Get Real: Create a Thriving Culture
Break Open the Mental Health Conversation with Speaker Tara Rolstad
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Speaker Tara Rolstad is a trained expert and advocate with deep, direct personal experience to help organizations transform workplace mental health. In her powerful, interactive programs, Tara shares practical tools and strategies to equip your employees, team members, and community members:
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What Other People Are Saying About Tara
- CEO, NW Natural
Tara came to present on mental health at our leadership retreat with over 100 of our leaders. She did a great job helping us understand how to better watch out for our employees and each other…especially in the times we now live in! I was particularly impressed with how various of my leadership team spoke up in front of others on issues they were dealing with personally or in their workforce and wanted Tara’s advice. And, after her prepared remarks, she stayed around for 30 minutes during our break which allowed others to approach her on a more personal basis, which was fantastic. I heard nothing but good things from my leadership team.
- CEO/Executive Director, NW Housing Alternatives
Tara held a session with our staff during "wellness week" and we received such warm and positive feedback about how her messages resonate with folks. I highly recommend inviting Tara to share her wisdom and expertise with your teams as well.
- Events and Outreach Manager, NAMI Oregon
Tara is great at engaging the audience with a call to action, which is critical for our mission.
Her presentations are always a draw for our events, and I know going into an event that she’ll take care of all of the details I need. She’s a pleasure to work with!
- Principal, Lakeridge Jr High, Oregon
Tara was really great on stage, and one of the things I appreciate about her is how present she is and great about creating a connection with audience members. It instantly feels warm and comfortable when her presentation starts, and I think it brings a sense of calm and comfort to the people in the audience, around a topic that can be kind of nerve-wracking, to be honest. I would strongly encourage you to consider working with her in the future.
- VP, Public Affairs and Sustainability, NW Natural
Tara presented to my company's senior leadership team at our annual offsite.
Nearly two months later, my colleagues are still discussing both the content of her presentation as well as her ability to use candor and humor to illuminate a serious topic like mental health.
- Asst. Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Success, University of North Carolina Asheville
There can be no question that it is difficult to get college students to talk about mental health but Tara tackles this problem head-on. Instead of telling students what they should do, or how they should act she offers them the opportunity to meet her where they are. She is approachable, sincere, real and direct. It proved to be a powerful combination, allowing students to let down their guard enough to hear her message. Her program help demonstrate and normalize the fact many of us are impacted by factors that fall under the umbrella of mental health. Her programming helped educate students beyond the challenges, and impacts to offer practical tools to find support or call someone who is equipped to help.
- Oregon State Fiscal Association
I need to be able to talk about it at work. I’m glad we had this presentation that tells everybody it’s ok. There is no stigma, it’s ok, it’s depression, it’s everybody. Especially since the pandemic, a lot of people don’t know what anxiety is, “I’m having this feeling, I think I’m dying….” It’s anxiety and it’s ok……
Tara is fantastic at presenting….I appreciate that while we’re talking about mental health, there’s humor still involved, the way you included everybody…and kept the audience captivated.
- Illinois Masonic Outreach Services
Your presentation was a highlight of the conference for me. You were engaging, humorous, real and authentic. You captivated me from beginning to end…. you are definitely an inspiration.
- Bestselling mental health author, speaker and coach
Tara Rolstad speaks on topics not generally discussed in polite society. She breaks through the barriers put up by organizations that say, ‘Let’s just keep that to ourselves.’
Tara uses humor and personal stories to tell the story of so many families who live with a child who requires much more attention than a parent ever thinks possible.
What makes a speaker great? Humor, self awareness and being a great story teller come to mind. Tara has all of these qualities and so much more. Her stories are humorously tragic, unexpectedly irreverent and downright shocking. She is not an everyday speaker hired to make the audience feel better. Tara makes the audience think and rallies the audience to go forth into the world and make a difference.
Tara Rolstad does what all great speakers must do. She speaks the truth even when it’s shocking, unsettling and not something many people are willing to say, out loud… in front of a crowd… and even in a spiritual community! She has the confidence and desire needed to change the world, one speech at a time.
