Françoise Mathieu
Session Description
Why do some people thrive under pressure while others struggle? Are these skills learnable?
The landscape of our work has shifted, and many of us are navigating increasingly complex systems while showing up for a community with diverse and evolving needs. But how do we continue to offer our best to others while staying centered ourselves?
New research offers promising insights into maintaining psychological health and sustaining our well-being over the long term. This presentation will explore practical ways to recalibrate when the work feels particularly heavy and how to build a professional life that is both impactful and sustainable.
Together, we’ll explore:
- Words matter: Why it’s time to stop using the term “compassion fatigue.”
- Career-sustaining behaviors: What are they, and how do they work?
- Compassion in practice: Applying the key tenets of compassionate care to support students, faculty, and staff.
About this keynote speaker:
Françoise Mathieu (she/her), M. ED., RP, Secondary traumatic stress specialist
Françoise grew up in Arctic Québec as the child of two French-Canadian teachers. That early experience shaped her lifelong passion for social justice and supporting those who care for others.
Françoise is former crisis counsellor in post-secondary education and a provider of mental health support to military personnel. She is now the Executive Director of TEND, a North American consulting firm that supports organizations working under sustained stress and high emotional load.
With 30 years of experience in the field, Françoise specializes in empathic strain, secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and the organizational conditions that shape how people function over time. She is a TEDx speaker, founding member of the Secondary Traumatic Stress Consortium, and author of The Compassion Fatigue Workbook. She lives in Kingston, On.