Karen Schuder

My current life focus is supporting people who help others, because I know how rewarding and challenging this can be. Years of dedicated searching for a way to thrive while helping people have led to "Resilient and Sustainable Caring." I hope you and other readers experience the beauty of your own lives while changing the world with care. Through reading "Resilient and Sustainable Caring" you can receive some of the care and appreciation you offer so generously to others.

I love hearing other people's stories and am thankful for the more than 50 individuals from around the world who shared their wisdom and experiences. Family caregivers, first responders, veterinarians, nurses, physicians, and others helped shape my work. Challenges we face as helpers cross professions and borders. Our journeys are more similar than different, and we can find great encouragement from this.

My journey helping others and searching for sustainable caring started when I worked with severely, multiply handicapped preschool children and their families in early adulthood. As a pastor, I became determined to care sustainably while providing support to families after trauma, helping women recover from abuse, and dealing with organizations mired in conflict. The ultimate motivation for building resilience and sustainable caring was a desire to enjoy my own life journey and wonderful family while walking with others during difficult times.

Personal experience ranges from helping people deal with trauma, coaching others to function at their best, and leading organizations. I developed and led a wellness program for family physician residents, provide leadership training in Honduras, teach resilience at a nursing school, and provide workshops for organizations of all sizes. Involvement in our family-owned veterinary practice has fostered awareness of challenges in veterinary medicine and appreciation for people willing to commit their lives to care for animals and people.

My drive to thrive while caring led to several graduate degrees and specialized training in multiple areas. Focused work on countering compassion fatigue, providing post-trauma and grief support, shaping organizational cultures, handling conflict, increasing cultural awareness, and applying Family Systems Theory to leadership informs much of what I do. I use a unique perspective and blend of theories to promote resilient and sustainable caring.

For more information check out www.karenschuder.com