Griefwork Center, Inc.

When you need a Keynote Speaker or Trainer . . .

ask for Barbara Rubel,

Executive Director of the Griefwork Center, Inc.

Barbara Rubel, MA, BCETS, CBS, CPBC is a widely acclaimed national speaker on stress management, compassion fatigue, loss, and resiliency. Barbara brings a dynamic and fun approach to her presentations. Her ongoing focus--motivation, health, humor, and resilience offers tools to professionals struggling with loss and stress in the workplace. Rubel's dynamic keynotes and general sessions are fun, educational, and full of practical take home value. Her presentations and trainings convey optimism and hope to professionals coping with stressful careers. Rubel's content in her trainings and keynotes inspire, educate, and energize audiences. She will have your audience laughing while delivering a serious message of stress, life balance, loss, burnout, and compassion fatigue.

Emmy Award Winning Documentary: In Barbara's very entertaining presentation, she speaks of her personal experience. Three weeks before she gave birth to triplets, her father, a retired New York City police officer, took his own life. In her riveting talks, laced with humor, She shares a wisdom born of her personal experience. Barbara was featured in a 1998 PBS Emmy winning documentary, Fatal Mistakes, narrated by Mariette Hartley.

Accomplished Author: Barbara's first book, "But I Didn't Say Goodbye" drew on her experience as a suicide survivor to offer professionals assistance in helping grieving families. She is also the author of the widely acclaimed 30 hour continuing education course book for Nurses, "Death, Dying, and Bereavement: Providing compassion during a time of need", sold through Western Schools. Rubel is the co-author of the Dept. of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, Training Manual, "Compassion Fatigue: Vicarious Trauma". In 1991, Barbara developed the resource, Palette of Grief®: Mastering the art of dealing with loss and life-changing events. Thousands of professionals have personally applied the Palette of Grief® concept in their lives and have also shared it with their clients and patients.

Consultant: Rubel is a consultant for the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime offering training programs across the US on topics related to traumatic grief and compassion fatigue. She was a consultant with the 4-U-NJ-911 program sponsored by UMDNJ and the NJ Attorney General's Division of Criminal Justice to support those impacted by the events of September 11th. Rubel taught Death, Dying and Bereavement; Crisis Intervention; Children and Death; and Health Counseling at Brooklyn College. Barbara was a Hospice Bereavement Counselor supporting patients who were terminally ill.

Barbara’s articles published in: Visions Magazine, The Recovery Link, Grief Magazine, Catholic Cemetery Magazine, Lifesavers, Thanatology Newsletter, Panic Relief News, Friends For Survival Newsletter, The Association for Death Education and Counseling Forum (ADEC), Strategies for the Extended Care Professional Journal (ECPN), and Illness, Crisis & Loss Journal. Rubel was the featured article in The Central Post, Franklin News Record, The Knoxville Sentinel, and Montevideo American News. Her work has been mentioned in articles appearing in the Staten Island Advance, Hamilton Observer, MicronPC, Tribune-Star, The Times, and Business & Health Magazine.

achievements: Board Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress and Diplomate, American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, Certified Bereavement Specialist and a Certified Pastoral Bereavement Counselor. Rubel has a Certificate of Advanced Study in The Skilled Helper on the issues of Complicated Mourning. She received training in (CISM) Basic and Advanced Critical Incident Stress Management Group Crisis Intervention. B. S., Psychology and M.A., Community Health with Thanatology concentration.

Affiliations: Association for Death Education and Counseling, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Association of of Suicidology, Small Publishers Association of North America, and International Critical Incident Stress Foundation.

Who should attend: Health care professionals, social workers, nurses, hospice, human services/social services workers, physicians, first responders, criminal justice system, law enforcement officers, victim advocates, pastoral care, human resources, funeral directors, school counselors, and corporations interested in employee well-being.