- School counselor, Lakeridge Jr High, Oregon
Within the first few minutes of this engaging conference, Tara was able to ‘shatter stigma’ simply by sharing her raw and very relatable story. She puts people at ease through humor, her candid approach to sharing life’s difficult moments and by being equipped with a host of expertise and resources for those seeking support. This event should be a normalized and recurring offering in every school community!
- Manager, Resource Management Center, NW Natural
Bringing Tara Rolstad to our retreat for our company was an amazing experience. We were looking for someone to talk to us, help us reconnect, understand the experiences we all were going through during the pandemic and beyond…..it was amazing, I would recommend her to anybody.”
- Speaker, co-author of “Save Yourself from Burnout: A System to Get Your Life Back"
Tara is funny. Really funny. Her wit is tuned to catch in-the-moment serendipity and turn it into gold. If all she had to offer was her comedy, you would not want to miss her on stage. But when you hear Tara Rolstad, you’ll get so much more than that.
Tara is also a great storyteller, compassionate and knowledgeable. She’s a woman on a mission to make the world a better place. She shifts with ease from moving, to funny, and back to moving. She’s real, she’s humble, and just occasionally, she’s fiery. Audiences leave her performances laughing, even as they are moved to action.
- Writer, speaker, pastor, and author of "The Wisdom of Your Heart
Tara Rolstad is at the forefront of a vital and timely cause: helping us think compassionately about the impact of mental illness on the family, the church, and the community. For too long we’ve only whispered about the subject or felt ashamed when depression, bi-polar, or other cognitive dysfunction impacted us or our families. With raw vulnerability and unexpected humor, Tara is helping break the stigma around mental health, so that we can all do a better job of loving our family and neighbors well.
- CEO, NW Natural
Tara came to present on mental health at our leadership retreat with over 100 of our leaders. She did a great job helping us understand how to better watch out for our employees and each other…especially in the times we now live in! I was particularly impressed with how various of my leadership team spoke up in front of others on issues they were dealing with personally or in their workforce and wanted Tara’s advice. And, after her prepared remarks, she stayed around for 30 minutes during our break which allowed others to approach her on a more personal basis, which was fantastic. I heard nothing but good things from my leadership team.
- CEO/Executive Director, NW Housing Alternatives
Tara held a session with our staff during "wellness week" and we received such warm and positive feedback about how her messages resonate with folks. I highly recommend inviting Tara to share her wisdom and expertise with your teams as well.
- Events and Outreach Manager, NAMI Oregon
Tara is great at engaging the audience with a call to action, which is critical for our mission.
Her presentations are always a draw for our events, and I know going into an event that she’ll take care of all of the details I need. She’s a pleasure to work with!
- Principal, Lakeridge Jr High, Oregon
Tara was really great on stage, and one of the things I appreciate about her is how present she is and great about creating a connection with audience members. It instantly feels warm and comfortable when her presentation starts, and I think it brings a sense of calm and comfort to the people in the audience, around a topic that can be kind of nerve-wracking, to be honest. I would strongly encourage you to consider working with her in the future.
- VP, Public Affairs and Sustainability, NW Natural
Tara presented to my company's senior leadership team at our annual offsite.
Nearly two months later, my colleagues are still discussing both the content of her presentation as well as her ability to use candor and humor to illuminate a serious topic like mental health.
- Asst. Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Success, University of North Carolina Asheville
There can be no question that it is difficult to get college students to talk about mental health but Tara tackles this problem head-on. Instead of telling students what they should do, or how they should act she offers them the opportunity to meet her where they are. She is approachable, sincere, real and direct. It proved to be a powerful combination, allowing students to let down their guard enough to hear her message. Her program help demonstrate and normalize the fact many of us are impacted by factors that fall under the umbrella of mental health. Her programming helped educate students beyond the challenges, and impacts to offer practical tools to find support or call someone who is equipped to help.
- Oregon State Fiscal Association
I need to be able to talk about it at work. I’m glad we had this presentation that tells everybody it’s ok. There is no stigma, it’s ok, it’s depression, it’s everybody. Especially since the pandemic, a lot of people don’t know what anxiety is, “I’m having this feeling, I think I’m dying….” It’s anxiety and it’s ok……
Tara is fantastic at presenting….I appreciate that while we’re talking about mental health, there’s humor still involved, the way you included everybody…and kept the audience captivated.
