The heart of Pat’s work

Pat’s mission is to help organizations and communities heal from trauma and create resilient and sustainable futures. Her efforts offer ways to overcome deep distrust in systems, repair relationships, and regain lost cohesion. The current political and societal context of cynicism, pain, division, and conflict necessitates a deeper and more complex approach to addressing past and continuing trauma. Pat is strongly committed to supporting organizations and communities on the margins because they continue to suffer disproportionately from trauma.

Pat’s belief: We as a society have no healing path forward if we do not listen deeply and consistently to the pain and suffering around us. I believe that consultants have a role in this listening process and can be of service to organizations and communities.

Pat’s approach

Love is the foundation for her consultation. Pat is known for her compassion, insight, honesty, and positive energy. Her willingness to wade into situations fraught with conflict, hurt, and unresolved issues helps others to experience someone caring deeply about their pain. Pat’s gift of witnessing others’ experiences without judgment enables them to trust her. She commits to accompanying an organization on its healing journey- staying with them until they can continue by themselves. Her commitment reinforces their renewed sense of hope for the future. 

Pat’s work has taken her around the country to work with a variety of agencies and organizations: small grassroots groups, social justice organizations, anti-violence coalitions, national parks, and various government entities. Increasingly, her work has addressed reverberating harm from racism and other forms of oppression. Some entities have been in the throes of current trauma, while others have suffered from persistent traumatizing dynamics. Insufficiently planned and supported JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) efforts have intensified the wounding of individuals and the organization as a whole.

Developing others

For thirty years Pat taught graduate level courses, principally at Antioch University Seattle. She was known as a creative course designer - inventing courses such as Organizational Trauma and Healing, Personal Wellness in Organizational Systems, and Conflict Management — and a wise guide to her students. She now counts many graduates as trusted colleagues.

Currently Pat regularly offers mentoring to colleagues who are building their practice of healing organizations; she is available to them when they feel stuck or uncertain or just in need of an outside perspective. She also offers staff in intermediary organizations, such as statewide coalitions, background coaching when their staff face challenging trauma situations in their member organizations. In these ways, Pat stays true to her commitment to broadening capacity of practitioners to respond to trauma and help groups heal. 

Pat is also part of T.O.R.C.H., Trauma and Organizational Resilience Consulting and Healing, a diverse group of practitioners who are committed to naming and addressing issues of organizational trauma with attention to historical and current patterns of inequity and offering capacity building and encouragement to those leading organizations affected by trauma.

Paying forward in her community

In 1995 with a group of colleagues she founded Community Consulting Partnership, a pro bono group providing team consultation and executive coaching to nonprofits. In 2018 she sparked CCP’s effort to offer pro bono coaching to executive directors throughout Washington State. After 25 years of service in CCP, Pat retired in 2020. In addition, she has personally provided hundreds of hours of pro bono consulting services to social justice nonprofits that serve traditionally marginalized groups. In particular Pat has focused her energy on helping organizations that support immigrant and refugee communities, BIPOC communities, and the LGBTQ community. Pat has also contributed decades of service to nonprofit boards, most recently serving eight years on Pride Foundation’s board of directors.

More about Pat


Pat earned her BA from Hunter College of the City University of New York (1968) and an MA in Psychology from Antioch University Seattle (1981).

Pat lives in Seattle with her partner and loves traveling in the US and internationally, especially when it involves birdwatching. Her son and daughter and their families, including three granddaughters, live close by. Her family members have taught her the most important lessons of her life and sustain her optimism and joy. 

Pat finds beauty and relaxation in quilting, crocheting, and cooking. She donates quilted and crocheted items to groups that provide comfort and support to others. The bumper sticker on her family car says, “Love people, cook them tasty food.” She’s added a second sticker that says, “Heal the world. Cook dinner tonight.”

Recent clients

  • Association for Research and Enlightenment

  • Aspen Victim Advocacy Services

  • Bivona Child Advocacy Center

  • Health Alliance International

  • Ibis Reproductive Health

  • Innovations Human Trafficking Collaborative 

  • International Affairs Program, Department of Interior

  • Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault

  • Irondale Ensemble Project

  • Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence 

  • LGBTQ Allyship

  • Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault

  • Mother Africa

  • New York City Public Theater

  • Not Invisible Act Commission, Department of Interior

  • Office of Infectious Disease, Washington State Department of Health 

  • Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

  • Our Beginning School

  • POCAAN 

  • Rebuilding Hope

“It’s rare that you come across a person with the talent and experience that Pat Vivian has to effectively work with teams in the sexual violence movement. We worked together for six months, and I was constantly amazed not only by her facilitation skills but also by her ability to keep the team motivated through the inevitable challenges of processing how to move forward from organizational trauma. I will be forever grateful for the work she did with MNCASA and her support of my leadership. Pat earns my highest recommendation.”

— Artika Roller, Executive Director Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault


“Working with Pat has been a game changer for our organization and leadership team; leadership development is such a crucial element in the success and growth of any organization, but it is critical to organizations that serve people on the margins.  Investing in leadership development with Pat Vivian Consulting has helped our leadership team change their perspective on what leadership looks like and has enabled them to adapt and prepare for the new challenges and opportunities that are on the horizon. She has brought us innovation, creativity, and a wealth of knowledge that is helping us to serve our community better.”

— Steven Sawyer, Executive Director, POCAAN (Formerly known as People of Color Against AIDS Network)


“Pat Vivian was generous in sharing her broad and deep knowledge about how organizations can move forward from their own trauma. She was enormously insightful on how to help organizations deal with trauma in their community. Thanks to her, a diverse nonprofit board reworking their vision in the aftermath of a horrific neighborhood mass shooting can address their own unique biases, unite as a group, and work together to transform the community.”

— Patty Weisse, Consultant