Lunch & Learn: Tucker

Description

The SOAR Experience: Stop, Observe, and Respond to Silent Struggles

Many employees carry emotional or mental health concerns quietly, often going unnoticed and unsupported. This interactive session provides leaders and teams with practical strategies to recognize and respond to these silent struggles in the workplace. Using the SOAR framework: Stop, Observe, Respond, participants will explore ways to foster empathy, awareness, and psychological safety, helping to create a culture where everyone feels valued and respected.

• Recognize signs of silent struggles and understand their impact on team dynamics and engagement
• Apply the SOAR framework to respond with empathy, emotional intelligence, and awareness
• Strengthen team connection and psychological safety through inclusive communication and presence-based leadership

Includes 1 HRCI CEU/SHRM PDC

Speakers

Dr. RJ Willis

Dr. RJ Willis is the Founder and CEO of The Up-Ward Shift (TUWS), a consulting and training firm dedicated to transforming workplace culture through leadership development and mental health awareness. With more than nine years of nonprofit leadership experience and a Doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership, Dr. Willis integrates academic research, professional expertise, and lived experience into every presentation. As a Certified Peer Specialist (CPS), Dr. Willis brings a unique perspective to the discussion of mental health concerns in the workplace. His message is grounded in compassion and inclusive language, helping organizations recognize the hidden struggles of employees who are often suffering in silence. His philosophy is rooted in the belief that what we do not face, we cannot overcome. Through keynote addresses, workshops, and training sessions, Dr. Willis equips leaders and teams with tools to practice active listening, embrace transformational leadership, and create environments where employees feel valued and supported. His signature topics include Suffering in Silence, the SOAR Model (Stop, Observe, And Respond), and strategies for reducing turnover by building cultures of compassion and awareness. Dr. Willis’ presentations are both inspirational and practical, leaving audiences with the skills and motivation to create healthier, more inclusive workplaces.

Dr. Rosalind Polk-Hall

Dr. Rosalind Polk-Hall is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and an Approved Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor (CPCS), specializing in work with adults, adolescents, children, and individuals navigating mental health and addiction challenges within community-based settings. She is a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist with extensive experience across multiple levels of care and diverse populations. Dr. Hall worked for 15 years in a psychiatric hospital in South Atlanta, serving in both inpatient and outpatient programs. She began her tenure as a therapist and advanced to the role of Clinical Director. During her time in the hospital setting, she served as the CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention) Instructor for more than 10 years, providing training, coaching, and education to multidisciplinary hospital staff on safety, crisis de-escalation, and best practices for working with high-acuity populations. In addition to her hospital work, Dr. Hall served as an adjunct professor at Argosy University, educating graduate-level counseling students and supporting their development into competent mental-health professionals. She also spent over 10 years providing mental-health counseling in a jail setting in North Atlanta, offering assessment, crisis intervention, and therapeutic support to justice-involved individuals.

For the past 20 years, Dr. Hall has maintained a private practice, providing counseling services and offering clinical supervision to master’s-level clinicians pursuing licensure. Her work also includes leadership within a community counseling agency, where she currently serves as Clinical Director, overseeing clinical operations, staff development, and quality of care. Dr. Hall is known for her compassion, dedication, and passion for educating others about effective, ethical, and culturally responsive care for individuals served in the mental-health community.

Eric Gibson

CPS-MH CPS-AD

32-year-old Certified Peer Specialist in Addictive Disease and Mental Health. As a person in long-term recovery, his life’s purpose is to help others find their own pathway to recovery. Eric takes great pride in his work, using his experience, compassion, and dedication to empower others to rebuild their lives and achieve lasting wellness.

Sponsors