Category Archives: Free

Low Impact Debriefing – Overview

Downloadable PDF

This downloadable PDF outlines different types of debriefing and provides an overview of the four steps of Low Impact Debriefing.

August 2026

Rethinking Post-Incident Support

The case for moving from mandatory group debriefing to Psychological First Aid

This white paper offers practical guidance for organizations seeking to create evidence-informed post-incident support systems that protect staff autonomy, reduce unnecessary trauma exposure, and foster recovery.

August 2026

Scaling Support

Building a Mutual Support Community of Practice

In this CARE4YOU 2026 session, Dr. Janine Rowe provides practical guidance on launching a community of practice, maintaining participation, and translating shared learning into everyday support practices within teams.

June 2026

Finding Moral Courage in Difficult Times

Six Steps to Cultivate Moral Courage

Moral courage is about finding what lies between doing nothing and taking high-cost actions to support you through the difficult stretches of your career.

January 2026

Tips for Managing Media Use

Strategies to Reduce Indirect Trauma Exposure

Tips and strategies for managing media use to reduce indirect trauma exposure.

December 2025

Best Practices for Addressing Secondary Traumatic Stress

Principles for Individuals & Organizations

Published by the STS Consortium in 2024, these principles offer best practices for addressing secondary traumatic stress for both individuals and organizations.

November 2025

Low Impact Debriefing Postcard

Downloadable PDF

This downloadable PDF outlines different types of debriefing and provides an overview of the four steps of Low Impact Debriefing.

April 2025

Employee Wellness is a Shared Responsibility

The Results of Our 2024 Survey of Helping Professionals

To better understand who is responsible for employee wellness, we surveyed 761 helping professionals. Here is what we heard.

December 2024

The Window of Tolerance Postcard

Downloadable PDF

This downloadable postcard provides an overview of the Window of Tolerance.

December 2024

Start Your Journey Towards a Healthier, More Supportive Workplace

The TEND Approach to Organizational Health

In this presentation, Françoise Mathieu and Cambria Walsh introduce the TEND Roadmap program and explore how organizations can create meaningful and sustainable change.

September 2024

The Balance Map

A Strategy to Take Stock

Françoise Mathieu outlines a tool to take stock and bring more balance to your professional and personal lives.

January 2024

Un-Addiction

6 Mind-Changing Conversations That Could Save a Life

In this book, Dr. Nzinga Harrison explores the science, stigma, and truth around substance use. An insightful read from both a personal and professional perspective.

January 2024

The Three Minute Breathing Space

Grounding Through Sounds, Sensations, & Breath

The Three Minute Breathing Space is a simple mindfulness exercise to reset before, during, or after a stressful event by grounding through sound, body sensations, and breathing.

November 2023

Self-Care Questionnaire

Excerpt from Resilience, Balance & Meaning

This self-care questionnaire excerpted from Dr. Patricia Fisher's "Resilience, Balance & Meaning" workbook encourages you to reflect on your level of self-care in both your professional and personal life.

August 2023

Screeners for Health & Behavioral Health Professionals

Screening for STS, moral distress, stress, burnout, compassion satisfaction, & self-compassion

Screeners for health and behavioral health professionals to self-identify areas that may be an issue for them including secondary traumatic stress, moral distress, stress, burnout, compassion satisfaction, and self-compassion.

August 2023

Hot Walk & Talk Postcard

Downloadable PDF

This downloadable postcard outlines the steps of the Hot Walk & Talk protocol.

August 2023

The Hot Walk & Talk Protocol

A Strategy for Supporting Others After an Upsetting Incident

The Hot Walk & Talk protocol is a strategy for providing support to others in the aftermath of a difficult or traumatic event.

July 2023

Three Minute Breathing Space Postcard

Downloadable PDF

A downloadable postcard that outlines a simple and quick mindfulness exercise.

