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All Posts By

Barbara Rubel

Barbara is a leading authority and best-selling author on managing burnout, secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and vicarious trauma. As a nationally recognized keynote speaker, she motivates audiences to build their resilience and create work-life balance. Her programs help leaders and teams manage workplace chronic stressors and get over burnout at work.

Barbara's newest book, "But I Didn't Say Goodbye: Helping Families After a Suicide", is available now on Amazon - https://amzn.to/2FwS6JI

• Three weeks prior to giving birth to triplets, her father died by suicide. Her story was featured in the Emmy award winning documentary, Fatal Mistakes, Families Shattered by Suicide narrated by Mariette Hartley. Many employees are grieving personal loss. She offers programs for leaders on lost productivity and performance while managing grief at work.

• As a sought-after keynote speaker who has presented to over 500 groups since 1991, including corporations, state and national associations and non-profit organizations, Barbara offers work-life balance strategies for leaders to implement right away. With clarity and humor, her speaking engagements are designed to give audiences powerful and practical strategies of work-life balance, wellbeing, and self-care that can be implemented immediately.

• Barbara is a Board-Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress and Diplomate with the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. She 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.

Email: BarbaraRubel@BarbaraRubel.com
Website: www.barbararubel.com

Oct 22
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What is Burnout?

By Barbara Rubel Burnout, Resilience, Stress
It can be challenging to define burnout. Not considered to be a medical condition, the definition of burnout, as stated by the APA Dictionary of Psychology, is “physical, emotional or mental exhaustion, accompanied by decreased motivation, lowered performance and negative attitudes towards oneself and others.” What is burnout? Typically, burnout is brought on by drawn out or chronic stress, resulting in mental, physical or emotional fatigue. You know that it…
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Sep 24
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Strategies to Prevent Burnout

By Barbara Rubel Burnout, Self-compassion, Stress, Well-being
Burnout is one of two elements that make up compassion fatigue, the second one is secondary traumatic stress. Typically, burnout is brought on by drawn out or chronic stress, resulting in mental, physical or emotional fatigue. You know that it is happening when you experience emotional exhaustion, feel overwhelmed and are not able to handle ongoing responsibilities. Consider all of those responsibilities that you have in your personal and professional life.…
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Sep 23
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Enhancing Employee Well-being and Health

By Barbara Rubel Compassion Fatigue, Vicarious trauma, Well-Being at Work
Many organizational leaders today are eagerly talking about learning goal setting for building resilience in themselves and their employees. According to Seijts and Latham (2012), goals establish a safety zone for creating new, promising ideas for taking positive action. My FABULOUS Transformation Framework for Fostering Resilience helps leaders take positive action to achieve their learning goal of increasing employee wellbeing. My framework puts a leader’s strengths into practice and helps…
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Sep 19
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Foster Self-Compassion at Work

By Barbara Rubel Self-compassion, Trauma Informed Workplace, Well-Being at Work
Fostering self-compassion in a vicarious trauma-informed workplace To create a supportive work environment that recognizes the impact of vicarious trauma and promotes self-compassion, organizations should adopt practices aligned with core values and prioritize employee well-being in the workplace. These initiatives encourage trauma-informed self-care strategies, improving morale, enhancing employee satisfaction, boosting productivity, lowering healthcare costs, and increasing job satisfaction. Such practices also lead to reduced absenteeism and better employee retention. Self-Compassion…
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Aug 14
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practice self-compassion

Suicide Prevention in a Vicarious Trauma-Informed Workplace

By Barbara Rubel Mental Health, Self-compassion, Suicide Prevention, Trauma Informed, Trauma Informed Workplace, Vicarious trauma, Well-Being at Work
Promoting Self-Compassion and Suicide Prevention in a Vicarious Trauma-Informed Workplace Suicide remains a critical global health concern, demanding accessible interventions to safeguard those working with those who are traumatized, grieving, or struggling with a crisis in their life. Exposure to vicarious trauma is a reality for police, firefighters, emergency personnel, mental health professionals, and social workers, potentially leading to symptoms mirroring those they assist. First responders and helping professionals have…
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Jul 22
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Influential Businesswoman Awards

Barbara Rubel Receives Speaker of the Year 2024 Award

By Barbara Rubel Awards, First Responders, Mental Health
The Influential Businesswomen awards, presented by Acquisition International (AI), are being held for the ninth year to honor all of the award recipients and their achievements. Each year, Acquisition International honors and highlights the accomplishments of the most remarkable and inspirational female business leaders from all over the world. For the second year in a row, Barbara Rubel has been given the First Responder Mental Health & Wellness Speaker of…
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Mar 27
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Remembering a loved one

