Sherry Cardinal, LCSW, DAAETS
- Member, International Premier Speakers and Trainers Bureau
- Member, American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress
- Owner & CEO, CISM International, and Diamond S Ranch Counseling
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Diplomate, American Accademy of Experts in Traumatic Stress
Experience Matters!
Sherry Cardinal, LCSW, DAAETS, holds credentials in Texas since 1986 as a
Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She is also been recognized by the American
Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress with the Diplomate credential for her
expereince and contributions to the field of traumatic stress.
Sherry has over 45 years of experience as a therapist in private practice,
personal coach and corporate consultant for Critical Incident Stress
Management.
Sherry was previously the Clinical Director of the Fort Bend County Sheriff's
Office CISM Team, the Emergency Ministries ACIRT Team (ICISF certified team)
and the Xena Project for Military Veterans.
Education & Training
Sherry Cardinal, LCSW holds both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Work
degrees from McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and a Master's
Degree in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling from Trinity College of
Graduate Studies, Anaheim, California.
Sherry has over 200 hrs of specialized training in treating Acute and Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder and advanced training in Critical Incident Stress
Management and Corporate Crisis Response.
Sherry Cardinal is a member of the International Critical Incident Stress
Foundation.
She has also been certified in Basic Offshore Survival and Emergency Training
which includes: Helicopter Underwater Escape, Sea Survival, Basic Life Support,
Breathing Apparatus and Fire Fighting.
Practice Specialties
Throughout her professional career as a therapist, Sherry Cardinal has
specialized in treating people coping with Depression, Bi-Polar and Anxiety
Disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Reactions, domestic violence, rape and abuse.
Also, general growth and development issues involving life transitions, grief
and pet bereavement. Her practice now consist primarily of first responders;
police, fire, ems, and dispatchers. She is also an ordained minister and
provides pastoral care services when requested.
Having Indigenous, Metis, descent, Sherry weaves the stories and prayers of her heritage into her clinical practice, especially when dealing with intergenerational trauma.
In 2000, at the request of a major drilling company in the Houston area, Sherry
designed and implemented a Critical Incident Stress Management program to serve
the offshore community. These services were utilized by Transocean during the
Deepwater Horizon (gulf oil spill) disaster.
A dynamic and thought provoking speaker, Sherry does workshops and seminars on
Stress Management and CISM Training, Culture Innovations in Safety Management
and related topics.
In 2000, as a natural extension of her clinical expertise in Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder, Critical Incident Stress Management became the backbone of the
personal coaching and business consulting Sherry does.
Sherry has also been a founder and Executive Director of several non-profit
social service agencies, including the Fort Bend Women's Center and Rape Crisis
Programs in Richmond, Texas and the Domestic Violence Association in Santa
Clarita California.
WORKSHOPS, PRESENTATIONS AND SEMINAR TOPICS AND DESCRIPTIONS
Second Hand Shock
Describes how first responders and military personnel are at risk for
cumulative stress injury and why, the symptoms they may experience, the
associated risks for suicide as well as prevention and treatment options.
Includes a Power Point Presentation.
Stress Management Screening Workshop
Gets down to the personal level of what kinds of stress and symptoms you
experience. Tools include individual stress screening, stress management tools
and a plan of action. This is particularly good for audiences that could
benefit from increased self awareness and overcoming resistance in how they
view their need for stress management.
Deepwater Horizon: How CISM was Applied and Lessons Learned
This provides my inside story on how my company, CISM International, provided
CISM services to Transocean personnel, survivors and the families of the 11
deceased crew members of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig. Even though it's 6
years past, the messages and warnings are even more relevent now, especially given
that a movie will be released in 2016 depicting the Gulf of Mexico oil spill
tragedy. This was presented at the 2012 World Congress of Stress, Trauma and
Coping for the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation. Includes a
Power Point presentation.
Fort Hood: The Aftermath and the Fight for Victim Justice
Another inside story on how I provided "stealth' CISM services to Sgt.
Kimberly Munley (the civilian police officer who stopped the rampage of the
Fort Hood terrorist while being shot 3 times herself). This compelling story
traces not only the gun battle between Sgt. Munley and the shooter but also our
fight to get the victims their rightful military benefits which were denied as
the incident was classified as 'workplace violence'. This story is still
ongoing as not all the benefits have been awarded!
This was presented by myself and Sgt. Munley at the 2014 World Congress of
Stress, Trauma and Coping for the International Critical Incident Stress
Foundation. Sgt. Munley may also be available to present this with me at future
engagements. Includes a Power Point Presentation.
You Name It!
If you need a workshop or presentation for your group on any angle of critical
incident stress management, talk to me! I am pretty creative when it comes to
customizing the topic for particular needs. I also have several law enforcemnt
and CISM experienced guest speakers that can also be included that add a extra
dimension to the presentation.
REVIEWS
"I have had the extreme pleasure of having Sherry Cardinal as a guest speaker at
our 2014 Southeast Georgia and Coastal Empire Civil Support Seminar. Sherry
presented a session on Critical Incident Stress Management – Second Hand Shock,
to an audience of 150 people ranging from Federal, State and Local agencies and
communities. She brought to the forefront who is at risk and some of the
personal and professional factors that may affect our emergency responders. It
also opened the eyes of most leaders as to what to look for in their response
personnel. Sherry is a professional that believes service to others is more
important than service to self. I have had many positive comments come back
from her presentation from mayors, city/county administrators and police/fire
chiefs. I would call on Sherry again in a second if I ever had to discuss this
type of subject with any other group. Thank you Sherry - for your time,
professionalism and your compassion for others." Tony Fleeger, CEM, Emergency
and Contingency Planning Officer, U.S. Army.
"Since becoming Sheriff in 2013, we have offered counseling and CISM for
our employees as well as other agency's employees at all critical incidents.
While Captain Carter leads this team, we couldn't do it without Sherry
Cardinal. I was honored to officially recognize her yesterday. Sherry, you are
a tremendous asset to FBCSO. Thank you." Sheriff Troy Nehls, Fort Bend
County Sheriff's Office.
"Sherry provided me with invaluable support in developing a Critical
Incident Stress Management Team at the Sheriff's Office...she has willingly
dedicated her professional counseling skills to the employees of the Fort Bend
County Sheriff's Office and local agencies...Sherry provided the foundation
upon which I would construct our team " Captain Matt Carter, FBCSO.
PAST ORGANIZATIONAL CONSULTATIONS, TRAINING AND INTERVIEWS
Wild Well Control
Blowout Tools
Superior Energy
CSI Technologies
Transocean Deepwater Offshore
Ensco/Pride International
Parker Drilling
Quail Tools
Nabors Drilling
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation
World Congress on Stress, Trauma and Coping: Deepwater Horizon Incident
Gus George Law Enforcement Academy
Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office CISM Team - Clinical Director
Emergency Ministries - Clinical Director
Sugar Land Police Department CISM Team - Clinical Consultant
Fort Stewart, Georgia - 2014 Southeast Georgia and Coastal Empire Civil Support Seminar
Fort Hood Survivors Support
Xena Project for Military Veterans