May 2023

The Window of Tolerance

The Window of Tolerance created by Dr. Dan Siegel is a useful tool for noticing, monitoring, and communicating the normal “ups and downs” of our emotions.

April 2023

The Secondary Traumatic Stress Informed Organization Assessment (STSI-­OA)

Assessment Tool for Organizations

The STSI-OA is an assessment tool that can be used to evaluate the degree to which an organization is secondary traumatic stress informed.

April 2023

The Professional Quality of Life Measure (ProQOL)

Self-Test for Compassion Satisfaction, Burnout, & Compassion Fatigue

The Professional Quality of Life Measure (ProQOL) is a free 30 question self-assessment test designed by Dr. Beth Stamm to evaluate burnout, compassion fatigue, and compassion satisfaction.

April 2023

Real Self-Care

A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness (Crystals, Cleanses, and BubbleBaths Not Included)

In this book, Dr. Pooja Lakshmin helps you to understand what a real practice of caring for yourself could—and does—look like.

March 2023

Contributing Factors

Identifying Work-Related Stress

This model can help you to identify sources of work-related stress that may lead to burnout, secondary traumatic stress, empathic strain, or moral distress.

February 2023

Communication Expectations for Remote Teams

Strategies to Reduce Information Overload

In this article, Françoise Mathieu shares four tips to manage communication expectations for remote workplaces.

February 2023

Low Impact Debriefing

Four Steps to Safely Share and Process Difficult Experiences

This strategy allows us to share and process difficult stories and images while preventing sliming and unnecessary secondary trauma exposure.

January 2023

Reducing Secondary Traumatic Stress

Skills for Sustaining a Career in the Helping Professions

In this book, Dr. Brian MIller offers evidence-informed skills and strategies to regulate distressing emotions and to foster increased empathy for those suffering from trauma.

December 2022

Help for the Helper

Preventing Compassion Fatigue and Vicarious Trauma in an Ever-Changing World

In this book. Babette Rothschild examines the literature to explain how therapists suffer from an excess of empathy for their clients and presents strategies for dealing with burnout and stress.

December 2022

The Stress Prescription

Seven Days to More Joy and Ease

In this book. Dr. Elissa Epel offers a seven-day plan of science-based techniques that can help you harness stress through more positive challenge and purpose. 

December 2022

Hear Me, Protect Me, Support Me

Feeling Supported At Work

What are the necessary elements to feeling supported at work? In this discussion, Françoise Mathieu and Diana Tikasz share recommendations to counteract workplace cynicism and disengagement

November 2022

The Burnout Challenge

Managing People’s Relationships with Their Jobs

In this book, Christina Maslach and Michael P. Leiter provide useful tools for identifying the signs of employee burnout and offer practical, evidence-driven guidance on implementing meaningful change.

November 2022

The Myth of Normal

Trauma, Illness and Healing in a Toxic Culture

In this book, Dr. Gabor Maté and his son Daniel Maté untangle common myths about trauma and offer a guide for health and healing.

September 2022

Feet on the Floor

Grounding & Centering Micro-Skill

Diana Tikasz presents a simple grounding technique that can be used before, during, or after a stressful event.

September 2022

We Need to Talk

Why There Can Be No “Future Forward” Until We’ve Done the Work

We need conversations and time to process the many ways in which the pandemic has impacted us. Only then can we move forward.

August 2022

Coming Home to Secondary Traumatic Stress

The Impact of Trauma-Exposed Work On Our Loved Ones

In this article, Françoise Mathieu reflects on the impact of secondary traumatic stress on our loved ones and the importance of transitions for those who work in trauma-exposed professions.

March 2022

Digital Detox

Minimize Screen Time and Unplug

Feeling worn-out by the unrelenting pace of media? In this session, Françoise Mathieu, Diana Tikasz. and Dr. Jennifer Russel explore strategies for detoxing from online media.

February 2022

Compassionate Leadership

How to Do Hard Things in a Human Way

In this book, Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter offer guidance in balancing compassion for your people with the effectiveness of getting work done.

