Contact Us |
Log In
Join Our International Learning Community

Trauma, Resilience and Care for the Caregivers

Workshops Now Available

Voyage Into Your Future with These Trainings

All workshops below are now available individually or in any combination. Each workshop includes up to eight hours of in-person/virtual interactive content and skill development. Workshop may be tailored to individual groups based on consultation and thoughtful planning.

Click on a tab below to learn more about the workshop and request a consultation.

These workshops are valuable contributions to learning, recovery and moving forward for individuals, organizations and communities experiencing traumatic events. This deeper understanding of trauma is proving even more crucial during the COVID19 pandemic.

Recovering and growing from these types of events, while still working diligently to function well in our multitude of roles can challenge the most dedicated people and helpers.

These challenges can be particularly delicate for people wearing many different hats or having extensive responsibilities in organizations and communities. Given the nature of these roles, individuals including (but not limited to) police, fire, mental health, education, public service, clergy, and health could benefit from these workshops. 

Life and work experiences require that we learn about vicarious trauma, burnout, impact of community trauma and radical resilience skills for ourselves.

 We all fill leadership roles in our daily lives. In order to function well in these caregiver/responder roles, it is necessary to understand the impact that challenges and multiple traumatic events have on us personally and therefore impact our professional responses, capability and responsibilities. Following that understanding, it is important to move forward with increased understanding and practice the skills of resilience.

 All trainings are built on evidence-based research and evidence-based learning processes.

To get started, click the “Request More Information” button below.
Request More Information
Kathryn VanBoskirk
See Kathryn’s Bio
See Cindy’s Bio
Always Wear Comfortable Shoes 2.0
Understanding the impact of trauma can assist us in navigating traumatic events with less confusion and uncertainty.

The goal of this training is to understand that without exception, caring for others in any capacity within the context of traumatic events and other challenges, impacts all caregivers.  These implications can impede our ability to function most capably in our roles at work, in our families and in our communities.

A deeper understanding of traumatic events and its impact allow us to learn and plan in ways that can minimize long-term negative impact, improve short-term experience and increase overall functioning.

By completing this training participants will be able to:

  • Examine the responses we have in response to traumatic events
  • Explore the impact of community trauma in multiple sectors
  • Understand the ripple effects of trauma for individuals and communities
  • Identify how leadership is impacted by traumatic events
  • Recognize signs of vicarious/secondary trauma within themselves
  • Identify their own “compassion satisfaction”, “compassion fatigue” status
  • Challenges to self-care
To get started, click the “Request More Information” button below.
Request More Information
Cindy Hodge
See Cindy’s Bio
Cindy facilitating a training
See what people say:

“In these times when we are busier than ever, these skills will help me be my best self at work and in the community.”

“I realized aspects about myself, perspective, and behaviors that I didn’t before. Because of this awareness I can modify accordingly.”

“It’s easy to feel very burdened right now. This course helped give me skills to combat down times and recognize how to help myself and others.”

“Knowing that others go through what I do also is valuable and being able to talk to about it is a skill I will use”

These workshops are an essential contribution to deepening the understanding of how our roles as family members, caregivers, and leaders are impacted by adversities we face daily.

The strength of our resilience is key in handling challenges with traumatic events, burnout, compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma.

There are inevitable difficulties in navigating and sustaining stability and personal well-being in these circumstances. This can challenge the most dedicated of caregivers who are often working to function well in multiple roles at work and at home.

Life and work experiences in all of our varied roles require that we understand how we are impacted and how to apply radical resilience skills to remain hardy. It is critical to use these skills to not only steer through the hard times, but grow and transform from each of the challenges we face.

Building Resilience After Adversity trainings are built on evidence-based research and evidence-based learning processes.

Participants will:

  • Recognize the characteristics of radical resilience
  • Identify the 5 conditions necessary to build radical resilience
  • Assess your own capabilities regarding 10 radical resilience skills
  • Understand the value of these skills in a model to build resilience
  • Practice several of the radical resilience skills
To get started, click the “Request More Information” button below.
See what people say:

“In the breakout rooms, I heard good reminders of skills I know but need to remember to practice.”

“Maintaining my own resilience, bettering myself, showing up as a resource for others.”

“Learning actual resilience tools and systems.”

“Loved the 10 Radical Resilience Skills.”

Kathryn facilitating a training
Kathryn facilitating a training
Kathryn VanBoskirk
Kathryn VanBoskirk
See Kathryn’s Bio

Leading through traumatic events creates unexpected, unique and often unspoken challenges for leaders. Learning to lead in trauma with “boots on the ground” is not for the feint of heart.

