Public Speaking and Training
As an international speaker with a passion for inspiring and empowering audiences, I’ve had the privilege of delivering keynotes on a variety of impactful topics.
From exploring the power of cultural responsiveness and the complexities of trauma recovery to addressing leadership, innovation, and survivor-led solutions, each engagement is an opportunity to connect our communities across disciplines and backgrounds. I’m committed to sparking meaningful conversations that challenge perspectives and drive lasting change. Below are a few examples of the keynote topics I’ve presented as well as fresh ideas I look forward to sharing at your next event.
Keynote Topics
Examples of Keynotes I’ve presented. All keynote topics are available, so reach out to book with me today.
Ideological Power: How Problem-Definition Can Clip the Wings of Our Solutions
Beyond a Medical Model: Forging Pathways of Healing
Complex Intersections | Survivor-Led Solutions
Cultural Responsiveness: Supporting Multigenerational Well-Being
Empowered Promotoras Building Communities Beyond Trauma
Recovery is Multidimensional
Improving Care for Survivors of Trauma and Intimate Partner Violence
Linking Arms, Linking Hearts: Weaving Webs of Care and Healing
Rivers Running to the Ocean: Gender-Based Violence and Its Traumatic Effects
Spiritual Worldviews: An Evolving Frontier in Cultural Responsiveness
Spotify Playlist of Featured Podcasts
Youtube Playlist of Featured Podcasts
Gabriela’s Interviews, Podcast Appearances, and Subject Matter Expert Speaking
Gabor Maté on The Myth of Normal | Interview with Gabriela Zapata-Alma
Check out this compelling conversation with internationally renowned physician and author Dr. Gabor Maté, interviewed by Gabriela Zapata-Alma, LCSW, CADC, at the University of Chicago's Crown Family School of Social Work. This thought-provoking dialogue explores key themes from Dr. Maté’s bestselling book, The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture.
Expert Reacts: Gabriela Zapata-Alma on NBC Discussing Ye’s Video Targeting Pete Davidson
On March 4, 2022, NBC’s Top Story with Tom Llamas covered the public controversy surrounding Kanye "Ye" West’s music video depicting violent acts against comedian Pete Davidson. As concerns about the normalization of gender-based violence and mental health implications grew, NBC invited Gabriela Zapata-Alma, LCSW, CADC, to offer expert commentary.
In this segment, Gabriela discusses the broader implications of media depictions of violence—particularly in the context of power, control, and public influence—and offers a trauma-informed perspective on behavioral health and accountability.
Supporting Survivors: Best Practices for Mental Health Care
IPV Expert Panel Discussion
How can mental health clinicians best support survivors of intimate partner violence without causing further harm?
As part of NTTAC's 5-part series in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (Oct. 2023), Gabriela Zapata-Alma opens with a brief presentation on best mental health care practices at the intersection of trauma, mental health, and intimate partner violence. Following the presentation, Gabriela is joined by a panel of experienced clinicians and they discuss real-world strategies and insights for working with survivors and families, including children and youth exposed to violence.
Whether you're a therapist, counselor, or advocate, this discussion offers practical guidance for creating safe, empowering, and healing-centered care.
Gabriela presents on SUDs & Trauma - Great Lakes ATTC's Take 10! Transforming Care for Women w/SUD & Their Families
The Great Lakes Addiction Technology Transfer Center's Take 10! Transforming Care for Women w/SUD & Their Families is a dynamic series improving substance use disorder care for women and their families.
This 30-minute session featuring Gabriela Zapata-Alma, LCSW, CADC, explores the critical intersections of substance use disorders (SUDs) and trauma in the lives of women and their families.
Created as part of the Great Lakes Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) year-long series on women and SUDs, this session highlights the emotional, physical, and socioeconomic factors that uniquely shape women’s experiences in treatment and recovery. Gabriela provides a trauma-informed, gender-responsive lens on care delivery, and shares practical insights for providers seeking to improve outcomes for women affected by both substance use and trauma.
Great Lakes Current Checking In Podcast (Ep.9): PTSD Treatment Providers Series with Gabriela Zapata-Alma.
Audio Only – Listen wherever you podcast!
Frequent Co-Presenters and Co-Authors
Please check out my colleagues below, whom I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with on many projects and written works.
