News & Events
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Time: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EDT
Public safety professionals and veterans are often skilled at recognizing trauma in others but struggle to recognize it in themselves. Many dismiss their own experiences because they were not exposed to a single catastrophic event or because they believe someone else has had it worse.
This webinar introduces the proposed concept of Imposter Trauma, a framework that explores how workplace culture, leadership, and everyday interactions can influence whether people believe their own psychological distress is legitimate. Drawing on current research, lived experience, and examples from military and public safety settings, the session explores how trauma comparisons, self-silencing, and organizational culture can shape help-seeking and psychological well-being.
Participants will leave with practical ideas for recognizing these patterns, supporting others without comparison, and fostering workplace cultures where psychological injuries are acknowledged with dignity and people feel safe asking for help.
This event is presented in English with the option of French subtitles.
Learning objectives
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
1. Recognize how trauma comparisons can become a barrier to well-being and help-seeking.
Understand why many people minimize their own psychological distress because they believe someone else’s trauma is more legitimate or deserving of support, and how these comparisons can delay recognition, disclosure, and recovery.
2. Describe how workplace culture influences psychological safety.
Recognize how leaders, peers, and organizational culture shape perceptions of trauma, and identify ways to create environments where people feel safe acknowledging psychological distress without fear of judgment or comparison.
3. Apply practical strategies to reduce self-silencing and foster supportive workplaces.
Identify practical approaches to validating psychological distress, encouraging earlier conversations about mental health, and promoting workplace cultures where people feel supported without having to prove their pain is “bad enough.”
Presenter
Emily Rowe, CD [Canadian Forces’ Decoration]
Emily recently completed her Honours Bachelor of Public Safety at Wilfrid Laurier University. A member of the Canadian military and public safety communities, her research focuses on psychological health, moral injury, institutional courage, leadership, and organizational culture. Emily developed the proposed concept of Imposter Trauma, which describes how people may minimize or dismiss their own psychological distress because they believe others have experienced more legitimate or deserving forms of trauma. Through her research and presentations, she aims to bridge research and practice by advancing psychologically safer workplaces and fostering organizational cultures where people feel seen, supported, and able to seek help without comparison.