Trainings
& Workshops
Trainings grounded in lived experience — built for real-world practice
I design and deliver trauma-aware trainings on psychosis, crisis response, and serious mental illness for healthcare teams, universities, and community organizations. Each training combines lived experience, professional insight, and practical tools participants can apply immediately.
Who These Trainings Are For
These trainings are designed for organizations working directly with mental health, crisis, and care systems — and for teams who want to respond to people with greater skill, dignity, and understanding.
-
- Healthcare and behavioral health teams
- Universities and professional training programs
- Nonprofit and community organizations
- Peer specialists, lived-experience advocates, and youth advisory councils (for select trainings)
- Families and caregivers (for select trainings)
What Makes These Trainings Different
LIVED-EXPERIENCE LED
Grounded in first- person knowledge of psychosis, recovery, and navigating care systems — not just theory or best practices.
TRAUMA-AWARE
Psychological safety, dignity, and choice are prioritized in every room, with careful attention to power dynamics and lived experience.
INTERACTIVE & PRACTICAL
Designed around reflection, discussion, and real-world scenarios — not lectures or slide-heavy presentations.
IMMEDIATELY ACTIONABLE
Participants leave with concrete frameworks & tools they can apply in their work right away.
Signature Trainings
SUPPORTING CLIENTS THROUGH PSYCHOSIS
(also available as: Supporting Residents Through Psychosis and Supporting a Loved One Through Psychosis)
This recovery-oriented training helps professionals understand what psychosis feels like from the inside — and how implicit bias, stigma, and healthcare trauma can shape outcomes. Grounded in lived experience, research, and clinical insight, the session explores communication, boundaries, and care interactions that build trust rather than fear.
Participants leave with practical, relationship-centered approaches for supporting people experiencing psychosis in ways that preserve dignity, autonomy, and safety across clinical, residential, and community settings.
Best for:
Clinicians, residential staff, social workers, case managers, peer specialists, behavioral health teams, and caregivers
“I appreciated the perspective from someone with psychosis so I can provide more beneficial services. Book this training to gain a more compassionate understanding of individuals with psychosis.“
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS DE-ESCALATION FROM A LIVED EXPERIENCE PERSPECTIVE
Most crisis de-escalation trainings are designed from the outside. This one is led by someone who has lived through psychiatric crises and emergency interventions. Grounded in lived experience and trauma-informed practice, the training examines what escalates distress — and what actually helps — during moments of acute crisis.
Participants learn concrete, human-centered strategies for de-escalation that emphasize dignity, choice, and connection, alongside safety considerations, with a focus on reducing reliance on force, restraints, and coercive interventions.
Best for:
Crisis responders, hospital staff, residential programs, campus teams, clinicians, and community organizations
BEING SEEN, NOT MANAGED
This story-based training explores how people with serious mental illness often experience systems as controlling rather than supportive — even when care is well-intentioned. Drawing on lived experience, participants examine how clinical language, assumptions, and interactions shape dignity, trust, and engagement.
The session invites professionals to reflect on the difference between managing behavior and supporting people as whole human beings — and how being seen, rather than managed, influences care quality and long-term outcomes.
Best for:
Healthcare teams, social workers, nonprofit staff, educators, and leadership teams
“It’s clear how intelligent and caring Sally is, which helped me see people with psychosis in greater depth. Her presentation also made me feel more comfortable treating people with psychosis.”
BECOMING A PUBLIC-FACING ADVOCATE
Designed for people with lived experience stepping into public, advisory, or advocacy roles, this professional development training focuses on how to share personal experience ethically, intentionally, and sustainably. Participants explore boundaries, audience context, power dynamics, and how to avoid self-exploitation while still being impactful.
Grounded in real examples and structured skill-building, the training supports advocates in developing language, confidence, and long-term sustainability in public-facing work.
Best for:
Peer specialists, lived-experience advocates, youth advisory councils, advisory board members, and emerging leaders
BONUS OFFERING: YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Facilitated Lived-Experience Talk
In addition to staff trainings, I offer a facilitated lived-experience talk for patients, clients, or residents. You Are Not Alone is designed to reduce isolation, normalize fear and confusion, and offer hope grounded in honesty rather than platitudes. I currently facilitate these talks on a recurring basis in inpatient psychiatric settings.
These talks are often booked alongside staff trainings to support both providers and the people they serve — creating alignment between care teams and the people they serve.
Best for:
Hospitals, inpatient units, residential programs, treatment centers, and community settings
“With her guidance I felt safe and supported to share my own situation, discuss my treatment, and look toward a future where mental health is no longer stigmatized and those of us with serious mental illness are understood and given the space we need to thrive rather than just survive.”
Training Formats & Delivery
Trainings are available virtually or in person and can be adapted to your audience, time constraints, and goals. Sessions may also be delivered as multi-session series or professional development cohorts for teams seeking sustained learning over time.
COMMON FORMATS INCLUDE:
- 1-hour session – A focused introduction or refresher
- 2-hour workshop – Deeper exploration with facilitated discussion
- 3-hour half-day training – Extended skill-building with reflection and application
- 6-hour full-day training – Comprehensive, immersive learning
DELIVERY NOTE:
I collaborate with clients to tailor each session to their setting and priorities while maintaining the integrity of the core material.
What It’s Like to Work With Me
I approach each training as a collaborative, thoughtful process — grounded in lived experience and shaped by the needs of your organization.
1
INITIAL CONVERSATION
We start with a brief call to discuss your goals, audience, setting, & any considerations that will help the training land well.
2
PROPOSAL & PREPARATION
Based on that conversation, I draft a clear proposal outlining the recommended training, format, scope, and logistics. Once confirmed, I prepare and tailor the session to your context while preserving the integrity of the core material.
3
DELIVERY & REFLECTION
Trainings are facilitated in an engaging, trauma-aware way, with space for discussion, questions, and reflection. Participants leave with practical takeaways they can apply in their work.
Let’s Talk
If you’re interested in bringing one of these trainings to your organization, I’d be glad to talk through your goals and context.
