Barbara Rubel, BS, MA, BCETS, DAAETS, is a leading authority and award-winning author on managing secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, moral injury, and vicarious trauma. As a nationally recognized keynote speaker and thanatologist, Barbara motivates audiences to build career resilience through the lens of vicarious trauma-informed care. Her programs help professionals manage workplace chronic stressors. Barbara has presented to over 1,000 organizations since 1991. As a Board-Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress and Diplomate with the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, she gives audiences practical wellness strategies. Barbara received a Bachelor of Science in psychology and a Master of Arts degree in community health, with a concentration in thanatology, both from Brooklyn College.
Barbara is the author of But I Didn’t Say Goodbye: Helping Families After a Suicide (3ed). (2020), the 30-hour CE course for Nurses, Loss, Grief, and Bereavement: Helping Individuals Cope (1ed. – 4ed.) and CE course, COVID-19 Loss, Grief, and Bereavement (2020). Barbara co-authored Living Blue: Helping law enforcement officers and their families survive and thrive from recruitment to retirement (2024). She also co-authored the Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime Training Curriculum, Compassion Fatigue. She is a contributing writer to Thin Threads: Grief and Renewal; Fresh Grief; Coaching for Results; and Keys to a Good Life. You have seen her work in God Housekeeping, Newsweek, Family Circle, Health, Shape, FOX Business, TODAY, and others.
Three weeks prior to giving birth to triplets, her father, a retired NYC police officer, died by suicide. Her story was featured in the Emmy Award-winning documentary, Fatal Mistakes: Families Shattered by Suicide. Barbara’s keynotes and virtual trainings on building resilience and self-care are a perfect blend of humor and evidence-based practices. Her website is www.barbararubel.com
Educator
University Teaching Experience includes Brooklyn College, City University of New York, Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences
- Graduate courses: Children and Death, Health Crisis Intervention, and Health Counseling
- Undergraduate course: Death, Life and Health
Best Selling Author
Co-Author
Achievements
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Brooklyn College
- Masters of Arts, Community Health with Thanatology concentration, Brooklyn College
- Board Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress
- Diplomate, American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress
- Certified Bereavement Specialist
- Certificate of Advanced Study in The Skilled Helper
- Training in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Basic and Advanced Group Crisis Intervention
- Certified Pastoral Bereavement Counselor
Associations
American Association of Suicidology
National Center for Crisis Management
Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress
Honors and Awards
- 2023-Workplace Wellness & Resilience Specialist of the Year 2023, NWR Mental Health Innovation Champion 2023, North America Business Awards 2023, New World Report
- 2023-Most Influential First Responder Keynote Speaker 2023 (USA), AI Global Media, Acquisition International
- 2023– Most Compassionate Trauma-Informed Care Training Specialist 2023, Global Health & Pharma
- 2022–Essential Worker Mental Health Thought-Leader of the year 2022, Global Health & Pharma (GHP)
- William T. Cashdollar Distinguished Visiting Professorship Award, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing, Memphis, TN
- Christopher Wray – U.S. Dept. of Justice Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime, Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of role as guest host of OVC Online Discussion Board
- Plaque of Appreciation for Work Promoting Better Understanding of Sudden Loss and Traumatic Grief, Texans for Equal Justice, Conroe, TX
- Challenge Coin presented by the Command Chief Master Sergeant, For Excellence, 305th Air Mobility Wing, McGuire Air Force Base New Jersey
- May 2010 National Speakers Association Speaker of the Month, NJ
Articles and Work Featured in Print Publications
- ADEC Forum, Association for Death Education and Counseling
- Adult Family Caregivers, Impact Publications
- American Association of Sociology Surviving Suicide Newsletter
- Association for Death Education and Counseling Forum (ADEC)
- Bereavement Care Services Ltd.
- Business & Health Magazine
- Catholic Cemetery Magazine
- Central Post
- Clinical and Financial Strategies for the Extended Care Professional (ECPN)
- Columbus Dispatch
- Comforting Friends, Friends for Survival, Inc.
- Employee Assistance Report, Brown Bagger, Impact Publications
- Franklin News Record
- Friends For Survival Newsletter
- Grief Magazine
- Hamilton Observer
- Illness, Crisis & Loss Journal
- Imprint Magazine
- Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
- Knoxville Sentinel
- Lifesavers Newsletter
- MicronPC
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
- Montevideo American News
- Mystic Gateway
- National Coach Academy (NCA) and Life Coach Path www.Lifecoachpath.com Read Barbara’s interview here: http://www.nationalcoachacademy.com/coach-interview-series-barbara-rubel
- New Jersey Local Boards of Health Association Newsletter
- News & Observer
- Nursing Spectrum, NJ/Upper NY Metro
- Owatonna People’s Press
- Panic Relief News
- Princeton Packet
- Quality Provider OHCA Newsletter
- Recovery Link
- Sentinel
- South Brunswick Magazine
- Staten Island Advance
- School Nurse News
- South Brunswick/North Brunswick Sentinel
- Strategies for the Extended Care Professional Journal (ECPN)
- Tragedy Assistance Program (TAPS) Magazine
- Thanatology Newsletter
- Tribune-Star
- The Times
- Visions Magazine
Barbara’s Work Has Been Featured In
