Stigma isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s embedded in the stories we assume or the questions we never ask. In this talk, I explore how even well-meaning mental health narratives can flatten or silence people with psychosis—and offer ways we can shift language, culture, and systems toward deeper understanding.

This talk is for clinicians, nonprofit leaders, and researchers who want to work with people with lived experience in ethical and meaningful ways. I talk about what true partnership looks like—without tokenizing, reducing people to their diagnosis, or asking them to perform inspiration.

Mental illness doesn’t clock out. I speak candidly about navigating employment with a schizophrenia diagnosis and share what real support has looked like—from coworkers, managers, and organizational policies. I tailor this talk to each audience or workplace.

→ Looking for something more hands-on? See my Trainings & Consulting page for interactive options.

In this storytelling-rich keynote, I challenge the dominant portrayals of psychosis as purely tragic or terrifying. I talk about the meaning, beauty, and even spirituality that can emerge alongside suffering—and how making space for these aspects can change how we support people with serious mental illness.