Pat Vivian Consulting
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