January 2022

The Set Boundaries Workbook

Practical Exercises for Understanding Your Needs and Setting Healthy Limits

In this workbook, Nedra Glover Tawwab offers exercises to gain insight into healthy boundaries and offers steps to implement them.

December 2021

The Deepest Well

Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Trauma and Adversity

In this book, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris explores the science behind adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and offers guidance on disrupting this cycle to help children, families, and adults live healthier, happier lives.

December 2021

RAIN Practice

15-Minute Guided Meditation

Diana Tikasz shares a short reflective practice based on the acronym RAIN (Recognize, Allow, Investigate, and Nurture) developed by Tara Brach.

October 2021

The Human Element

Overcoming the Resistance That Awaits New Ideas

In this book, Loran Nordgren and David Schonthal explore how human behavior and emotions influence leadership and decision-making within organizations.

October 2021

The Burnout Epidemic

The Rise of Chronic Stress and How We Can Fix It

In this book, Jennifer Moss lays bare the causes of burnout and how organizations can stop the chronic stress cycle that an alarming number of workers suffer through.

September 2021

The Loving Wish

Resetting Micro-Skill

Dr. Jennifer Russel shares a skill to help reframe judgmental and critical thoughts into compassionate well wishes.

September 2021

Why It’s Time to Stop Using Compassion Fatigue

Why Empathic Strain is Our Preferred Term

Using the term “empathic strain” is not only more accurate than “compassion fatigue,” but allows us to develop more concrete strategies.

August 2021

Compassionate Leadership in the Re-Opening Workplace

A Conversation with Cambria Walsh and Tamsyn Brennan

Experts in organizational health discuss the toll of the pandemic on our workforce and consider strategies for incorporating compassionate leadership into the re-opening workplace.

July 2021

Pollyanna Leadership & Eeyore Friends

Understanding Post-Traumatic Growth Q&A

In this discussion, Françoise Mathieu, Diana Tikasz. and Dr. Jennifer Russel answer questions about toxic positivity and supporting loved ones who are overly pessimistic or negative.

July 2021

A Shift in Perspective

Why It’s Time to Stop Using Compassion Fatigue

Experts in the fields of secondary trauma and empathic strain bring clarity to the current state of terminology and discuss why the term "compassion fatigue" should be replaced by "empathic strain."

June 2021

Fierce Self-Compassion

How Women Can Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Their Power, and Thrive

Dr. Kristin Neff demonstrates using fierce and tender self-compassion to succeed in the workplace, engage in caregiving without burning out, and being authentic in relationships.

June 2021

Boundaries

A Deep Dive

How do you know when a boundary has been breached? In this discussion, Françoise Mathieu, Diana Tikasz. and Dr. Jennifer Russel explore boundary breaches and navigating boundaries between our work and personal lives.

June 2021

Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement

A Guide for Officers and Their Families

In this book. Kevin Gilmartin delves into the profound emotional toll that public safety work can have on individuals and their families.

June 2021

The Multitasking Experiment

Healthy Habits Micro-Skill

Diana Tikasz explores the myth of multitasking, switch-tasking, and the negative implications of constant interruptions.

April 2021

What Happened to You?

Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing

In this book, Dr. Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey share scientific and emotional insights to better understand people, behavior, and ourselves.

April 2021

The 1% Habit Shaping Strategy

Healthy Habits Micro-Skill

Dr. Jennifer Russel offers a quick and simple “habit shaping” strategy based on the work of James Clear.

March 2021

The Must Be Nice Reaction

Downloadable Postcard

A downloadable PDF to help you take stock of the demands on your time from both your personal and professional life.

March 2021

Vaccine Guilt & Building Blanket Forts

Long Haulers, One-Year into the Pandemic Q&A

In this discussion, Françoise Mathieu, Diana Tikasz. and Dr. Jennifer Russel answer questions about managing guilt related to vaccines, talking to loved ones about public health guidelines, and "self-care bingo."

