Shari Simmons

Shari Simmons, MSW, LCSW, is an award winning speaker, author, and noted trauma expert. She and her mother, Jann are founders of Which Way?, a training and consulting business dedicated to equipping mental health providers, parents, first responders, and educators on what being “trauma informed” really means. Shari and Jann's speaking style is emotionally charged and packed with energy! Jann's personal story showcases resilience and provides a glimpse into the power of personal healing. Shari provides fresh tools and strategies that can be used with clients, teams, and in personal relationships.

For nearly 20 years, Shari and Jann’s keynote speeches and seminars have helped audiences redefine mental health and resiliency, improve their relationships, and help their clients, students, or children thrive. They are high-energy, high-content speakers, who educate, equip with tools, entertain, and motivate professionals and parents. Shari is a consultant to the Colorado Department of Human Services and created the Trauma Informed Treatment Provider Academy, which is now incorporated into every residential facility serving youth in the state of Colorado. She is frequently called upon by CDHS to work with several mental health organizations who were struggling and successfully improved their outcomes, company culture, and client satisfaction numbers. She’s been chosen as Colorado’s Superwoman of the year, and has earned the Educator of the year award for Metropolitan State University and Colorado State University.

Shari and Jann are authors of Which Way?, a memoir detailing Jann’s journey from an abused child removed from her home and placed in an equally terrorizing institution to a warrior for children’s rights. As her daughter, Shari writes from the lens of a daughter and trauma expert. Their book has been featured on the Mental Health New Radio, RAINN Survivor newscast and PBS.

Shari and Jann have spoken to over 250 agencies that employ therapists, first responders, and caseworkers. They have spoken to educators and parents and grandparents across the nation. Shari has spoken to the Colorado House of Representatives and Senate.

Shari and Jann live in Colorado and despite being mother/daughter and business partners, they actually love hanging out together!

WHAT SHARI AND JANN DO:

Present high-energy, high-content keynotes and seminars to help attendees understand the power of our stories, how to be the Strongest Nervous System in the Room, when to connect before correct, and what selfcare really means.

PRIMARY AUDIENCES:

1. Anyone working in the field of mental health (Judges, caseworkers, therapists, residential and psychiatric front line staff, CASA workers)
2. Educators and School Paras
3. Biological, Foster, Adoptive, Kinship families
4. Survivors of trauma, neglect, and abandonment
5. Mental Health Administration (CEO’s, Directors, Team Leads, Supervisors)
6. Professionals who are burned out and experiencing compassion fatigue or secondary PTSD
7. Parents/Educators who are lacking support, resources, and just plain exhausted!

WHERE TO USE SHARI AND JANN:

• Mental Health symposiums, conferences, summits, workshops.
• Agency training
• Public, private, charter schools
• Companies looking to improve morale, life balance, and outcomes
• Leadership trainings

SHARI AND JANN’S UNIQUE SELLING POINTS:

• Speaking about trauma from the lens of a survivor (Jann) AND therapist (Shari) give the audience a 360° view of how to turn pain into power.
• This mother/daughter duo speak to epigenetics and how trauma can be passed down through the generations. They highlight the choice that we all have in deciding what legacies we will keep vs the chains to break.
• Shari speaks from over 3 decades in residential and psychiatric treatment and has worked in all roles from a frontline milieu staff, to therapist, to Executive Director. She is CDHS’s go-to person on trauma informed care, best practices, and workplace conflict.

CLIENTS & ENGAGEMENTS

• PBS
• Michigan Mental Health Summit
• Weld County Leadership Summit
• Maryland "Cherish the Child" Symposium
• Wyoming Mental Health Symposium
• RAINN Survivor Stories
• Colorado Springs Youth Mental Health Symposium
• Numerous Universities & Behavioral Health Institutions

WHY BOOK SHARI & JANN?

If your audience needs to:

Be inspired by real-life resilience

Gain tools for trauma-informed care

Transform workplace culture

Improve client outcomes

Enhance professional and personal well-being

SIGNATURE KEYNOTES & WORKSHOPS

Two Voices, One Story: Transforming Trauma Across Generations

A compelling training that highlights the difference between trauma-informed and trauma-ingrained approaches. Audiences experience the emotional impact of Jann’s survival story and gain insights into the neuroscience of trauma and healing.

Topics Covered:

• Trauma & the limbic system
• Survival reactions & triggers
• Vicarious trauma & self-care
• Understanding resistance
• Connection before correction
• Tools for working with youth & families

From Friction to Flow: Cracking the Code on Why We Struggle And How to Stop

Designed for teams looking to build strong, resilient workplace cultures and navigate challenges effectively.

Topics Covered:

• Healthy vs unhealthy team traits
• Conflict resolution strategies
• Crucial conversations & boundary-setting
• Managing stress & avoiding burnout

Do More, Burn Less: Hardwiring Excellence Without the Overwhelm

A leadership training focused on setting agency culture, obtaining employee buy-in, and improving client outcomes.

Topics Covered:

• Leadership traits for success
• Improving client experience
• Employee engagement & retention
• Supervisory best practices

WiFi Kids & Wired Brains: Supporting youth in the I Generation with Heart and Strategy

A guide for professionals working with Generation Z and Generation Alpha, addressing their unique challenges in a digital world.

Topics Covered:

• Characteristics & behavioral expectations
• Social media implications
• Digital age connection strategies