Barbara Rubel, compassion fatigue speaker and founder of Griefwork Center, Inc.

Griefwork Center, Inc. | Compassion Fatigue Speaking, Training & Resilience

headshot of Barbara Rubel of Griefwork Center, Inc., a national compassion fatigue speaker

Griefwork Center, Inc. is a professional training and education organization founded and led by nationally recognized author, speaker, and trainer Barbara Rubel. Based in Kendall Park, New Jersey, the organization specializes in compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress, grief, and organizational resilience, delivering evidence-informed programs for healthcare systems, hospice and palliative care organizations, first responder agencies, behavioral health providers, social service organizations, victim services, and other helping professions throughout the United States.

Griefwork Center equips organizations with practical strategies to strengthen workforce well-being, support resilient leadership, reduce the occupational impact of trauma exposure, and build healthier workplace cultures. Rather than offering temporary inspiration or generic self-care advice, its programs provide actionable frameworks that leaders and professionals can immediately apply to improve individual resilience, team performance, and long-term organizational health.

Whether you’re supporting healthcare professionals, first responders, behavioral health teams, or other helping professionals, Griefwork Center provides evidence-informed training that transforms awareness into practical action—helping individuals, leaders, and organizations build resilience that lasts.

Why Organizations Trust Griefwork Center and Barbara Rubel

See why healthcare systems, first responder agencies, hospice organizations, and other helping professions across the country invite Barbara Rubel to educate, inspire, and equip their teams with practical strategies for building resilience and supporting workforce well-being.

Play VideoVideo of Barbara Rubel of Griefwork Center teaching a well-attended conferencePlay Video

books Barbara Rubel has authored and co-authored

Published Author

Barbara Rubel is the author and co-author of numerous books on grief, loss, and compassion fatigue, most of which are published by Griefwork Center, Inc. Her work has helped professionals across the country better understand the emotional impact of caregiving and develop healthier ways to support themselves and others.

View Barbara's Books

What Griefwork Center, Inc. Offers

Griefwork Center, Inc. provides professional training programs and keynote presentations for organizations whose workforces are at high risk of compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma. These are not generic wellness workshops or one-hour motivational talks. They are structured, clinically grounded programs built on decades of research into the occupational hazards facing healthcare workers, first responders, grief counselors, hospice staff, and social service professionals.

Multi-session training programs

Introduce and embed the FABULOUS TRANSFORMATION™ framework for sustained organizational resilience

Books and educational resources 

Barbara Rubel’s books and publications extend the reach of the training into self-directed professional development

Keynote presentations

On compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, and vicarious trauma – designed for conferences, staff development days, and organizational training events

Peer support program design

Includes implementing and sustaining a vicarious trauma-responsive peer support program within healthcare and first responder organizations

Rave Reviews About the Programs

The FABULOUS TRANSFORMATION® Framework

A structured approach to resilience that moves beyond self-care to lasting transformation.

The FABULOUS TRANSFORMATION® framework is the proprietary, structured methodology at the heart of Griefwork Center’s training programs. Each letter represents a research-supported dimension of resilience and professional recovery:

The FABULOUS TRANSFORMATION® framework is more than a memorable acronym. It is a structured, evidence-informed methodology that helps individuals and organizations move from the effects of vicarious trauma toward resilience, professional growth, and long-term well-being.

Organizational Training Programs

Griefwork Center, Inc. offers two structured compassion fatigue training programs, each designed for different organizational needs and readiness levels.

SIGNATURE PROGRAM

FABULOUS TRANSFORMATION®: From Vicarious Trauma to Growth, Resilience, and Well-Being

This flagship training walks participants through the complete FABULOUS Transformation® framework, building from awareness of compassion fatigue mechanisms to practical application of resilience drivers. Participants learn to identify their own compassion fatigue signatures, understand the neurological and emotional mechanisms behind secondary traumatic stress, and develop personalized resilience plans using the FABULOUS TRANSFORMATION® framework.

Outcomes organizations can expect from this program include increased staff awareness of compassion fatigue warning signs, improved self-care practices and boundary-setting skills, stronger team cohesion around shared challenges, and practical tools for managing the emotional weight of caregiving work.

