Women's Leadership Academy:
Lead the Way You Were Meant To

Kristen Ernst is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and the Owner and Operator of the Center for Hope and Healing, LLC, a mental health facility dedicated to providing support to individuals navigating grief and traumatic loss. With a deep commitment to fostering healing, Kristen has developed specialized programs aimed at assisting those who have experienced profound loss, including grief from suicide, Covid, opioid addiction, child loss, miscarriage, and more.

Throughout her career, Kristen has been a trailblazer in creating aftercare programs for funeral homes across the country. She has facilitated grief support groups for various types of loss, including Survivors of Suicide Loss, Widow and Widower Support, Heroin and Opioid Loss, and Child and Infant Loss. In addition to facilitating virtual and in-person groups, she has presented Memorial Services for the community, including Holiday Remembrance Programs, Veterans Day Programs, and Seeds of Hope Programs.

Kristen has also served as a keynote speaker and presenter at numerous conferences and events within the funeral service and hospice industries, including the Greater St. Louis Hospice Organization Conference and the Women in Funeral Service Program at Selected Independent Funeral Homes. As a contributor to leading funeral industry blogs and podcasts, Kristen has played a pivotal role in educating and raising awareness about grief and loss.

Her dedication extends to community outreach, where she has spoken at national events such as the National Share Organization for Infant and Pregnancy Loss and served as a retreat director for the Angel Moms Organization. Kristen is also a passionate advocate for suicide prevention and mental health awareness, contributing to podcasts and programs focused on these critical issues.

As an expert in bereavement and trauma recovery, Kristen’s unique blend of clinical expertise and community-based support has made her a trusted leader in grief counseling and mental health advocacy. 

In her role as Dean of the Women’s Leadership Academy, Kristen brings her decades of experience to support the development of rising leaders in funeral service. She helps women strengthen their leadership through meaningful learning experiences by sharing insights, tools, and strategies that empower them to lead with empathy, clarity, and resilience. Whether through group workshops, one-on-one coaching, or tailored training sessions, Kristen creates spaces where women can grow both personally and professionally. Her compassionate and practical approach helps others lead with confidence while supporting families and communities through life’s most difficult moments.