Meet Tara
Professional Speaker, Mental Health Expert, Author, and Trained Advocate
She is a passionate speaker with a gift for creating a space to engage even the most skeptical or reluctant audience and making this tough topic approachable AND actionable. Her mission is to help organizations transform their culture to support mental health, and to create audience members who are equipped to support their own mental health as well as those around them.
Tara is a mental health expert, professional speaker, author, and trained advocate with more than 15 years of experience who helps organizations break open powerful conversations about mental health, wellness, and resilience.
When we discuss our mental health the same way we do our physical health, it sends a powerful normalizing message.
Tara's audiences walk away with
- Actionable tips and practical strategies they can implement immediately to help themselves, their organization, and those around them
- Inspiring stories from her personal journey as a parent and foster parent of children with serious mental illness
- What she's learned about the power of our communities to affect productivity, wellness, and healing.
“Tara’s presentation was a highlight of the conference for me. She was engaging, humorous, real and authentic. She captivated me from beginning to end…. Tara is definitely an inspiration.”
Talia Davis
ILLINOIS MASONIC OUTREACH SERVICES
Tara is a past program partner with local chapters of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), and the founder and director of “Shattering Stigma with Stories: Understanding Mental Health,” mental health conferences for businesses, schools, faith communities, and other organizations that have reached nearly 2000 people.
She has also performed stand-up comedy around the Pacific Northwest, and is the author of “What to Do Right Now When Your Child is Suicidal,” and “OMG, That’s Me! 3: Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, PTSD and Humor,” as well as an upcoming book for managers on supporting their team’s mental health.
“Tara held a session with our staff during “wellness week” and we received such warm and positive feedback about how her messages resonate with folks. I highly recommend inviting Tara to share her wisdom and expertise with your teams as well.”
Trell Anderson
CEO/Executive Director, NW Housing Alternatives