Thank you for your presentation at the Blaustein Pain Grand Rounds entitled “Preventing Compassion Fatigue While Providing Compassionate Care”. You did a superb job! I believe you sensed the rapt attention of the audience and clearly your talk touched their hearts and minds. This was an extraordinarily important topic and your talk gave us a moment to reflect on our roles in helping patients with vital issues in their lives. I believe your talk brought about a renewal of energy and a more healthy regard for what we are able to do with our patients. - James N. Campbell, M.D., Johns Hopkins Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Baltimore, MD

Thank you again for giving a presentation at the Supportive and Palliative Care Conference yesterday. Your presentation was very well received. I hope we will cross paths again in the near future. - Rudolph M. Navari, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Notre Dame Cancer Institute, University of Notre Dame

On behalf of the entire staff at CME LLC, I would like to thank you for participating in the US Psychiatric and Mental Health Congress. Your contribution was greatly appreciated and added greatly to the success of the conference. - Carol R. Duba, BSN, RN, MA, Manager, Clinical Programming, US Psychiatric & Mental Health Congress

On behalf of the New York Chapter ACEP’S Education Committee and Board of Directors, I want to personally thank you for your contribution to the Practice Management Symposium. The success of this symposium is directly related to our ability to attract nationally recognized faculty, such as yourself. Your lecture was an integral part of the total education experience. - Joseph P. Markham, MD FACEP, New York Chapter, American College of Emergency Physicians

As Senior Producer of Real Life with Mary Amoroso, I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Barbara Rubel for 5 years. When she first appeared on the show, she had the singularly difficult challenge of talking about the suicide of her father while she was pregnant with triplets. We are always amazed at how Barbara’s television presence makes viewers comfortable enough to share their stories of love and loss and often their tears. We at Real Life can say with certainty that Barbara Rubel makes a difference in our viewers lives and helps them cope with the real sadness and depression of losing a loved one. - Lisa Spagnuolo, Senior Producer, Real Life with Mary Amoroso, Union, NJ

On behalf of Nebraska Health Care Association, thank you for traveling to Nebraska and sharing you vast knowledge. Thank you so much. - Connie Wagner, Director or Education and Health Services, NHCA

Thank you again for your wonderful presentation at The Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital. I gained many new and valuable insights from your analysis of traumatic grief and loss. Many staff members who were present have reached out to me to express their appreciation and to acknowledge that they have learned new and adaptive skills to use in their personal and professional lives. - Roger Borichewski, MSW, LCSW, Director of Social Services, State of New Jersey – Division of Mental Health Services

Thank you for agreeing to speak at our annual spring conference in Destin Fl. It was the highlight of the conference for many attendees. - Alicia E. Hall, RN, MA, Executive Director, Alabama Psychiatric Society

On behalf of the Rutgers University Student Health Services, I wish to thank you for participating at the Friday Morning Ground Rounds Continuing Education Meeting. Your presentation, “Contrasting Journeys Through Grief: Coping After 911” was welcomed by the program participants. Thank you for your commitment to the continuing education needs of the health service staff. - Dorothy Kozlowski, NPC, MSN, Continuing Education Committee, Rutgers, The State University of NJ

Thank you for your wonderful presentation at the NY State Adult Abuse Training Institute. Your presentation on worker resiliency was stimulating and enlightening. I can't count the number of times that an attendee told me how much they enjoyed you and your presentation. - Geoff Rogers, Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging & Longevity, Hunter College, City of New York

Barbara Rubel is an author, consultant and speaker who presents on grief and loss, personalizing it to nursing and other healthcare workers. Some of it is difficult to sit through because of the subject matter, but Barbara speaks with compassion, energy and humor. If you are interested in a refreshing change from the usual presentations, Barbara is certainly worth considering. - Mass Bay Chapter, American Nephrology Nurses Association

I would like to tell you what a great seminar you gave at the St. John Neumann’s Center for the Diocese of Metuchen. Not only are you well educated in your material, but you present it in such an interesting and down to earth manner. God Bless you for all your kindness to those in need. I came away with a better understanding of the subject. - Donna J. Weber, St. Thomas of the Apostle, Old Bridge, NJ

I recently attended your workshop “Understanding Sudden Loss and Traumatic Grief”. I must tell you, in all sincerity, that of all the workshops I have attended, yours was by far, the one that most impressed me. Your knowledge coupled with your varied experiences makes you an outstanding presenter. What sets you far and above others is your rare gift of being able to develop such a high degree of rapport with your audience. Few speakers ever achieve this level. - Gwen Louise Bates, Bereavement Counselor, St. John’s Hospicecare, Springfield, MO

Your workshop day was absolutely the most fulfilling and special event we could have hoped for. You demonstrate the valuable compassion that drives such dedication. - Catherine Vestraci, RN, Hospice of Charles County, Inc.

