Terry L. Wise, J.D.

TESTIMONIALS FOR SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

National ALS Association
Mary Lyon, RN, MN, Vice President, Patient Services

Terry L. Wise, J.D. was invited to speak at the General Session Keynote Presentation... She is a powerful and caring speaker...The overall response...was unanimous — Ms. Wise gave an honest, insightful, helpful presentation...To quote directly from comments we received:

• Terry's presentation was phenomenal! She presented the challenges of living and caring for someone with ALS with honesty, humility, humor and hope. There is life during and after ALS.

• Excellent presentation! Terry's honesty and courage are to be applauded. Her perspective is a vital lesson for professionals.

Columbia University, Teachers College

Barry A. Farber, PhD
Professor; Director of Clinical Training
Program Coordinator, Clinical Psychology

"Wise...presented...at a colloquium sponsored by the clinical psychology program at Teachers College, Columbia University. The very strong consensus among those who attended was that this was the single best colloquium event we'd had in at least a decade...I hope she'll speak to our group every year...I can't imagine any mental health-related presentation to be more powerful or more memorable."

Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology

John Kalafat, PhD, Professor

Past President, American Association of Suicidology

"I, along with the rest of the audience, was riveted...The presentation was ...emotionally compelling...extraordinarily informative, particularly in regard to the client's experience of psychotherapy...I have recommended [Waking Up] to colleagues and have adopted it as one of the readings for my graduate course on helping interventions. Whether you are a layperson, a teacher, or a therapist, if you have an opportunity to listen to and talk with Terry about her journey, don't pass it up."

National Center for Death Education

Carol Wogrin, Psy.D., RN, Director

"...one of the rare teachers who combines her personal experience with an understanding of the professional literature in the field...[Terry] is a captivating speaker...who talks about difficult material with both sensitivity and humor...Articulate and compelling, she is a gift to all of us who care for those coping with death and grief."

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American Association of Suicidology

Lanny Berman, PhD, ABPP, Executive Director

Author, Comprehensive Textbook of Suicidology (2000)

Professor, American University

"What makes Terry...remarkable is that she did not rest with her writing, so often the cathartic process that turns the author’s tragedy into some resting sense of peace and acceptance.  Rather, Terry has embarked on a...career as a public speaker, teacher, and model for recovery...She is an extraordinary and compelling presenter."

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Central Washington University, WA

Scott Drummond

Director, Campus Activities

Associate Director, Campus Life and the Student Union

“Terry Wise…presented to our Health and Counseling Center Staff and then to the students and the community…Following her visit…students and health professionals spoke with me to voice their sincere appreciation for Terry and their desire to have her return.  Our Wellness Director was particularly impressed by Terry's wealth of information and her presentation style.  So much that she has expressed interest to me in having Terry return to CWU to help train her student programmers, professional staff and the student leaders and resident advisors of University Housing..."

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American Psychiatric Nurse's Association, NE

Heather M. Wilhelm, MSN, APRN-C, President

“Terry agreed to be the keynote speaker for [our] conference…The conference topic was suicide and self-harm, and Terry was phenomenal with her approach to these two topics. She offered valuable information and…a personal story of hope…[Terry] is captivating...I can only hope to work with her again in the future."

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Rabbi Harold S. Kushner

Best-selling author, When Bad Things Happen to Good People

"When Terry lectures on her experience overcoming depression and the temptation to suicide, she not only stirs the emotions of her audience.  She invariably moves several people to come up to her afterward and tell her of their own experiences, and how heartened they were to learn of her victory over depression. In her book, in her talks, in the example of her own life, I am convinced that she saves lives and pulls people out of the darkness that envelopes them."

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NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), Ohio

Sally Fiehrer, Executive Director

"Mental health professionals, family members and consumers of mental health services all left the conference with renewed hope and practical coping skills...[Terry is] uniquely set apart from other public speakers."

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Quality Review Services (QRS), Mental Health Consumer Organization

Charlene Hall, LSW, Director

"This was the most successful Mental Health Conference in Fairfield since I became involved about 18 years ago...On behalf [of the audience], and for the hopefulness you gave [us], thank you, thank you, thank you.  When your days of travel are difficult and you believe you could not be more fatigued, remember us and know that it is all worth it."

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NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), PA

Miki Hammond, Executive Director

"[Wise] speaks poignantly to those of us who are struggling with mental illness, as well as to the professionals and family members who want so much to understand and help...She brings a remarkable sense of "normalcy" to mental illness, making it seem plausible that...anyone can commit to the work required to get well."

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Northeastern University

Nancy Sharby, PT, MS

Professor, Psychosocial Aspects of Health Care

"Terry is a riveting speaker who is able to bring the listener into her personal experiences with depression.  She tells her story with deep insight, profound honesty and clarity of thought." 

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Mental Health Association of Colorado

"Terry Wise was the keynote speaker at our Wing's of Hope Suicide Prevention conference recently.  Terry's ability to connect with the audience as she told her story impacted the people in attendance.  Terry had something to say to everyone in the audience that was made up of survivors, providers, advocates, school personnel and funders.  The audience spoke of Terry's remarks being healing for them and I think this is the ultimate gift a speaker can give an audience."

