The Gain the Ridge Story
GUIDING ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE WITH CLARITY AND COMPASSION
Danny Frazer: Transforming Leaders, Teams and Organizations in Behavioral Healthcare
For more than 25 years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside leaders and teams in behavioral healthcare and experiential education, people doing deeply meaningful work that changes lives. True heroes. They show up every day to do work that demands courage, resilience, compassion, and commitment. And heroes must thrive.
They owe it to themselves, to the teams they lead and work alongside, and to the people and families they serve. Thriving means doing the hard internal work of becoming better leaders, building healthier organizations, and creating the conditions for people to do their best work. It also means having the opportunity to experience the pride, joy, and fulfillment that comes from meaningful work and the lives changed because of it.
That belief is at the heart of my work.
From my early days at Outward Bound to co-founding Open Sky Wilderness Therapy in 2006, I’ve held a range of roles, from field and operations director to admissions and program director, which have allowed me to experience the complexities of organizational culture, leadership, and growth from many different perspectives. Along the way, I’ve built operations from the ground up, trained dynamic leaders, developed strong teams and cultures, managed sales targets, and successfully navigated the diverse personalities and challenges that come with leading people.
Ultimately, my work at Gain the Ridge is about applying that experience and knowledge to help heroes thrive, creating the opportunity to work on themselves, their teams, and their organizations so they can serve others better, create lasting change, and experience the joy and fulfillment that comes from doing work that matters.
Leadership Roles
The Leadership Growth Guild: Partner and faculty member, helping facilitate a peer mentor group for behavioral healthcare leaders to connect, learn, and grow alongside others.
Lifeways: Partner and strategic advisor to a community-based mental health organization integrating nature connection into youth mentorship, outpatient therapy, outdoor immersion experiences, and mental health preparedness training for outdoor professionals.
Deer Hill Foundation: Board member, supporting opportunities for young people to grow through challenge, connection with the outdoors, and service to others.
Intentional Leadership, Meaningful Results
Together, we’ll build a future where individuals feel supported, teams move in sync, and clear, thoughtful strategies bring you the confidence to lead with purpose and the peace of knowing you’re on the right path.
Turning Setbacks into Success: The Gain the Ridge Story
One July morning in the Canadian Rockies, my family and I set out for what we thought would be a simple summit hike. But the day had other plans for us: The trail was practically nonexistent, and progress was slow going. Several hours in and well past the desired lunchtime, we sat defeated and assessed our options.
Reluctantly, we let go of the original plan and decided instead to “gain the ridge.” That became our rallying cry—something to lift our spirits and keep us moving forward.
Though we missed the summit, the ridge brought something unexpected: a quiet oasis and a sense of accomplishment that far exceeded what we thought we were after.
In business and in life, unpredictability is the norm. We’re often faced with changing conditions, limited options, and the need to adapt in real time. That day reminded us that the work isn’t always about pushing to the summit. Sometimes, the most effective path forward is the one we find when we adjust our mindset—and that can lead to something even more rewarding.
The COIL Approach: Empowering Teams through Transformation
Blame is oftentimes mistaken for accountability. Shifting to shared responsibility and growth creates an environment where people feel empowered. Our COIL approach helps teams navigate challenges while staying grounded in their mission to support growth and healing.
-
We work towards the same goal: creating the best possible program experience for our clients, their families, and their employees.
-
We believe that every function, no matter how small, plays some role in success and failure, and as such, we will always look for ways to take responsibility rather than assign blame.
-
We strive for excellence and operate with a solutions-oriented mindset. We owe improvement to all our current and future clients and ourselves.
-
We seek to understand our past to improve our future. We encourage and welcome diverse opinions and creative ideas.
Discover how the COIL approach can help your team thrive. Contact us for a consultation.
“Any person or program will benefit from Danny's assessments, consulting, and coaching. He approaches people, organizations, and situations with a calm, curious presence, staying grounded as he formulates responses. He encourages the best in people, and they rise to the challenge because he reassures them they can.”
Amanda Thomas, MPhEd, LMFT,
Co-Founder & CEO, Cobalt Family Consulting
Better Leaders. Better Teams. Better Programs.
Gain the Ridge Consulting provides leaders with a roadmap to more confident and joyful leadership. Our services address the complex staffing puzzle and team dynamics that can threaten program stability, transforming staff from feeling isolated and confused into cohesive teams united by shared purpose. This ultimately leads to more meaningful outcomes for the clients and families you serve.