Tori Wynecoop, LSW
Tori (she/her) was born and raised on the Spokane Indian Reservation by her grandmother, mother, aunts, and cousins. Rooted in the strength of her matriarchal lineage, she recognized the power of intergenerational wisdom and community care from an early age. These teachings have guided her lifelong advocacy for survivors of gender-based violence.
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Tori’s advocacy journey began during her undergraduate studies in response to the #MeToo movement, when she founded a sexual assault support group that created a safe space for survivors, helping shift campus culture. Upon graduating, she returned home and served as a Domestic Violence Advocate for the Spokane Tribe of Indians, assisting survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, teen dating violence, stalking, and elder abuse. Motivated to expand her impact, Tori completed a Master of Social Work from the University of Chicago’s Crown Family School of Social Work, focusing on Global Social Development.
Today, Tori continues to expand her work helping communities address gender-based violence. Currently serving as the Training and Technical Assistance Manager at the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health, her work centers Indigenous Harm Reduction and the intersections of domestic violence, sexual assault, mental health, and substance use. She frequently trains on trauma-informed, culturally responsive practices for service providers and tribal nations across Turtle Island. Previously, she provided SAMHSA-funded training and technical assistance to tribal nations addressing youth suicide, mental health, and substance use, using Indigenous methodologies to build sustainable programs.
Across all of her work, Tori remains committed to addressing the ongoing impacts of colonization and dismantling institutional harm at individual, community, and systemic levels. She believes in the strength of community-driven solutions and centers Indigenous voices in efforts to heal, restore, and protect.
Amanda Lyon, MSW
Amanda (she/they) is known for creating welcoming, trauma-informed learning environments that foster reflection, connection, and growth. With 20+ years of experience, she brings a grounded presence to her work supporting integration across disciplines—especially at the intersections of domestic and sexual violence, behavioral health, and holistic healing.
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She currently serves as a Training and Technical Assistance Specialist at the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health, leading the Survivor Health Connections project. With a deep commitment to empowering survivors and their families, Amanda develops comprehensive training and implementation resources tailored for behavioral health providers, domestic violence and sexual assault programs, hotlines, and coalitions. Her work aims to increase service access and effectiveness, ensuring survivors receive the support they need on their journey toward healing and empowerment.
Amanda holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Alaska, Anchorage. Her commitment to culturally responsive care was shaped in part by her work as a Rural Grant Specialist with the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, where she partnered with Alaska Native communities to support holistic, community-led services.
Amanda brings over two decades of experience as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and certified yoga instructor, integrating trauma-informed principles, mindfulness, and compassion-based practices into her classes. She has developed and led trainings rooted in embodied healing, mindfulness, and interconnection, and served as Ayurvedic Director and Instructor for programs in California, Wisconsin, and Alaska. Amanda’s work is guided by a deep respect for lived experience, collective wisdom, and the transformative power of presence.
Jami Wilson, TCADC
Jami (she/her) is a seasoned trainer, counselor, and advocate with nearly two decades of experience supporting people impacted by gender-based violence, substance use disorders, and human trafficking. Known for her trauma-informed, survivor-centered approach, Jami brings a unique blend of clinical expertise, direct service experience, and systems-level thinking to her work.
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Her career spans a wide range of settings—from harm reduction and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs to national technical assistance centers and grassroots anti-trafficking initiatives—making her a trusted resource for professionals navigating complex, intersecting issues.
Jami currently serves as a Training and Technical Assistance Specialist at the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health (NCDVTMH). In this role, she leads the development and delivery of training, curricula, and tools that address the intersections of domestic and sexual violence, substance use and coercion, opioid use disorder, and human trafficking. She partners with domestic violence coalitions, behavioral health providers, family support services, and other sectors to promote best practices in supporting survivors with multifaceted needs.
Prior to NCDVTMH, Jami provided national technical assistance to human trafficking programs, including work with Indigenous communities, delivered direct services to both domestic and foreign-national survivors through the Bakhita Empowerment Initiative, and provided counseling in MAT programs. Jami holds a BA in Biology with a minor in Spanish and a Certificate in Latin American Studies from the University of Louisville. She is passionate about advancing equity in survivor services and uplifting voices at the margins of traditional care systems.