Jeanne M. Rohner, Executive Director
Mental Health Association of Colorado

Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse

Alexandria Community Services Board, Alexandria, VA

"...Ms. Wise surpassed all expectations for wit, depth, utility of information and humor!  She held our participants' attention for the entire time and everyone appreciated her humility and courageousness in sharing her personal story.

To quote from the comments we received:

• I am a retiring psychologist.  I wish I had heard this presentation earlier.

• Held my complete attention the entire day, which is a first for trainings.

• Terry should run for a political or other leadership position so that she can help more people.  Caregivers need her!

• Brave, revealing and inspiring!

...[Terry Wise] is a fabulous speaker and her presentation format is unique and highly effective.   If you have the chance to bring her to your group or organization - don’t miss it."

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Muscular Dystrophy Association, Honolulu, Hawaii

ALS Awareness & Wellness Conference

[Keynote telecast to six remote sites:  Maui Memorial Hospital, University of Hawaii Center at West Hawaii, Univeristy of HI at Hilo, Samuel Mahelona Hospital, Shriner's Hospital, and Windward Community College]

"As I look back at the highlights of this past year, one that shines brightly is your visit to Hawaii...On behalf of [MDA]...and the 500 families in Hawaii served by the Association, I would like to thank you for delivering a powerful keynote address…[You] became the voice of the local people surviving this dreadful disease...The experiences you described made us cry, made us laugh, but most importantly, gave us a collective sense of determination to be able to cope with ALS."

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NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) of Cayuga Country, NY

Cayuga County Suicide Task Force

Mental Health Subcommittee of Cayuga County

Terri Wasilenko, Chair

"...Wise held the attention of more than 150 social workers, therapists, families and recipients of mental health services...Terry Wise is a courageous woman passionately sharing her life experiences to make a difference in the lives of others...[An] inspiring presentation...Terry is a treasure for all of us! "

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Naomi Ruth Cohen Charitable Foundation

Fifth Annual Community Mental Health Conference

There were approximately 300 mental health professionals, consumers, family members and interested lay public in attendance...Here is a sampling of their comments:

• Fabulous...could have listened for hours more.

• Tremendous—the right mix of her own history and what needed to be said.

• The honesty, as she shared her story, was extremely helpful to me.  She is highly articulate and knowledgeable.  God bless you Terry.

Partnership to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse

"You delivered a powerful message in an eloquent, articulate, and insightful way. Your skillful use of humor helped the audience take in the horror and yet not be crushed by all they heard...Your powerful words not only break [the] silence but strengthen our resolve to prevent other children from sharing your trauma."

The Samaritans of Boston

Roberta Hurtig, Executive Director
Co-Chair, Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention

"I have had the pleasure of listening to Terry Wise speak at the State House Event sponsored by the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention... I was tremendously moved by her...abilities as a speaker... The way Terry connects with her audience on both an emotional and intellectual level is a true gift."

George Stricker, Ph.D.
Past President, Division of Clinical Psychology, American Psychological Association
Past President, New York State Psychological Association
Author, Comprehensive Handbook of Psychotherapy Integration
Professor, The Derner Institute, Adelphi University

"It is rare to find a person who so well captures the interest of the audience and does so without compromising the quality of the material that is presented... any group that would ask [Wise] to speak is in for a rare treat."

Harvard Medical School Psychiatric Facility  -  McLean Hospital

Dear Terry and Dr. Glaser,

On behalf of MDDA-Boston, I would like to thank you for an exceptionally well delivered presentation that was exceptionally well received. Terry, your variation of the Phoenix myth is an inspiration to all, and especially to those who have flirted with extinction. Dr. Glaser's eloquent candor in describing the therapeutic relationship, and the reciprocity it necessarily entails served to illustrate the human and compassionate side of an obviously skilled and caring therapist.

Once again, many thanks for generously sharing your wit and wisdom.

Sincerely,
Steven Lappen, President
Manic Depressive and Depressive Association of Boston

ALS Association, MA Chapter

Judith E. Teplow, MSW, Director of Patient & Caregiver Services

"In the 13 years I have coordinated conferences, I have never heard a speaker as dynamic, inspirational and versatile...Any organization would be fortunate to have Terry Wise as a speaker!"

National Women's Health Resource Center, Inc.
Amy Niles, President and CEO

"You are truly remarkable, and a terrific spokesperson. Your work, no doubt, has already touched the lives of millions of women. The work that you do will result in more and more women seeking the treatment they so very need."

Mount Sinai Medical Center

Department of Neurology & ALS/MDA Team
Dale J. Lange, M.D., Director, Nancy Xenakis, CSW, MS, Social Worker

"[This] forum was well attended by health care professionals, caregivers, and patients...We received very positive feedback from all of our attendees about...how helpful your tools for coping and recovery were.... As health care professionals, your presentation provided us with new insights and concrete methods that we can incorporate into our practice to provide the most effective services that we can to both patients and caregivers...You truly have a gift for speaking and inspiring others."

Denise Pazur

Editor, Advancing Suicide Prevention
Point De Vue Public Relations, LLC
AAS Member and Survivor

"I was moved beyond words by your honest and courageous presentation at the American Association of Suicidology conference. Many thanks...for this powerful and thought provoking session, one I sense will have many ripples within the prevention community..."

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