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the impact of compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and moral injury.
  • Describe how exposure to others’ trauma can impact emotional, mental, and physical well-being.
  • Apply evidence-informed strategies to mitigate the effects of vicarious trauma and enhance emotional well-being.
  • Distinguish between the effects of vicarious trauma and the positive outcomes of vicarious resilience and vicarious post-traumatic growth.
  • Develop a personalized self-care plan that integrates tools for managing emotional exposure, fostering resilience, and encouraging personal growth.

Organizational Peer Support Program

Implementing and Sustaining a Vicarious Trauma-Responsive Peer Support Program

A specialized training designed for organizations that want to build durable institutional infrastructure for vicarious trauma response – not a one-time educational event, but a peer support architecture that persists within the organization. This program equips peer support team members, coordinators, and supervisors with the frameworks, language, and protocols to support colleagues experiencing compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress.

The goal of this program is to guide participants through the key steps of developing, implementing, and sustaining a successful peer-to-peer wellness program.  It provides a comprehensive roadmap for developing effective peer-to-peer support programs, beginning with the critical steps of needs assessment and gap analysis. Participants will explore how to define the program’s scope, clarify roles and responsibilities, and apply recommended standards for training.

Learning Objectives

  • Create a peer support architecture that persists within the organization
  • Build a durable institutional infrastructure for vicarious trauma response.
  • Apply strategies to coordinate resources and build support networks, fostering collaboration among key stakeholders.
  • Evaluate different engagement and outreach strategies to determine their effectiveness in increasing participation and program visibility.
  • Be equipped to support colleagues experiencing compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress.
Book a Program

Who Griefwork Center, Inc. Serves

Griefwork Center, Inc.’s programs are designed for organizations where compassion fatigue is an occupational reality rather than an occasional occurrence. Any role requiring sustained empathic engagement with human suffering carries an ongoing risk of secondary traumatic stress.

Our evidence-informed training provides practical strategies that strengthen workforce resilience, reduce the occupational impact of compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress, and help organizations build healthier, more sustainable workplace cultures. Rather than offering temporary inspiration or generic self-care advice, these programs deliver measurable, lasting strategies that professionals and leaders can apply long after the training ends.

Primary audiences include:

  • Hospitals and health systems – physicians, nursing staff, physician assistants, patient care technicians, social workers, and chaplains. These professionals face compounding trauma exposure that standard employee assistance programs are not equipped to address.
  • Hospice and palliative care organizations – supervisors, managers, HR professionals, clinical directors, and end-of-life care providers who absorb grief and loss as a daily professional experience
  • First responder agencies – law enforcement officers, emergency medical services, fire departments, paramedics, EMTs and emergency communications (911 dispatch) whose occupational reality involves repeated exposure to traumatic events, mass casualty incidents, and the cumulative weight of community crisis. Compassion fatigue in first responder populations is significantly under identified and undertreated
  • Community mental health and social service organizations – case managers, child protective services workers, homeless services staff, domestic violence advocates, and substance use counselors who navigate complex trauma in client populations while managing institutional resource constraints and systemic secondary stressors.
  • Pediatric and oncology care teams – specialty medical environments with disproportionately high secondary trauma exposure
  • Organizational leaders and supervisors – Managers who carry both their own compassion fatigue risk and the secondary obligation of supporting staff through theirs. Training leaders is often the highest-leverage intervention point for systemic change.

Organizations that book Barbara Rubel through Griefwork Center, Inc. receive a program customized to their professional context – not a templated speaker circuit talk recycled across industries.

Learn More About Barbara

Why Organizational Commitment Matters More Than Individual Coping

One of the most important shifts in compassion fatigue research over the past decade is the recognition that compassion fatigue is an occupational hazard, not a personal failure. It is a predictable consequence of prolonged exposure to the suffering and trauma of others—not a sign that someone lacks resilience or simply needs more self-care.

When organizations treat compassion fatigue as an individual responsibility, they unintentionally place the burden of an organizational risk on the shoulders of the people most affected by it. The result is ongoing emotional depletion, increased turnover, reduced job satisfaction, patient or client care errors, and diminished organizational effectiveness.