March 2021

A World Without Email

Reimagining Work in an Age of Communication Overload

In this book. Cal Newport discusses the dangers of an inbox-driven workday and shares strategies for improving communication strategies to increase cognitive bandwidth.

March 2021

We Are All Perfectly Fine

A Memoir of Love, Medicine and Healing

In this book, Dr. Jillian Horton explores how the culture of healthcare contributes to burnout and offers a more compassionate perspective.

February 2021

Saying “No” is Hard

A Conversation About Boundaries with Meaghan Welfare

Meaghan Welfare is a conflict management practitioner at the Department of National Defence at CFB Kingston. In this conversation, she shares her lessons learned about boundary setting and strategies to navigate the difficult task of saying "no."

January 2021

Getting Psychological Help

What Are the Pros & Cons?

In this discussion, Françoise Mathieu, Diana Tikasz. and Dr. Jennifer Russel answer questions about the difficult balance of being supportive vs. permissive, the negative repercussions of stigma on our careers, and bad experiences with EAP programs.

December 2020

The Three Steps to Self-Compassion

Resetting Micro-Skill

Diana Tikasz presents the three steps to self-compassion based on the work of Dr. Kristin Neff. This micro-skill can reset the stress response help to to ease inner conflict.

December 2020

Transitioning from Work to Home

Resetting Micro-Skill

Dr. Jennifer Russel shares her routine for mindfully transitioning from a busy and stressful day at the hospital to picking up her school-aged children.

November 2020

Compassionate Leadership

A Conversation with Cambria Walsh and Tamsyn Brennan

Experts in the fields of organizational health discuss the key components of compassionate leadership during times of crisis.

September 2020

Maintaining Balance

Self-Care, Resiliency, and Ethical Service Delivery

Françoise Mathieu shares her thoughts about self-care as an "ethical duty" for those working in high-trauma workplaces in this series presented by by the Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center.

July 2020

Relationship-Centered Care is Better Care

The Importance of Incorporating Cultural Humility in Our Work

We know that a one-size-fits-all approach to care is ineffective but becoming culturally competent can feel like an impossible task. In this CARE4YOU 2020 session, Donna Shanor explores how culture can influence experiences of trauma.

June 2020

Trauma Stewardship

An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others

In this book. Laura van Dernoot Lipsky offers simple practices to develop mindful presence while working in a helping profession.

April 2020

This is a Marathon, Not A Sprint (Part Two)

Understanding Reactivity & Staying Grounded

In this article, Françoise Mathieu considers knee-jerk reactions to stress and explores strategies to stay grounded in the face of uncertainty.

April 2020

This is a Marathon, Not A Sprint (Part One)

Strategies to Address Wear & Tear

In this article, Françoise Mathieu considers strategies to stay well in the long-term - rather than racing to just get through another day.

April 2020

Leaders Are People Too

Interview with Dr. Patricia Fisher

Dr. Patricia Fisher, co-founder and Senior Advisor with TEND, is a clinical psychologist and specialist in organizational health and workplace wellness in trauma-exposed workplaces. In this interview, Dr. Fisher shares best practice recommendations for leaders amidst the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. Q Dr. Fisher, you have been an expert in organizational health for many years, with a particular focus on professionals who work in health care, corrections, law enforcement and social services. How did you become interested in working with high stress, trauma-exposed professionals? Like many of us in this field, I had intense personal experience as a clinical [...]

March 2020

Today, Spare a Thought for the Call Centre Operators

The Value of Kindness During Time of Crisis

In this article, Françoise Mathieu shares what may be happening at the receiving end of that phone call, live chat, or email.