Yet given the nature of crises and traumatic events, we can find ourselves working to figure it out as we go. Lessons learned from responding to the Columbine High School murder/suicide can help us as leaders prepare ahead of time, identify challenges as we go and develop skills to help us and those we lead navigate more effectively.

The goal of this training is to give opportunity and voice to those in leadership roles in exploring how “leading is different” and yet similar in times of crisis and traumatic events.

By completing this training participants will be able to:

  • Create a deeper understanding of leadership
  • Explore the impact of community trauma on leaders and on our teams
  • Understand the complexities of balancing trauma response and “regular work” needs
  • Identify how our personal response to trauma impacts our ability to lead
  • Recognize challenges and needs in communication to minimize longer term residual impacts
  • Explore and discuss signs of vicarious/secondary trauma
  • Identify their own “compassion satisfaction”, “compassion fatigue” status
  • Challenges to self-care and why we need to figure it out now

See what people say:

“In terms of my own understanding of burnout I have identified my own pitfalls. I also gathered greater understanding for those in direct helping professions.”

“How to support and share skills with my team while also living into them myself.”

“Assisting the staff team in becoming more resilient in the face of COVID now, and any future challenges we should face”

“I have more tools for myself and I can also use them with co-workers.”

Cindy Hodge
See Cindy’s Bio

Testimonials

“I dwell in possibility” — E Dickinson
Cindy Hodge lives out that opening verse, and has for more than a decade led a multinational team of educators, persuading those in despair to forego suicide in favor of life.
Cindy was the Vice President for training in the world’s largest suicide prevention company—LivingWorks Education, Calgary, Canada— and oversaw the ten-fold growth of the number of persons trained to do suicide first-aid. She transformed the organization by enlisting and carefully cultivating the talents, hopes and dreams of hundreds of educators. In conferences where she led 150+ trainers, in workshops where she designed and oversaw the advancement of each educator’s career, and in personal conversations after each workshop, Cindy enables persons to evaluate and elevate both their skills and their goals. Cindy now stands ready, willing and able to help you.
David Pina, USAF (R)
VetConnect Trainer,
LivingWorks Education since 2000 VetConnect
Washington, USA
Personal and professional growth. Enhancing the conditions for exploring individual edges of learning. Creating a supportive environment that allows one to welcome vulnerability in order to stretch ones learning. It is rare to find an individual who may be able to support and encourage one of these elements much less all of them. Over the past few years I have had the good fortune to be mentored by Kathryn VanBoskirk whose leadership and facilitation skills have opened doors for me to experience all these elements. She not only displays these exceptional qualities; they are core to her being. Much of what I know about and practice today in the realm of teamwork is a result of the examples and lasting impact Kathryn has had.
Garra Lloyd-Lester
New York, USA
I have had the pleasure of knowing and learning from Cindy Hodge since 2009. I met her at a train the trainer week long training. Her leadership, compassion and encouragement gave me the confidence to do something I thought I had no skills or ability to do. Through the years she has become an invaluable mentor to me teaching me the value of teamwork, community collaboration and that anyone can do anything they put their minds to. I am forever grateful that I met and now call Cindy a friend! I look forward to our next journey!
Phyllis H.
Colorado, USA
Kathryn VanBoskirk’s training, support and leadership has been instrumental in my professional development.  Her ability to accept people where they are and lead them to the edge of their learning is transformational.
Mary Jadwisiak
CEO/Owner
Holding the Hope
www.HoldingTheHope.com
Washington, USA
Cindy is the type of transformational leader, compassionate coach and caring mentor that inspires personal & professional growth. She has had a life changing impact on people like me all around the world.
Alan Dagg USN Chief Petty Officer (Ret.)
Owner-Trainer-Coach
Innovative Education, Northern Ireland
If you have a chance to spend time in a training room with Kathryn VanBoskirk I encourage you to avail yourself of the opportunity. You will be working with an extraordinary woman who leads with strength from the heart, creates a wonderful environment for teamwork to flourish, knows the beautiful dance of facilitating then stepping back to allow the room to develop its own learning. It is time you will never regret investing.
Randy
M.A. University of Arizona
Retired Director of Prevention Services,
Providence of Arizona
Cindy Hodge is an inspiring leader who both challenges and motivates. Instilling confidence while facilitating excellence in the lives of those she touches. Leading with integrity, Cindy empowers while building community.
Karen Grant
KRGrant Consulting Inc.
Suicide Intervention Training and Consulting
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
Kathryn VanBoskirk is a fantastic trainer and facilitates great discussion! She brings her wisdom, insights and helps mold the training to bring your experiences to life. Great interaction, engagement and connection with her participants. If you are able to engage her as a mentor, do it, her personal and thoughtful approach makes you feel as if she has known you for years and still she challenges you to be your authentic self.
