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 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 Good Housekeeping, Newsweek, Family Circle, Health, Shape, FOX Business, Woman’s World, TODAY, and others.
Three weeks before 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 training on building resilience and self-care are a perfect blend of humor and evidence-based practices. Her website is www.griefworkcenter.com
Educator
University Teaching Experience includes Brooklyn College, City University of New York, Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences
- As an expert thanatologist, Barbara taught a range of graduate-level courses, such as Children and Death, Health Crisis Intervention, and Health Counseling. Additionally, she taught an undergraduate course titled 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
- 2024/2025 Wellness Coach of The Year – USA, Corporate LiveWire Global Awards
- 2024–First Responder Mental Health & Wellness Speaker of the Year 2024 (South Atlantic USA), Acquisition International Influential Businesswoman 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), 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
- 2010–National Speakers Association Speaker of the Month of May, NJ
- 2007–U.S. Dept. of Justice Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime, Certificate of Appreciation in recognition as guest host of OVC Online Discussion Board
- 2005-William T. Cashdollar Distinguished Visiting Professorship Award, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing, Memphis, TN
- 2004–Plaque of Appreciation for Work Promoting Better Understanding of Sudden Loss and Traumatic Grief, Texans for Equal Justice, Conroe, TX
- 2001–305th Air Mobility Wing, McGuire Air Force Base NJ, Presented by the Command Chief Master Sergeant, For Excellence, McGuire Air Force Base, NJ
- 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
- Challenge Coin presented by the Command Chief Master Sergeant, For Excellence, 305th Air Mobility Wing, McGuire Air Force Base New Jersey
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