March 2020

Dealing with Stress & Uncertainty

A Message from our Executive Director on COVID-19

We all have different ways of dealing with stress and uncertainty. Even at the best of times, I am not particularly good at going with the flow to see where things land. I like to map out the flow, control its direction and, if possible, alter where it’s going to end up. Since this has been a core element of my personality as far back as I can remember, I have developed three essentials tools that help me stay grounded, healthy and thinking clearly even when I don’t have much control at all. First, I go back to the books. [...]

March 2020

The Ripple Effect of Resiliency

Strategies for Fostering Resiliency with Indigenous Children

In this book, Monique Grey Smith offers resources for those working with Indigenous children and families.

January 2020

Widen the Window

Training Your Brain and Body to Thrive During Stress and Recover from Trauma

In this book, Dr. Elizabeth Stanley offers tools and strategies to rewire the mind and body, allowing our “thinking brain” and our “survival brain” to work together cooperatively.

September 2019

Mental Health Disabilities at Work

A Practical Guide for Employees, Employers and Unions

In this book, Dr. Mike Condra and Meryl Zisman offer insights about mental health and mental illness in the workplace using practical and non-technical language.

June 2019

Balancing Your Life

Interview with Lawrence S. Krieger, Law Professor

Lawrence S. Krieger's research focuses on understanding why lawyers and law students are not happy. In this interview, he shares his top strategies for building a satisfying life and career.

May 2019

Compassionomics

The Revolutionary Scientific Evidence that Caring Makes a Difference

In this book, Stephen Trzeciak and Anthony Mazzarelli explore whether health care is in a compassion crisis, and offer evidence and research to prove that compassion matters.

April 2019

When the Body Says No

The Cost of Hidden Stress

In this book, Dr. Gabor Maté explores the effect of the mind-body link on illness and health as well as the role that stress and one’s individual emotional makeup play in an array of common diseases.

April 2019

The Business Case

February 2019

Breathe, Reset, Refuel. Rinse, Repeat.

How Much Self-Care is "Enough?"

I have been thinking a lot about energy and pacing lately. More specifically, I have been reflecting on the fuel that we put in our tanks with the aim to do our best at work, to care for our loved ones and to get a few (or many) of the grown-up things off our list. I don’t know about you, but I think that, although being an adult has many perks – like eating what we want, when we want (toast for dinner! Popcorn for breakfast!) and going to bed early or staying up too late to watch our favourite [...]

January 2019

The Fearless Organization

Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth

In this workbook, Amy C. Edmondson provides a blueprint for increase psychological safety in the workplace.

November 2018

Three Simple Guidelines for Healthy Living

Making Small Changes for Healthier Habits

There are many research papers, reports and books on healthy living - it’s a multi-million dollar industry for a reason. Here are three simple strategies to make small changes each day.

September 2018

Disappoint Someone Today

An Invitation to Make Space

There is a cost to being super-human caregivers. As it turns out, the need will always outweigh what we can provide. This is true professionally, as well as personally.

July 2018

The Age of Overwhelm

Strategies for the Long Haul

In this book, Laura van Dernoot Lipsky aims to ease the burden of overwhelm, restore perspective, and give strength to navigate what is yet to come.

July 2018

Posttraumatic Growth

Theory, Research, and Applications

In this book, Tedeschi et. al explore the history and research behind posttraumatic growth theory and offer strategies to facilitate PTG in individuals, teams, and communities.

May 2018

The Edge of Compassion

TEDx Talk with Françoise Mathieu

In this TEDx talk, Françoise Mathieu explores the sweet spot between caring too much and not caring at all.

April 2018

Resilient

How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness

In this book, Dr. Rick Hanson offers concrete suggestions and practices to feel less stressed, pursue opportunities with confidence, and stay calm and centered in the face of adversity.

March 2018

Hardwiring Happiness

The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence

In this book, Dr. Rick Hanson lays out a simple method that uses everyday experiences to build new neural structures full of happiness, love, confidence, and peace.

December 2017

My Grandmother’s Hands

Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies

In this book, Resmaa Menakem examines the damage caused by racism in America from the perspective of trauma and body-centered psychology.

