DR. MARCI

Standing in the Gap with Consulting and Training Solutions to improve the human condition.

Signed in as:

filler@godaddy.com

Account

Dr. Marci Batiste: LIFE CHANGE ARCHITECT

Survival is My Responsibility. Healing is My Mission.

I know what it feels like to be trapped in a cycle of trauma, to suffer in silence, to question whether a better life is even possible. My journey into behavioral health and social impact work isn’t just professional—it’s personal. It’s a calling that runs deep, woven into the fabric of who I am.

I grew up in the shadows of complex trauma—domestic violence, substance abuse, molestation, and abandonment. By the time I was a teenager, I was running away from home, searching for a sense of belonging that I never truly felt. The generational cycles I inherited—survival tactics passed down as coping mechanisms—stayed with me well into adulthood. Food became my drug of choice, masking became my armor, and people-pleasing became my currency for self-worth. I struggled with my identity, my value, and I held a deep-seated belief that I was ever enough and would likely never be enough.

Then, I faced the moment that changed everything.

Connect with dr. marci

Doing My Part

I was beaten, strangled, and left alone—dehumanized, humiliated, and stripped of the identity I had carefully built. The reality of who I had become clashed violently with the image I had projected to the world.

I was a six-figure corporate executive, a leader, a professional. In my mind, I wasn’t one of those people. I wasn’t a “victim.” I wasn’t “weak.”

But the truth was undeniable—I was a survivor. A survivor of many things that I didn't want to even admit to myself, let alone anyone else. More than anything, I was terrified that I would never recover.

That night, in the midst of my assault, I prayed the most desperate prayer of my life: "God, if You let me survive this, I promise I will do something with the time You give me back."

God did His part. I survived. But survival alone was never enough.

Breaking the Cycles

Coming to terms with my new reality—who I was, who I had always been—was one of hardest parts for me to even begin my journey toward healing.

I had spent years suppressing my pain, excelling professionally while crumbling internally. But healing required me to stop running, stop masking, and start confronting the truth.

Despite my fears, I succumbed to the process. I invested years doing the real work of understanding myself and unpack my layers of trauma. The work meant learning how to heal, breaking the cycles, and rebuilding my identity from the ground up. And once I figured out the path forward, I knew I had a responsibility to pay it forward.

That’s why I founded Nine Seconds Corporation, a nonprofit dedicated to domestic violence prevention, survivor support, and breaking the cycles of generational trauma. It was the first step in my commitment to ensuring that no one has to suffer in silence the way I once did.

It wasn’t until years later that I fully connected my survival, my struggles, and my prayers to a greater mandate—to stand in the gap for others.

We Can't Truly Transform Lives by Only Focusing on Clients.

Reimagining Possibilities

That’s why I launched The Compass for Change.

In behavioral health, we embrace trauma-informed, person-centered care for clients—but we cannot stop there.

How often do we pause to ask, "How am I doing?" or "How is my team really doing?"

The frontlines of behavioral health are built on humans—people with whole lives, past experiences, and their own life stressors. Does life stop when we punch the clock? Of course not. Yet, too often, we expect providers to give endlessly without ever being poured into themselves.

Reimagining the future of behavioral health is not just a vision—it’s a mandate.

It’s a call to action to remember the people on the frontlines—the ones serving in the trenches, the ones holding space for healing while often neglecting their own.

Because you cannot fully support a person’s recovery if the providers themselves are drowning.

As a Principal Consultant, Trainer, and Behavioral Health Strategist, I bring over 30 years of leadership experience combined with a decade of direct care, chemical dependency counseling, and behavioral health administration.

I understand the pressures providers face because I’ve lived them.
I know what it means to pour into others while running on empty.
I know what it’s like to lead on the outside while suffering in silence on the inside.

That’s why, at The Compass for Change, I guide organizations to embrace trauma-informed leadership, build values-driven cultures, and implement people-first strategies that allow teams to serve their clients without sacrificing their own well-being.

This isn’t just my career.
This isn’t just my business.
This is my calling.

Now, I invite you to stand in the gap with me.

Because when we take care of the people who serve,
we don’t just transform organizations—
we transform lives.

Let's join forces

LEADING by example

Trauma-Informed Leadership

Trauma-informed leadership is more than a management strategy—it’s a life strategy. Viewing the world through a trauma-informed lens positions you to see, understand, and value people beyond roles, responsibilities, and titles. At The Compass for Change, I integrate trauma-informed principles into leadership because care, connection, and compassion must extend beyond client interactions to the entire workplace.

When leaders acknowledge the impact of trauma within their teams and themselves, they create cultures where trust replaces fear, resilience replaces burnout, and people feel seen as unique individuals. This approach humanizes engagement which, strengthens teams, and creates a ripple effect of healing and empowerment that extends far beyond the workplace. Effective leadership is about recognizing the whole person, honoring their experiences, and creating environments where they are empowered to grow, connect and thrive.

Viral Vulnerability

Trauma-Informed Leadership

True transformation in behavioral health begins with vulnerability. When leaders and teams embrace it, they lay the foundation for trust, connection, and ethical decision-making—critical elements in improving the human condition. People need to know they are valued beyond their roles, responsibilities, and contributions to revenue.

A culture of viral vulnerability ensures that shared values drive every interaction, policy, and initiative. It creates spaces where employees feel safe to voice concerns, contribute ideas, and take bold, mission-driven action. When vulnerability is embedded at every level—from the front lines of care to executive management—organizations foster innovation and collaboration. The organizations' policies, procedures, and practices become more people-centered, mission-driven and the healing process becomes more impactful for clients, employees, and the communities they serve.

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION

The Gold Standard

Trauma-Informed Leadership

The Gold Standard

At The Compass for Change, we don’t just set the standard—we are the standard. Reimagining behavioral health requires more than just new ideas; it demands bold leadership, cutting-edge strategies, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. We model The Gold Standard in behavioral health consulting and training, ensuring that our clients are equipped to do the same in direct care.

By embracing a people-focused, values-driven, performance-powered approach, we empower organizations to lead with integrity, innovate with purpose, and deliver top-tier care to the individuals and communities they serve. Through customized curriculums, advanced consulting solutions, and one-of-a-kind training programs, we position our clients to become the premier providers of behavioral health services—setting The Gold Standard for ethical, effective, and transformative care.

Excellence isn’t optional—it’s the expectation. Let’s redefine what’s possible together.

Dr. Marci Batiste: LIFE CHANGE ARCHITECT

Survival is My Responsibility. Healing is My Mission.

Doing My Part

Breaking the Cycles

We Can't Truly Transform Lives by Only Focusing on Clients.

Reimagining Possibilities

LEADING by example

Trauma-Informed Leadership

Trauma-Informed Leadership

Trauma-Informed Leadership

Viral Vulnerability

Trauma-Informed Leadership

Trauma-Informed Leadership

The Gold Standard

Trauma-Informed Leadership

The Gold Standard

This website uses cookies.