The information you provided was so valuable. We thank you for your dedication and service to this organization . . . it was such a joy to have you speak as one of our faculty members. - Alabama Psychiatric Society

On behalf of the Oregon Health Care Association, I want to thank you for your participation in our Annual Convention & Trade Show “The Greatest Show on Earth”. By all indications, the event was a great success and largely due to your excellent presentation! Our members are tough critics but we heard so many positive remarks. - Melodie Van Doren, Associate Director of ALF/RCF Services, Oregon Health Care Association

Thank you very much for your presentation to our Pastoral Training Program. We appreciate your time and effort and wanted you to know that the participants in the program gained valuable knowledge. - Carolyn Clark, St. Francis Medical Center

Thank you for your wonderful presentation to our Bereavement Facilitators at our Bereavement Enrichment Program. The delicate manner in which you handled such a very difficult topic was very special. The passion for your work is obvious in your presentation. Your commitment to spreading the word was part of the impact you had on the audience. They were touched by your story and were privileged that you shared it with them. - Ingrid Seunarine, Director, Bereavement Services, Bereavement Ministry , Diocese of Brooklyn & Queens, NY

Phenomenal speaker . . . Your session was extremely well received by our attendees with a perfect score of 5 out of 5, with 5 meaning excellent. . . Great presentation . . . so appreciated your sense of humor. The ICCA Steering Committee, Indiana Collaborate Conference on Aging, IN

I have heard so many positive comments on your presentation at Cox Health. The staff that attended felt that the program was of great benefit, both personally and professionally. - Susan Sloan, RNC, BSN, HNC, Clinical Educator, Cox Health

Thank you so much for presenting “Working With Victims and Survivors of Sudden Loss” for the Institute of Continuing Education, a division of Jewish Family & Children’s Service. The 6-hour program engaged the audience, provided a tremendous amount of useful information as well as ideas, and left participants wanting more. You are such a talented instructor with an energy level that is contagious! - Lynne Weinberg, LCSW, Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Southern Arizona, Inc.

Take a bow. Your presentation helped make our Bereavement Conference a day to remember! Your message touched many hurting hearts and even launched some on the path of healing. - Elaine E. Stillwell, Bereavement Coordinator, Office of Laity and Family, Diocese of Rockville Center, NY

Thank you on behalf of the all the staff and students that attended your presentation, Managing Grief in the Healthcare Environment. The information given was so valuable and pertinent. Each person left better prepared to handle their daily encounters with grief. - Nan Hawley, San Antonio Community Hospital, Patient Services, Upland, CA

Thank you so much for coming the Keene to share your experiences with us and teach us how to better help those that we serve. - The Samaritans, Inc., Keene, NH

On behalf of Affiliated Sante Group and the Crisis Response Division, I want to thank you for presenting at the First Annual Symposium on Crisis Intervention: New Directions in Crisis Intervention. It was a smashing success! - Justin Stapleton, MS, Training Director, CRS Division, Affiliated Sante Group, Baltimore, MD

Thank you for being the guest speaker at St. Elizabeth’s parish in Ozone Park, Queens. The Bereavement Facilitators were in awe at such a very powerful workshop “The Portrait of Grief”. You were so tuned into their needs and they were enriched by your presence. - Ingrid Seunarine, Bereavement Ministry, Diocese of Brooklyn & Queens

Thank you for the valuable workshop you presented to our Mass Bay ANNA chapter. The emotions started flowing with your first sentence. It’s hard to describe, it produced almost a cleansing feeling. You pushed us to depths we were resistant to. I think we all came away with a greatly enhanced comfort level in facing death and grieving on a personal and professional level. Attendees called today to tell me how much they loved your presentation and you as an individual. I’ve never had this happen after a seminar! - Jean Cahill, Chapter President, Mass Bay ANNA

I want to thank you for being part of our 12^th Statewide Conference. You touched so many during this visit to West Virginia and I want you to know how grateful we are to know you. - Brandy A. Blankenship, MA, NAMI Southern West Virginia

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your excellent presentation here in Montevideo. I was particularly impressed with your observations regarding viewing of the deceased by loved ones following a traumatic death. So many times, professional health care workers try to shield the survivors from this very important process. Although the death of your father is something that you would take back in a heartbeat, look how you have grown in understanding and assisting others facing death in their lives. - Everett H. Bain, Mortician, Deputy Coroner – Chippewar Co., MN

