support, and ongoing check-ins that demonstrated the power of vulnerable leadership and community care.

The Ripple Effect of Emotional Safety

As we navigate uncertain times, Chelsea's work becomes even more vital. She recognizes that when people are pushed back to basic survival needs, emotional wellness work can feel less immediate. However, she continues to plant seeds of hope and healing, knowing that the tools and support she provides will be there when people are ready to receive them.

"I'm always looking for the good news. There's always going to be something, but as often as possible, I'm looking for the good news and those little moments, those little seeds that are being planted to help boost something later on down the road."

Connect with Chelsea

Chelsea Elliott and SomocomLab are creating waves of change through emotional intelligence education and community care. Her work aligns beautifully with ALC's values of justice, courage, and care, demonstrating how authentic leadership and community support can create lasting transformation.

Learn more about Chelsea's work at somocomlab.com or follow her on social media @somocomlab.

The ALC ChangeMakers Podcast features conversations with leaders who are creating positive change in their communities. Listen to the full interview with Chelsea Elliott and discover more inspiring stories at jennifer.com.

About ALC: At Abundance Leadership Consulting, we believe in building sustainable leadership and connected communities through justice, courage, and care. We're committed to creating conditions where leaders can thrive while building the caring surrounds that make transformative change possible.