Organizations that recognize compassion fatigue as a workplace stress take a different approach. Rather than relying solely on individual coping strategies, they invest in systemic solutions that strengthen both employees and the organization as a whole, including:

  • Organization-wide training that equips all staff with the knowledge and skills to recognize and respond to compassion fatigue—not just those who self-identify as struggling.
  • Leadership education that enables supervisors to recognize early warning signs, normalize help-seeking, support healthy workplace practices, and model resilience.
  • Peer support systems that foster connection, mutual accountability, and shared responsibility for well-being.
  • Policies and workplace practices that reduce stigma around mental health support, encourage healthy workload management, and minimize cumulative trauma exposure.

These organizational strategies help create workplaces where professionals can continue performing high-empathy work while protecting their own well-being over the course of a long and meaningful career.

Griefwork Center’s training programs are designed specifically for organizations seeking a comprehensive, evidence-informed approach to preventing compassion fatigue and addressing vicarious trauma. By combining education, leadership development, and practical organizational strategies, her programs help build resilient teams and healthier workplace cultures—not simply more resilient individuals.

Why Organizations Choose Barbara Rubel

For more than three decades, Barbara Rubel has helped professionals and organizations understand and address the human impact of trauma exposure, grief, loss, and caregiving. As an author, speaker, and nationally recognized trainer, she combines research, practical strategies, and real-world experience to create programs that are informative, engaging, and immediately applicable.

When you partner with Griefwork Center, Inc., you’re not simply booking a speaker—you’re bringing evidence-informed strategies that strengthen resilience, support your workforce, and create lasting organizational impact.

Bring Evidence-Informed Resilience Training to Your Organization

Whether you’re planning a conference keynote, staff education program, or organization-wide initiative, Griefwork Center can tailor a program to meet your team’s needs.

Every organization has different needs. Whether you’re planning a conference keynote, leadership workshop, staff development program, or a multi-session organizational initiative, Griefwork Center works with you to develop a program tailored to your audience and goals.

Led by Barbara Rubel, Griefwork Center has partnered with hospitals, hospice organizations, first responder agencies, healthcare systems, and professional associations across the country to strengthen resilience where it matters most.

To inquire about program availability, format customization, or scheduling, contact Griefwork Center, Inc. directly through GriefworkCenter.com.

Request a Program For Your Team

NOTE: The information on this website is provided for educational and professional training purposes. Compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress are occupational concerns that may benefit from both organizational training and individual clinical support. Individuals experiencing significant mental health symptoms should seek evaluation and treatment from a licensed mental health professional.

What Clients are Saying

“

Barbara is such an amazing presenter. She really takes time to understand her audience and gear her presentation towards the attendees. Her information is extremely relatable and she has such a calming presence. She walks you through workplace trauma, boundaries, self care and more! Our providers absolutely loved hearing Barbara’s presentation and many are already requesting her again!

Briana EvansGoogle Review
“

Barbara did an amazing job as our keynote speaker and was universally loved by all the attendees! We have had nothing but positive reviews of her keynote and workshops that she provided. The content was presented well and was really needed and appreciated by all. We would love to have Barbara come to our future events.

Jeanne McAlisterGoogle Review
“

Barbara Rubel, Director of the Griefwork Center, was a summit speaker for the Hearts of Healthcare Professionals; speaking on Compassion Fatigue. Ms. Rubel is an engaging speaker with the ability to bring a clear message that resonates with her audience. She is a wealth of knowledge and delivers relevant, current trends in the management of Compassion Fatigue.

Dianne RaynorGoogle Review
“

Barbara was a joy throughout the entire planning and execution process of our conference event! She was kind, communicative and so easy to work with. On the day of our conference, she delivered an outstanding presentation that attendees have praised highly. The atmosphere was vibrant, filled with laughter as participants engaged in various activities, breakout sessions, and reflections throughout the day. THANK YOU!

Caroline BeachyGoogle Review
“

Barbara Rubel was a featured guest on my Hope4Med podcast. If I could give her 100 stars I would. She is amazing! She is knowledgeable and she is so compassionate. My audience of healthcare professionals and their loved ones often refer to her podcast as one of the ones they connected the most with. Thank you so much Barbara be being a podcast guest!

