Françoise Mathieu, M.Ed., RP., CCC.
Specialist in High-Stress Workplaces
Executive Director, TEND
Before becoming a specialist in organizational stress and trauma-exposed work, Françoise worked as a front-line mental health provider in a variety of complex settings including providing employee assistance to members of the Canadian Military. Over the last 25 years, she has worked with law enforcement, military personnel, health care, child welfare, social services, addiction support, education and other professionals in need of psychological support.
As the child of two French-Canadian educators, Françoise spent her early years in Nunavik in Arctic Quebec. Growing up in the Arctic had a powerful impact on her view of the world and shaped her social justice lens towards exploring the potentially negative impact of provider impairment, burnout and empathic strain on all members of a community.
Françoise is Executive Director of TEND, whose aim is to offer consulting and training to professionals on topics related to secondary trauma, empathic strain, burnout and organizational health. Françoise is a Registered Psychotherapist and a subject matter expert on topics related to empathic strain and secondary trauma.
TEND’s program has grown in size and scope since its early inception and TEND is now present across North America offering training and consulting to a wide variety of workplaces. Françoise has worked with the University of Southern California, the Los Angeles Police, Cirque du Soleil, the Chief Coroner’s Office and many other organizations who do high stress exposed work.
Françoise Mathieu is now a sought-after speaker and educator in Canada, the U.S. and around the world. In the words of some of her audience members, her presentations are “eye opening”, “validating”, and “life changing”.
One of her best qualities is the ability to impart valuable information in a way that resonates – with everyone. Mental health can be a sensitive subject laced with the issues of stigma and embarrassment, but Françoise’s sense of humour, and her stories, help engage even the most challenging groups.
Françoise is a TedX speaker and is one of the founding members of the Secondary Traumatic Stress Consortium. She is also the author of “The Compassion Fatigue Workbook” which was published by Routledge in 2012 as well as several articles and publications.