On behalf of the Council on Renal Nutrition, I would like to extend our greatest appreciation for you outstanding program on “Loss Issues Facing Renal Dietitians”. I’ve been told by an overwhelming number of people just how amazing they thought your workshop was. The day would not have been as successful without your workshop. It was lively, entertaining, informative, and extremely well received by the group. - Stacy Molinari, RD, Chairperson, Council of Renal Nutrition of Long Island

On behalf of the Dept. of Allied Dental Education, I thank you for your participation in our continuing education program. Your two excellent presentation entitled “Effective Communication Skills in the Dental Office” and “Stress Management in the Dental Office” drew our largest audience to date. We are delighted that you were able to address the needs of dentists, hygienists and assistants who attended these courses. - Scarlett Donnarumma, RDH, Activity Director, Department of Allied Dental Education, University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ

On behalf of the Funeral Service Foundation I would like to thank you for your outstanding program, Caregivers Responding in Situations Involving Suicide at the Professional Women’s Conference in Toronto. Based on the evaluation results, your presentation contributed to the conference’s overwhelming success. - Sandra Jeske, CPS, Education Specialist, Funeral Service Foundation, Brookfield, WI

I attended your “Compassion Fatigue” workshop this morning and would like to thank you for an insightful and inspiring presentation. Thank you for all you shared. - Lucille H. Deutsch, CALA, LLC, Eldercare Consultant and Advisor

I want to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for your presentation on “Suicide” at our Annual Guidance Counselor Conference. The counselors attending your sessions were rewarded with a workshop presentation that was informative and relevant to their daily work experience. - Raul Arroyo, Director of Student Guidance Services, Board of Education of the City of NY

On behalf of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Victim Services Division we would like to thank you for presenting at the 16^th Annual Texas Crime Victims Clearinghouse Conference. The information and instruction you provided during the conference were invaluable to our attendees as they take the information back to their communities for implementation. - Cindy Still, Convention Service Manager, Mary Garrett & Associates, Professional Meeting Planners, Corpus Christi, TX

I am finally going to have a dream come true! After doing hospice bereavement work and suicide prevention and working with radio stations, I will have my own radio show in Minnesota. I’m hoping Alan Wolfelt and Barbara Rubel will be open to being guests. - Carolyn Carlson, Linder Radio

Thank you for your recent presentation at the 2006 Annual Conference. We truly value your contribution to the profession of social work. - LaTesha S. Holmes, Coordinator, Continuing Education, 2006 Annual Conference of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW, NJ Chapter)

The evaluations we received for your sessions were uniformly excellent. Our members commented both on your content and your speaking style. You really connected with them, and engaged them throughout your sessions at the 2006 PSEA-DPS Annual Conference. - Carol L. Karl, Assistant Director for Government Relations, Consultant, Dept. of Pupil Services, Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA)

Your expertise and compassion about loss, grief, and bereavement really shined in your ability to convey information on a difficult topic with such ease, empathy, and honesty. Your use of humor was enlightening and welcoming and you truly connected with the staff. This was a rare opportunity for our staff to experience a presenter of your caliber in action. - Kimberly M. Ewell, MA, NCC, CPRP, Director of Administrative Services, Triple C Housing, Inc., New Brunswick, NJ

"Made quite an EXCELLENT impression on the audience . . . Thank you for sharing your time, knowledge, and wisdom!" - Jose Juan Lara, Jr., MA, CHW, Director of Legal Services, Family Crisis Center, Inc., Harlingen, Texas

Office of the Attorney General and Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet are extremely grateful for your participation in the Kentucky Victims Assistance Conference. It was a tremendous success, thanks in no small part to your efforts.” - Lana Grandon, Victims Advocacy Division / Office of the Attorney General, Kentucky

“Her knowledge and expertise during the Plenary at the NY State Nurses Association Annual Convention was quite a success.” - Ellen Ellis, PhD, RD, Associate Director, NY State Nurses Association

"On behalf of the Ohio Psychiatric Association, I would like to thank you for your excellent presentation at our Spring/Annual meeting. A review of the evaluations indicate that your presentations greatly contributed to the success of this meeting. I very much enjoyed Ms. Rubel attending to people issues, not just medical issues is priceless. Thank you!" - Janet Shaw, Executive Director, Ohio Psychiatric Association, A District of the American Psychiatric Association

"Your skill and expertise in facilitating the online discussion was much appreciated. . . Your enthusiasm and ability to motivate the field has added value to the forum and has significantly increased dialogue on victims. - John Gillis, Director, U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Washington, D.C.