Dr. JBGoogle Review
“

Barbara Rubel of Griefwork Center, inc. was the featured speaker at our Annual Membership Meeting in September. Her presentation was engaging, interesting, and incredibly relevant (we are a human services trade organization and all members are dealing with vicarious-trauma and employee fatigue.) She dealt with challenging, emotional issues with a lovely blend of compassion and humor but presented attendees with a great framework for working through these challenges. I highly recommend!

Patty AmesGoogle Review
“

We recently hosted Barbara Rubel for a virtual webinar on compassion fatigue in the business immigration space, and it was an outstanding experience. Barbara brought deep insight, empathy, and practical strategies that truly resonated with our team. Her engaging style and expertise created a supportive space for meaningful reflection. Highly recommend Barbara and the Griefwork Center for any organization looking to prioritize mental health and resilience.

Jennifer EstrellaGoogle Review
“

Barbara served as the opening keynote for our Spring Convention this year in St. George, Utah. She offered the ideal tone and content to help us bring our legal community together, to share our lived experiences in the law, and to build camaraderie through listening. Her presentation on trauma and resilience helped many and will continue to improve our well-being as a community.

Michelle OldroydGoogle Review
“

Barbara was great to work with and completed an amazing 90 minute webinar for our non-profit. We hope to work with her again in the future, and we highly recommend her.

Genevieve MagnusonGoogle Review
“

Barbara spoke to our staff at the Visiting Nurses Association on How to Manage Compassion Fatigue. As frontline workers, especially during the Covid times, everyone could not praise enough how much this gave validation, tips, and a compassionate understanding of what we are going through. Barbara is a dynamic, heartfelt and knowledgeable speaker. I highly recommend hiring her for your company for speaking engagements as she gave practical tools to fill our cups!

Sharon Coyle-SaeedGoogle Review

Barbara’s Work Has Been Featured In

client
client
client
client
client
client
client
client
client
client
client
client
client

Frequently Asked Questions About Compassion Fatigue Training

Compassion fatigue training differs from standard employee wellness programs by treating it as a clinical occupational hazard rather than a general well-being issue. Instead of offering broad stress-reduction strategies, it focuses on the measurable impact of secondary trauma and equips organizations with targeted interventions. Frameworks like FABULOUS TRANSFORMATION® emphasize systemic change—workload design, leadership awareness, and recovery structures—rather than placing responsibility solely on individual self-care.

Organizations that book compassion fatigue speakers typically include healthcare systems, hospice and palliative care networks, law enforcement agencies, social service organizations, and emergency medical services. These sectors face sustained exposure to secondary trauma, making targeted training essential. Speakers like Barbara Rubel have worked extensively across these environments, addressing compassion fatigue as an occupational risk and helping organizations implement systemic resilience strategies.

Secondhand trauma is most commonly called secondary traumatic stress (STS), and is also referred to as vicarious trauma. STS describes trauma symptoms resulting from indirect exposure to another person’s traumatic experiences, while vicarious trauma refers to the cumulative impact on a helper’s beliefs and worldview over time. Training programs offered by Griefwork Center, Inc. and led by Barbara Rubel often address STS, vicarious trauma, and compassion fatigue together as related conditions (Figley, 1995; Stamm, 2010).

The most cited clinical frameworks (Figley; Stamm’s ProQOL) do not formally define four stages of compassion fatigue; however, in practice it is often described as progressing through enthusiasm, stagnation, frustration, and apathy. Initial engagement and purpose gradually decline into reduced satisfaction, then emotional strain and irritability, and ultimately detachment or numbness. This four-stage model is a practical heuristic aligned with underlying constructs of burnout and secondary traumatic stress.

Program fees vary based on format, duration, and travel. Contact Griefwork Center, Inc. for a custom quote.

A compassion fatigue speaker does not require a single standardized credential, but credibility is typically established through relevant clinical education, specialized certifications, publications, and extensive field experience. For example, Barbara Rubel holds a master’s degree, multiple professional certifications in traumatic stress and bereavement, is a published author, and has decades of experience training high-risk professions. These combined qualifications demonstrate subject-matter expertise and practical authority in addressing compassion fatigue.