Influential Woman · Behavioral Health and Mental Health Services
Capricia Rochelle Cunningham
Founder / Professional Community Resource Specialist / Peer Support Specialist, Lady of Influence Collective
Anchorage, AK 99501
I learned to separate my excitement about an idea from its readiness to become a business, sometimes moving forward means narrowing your focus.
Capricia Rochelle Cunningham · In Her Own Words
Her Story
About Capricia
Capricia Cunningham is a peer support professional, clinical associate, resilience coach, author, and entrepreneur based in Anchorage, Alaska. She is the founder of Lady of Influence Collective LLC and creator of The Phoenix Rise, a personal development platform for women rebuilding their confidence, reconnecting with their purpose, and deciding what comes next.
At Alaska Behavioral Health, Capricia supports individuals navigating mental health challenges, recovery, and everyday barriers to independence. Her approach centers on listening, recognizing individual strengths, connecting people with resources, and treating each person with dignity. Her background also includes employment coaching, community resource navigation, and reentry support, including service through AmeriCorps.
Capricia brings lived experience and professional training to her work. Her own journey has shaped her belief that people deserve to be understood beyond their diagnoses, mistakes, or circumstances. She encourages growth through honest reflection, accountability, compassion, and realistic next steps.
Through The Phoenix Rise, Capricia helps women explore four stages of personal growth: Rebuild, Rediscover, Reclaim, and Rise. Her coaching and journals create opportunities to reflect, recognize existing strengths, and move forward with greater clarity.
She is the author of The Phoenix Rise, The Phoenix Process, Claim Your Crown, and Bubbling Guts of the North. She is also a contributing author to Transform Your Life: Stories, Lessons & Tools for Becoming Your Best Self.
Capricia holds an Associate of Applied Science degree from Alaska Career College. She continues to build on her experience through learning, writing, community connections, and service.
Across her work, Capricia carries one consistent message: starting over does not mean starting from nothing. The experiences people have survived can become part of the foundation for the future they choose to build.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Capricia
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my faith, resilience, and willingness to keep growing. There were times when I had to step back, look honestly at myself, and decide where I wanted my life to go. Prayer helped me find clarity, and taking responsibility helped me move forward.
My lived experience with mental health challenges and recovery has shaped how I support others. I know how much it matters to feel heard and treated with dignity. Success, for me, means using what I have learned to help someone recognize their worth, find their voice, and take their next step. I cannot control everything around me, but I can choose where I give my energy and how I show up.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The career advice I value most is to stay true to who I am and keep learning. I do not have to have every answer to make a meaningful difference, but I do need to listen, follow through, and know when to ask for support. My experiences have value, and education helps me build on them. I want my work to reflect both compassion and accountability.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Start with a willingness to listen and a genuine respect for people. Complete the training, ask questions, and learn from both experienced professionals and the people you support. Everyone’s story is different, so avoid assuming you know what someone needs before hearing them.
Your lived experience can be a strength, but you also need boundaries, continued learning, and support of your own. You can care deeply without carrying everything by yourself. Be patient with your growth, recognize your worth, and make room for your own well-being while helping others.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges I see is helping people receive support without being defined by their diagnosis, past mistakes, or current circumstances. Stigma and difficulty navigating resources can make it harder for someone to take the next step.
I see an opportunity to strengthen the connection between peer support, community resources, and personal growth. Listening to people with lived experience helps us understand what support is useful in everyday life. Through my work and The Phoenix Rise, I want to help people recognize their strengths and turn encouragement into practical steps they can take.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Faith, compassion, integrity, accountability, and growth are the values that guide me. I want people to feel seen and respected, and I believe that starts with listening without judgment.
I also believe in being honest with myself, taking responsibility for my choices, and continuing to learn. Protecting my peace helps me show up with greater patience and purpose. In my work and personal life, I want my actions to reflect what I say I believe.
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