How do we best support teams who do difficult work?
The TEND Train the Trainer program offers a comprehensive curriculum for navigating high pressure, trauma-exposed workplaces. Designed for both educators looking to train others and leaders aiming to drive systemic change, this program prepares you with best practices to navigate secondary traumatic stress (STS), burnout, moral distress, and other factors in the workplace.
Learn Best Practices to Address Secondary Traumatic Stress
Our participants understand what makes a high-stress, trauma-exposed workplace unique.
This perspective changes the way they work and is a guidepost for everything from workshop delivery to strategic planning at the leadership level.
Build In-House Capacity
TEND’s goal is to level the playing field – giving organizations of all sizes the tools to create healthy, resilient workplaces.
What started as a program for trainers has evolved into a comprehensive program that equips educators, mental health champions, and senior leaders. Why? Because we’ve seen that the need for a secondary trauma-informed workplace can’t be met by just one or two people — it’s system-wide.
Design & Deliver Workshops
Well-trained educators are essential to the health of an organization.
Apply proven frameworks to create impactful and memorable workshops. Plus, learn techniques for managing diverse audience dynamics, including resistance and buy-in.
Trusted By Teams At
Upcoming Sessions
Start Date: February 4, 2025
Format: Four weeks + two follow-up Q&A sessions
Investment: $2,950 CAD + Applicable taxes.
Start Date: April 7 & 8, 2025
Location: Toronto, ON
Format: Two days in-person + two follow-up virtual Q&A sessions
Investment: $3,600 CAD + applicable taxes
Contact us to bring this training to your organization.
Program Instructor
Françoise Mathieu
M. Ed., RP
Françoise is an educator, speaker, and trauma-trained therapist. She is the author of The Compassion Fatigue Workbook, founding member of the Secondary Traumatic Stress Consortium, and the Executive Director of TEND.
Since 2001, she has given thousands of workshops and keynote addresses on secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and other related topics to those in the fields of health care, child welfare, the criminal justice sector, social and human services, emergency response, armed forces, and more.
Train The Trainer Learning Objectives
Trauma-Exposed Work Fundamentals
- Trauma-Exposed Work 101: Review the fundamentals of secondary traumatic stress and empathic strain, plus explore the latest research and best practices.
- Contributing Factors Framework: Gain a nuanced understanding of burnout, moral distress, and related issues.
- Assessing Your Skills: Conduct self-assessments to recognize your strengths and areas for growth.
Effective Communication & Engagement
- Develop Your Hook: Apply proven frameworks to create impactful and memorable training.
- The Doom & Gloom Crowd: Gain techniques for managing diverse audience dynamics, including potential pushback from certain stakeholders.
- Getting Buy-In: Implement strategies that allow your message to resonate across roles and professions.
Navigating Complexity
- The Neurobiology of Stress: Understand key concepts about stress and resilience.
- Mindfulness for Helping Professionals: Embed useful grounding techniques into your workshop or workplace policies and practices.
- Building the Business Case: Learn how and where to gather data to secure workplace buy-in for a sustainable plan.
Strategic Planning & Leadership Engagement
- The Complex Stress Model: Grasp the unique attributes of trauma-exposed workplaces.
- Organizational Health: Access tools and resources curated for effective leadership communication.
- Quick Start Guide: Design actionable plans that guide your next steps as a trainer or leader.
Plus, everything you need to design, deliver, and champion secondary traumatic stress education in your workplace.
- Workbooks & Manuals: Each participant will receive a copy of The Compassion Fatigue Workbook and the TEND Train the Trainer Manual.
- One-Year Subscription to the TEND Toolkit: Access to our library of resources with 100+ videos, articles, book recommendations, and strategies.
- Handouts, Slides, and Resources: Everything you need to design and deliver your workshop, plus recommendations on key resources for leaders and managers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a prerequisite for enrolling in this program?
Yes. The instructor teaches this program with the assumption that participants are familiar with the concepts of empathic strain (also known as compassion fatigue) and secondary traumatic stress.
If these concepts are new to you, not to worry. All participants of the Train the Trainer Program will be given access to our Compassion Fatigue 101 on-demand course via their TEND Toolkit subscription. This on-demand course must be completed prior to beginning the Train the Trainer Program. If you have already completed this online course, you do not have to re-do the course – however, you are encouraged to review the material.
Participants will also be encouraged to review the basics of trauma-informed care prior to beginning the program. These materials will be made available to you upon receipt of your course fee or non-refundable deposit.
We encourage all participants to set aside 4-hours of protected time prior to the beginning of the Train the Trainer Program to review the introductory material.
Who should take this program?
Individuals who wish to acquire the tools and skills to support teams who work in trauma-exposed workplaces. Past participants of this program include professionals from health care, education, law, police, military, government, public health, animal welfare, and many others.
What is your cancellation policy?
We reserve the right to cancel this program should the number of registrations be insufficient. We are not responsible for any costs that may be incurred by the cancellation of this program.
In the event that TEND cancels this program, all program fees including deposits will be returned to participants.
For Online Offerings
- If you choose to cancel your registration on or before 8 days prior to the beginning of the program, you will receive a refund of your course fee minus the registration deposit of $500.00 CAD + Tax. This deposit can be put towards a future program.
- If you have already received the materials for this course prior to cancelling, you will be responsible for this cost ($250.00 CAD + Tax).
- No refunds will be issued on or after 7 days prior to the beginning of the program. A colleague may attend in your place.
For In-Person Offerings
- If you choose to cancel your registration on or before 15 days prior to the beginning of the program, you will receive a refund of your course fee minus the registration deposit of $500.00 CAD + Tax. This deposit can be put towards a future program.
- If you have already received the materials for this course prior to cancelling, you will be responsible for this cost ($250.00 CAD + Tax).
- No refunds will be issued on or after 14 days prior to the beginning of the program. A colleague may attend in your place.
What technology do I need to participate?
You will require a reliable internet connection, a microphone, and webcam. Participants will also need to be comfortable using the online program Dropbox to access materials for this program.
I’m unable to attend all of the sessions. Can I still take the course?
For Online Offerings
Yes, all of the Zoom sessions will be recorded and can be viewed on your own schedule. Participants will be responsible for reviewing any missed materials throughout the course.
For In-Person Offerings
Participants must attend the full two days of in-person training. The follow-up Q&A sessions will be recorded and can be viewed on your own schedule.
The program is full! What can I do?
In order to ensure a personalized experience for all participants, registration for this program is limited. If the current session is full, please email Alison, our Operations Manager, to be placed on our waiting list.
Graduates of the TEND Train the Trainer program include helping professionals from diverse backgrounds.
John Borthwick, BA, M. Div
Director of Lifelong Learning, Knox College
WINTER 2019
Donna Shanor, LCSW, LCDC
Director of Clinical Social Work at University of Texas Dell Medical Center
SPRING 2018
Sarah Stewart, RSW
Owner & Trainer of Open Minds, Mental Health Training & Consulting
SUMMER 2018