- Illinois Masonic Outreach Services
Your presentation was a highlight of the conference for me. You were engaging, humorous, real and authentic. You captivated me from beginning to end…. you are definitely an inspiration.
- Bestselling mental health author, speaker and coach
Tara Rolstad speaks on topics not generally discussed in polite society. She breaks through the barriers put up by organizations that say, ‘Let’s just keep that to ourselves.’
Tara uses humor and personal stories to tell the story of so many families who live with a child who requires much more attention than a parent ever thinks possible.
What makes a speaker great? Humor, self awareness and being a great story teller come to mind. Tara has all of these qualities and so much more. Her stories are humorously tragic, unexpectedly irreverent and downright shocking. She is not an everyday speaker hired to make the audience feel better. Tara makes the audience think and rallies the audience to go forth into the world and make a difference.
Tara Rolstad does what all great speakers must do. She speaks the truth even when it’s shocking, unsettling and not something many people are willing to say, out loud… in front of a crowd… and even in a spiritual community! She has the confidence and desire needed to change the world, one speech at a time.
- School counselor, Lakeridge Jr High, Oregon
Within the first few minutes of this engaging conference, Tara was able to ‘shatter stigma’ simply by sharing her raw and very relatable story. She puts people at ease through humor, her candid approach to sharing life’s difficult moments and by being equipped with a host of expertise and resources for those seeking support. This event should be a normalized and recurring offering in every school community!
- Manager, Resource Management Center, NW Natural
Bringing Tara Rolstad to our retreat for our company was an amazing experience. We were looking for someone to talk to us, help us reconnect, understand the experiences we all were going through during the pandemic and beyond…..it was amazing, I would recommend her to anybody.”
- Speaker, co-author of “Save Yourself from Burnout: A System to Get Your Life Back"
Tara is funny. Really funny. Her wit is tuned to catch in-the-moment serendipity and turn it into gold. If all she had to offer was her comedy, you would not want to miss her on stage. But when you hear Tara Rolstad, you’ll get so much more than that.
Tara is also a great storyteller, compassionate and knowledgeable. She’s a woman on a mission to make the world a better place. She shifts with ease from moving, to funny, and back to moving. She’s real, she’s humble, and just occasionally, she’s fiery. Audiences leave her performances laughing, even as they are moved to action.
- Writer, speaker, pastor, and author of "The Wisdom of Your Heart
Tara Rolstad is at the forefront of a vital and timely cause: helping us think compassionately about the impact of mental illness on the family, the church, and the community. For too long we’ve only whispered about the subject or felt ashamed when depression, bi-polar, or other cognitive dysfunction impacted us or our families. With raw vulnerability and unexpected humor, Tara is helping break the stigma around mental health, so that we can all do a better job of loving our family and neighbors well.
- CEO, NW Natural
Tara came to present on mental health at our leadership retreat with over 100 of our leaders. She did a great job helping us understand how to better watch out for our employees and each other…especially in the times we now live in! I was particularly impressed with how various of my leadership team spoke up in front of others on issues they were dealing with personally or in their workforce and wanted Tara’s advice. And, after her prepared remarks, she stayed around for 30 minutes during our break which allowed others to approach her on a more personal basis, which was fantastic. I heard nothing but good things from my leadership team.
- CEO/Executive Director, NW Housing Alternatives
Tara held a session with our staff during "wellness week" and we received such warm and positive feedback about how her messages resonate with folks. I highly recommend inviting Tara to share her wisdom and expertise with your teams as well.
- Events and Outreach Manager, NAMI Oregon
Tara is great at engaging the audience with a call to action, which is critical for our mission.
Her presentations are always a draw for our events, and I know going into an event that she’ll take care of all of the details I need. She’s a pleasure to work with!
- Principal, Lakeridge Jr High, Oregon
Tara was really great on stage, and one of the things I appreciate about her is how present she is and great about creating a connection with audience members. It instantly feels warm and comfortable when her presentation starts, and I think it brings a sense of calm and comfort to the people in the audience, around a topic that can be kind of nerve-wracking, to be honest. I would strongly encourage you to consider working with her in the future.
