Creating Space: Carylynn Larson’s Transformative Coaching Approach
Carylynn Kemp Larson, Ph.D., PCC, brings a deeply human approach to leadership coaching, one shaped profoundly by her own personal and professional journey. Larson has established herself as a trusted partner for leaders navigating high-stakes environments.
“I coach brilliant people who are smart enough to know that leading takes more than IQ.” – Carylynn Larson
Larson’s commitment to mental health sets her apart from many leadership coaches. Whereas many coaches will shy away, Larson provides a supportive environment where clients feel safe discussing mental health concerns. When necessary, Larson even collaborates with clinical professionals to holistically address clients’ leadership objectives alongside their mental health needs.
Her work spans individual, team, and group coaching, drawing on her background as an organizational psychologist. This professional framework, combined with a deeply compassionate approach, helps clients surface critical issues and develop the courage and clarity needed for impactful leadership.
Larson’s philosophy is deeply shaped by life experience. She has navigated the pressures of high achievement and the quiet struggle of burnout, knowing the dissonance of projecting resilience while privately battling overwhelming challenges. These trials, she says, didn’t break her, they opened her. This openness drives her to create space where clients can safely explore their vulnerabilities and grow into next-level leaders.
“I coach with both head and heart—with the strategic lens of an organizational psychologist and the compassionate awareness of someone who knows what it feels like to be underwater.”
– Carylynn Larson, Ph.D., PCC
Larson often helps high‑performing leaders challenge the belief. that they must always have the answers. Many of her clients have historically been the smartest person in the room and feel pressure to maintain that role. Larson guides them in shifting from operational involvement to strategic collaboration, viewing peer leaders as their “first team”and adopting a leader-coach mindset that expands their organizational influence.
For Larson, success extends beyond short‑term victories. She values seeing clients grow long after coaching ends, and takes joy when they share new challenges and progress years later. Many re-engage her at pivotal career milestones, trusting her continued partnership as they advance through leadership roles.
Larson thrives when coaching clients through complex, high-stakes relational dynamics where failure isn’t an option. Such scenarios often involve eroded trust, palpable tension, yet unavoidable collaboration. Larson’s expertise in these challenging situations has earned her the distinction of being the go-to coach when others shy away. The tougher the situation, the more energized she feels.
Reflecting on her career, Larson shares moments when clients chose vulnerability, truth, and humility in entrenched conflicts. She underscores the authenticity of moments when high‑powered leaders allow themselves to show genuine emotion, sometimes shedding tears, as pivotal turning points. Witnessing such courage reinforces her dedication to compassionate, holistic leadership development.
“The coaching moments I’ll never forget are those when a client gains the courage to be the bigger person in an entrenched conflict with a peer… these moments are transformative. I’ve seen leaders extend grace and create space for reciprocity—and in doing so, unlock breakthrough connection.” – Carylynn Larson
Ultimately, Larson’s transformative coaching philosophy revolves around creating space, both literally and figuratively, for leaders to become better and better versions of themselves. Her coaching practice consistently prioritizes humanizing leadership, recognizing that meaningful growth happens when leaders bring both their strengths and their struggles to the table. Carylynn Kemp Larson’s combination of organizational psychology expertise, mental health advocacy, and compassionate insight equips her to create the conditions leaders need to unlock their potential and lead with clarity, courage, and purpose.
Larson works with clients both virtually and in-person, making herself available to individuals and teams globally. Based in the Washington DC metro area, she often travels to launch new engagements with a full-day session aligned to key meetings or events. These visits allow her to observe clients in their natural professional habitat and engage stakeholders directly, offering invaluable insight into organizational culture and leadership dynamics.
Ready to get started on your transformative coaching journey? You can contact Carylynn Larson directly at ca**@***************ce.com to book a discovery session.
Learn more about Carylynn’s coaching at https://www.creatingopenspace.com/, or book her as a keynote speaker through https://www.carylynn-kemp-larson.info/.
