Helping Women Beat Chronic Stress: How Dr. Tina Armstrong Grew Her Reach

Dr. Tina Armstrong is a licensed clinical psychologist and associate professor of clinical psychology who has spent more than twenty years studying chronic stress and its effects on physical and mental health. That research now shapes Living Connected M.B.S., the company she founded to bring evidence-based tools shaped by culture and faith, into daily life through therapy, digital courses, and retreats.

Dr. Armstrong’s Living Rooted Retreat is designed for professional women looking to prevent burnout, improve their health, and find sisterhood. While her work centers Black women, Dr. Armstrong says these tools are useful for anyone who feels overburdened or overlooked.

After hosting several retreats, Dr. Armstrong realized that many women who could benefit still weren’t aware they existed. “We have an amazing product that’s research-based and tested,” she said. “But our message was not being amplified.” She joined The Center’s Digital Growth Accelerator hoping to change that.

She quickly began applying what she was learning from the accelerator to her marketing strategy, focusing on how to shape clear and concise messages. “The program helped me figure out what to say, when to say it, and how to stack the messages so people can actually hold onto them,” she said. “I went from two participants to a sold-out retreat. It was really through the strategies I was learning and implementing.”

She credits the one-on-one sessions with helping her adapt her messaging into short bites for social media. The accelerator also gave her the confidence to conduct her own media outreach. Using tools from the course, she secured coverage in the Los Angeles Sentinel and an appearance on KJLH’s The Front Page with Dara Starr Tucker. Those opportunities, paired with a strategic marketing approach, have helped her reach more women.

Next up for Dr. Armstrong is the RESET Virtual Wellness Retreat in September and the launch of her book in early October. She is also participating in The Center’s Digital Growth Accelerator: Holiday Edition this fall. She hopes to use what she learns to market a holiday bundle that pairs her book with a January retreat and a membership option, giving people different ways to begin 2026 with a plan to reduce chronic stress.

For entrepreneurs considering applying for the Digital Growth Accelerator, her advice is straightforward: start where you are. “You don’t have to wait until you have a big team or budget. There are everyday things you can do now that will make a real impact,” she said. “Wherever you are is perfectly acceptable.”

The Digital Growth Accelerator is made possible with the generous support of U.S. Bank.