October Community Update
Have you ever looked at your calendar and realized that several things you’ve been working toward are suddenly happening at once?
That’s how this season feels for me. There are new conversations on the horizon, a podcast I’ve been preparing to share, and an opportunity to connect with fellow trauma survivors in a space that means a great deal to me.
As I’ve been thinking about all of this, I’ve also been reconsidering how we stay connected here. I want what lands in your inbox to be useful, relevant, and worth your time. More on that in a moment.
Before We Go Any Further, Let Me Introduce Myself
If this is your first time here, welcome. And if you’ve been here for a while, I’m glad you’re back.
I’m Cyndi Bennett, a trauma-informed career coach and founder of the Resilient Career Academy™.
After spending more than 25 years navigating the corporate world, I understand how deeply our professional experiences can shape the way we see ourselves. I also understand how complex trauma can influence the choices we make, the opportunities we pursue, and the expectations we place on ourselves.
Let’s Connect: What’s Coming Up
Navigating work and life with complex trauma can feel isolating.
Connecting with people who understand can remind us that we don’t have to figure everything out on our own.
That sense of community matters to me, and I want to keep creating opportunities for us to learn from and support one another.
Here are a few ways we can connect in the weeks ahead:
Sunday: A Live Conversation With Patrick LaRose
I’m so excited to be going live with Patrick LaRose, host of The Second Shift, to talk about how trauma triggers show up at work and how they can shape the trajectory of our careers.
Patrick and I share a deep appreciation for nurses and others in the medical community. If you’re a nurse, first responder, or healthcare professional, I hope you’ll join us for a conversation about the ways trauma can affect our working lives.
Join us live in the Substack app on Sunday, October 25, at 1 p.m. CDT / 2 p.m. EDT. We look forward to seeing you there!
Tuesday, October 27: The Resilient Career with Cyndi Bennett | CPTSD, Trauma, & Resilience at Work Podcast Launches
Why does work feel so hard when you know you’re capable?
If you’ve ever spiraled after feedback from your boss, overthought an interaction, or struggled to set a boundary, you know that complex trauma doesn’t stay neatly outside the office.
That’s what we’ll explore on The Resilient Career with Cyndi Bennett | CPTSD, Trauma, & Resilience at Work, podcast launching Tuesday, October 27.
As a career coach and trauma survivor, I’ll bring both my professional experience and my lived understanding to conversations about workplace triggers, difficult managers, people-pleasing, boundaries, and career confidence.
My hope is that these conversations help you understand the patterns beneath your professional life so you can make choices that support both your career and your well-being.
Your past may be part of your story. It doesn’t have to write the rest of your career.
Speaking at the Healing Together Conference 2027
I’m also preparing to speak at the Healing Together Conference 2027, a gathering for people living with dissociative identity disorder (DID) and those who support them.
This opportunity is personal for me. I live with a DID diagnosis, and I’m grateful for the chance to bring together my lived experience and my work as a trauma-informed career coach.
One question at the heart of my work is: What might become possible when we stop assuming the ways we struggle mean we are incapable, and start understanding what our systems need to succeed?
My presentation is Building a Career That Fits the Whole System: A Practical Guide for Plural People and Those Who Support Them.
I‘ll have a table there to promote The Resilient Career Academy, so please consider this a personal invitation to visit me in person. I would treasure an opportunity to connect.
The conference takes place February 26–28, 2027, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, with virtual attendance available.
Presentation time to be announced.
In Case You Missed It
Recently, we’ve been exploring the many ways complex trauma can shape our working lives, from workplace triggers and professional identity to what we want from our careers beyond simply getting through the day.
We’ve also looked at how these patterns can show up in caring professions, including nursing.
If you missed an article or want to revisit a topic that spoke to you, you can catch up in the Resilient Career Academy publication.
Inside the Resilient Career Academy
I’m planning upcoming webinars for the Resilient Career Academy, and I’d love your help deciding what to offer first. My goal is to focus on what you’re navigating right now and give you practical strategies to take your next step. Here is a list of topics I am considering:
When Work Triggers You: Recognize the Pattern and Find Your Next Step
Boundaries at Work When Saying No Feels Unsafe
Beyond Survival: Figuring Out What You Want From Your Career
When Your Business Triggers You: Recognize the Pattern and Find Your Next Step
These are potential topics, with dates and details still to come. Paid subscribers can attend these webinars at no additional cost. Free subscribers are welcome to register for a fee.
Cast your vote below to help shape what we explore next. There’s no deadline to share your preference. Your vote will help shape upcoming webinars, whenever you find this issue.
Not seeing what you need here? Message me and let me know what you’re navigating or what you’d like us to explore. I’d love to hear from you.
You can explore the Resilient Career Academy membership here.
One Question for You: What Would Make These Emails Most Valuable?
As the podcast launches and this community grows, I’ve been thinking about the role of this newsletter.
I’ve considered moving to a monthly roundup, so you have one place to catch up on recent content and see what’s coming next. But I’ve also been reminded that connection isn’t just about how often an email arrives. It’s also about feeling understood, finding something that helps, and knowing you’re part of a community where you don’t have to navigate these experiences alone.
Rather than making that decision without you, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
When you open an email from me, what do you most hope to find?
Is it a personal story, a practical strategy you can try at work, a deeper exploration of CPTSD and careers, a podcast recommendation, or news about opportunities to connect?
And how often would hearing from me feel genuinely useful?
You can simply reply to this email. I read your responses, and they’ll help me decide how to make our time together here more meaningful.
Thank you for being here and for helping shape this community. Whether you join a conversation, share what’s on your mind, or quietly read along, I’m glad you’re part of it.
Take good care of yourself. I look forward to hearing from you.
Warmly,
Cyndi