Intervention Strategies for Navigating Grief with a Religious/Spiritual Focus

By Barbara Rubel Grief, Memories
When your grief takes on a distinctively spiritual or religious hue, it becomes crucial to acknowledge and understand the unique contours it assumes. Identifying the presence of religious or spiritual reactions serves as a gateway to implementing personalized intervention strategies, offering solace, purpose, and fortitude. In the following exploration, we delve into a spectrum of compassionate approaches crafted to assist you in preserving your spiritual connection while gracefully maneuvering the…
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Feb 23
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featured image - gardening

Coping Compassionately: Navigating the Intersection of Behavioral and Physical Grief Reactions

By Barbara Rubel Grief, Memories No Comments
Managing Behavioral Reactions Grieving is an intricate journey, and when behavioral reactions take center stage, understanding them as a form of communication is key. Behavioral reactions are a language of their own, expressing the intricate nuances of grief. As you recognize the potential for behavioral reactions to become unhealthy coping mechanisms to process grief, consider any of the following strategies: Facing Reminders. Transform avoidance into empowerment by proactively facing reminders…
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Dec 22
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Living Blue

“Living Blue” – New Book by Barbara Rubel

By Barbara Rubel Law Enforcement, Vicarious trauma No Comments
Barbara Rubel's new book Living Blue is now available! Co-authored with Jason Palamara, a retired cold case homicide detective, it was published on December 6, 2023 and can be purchased on Amazon. The effects of vicarious trauma Living Blue has the power to change lives by offering a more complete understanding of the effects that vicarious trauma has on law enforcement personnel and their families. The book is based on evidence…
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Nov 30
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sadness

Managing Emotional and Cognitive Grief Reactions Around the Holidays

By Barbara Rubel Grief, Holidays No Comments
Strategies for emotional pain When intense grief and emotional pain is too much to manage around the holidays, consider any of the following strategies: Metaphors. Use a metaphor analogy to describe your experience. These statements can help you describe the intensity of your loss. Discover the Power of Writing: Write about your thoughts and feelings in a journal. Write poetry or a letter to the person who died. Keep a…
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Oct 31
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dial 911

International Stress Awareness Day

By Barbara Rubel First Responder Stress, First Responders, Law Enforcement, Stress, Work-Family Conflict No Comments
International Stress Awareness Day is the first Wednesday in November Would you recommend your profession to others? High stress occupations are EMT, 911 operators, military, medical, firefighters, and police officers. No matter what your job is, your reaction to stress is a risk factor for the development of depression. Mental strain can make you feel unsafe both at work and at home. If you are a first responder, you know…
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Sep 25
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looking for a friend

Thwarted Belongingness, Perceived Burdensomeness, Hopelessness, and Cognitive Distortions for First Responders

By Barbara Rubel First Responders, Mental Health, Suicide Prevention No Comments
For all first responders whether law enforcement, emergency medical personnel or paramedics, or firefighters, there is a connection or link between thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, hopelessness, and cognitive distortions. Thwarted Belongingness According to Thomas Joiner's interpersonal psychological theory of suicide, feeling like you don’t belong and that you are a burden can trigger suicidal thoughts. When a person lacks deep relationships with those around them, they are lonely and socially…
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Aug 30
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law enforcement officers

Encouraging Law Enforcement to Seek Mental Health Support

By Barbara Rubel First Responders, Law Enforcement, Mental Health No Comments
LEOs are not asking for mental health support. Let’s work on changing that. Law enforcement officers (LEOs) face common mental health issues and often believe that treatment is effective, but professionally risky. They may fear a fitness for duty evaluation (FFDE) if they self-disclose that they need the help of a mental health professional. They may feel anxious about the possibility of losing their job. Masculinity within police culture can…
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Jun 26
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police officers

How Family and Friends Can Support a First Responder’s Mental Health

By Barbara Rubel First Responders, Law Enforcement, Mental Health, Work-Life Balance No Comments
Synergy When a first responder eats healthily at home and gets eight hours sleep, and works on their physical health, their job is positively impacted.  By the same token, when they are satisfied with their job and feel supported in their role, their family life is positively impacted. Whether you are a friend or family member, you can help them find synergy in their life and impact their well-being. Synergy…
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Jun 24
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Influential Businesswoman awards

Barbara Rubel Receives Influential Businesswoman Award

By Barbara Rubel Awards, First Responders
For the 8th year Acquisition International (AI) has hosted the Influential Businesswomen awards to celebrate all the winners and their accomplishments. Every year Acquisition International showcases the most exceptional and inspirational female business leaders from around the world by honoring and highlighting their achievements. Acquisition International is proud to announce that Barbara Rubel has been awarded: Most Influential First Responder Keynote Speaker 2023 (USA): Barbara Rubel ...in the Influential Businesswoman…
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