September 2017

The Posttraumatic Growth Workbook

Coming Through Trauma Wiser, Stronger, and More Resilient

In this workbook, Dr. Richard Tedeschi and Dr. Bret Moore offer strategies to understand, process, and cope with traumatic experiences.

December 2016

Resilience, Balance & Meaning

Supporting Our Lives and Our Work in High Stress, Trauma-Exposed Workplaces

In this workbook, Dr. Patricia Fisher provides practical tools to address the effects of workplace stress, burnout, and trauma and offers a framework to creating a personal wellness plan.

September 2016

Childhood Disrupted

How Your Biography Becomes Your Biology, and How You Can Heal

In this book, Donna Jackson Nakazawa explores how the emotional trauma suffered by children shapes the emotional lives of adults, physical health, longevity, and overall wellbeing.

June 2016

The Resilient Practitioner

Burnout and Compassion Fatigue Prevention and Self-Care Strategies for the Helping Professions

In this workbook. Dr. Skovholt and Dr. Trotter-Mathison provide students and practitioners with tools to balance caring for themselves and caring for others.

March 2016

The Body Keeps the Score

Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

In this book, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk explains how trauma reshapes both body and brain and how it can compromise the capacity for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust.

September 2015

Building Resilient Teams

Facilitating Workplace Wellness & Organizational Health in Trauma-Exposed Environments

In this workbook. Dr. Patricia Fisher outlines practical and effective approaches to building team resiliency and cohesion in trauma-exposed workplaces.

August 2015

Self-Compassion

The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself

In this book. Dr. Kristin Neff demonstrates the importance of self-compassion and offers strategies to heal destructive emotional patterns.

June 2015

First Responder Mental Health

Compassion Fatigue Education for Paramedics

Françoise Mathieu discusses post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), compassion fatigue, burnout, and complex stress as it relates to first responder mental health.

April 2015

Beyond Kale and Pedicures

Can We Beat Burnout & Compassion Fatigue?

There is a growing frustration at working in a system that feels broken - and no amount of kale and yoga can fix that overnight.

April 2015

Bouncing Back

Rewiring Your Brain for Maximum Resilience and Well-being

In this book, Linda Graham offers practical exercises to build resilience and "disaster-proof" the brain.

April 2013

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down

A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures

In this book, Anne Fadiman explores the clash between a small county hospital in California and a refugee family from Laos over the care of Lia Lee, a Hmong child diagnosed with severe epilepsy

April 2012

The Managed Heart

Commercialization of Human Feeling

In this book, Arlie Russell Hochschild examines how emotional labour impacts both workers and society.

March 2012

The Compassion Fatigue Workbook

Creative Tools for Transforming Compassion Fatigue and Vicarious Traumatization

In this workbook, Françoise Mathieu provides strategies and activities to identify and transform compassion fatigue and vicarious traumatization.

January 2012

Resolving Conflicts at Work

Ten Strategies for Everyone on the Job

In this book. Kenneth Cloke and Joan Goldsmith offer ten core strategies for preventing and resolving both intermittent and chronic conflicts in the workplace.

May 2011

In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts

Close Encounters With Addiction

In this book, Dr. Gabor Maté shares first-person accounts, case studies, and research to counter the prevailing notions of addiction as either a genetic disease or an individual moral failure.

January 2009

Moral Courage

Taking Action When Your Values are Put to the Test

Rushworth M. Kidder explores moral courage as "the bridge between talking ethics and doing ethics." By exploring how moral courage spurs us to strive for core values, he demonstrates the benefits of ethical action to the individual and to society - and the severe consequences that can result from remaining morally dormant.

December 2005

Transforming the Pain

A Workbook On Vicarious Traumatization

In this book, Dr. Saakvitne and Dr. Pearlman provide self-assessment tools, guidelines and activities for addressing vicarious traumatization.

January 1996