Wendy Van Buren

Motivational Speaking, Professional Development & Parent Education Workshops, Student Presentations and Consulting

Contact Wendy

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Welcome to my website!  I offer adult & student presentations, workshops, in-services, group sessions and consulting.  My goal is to provide services focused on today’s most pressing concerns for families, educators and mental health professionals. Our world is rapidly changing and issues such as increased substance use, mental health issues, addictions, gun violence and unmanageable levels of stress are affecting the quality of life for all of us. We can change our world through connection, understanding, compassion & education.

“We are the village.”

I hope you will join me on this journey of discovery, education and hope.

Workshop Topics

  • Crisis Intervention

  • Behavior Management

  • Substance Abuse

  • Mental Health

  • Bullying Prevention

  • Social Media Use

  • Human Development

  • Conflict Resolution

  • Stress Reduction

  • Wendy’s Personal Road to Recovery

Workshops

Professional Development.  Parent Education.  Organizational Health.

Bloomberg Purdue Pharma to Plead Guilty, Pay $8.3 Billion Over Opioids.

This just in!  Felonies, YES felonies.  While monetary compensation for “pain and suffering” can NEVER replace the lives lost and devastated families, at the very least the justice system has called out Purdue and “Big Pharma” for intentional misuse of their products and holding back critical information about the addictiveness of opioids.  Civil Claims will […]

FDA Warns Companies about Using Social Media “Influencers” to Sell Vaping Products.

June 7, 2019, 11:56 AM EDT By Associated Press   U.S. regulators moved to discipline vaping companies for inappropriately promoting their flavored nicotine formulas through so-called influencers on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites. The Friday to four companies that used paid social media influencers to pitch nicotine solutions to their online followers, including […]

Opioid epidemic may have cost US governments $37.8 billion in tax revenue

Science News, Source: Penn State Date: April 11, 2019 Wendy:  This article looks at the impact of the opiod crisis in terms of human capital.  Opiods and related drug use of course has a powerful and fully destructive impact on individuals, families, communities, states and the nation in human terms but losing so many that could […]

Teen girls more vulnerable to bullying than boys

(Science Daily). Date: May 7, 2019 Source: Rutgers University.   Summary:   Girls are more often bullied than boys and are more likely to consider, plan, or attempt suicide, according to research led by a Rutgers University-Camden nursing scholar. The authors write, “Bullying is significantly associated with depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, suicide planning, and suicide attempts,” […]

Topics Include: 

Crisis Intervention  |  Behavior Management |  Substance Abuse |  Mental Health |  Bullying Prevention |  Social Media Use |  Stress Reduction |  Conflict Resolution |  Human Development |  Wendy’s Personal Road to Recovery

“Wendy is well known and highly regarded here at the Hudson River Teacher Center, one of 129 teacher centers in New York State providing high quality professional development to educators. Her courses are extremely well received. Wendy’s is able to relate theory to “real world” practice and can adapt her instruction to individual needs and capacities without compromising content.”-read more- “

Kathleen Batchelor
Director of the Hudson River Teachers Center
BOCES, Yorktown Heights NY 

“The evaluations from the staff all say excellent and that we should do this again. As we discussed we have had some very difficult challenges unifying the teaching staff, working with child behavior and managing staff burnout. Your presentation was exactly what we needed. I know after the sessions the staff was very excited about going forward Thanks again for a terrific presentation. You will hear from us soon!”-read more- ”

Barbara McPhillips
Readiness Principal
The New York Institute for Special Education

 

“I wanted to let you know how inspirational I think you are! You use just the right words and tone to get messages across. Although you were with us for only two days you made such a deep personal impact on me. My fellow teachers all feel the same”.

Holly C
Teacher Participant

 

“As a Speech Pathologist and director and facilitator of the Mentor/Intern Program at Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES for many years, it was my privilege and pleasure to work with Wendy Van Buren. I was continually amazed at Wendy’s ability to “read” a group. Wendy is a compassionate, insightful presenter, who I feel honored to have worked with.” -read more-“

Cynthia Kopscay,
Director of Yorktown BOCES Speech Pathologist Mentor/Intern Training Program.

“Wendy Van Buren was recommended as a speaker for our monthly team meeting of Red Cross volunteer emergency service workers. She appropriately addressed the many issues among our group of volunteers. She shared her amazing insight on personalities, relationships, and effective communication and most importantly how to manage our stress. Volunteers were engaged and actively participated. She is an absolute gem!”  -read more- “

Andrew Sindell, 
Manager-Volunteer Resources and Youth Services, 
American Red Cross-Metro NY North Chapter