- VP, Public Affairs and Sustainability, NW Natural
Tara presented to my company's senior leadership team at our annual offsite.
Nearly two months later, my colleagues are still discussing both the content of her presentation as well as her ability to use candor and humor to illuminate a serious topic like mental health.
- Asst. Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Success, University of North Carolina Asheville
There can be no question that it is difficult to get college students to talk about mental health but Tara tackles this problem head-on. Instead of telling students what they should do, or how they should act she offers them the opportunity to meet her where they are. She is approachable, sincere, real and direct. It proved to be a powerful combination, allowing students to let down their guard enough to hear her message. Her program help demonstrate and normalize the fact many of us are impacted by factors that fall under the umbrella of mental health. Her programming helped educate students beyond the challenges, and impacts to offer practical tools to find support or call someone who is equipped to help.
- Oregon State Fiscal Association
I need to be able to talk about it at work. I’m glad we had this presentation that tells everybody it’s ok. There is no stigma, it’s ok, it’s depression, it’s everybody. Especially since the pandemic, a lot of people don’t know what anxiety is, “I’m having this feeling, I think I’m dying….” It’s anxiety and it’s ok……
Tara is fantastic at presenting….I appreciate that while we’re talking about mental health, there’s humor still involved, the way you included everybody…and kept the audience captivated.
- Illinois Masonic Outreach Services
Your presentation was a highlight of the conference for me. You were engaging, humorous, real and authentic. You captivated me from beginning to end…. you are definitely an inspiration.
- Bestselling mental health author, speaker and coach
Tara Rolstad speaks on topics not generally discussed in polite society. She breaks through the barriers put up by organizations that say, ‘Let’s just keep that to ourselves.’
Tara uses humor and personal stories to tell the story of so many families who live with a child who requires much more attention than a parent ever thinks possible.
What makes a speaker great? Humor, self awareness and being a great story teller come to mind. Tara has all of these qualities and so much more. Her stories are humorously tragic, unexpectedly irreverent and downright shocking. She is not an everyday speaker hired to make the audience feel better. Tara makes the audience think and rallies the audience to go forth into the world and make a difference.
Tara Rolstad does what all great speakers must do. She speaks the truth even when it’s shocking, unsettling and not something many people are willing to say, out loud… in front of a crowd… and even in a spiritual community! She has the confidence and desire needed to change the world, one speech at a time.
- School counselor, Lakeridge Jr High, Oregon
Within the first few minutes of this engaging conference, Tara was able to ‘shatter stigma’ simply by sharing her raw and very relatable story. She puts people at ease through humor, her candid approach to sharing life’s difficult moments and by being equipped with a host of expertise and resources for those seeking support. This event should be a normalized and recurring offering in every school community!
- Manager, Resource Management Center, NW Natural
Bringing Tara Rolstad to our retreat for our company was an amazing experience. We were looking for someone to talk to us, help us reconnect, understand the experiences we all were going through during the pandemic and beyond…..it was amazing, I would recommend her to anybody.”
- Speaker, co-author of “Save Yourself from Burnout: A System to Get Your Life Back"
Tara is funny. Really funny. Her wit is tuned to catch in-the-moment serendipity and turn it into gold. If all she had to offer was her comedy, you would not want to miss her on stage. But when you hear Tara Rolstad, you’ll get so much more than that.
Tara is also a great storyteller, compassionate and knowledgeable. She’s a woman on a mission to make the world a better place. She shifts with ease from moving, to funny, and back to moving. She’s real, she’s humble, and just occasionally, she’s fiery. Audiences leave her performances laughing, even as they are moved to action.
- Writer, speaker, pastor, and author of "The Wisdom of Your Heart
Tara Rolstad is at the forefront of a vital and timely cause: helping us think compassionately about the impact of mental illness on the family, the church, and the community. For too long we’ve only whispered about the subject or felt ashamed when depression, bi-polar, or other cognitive dysfunction impacted us or our families. With raw vulnerability and unexpected humor, Tara is helping break the stigma around mental health, so that we can all do a better job of loving our family and neighbors well.