Marisol Solarte-Erlacher: Transforming Stress and Trauma into Resilience

Bio:
Marisol Solarte-Erlacher is a trauma expert, resilience consultant, and licensed psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience helping organizations foster thriving cultures. She hosts the award-nominated Resilience and Resistance podcast, featuring resilient leaders from marginalized communities. Named one of Colorado's Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business, Marisol specializes in creating psychologically safe workplaces that enhance engagement and performance. Her culturally responsive approach makes her a sought-after speaker and consultant for non-profits, corporations, and public service organizations nationwide.

Links:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/marisol-solarte-erlacher
Website: https://www.marisolerlacher.com/ 

Episode Highlights:
In this episode, Marisol shares her journey from her multicultural upbringing to becoming a leader in creating psychologically safe workplaces. With powerful insights that stem from her personal resilience path, she highlights the importance of storytelling, cultural identity, and finding joy amidst adversity. 

Childhood Memories:
Growing up with young parents, Marisol matured alongside them, becoming highly responsible from an early age. Though her parents created moments of joy, she often felt more like a little adult. Observing intergenerational trauma, interpersonal violence, and alcoholism in her family shaped her understanding of relationships and coping mechanisms. At 11, Marisol survived sexual assault, a defining event in her adolescence. During this time, she read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, realizing that resilience was possible. This book gave her hope and reinforced her belief in the power of stories to heal and transform.

Cultural Influences:
Marisol’s cultural identity shapes her values, relationships, and approach to life. She learned that family extends beyond biological ties, fostering deep loyalty to those who support her.

Her strong work ethic comes from witnessing her parents’ dedication, a trait she links to the immigrant experience. Though she now prioritizes balance, her drive remains rooted in these lessons.

She also embraces the joy in her culture, recognizing how her family celebrated life even in hardship. This understanding deepened when she visited Colombia at 16, where she experienced resilience and joy first-hand.

Influential Groups:
Marisol grew up Catholic but transitioned to evangelicalism in her teens, seeking belonging and certainty after trauma. This shift led her to seminary in Denver, a transformative experience that ultimately guided her toward a different spiritual path focused on personal growth.

During seminary, she joined the Circle of Latina Leadership, which shaped her leadership skills and personal development. Though her spirituality has evolved, her search for belonging continues to influence her journey and work today.

Personality and Temperament:
As a child, Marisol was introspective and often engaged in solitary activities. Being an only child for seven years, she navigated a complex environment on her own, shaping her personality.

As the eldest daughter in a Latinx family, she naturally took on a parent-like role, becoming highly responsible. This led her to a profession where others seek her guidance. She values her reflective and soulful nature, traits she believes are innate.

What Brings Out the Best in Marisol?
For Marisol, being authentic in her work as a therapist is both important and challenging. She strives to be fully herself despite power dynamics and the complexities of client expectations.