Chris Sandwell, MS, LPC, NCC
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Cindy Hodge has made a major impact in my growth journey for the past 6 years. She has a gentle and poignant way of helping you look inward and forward at the same time. Now a part of what I do on a regular basis is exactly that, I look inward to see where I am and then I look forward to see where I need to journey next. Just simply empowering.
Ames Hart
Founder, Enter Hope, LLC
Suicide Prevention and Intervention Trainer
Board Chair, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Virginia Chapter
www.enterhope.net
Virginia, USA
I recently attended Kathryn VanBoskirk’s Radical Resiliency training and I found the experience very validating as we tend to work in our own bubbles and it was good to have the opportunity to work together on strategies that build resiliency. I have attended other trainings on compassion fatigue and resiliency and found this training unique. Kathryn has developed her own model and facilitates the attendees in determining what is having the greatest impact on them. Kathryn very genuinely cares about the people who attend her training and I recommend it for anyone who wants guided assistance in analyzing their own happiness or who is looking for skills to take back to their staff to improve job satisfaction.
Rena Fitzgerald, MIT, MHP
Care Crisis Response Services
Volunteers of America
Western Washington
Washington, USA
I have known Cynthia Hodge for over 15 years. She is a powerful force for encouragement, transformation, reflection, and growth. I have benefited from her steady support throughout the years. I especially appreciate her ability to create a safe space for me and others to be transparent in their process by sharing the barriers and the catalysts for success. She is a true facilitator who draws the wisdom from others through Socratic processes and helps others to find a turning point that moves them forward.
Monica Kintigh PhD, LPC
Texas, USA
I have been in the helping field for over 30 years. I can say that the techniques I learned at this workshop will change my approach in caring for others and myself. I am still thoughtful on the characteristics of resilience and how each characteristic may shine at different times in an individual’s lives.  I had a very impactful experience when discussing a negative experience with another participant. I was brought to tears by my partner’s reframing during this exercise. After this exercise I wrote a small “S” on my hand as a visual reminder to share this experience with my husband upon my return home. The “S” stood for safe because due to reframing I was reminded he represents safety in my life. That night on the way home my husband, with my children, were victims of crime, however due to my husband’s response everyone was physically safe. This workshop helped me see my husband’s resilience. This workshop was amazing!
Tracy
North Carolina, USA
I have worked with Kathryn in a variety of roles for the past 15 years 
She is a skillful and compassionate facilitator, coach, and leader. She pays attention and shows careful regard for individual needs. Her groupwork skills are exemplary. As a leader she uses her extensive experience and skill to demonstrate meaningful inclusion, support and flexible guidance when needed. She has an incredible ability to find ways to help you identify and work with the uncomfortable edges of learning, and in my experience it is here that deep learning always occurs.
Jenny Pickup
Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Trainer and Consultant
South West England
UK
I have known Cindy many years and have been continuously impressed with her. She is a real person that has faced life’s challenges with optimism and hard work and forged success. Cindy has a wealth of experience and proven her ability to be a leader and mentor time and again. She not only has knowledge; she has wisdom about how to use that knowledge. Cindy has many gifts and talents and three immediately come to mind. First, she really cares about helping others. Second, she is committed to giving her very best effort to those she helps. And third, her personal integrity will allow nothing less. In other words, she is A.L.L.-IN
Chaplain Colonel Joe F Johnston, USAF (Ret)
LivingWorks Education, ASIST Team Leader
Cindy Hodge expresses that rare blend of patience, insight, and ‘over-sight’ that allows her to hear what a person needs from her, synthesize those needs from the position of the person’s strengths, then help the person discover what next steps are needed. Our relationship spans decades, with our roles sometimes switching between student and Mentor. Her background in disaster response and suicide prevention serve her well in bringing out the best in people.
Gary McConahay PhD
Clinical Director at ColumbiaCare Services, Inc.
I have had the pleasure of working with Cindy many times over the past 10 years. While in Cindy’s presence I find myself in awe of her innate ability to develop and maintain relationships with colleagues, customers, strangers and organisations. Cindy is most definitely a people person, very much aware of her own presence, which she uses subtly and skilfully in order to support individuals and groups. Cindy’s natural intuition is razor sharp enabling her to see both the big picture as well as the small details. Her intuition coupled with her skills and qualities makes her an impressive leader, which in turn supports and develops leadership and teamworking among those she works with.
Kevin B.
Northern Ireland