From surviving to thriving.
Dr. Bridget Colacchio, Ph.D., LCSW
Founder & CEO
Our mission
To change the narrative on well-being by spreading research-based wisdom and practices and supporting individuals and teams to expand into the best version of themselves—at work, at home, in leadership, and in life.
We envision a world where people are free to express themselves, connect deeply with others, explore, innovate, and lead to their greatest potential.
Hi, I’m Bridget!
(Dr. Colacchio or Dr. C, as my students call me.)
With over 20 years of experience in leadership, education, research, clinical social work, and caregiving, I founded Bridgeover, LLC to bridge the gap between struggle and well-being.
My research on well-being, relationships, and freedom over the past decade uncovered remarkable truths that changed how I understand myself, how I interact with loved ones, and how I approach life and leadership.
In many ways, the wisdom I uncovered belongs to the people who courageously share their lives, struggles, and triumphs with me throughout my clinical, academic, and research career. This work is largely to honor them and their stories.
On a personal note
What I learned through my clinical work, teaching, research, and leadership also validated my own lived experience. While I was navigating my career in leadership, I was also juggling profound obstacles and losses in my life. Only in hindsight did I realize that I was practicing the tools and perspectives supported by my research as I found my way out of the dumpster fire of my challenging circumstances. I stepped away from a toxic marriage and other unhealthy relationships, faced a brutal health diagnosis, changed jobs, acclimated to single parenting, finished my PhD, moved across the country and am now delighting in the freedom of my personal transformation.
My inner compass, my belief in my own deservingness, and my sense of true freedom came rushing in as I walked away from depleting circumstances and into spaces and relationships that align with my true nature. The ripple effect has been life-changing for me and those around me. Not only does my research support the truth in the Way to Well-being© and Well-leadership© models, but so does my personal experience.
Paying it forward
A principal gift of this synergy between my professional, research, and personal insights and discoveries is what I offer through Bridgeover.
It is the honor of my life to share the gifts I have received—clarity, ease, love, and generative energy— with my team and colleagues, my clients and students, my family, friends, and children, and now with you!
Who is this work for?
You!
This work is for anyone looking to understand and enhance their well-being in service of their leadership.
If you:
shoulder responsibility
have to juggle competing priorities
simultaneously attend to today’s needs and expectations while anticipating tomorrow’s
have people coming to you for guidance, care, ideas, plans, advice, problem-solving, and encouragement
Then YOU are a leader!
Applying innovative, research-based* frameworks and practices for holistic well-being, Dr. Colacchio is committed to spreading well-being wisdom and practices with leaders of all kinds.
You deserve to be well.
And when you are well, all of your people will benefit.
What people are saying
anonymous
Event attendee
“Dr. Colacchio's knowledge and ease with the topic made me feel comfortable so it was easy to understand what was being shared…Breaking down a huge, complex topic in a very digestible manner with practical skills to use? I’m excited to recommend her to several groups I belong to and to invite her to run our leadership retreats.”
D.J.
Student
“I thought the course was designed extremely effectively. Dr. C was absolutely amazing! She is extremely knowledgeable but would always require us to think outside the box, deepening our critical thinking skills.”
anonymous
Workshop participant
“Bridget is the perfect person to guide others in finding greater well-being. Her welcoming and calm demeanor; her depth of knowledge are outstanding. She weaves her personal journey in with her teachings, making her a relatable, engaging human being.”
A.R.
Workshop participant
“The well-being workshop was a much welcomed invitation to silence the lies I've told myself. It was an opportunity to pause, reflect, and reframe those thoughts while setting some new foundation to reset. ”
V.B.
Colleague
“It was truly great working with you and seeing the model of leadership and service you brought to your role. Your contributions to our community have been invaluable.”
*What does “research-based” really mean?
All content, frameworks, and materials are informed by the research of Dr. Colacchio, her colleagues, and other scholars in a variety of fields. Some relevant theories and tactics include:
Ecological systems theory
Attachment theory
Relational safety models
Neuroscience of learning
Adult learning praxis (andragogy)
Ignatian spirituality
See examples of Dr. Colacchio’s research that informs this work:
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This is the core finding from a participatory action research project with young adults who experienced foster care. The W2W Framework illustrates how people can move from ill-being to the freedom and worthiness of well-being, so long as solid relationships help us manage distress.
Review my dissertation: The Way to Well-being
Read our article on The meaning and essence of child well-being according to child welfare professionals. (Co-authors: Julia Pryce & Gina Samuels).
Coming soon: Listen to my conversation about the Way to Well-being on the Illinois DCFS podcast.
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One of the themes within the Way to Well-being Framework, relational safety describes the optimal aim of relationships, where people are humanized, supported, and embraced.
Read about a pre-cursor to relational safety: Steadfast benevolence.
Coming soon: An article diving into relational safety and exploring how it provides a roadmap to well-being.
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In an art-based collective auto-ethnography, my colleagues and I created and analyzed artwork as we uncovered how arts-based research (ABR) can offer a sense of deep authenticity, connection, and freedom.
Read more: Check out this article on Finding Freedom and Connection in Arts-Based Collaborative Autoethnography
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To ground our teaching in values and anti-oppressive pedagogy, my colleagues and I created a pedagogical framework. Read the article on The Loyola Way.
Listen to a limited podcast about values-based teaching and learning, hosted by my colleague, Dr. Polina Pine, and I.