Speaking Engagements

Therapy for the Soul, One Ruin at a Time

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Dr. Chad Scott delivers keynote presentations and workshops that blend psychological insight, lived experience, and global exploration. Whether you're a university, travel symposium, mental health organization, or grief-focused community, Chad crafts compelling talks that challenge and inspire.

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Rooted in the themes of his critically acclaimed book Beyond the Darkness, his talks explore how visiting sites of suffering—from genocide memorials to battlefields, cemeteries to prisons—can transform grief, reframe trauma, and help us find purpose through history.

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With decades of experience as a therapist, educator, and transplant survivor, Chad brings a rare mix of intellect, empathy, and personal grit to the stage. This isn’t just a talk—it’s an invitation to reflect, remember, and rise.

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Signature Speaking Topics

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🔷 Dark Tourism & Healing

• How sites of tragedy help us confront grief and mortality

• The psychology behind our attraction to dark places

• Ethical storytelling: reverence vs. exploitation

• From Auschwitz to Alcatraz—lessons from the world’s scars

• Finding personal light through history’s darkest chapters

 

🔷 Transformative Travel & Grief

• Why discomfort, novelty, and purpose change the brain

• Travel as exposure therapy: facing the unfamiliar to heal the internal

• Navigating trauma through movement, place, and meaning

• Stories of growth, survival, and clarity from the edge

 

🔷 Beyond the Book: Mental Health, Systems & Social Impact

While Beyond the Darkness is grounded in reflective travel and trauma healing, Dr. Scott also brings 25+ years of experience in psychotherapy, crisis response, and criminal justice reform. Upon request, presentations can include insight on:

• The criminalization of mental illness

• Narrative therapy for grief and post-traumatic growth

• Health psychology and transplant recovery

• Compassion fatigue and emotional resilience in care work

 

Let’s Make Something Powerful Together

Each keynote or workshop is fully customized to meet your audience's needs. Whether you're organizing a mental health summit, academic conference, travel event, or private retreat, Chad brings substance, heart, and unforgettable presence.

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📅 Speaking Fees & Booking Info

Fees are scaled by scope and location:
Local · Regional · National · International

👉 Contact Dr. Chad Scott directly:
📧 cscott@mesabacare.com
📞 1-218-290-7301

Discounts available for select local or nonprofit events.