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About

Chad Scott, PhD is a psychotherapist, author, and explorer whose work sits at the intersection of human suffering and human resilience. A liver-transplant survivor and former college educator, he transformed personal collapse into a global inquiry—walking through Auschwitz, Hiroshima, the Paris Catacombs, prisons, battlefields, and forgotten places not as a tourist, but as a clinician asking hard questions about meaning, trauma, and survival.

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His book Beyond the Darkness has earned award recognition and a deeply engaged readership for reshaping how dark tourism is understood—not as spectacle, but as a psychological and ethical pilgrimage. Blending the voice of a seasoned therapist with the spirit of an explorer, Dr. Scott does not offer inspiration from a distance. He stands in the ruins, tells the truth, and explores what it actually takes to endure, reckon, and come back changed.

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Dr. Scott delivers keynote presentations and workshops that integrate psychological insight, lived experience, and global exploration. Whether addressing universities, museums, mental health organizations, or grief-focused communities, his talks challenge audiences while remaining grounded, humane, and reflective.

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Rooted in the themes of Beyond the Darkness, his presentations examine how visiting sites of suffering—from genocide memorials and battlefields to cemeteries and prisons—can transform grief, reframe trauma, and deepen meaning through history.

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With decades of experience as a therapist, educator, and transplant survivor, Chad brings a rare blend of intellect, empathy, and personal grit to the stage. This is not just a talk. It is an invitation to reflect, remember, and rise.

 

Reflective Dark Tourism Presentation

Brief Description

This presentation explores reflective dark tourism as a meaningful and ethical way of engaging with sites of death, tragedy, and human suffering. Drawing on psychology, philosophy, history, and personal experience, it reframes dark tourism not as morbid curiosity, but as a form of modern pilgrimage—one that fosters remembrance, empathy, moral reflection, and personal growth. The focus is not simply on where we go, but on who we become through what we witness.

 

Objectives

By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Understand dark tourism and its major categories, motivations, and ethical tensions

• Recognize the psychological impact of visiting sites of suffering, including memory, meaning-making, and post-traumatic growth

• Distinguish reflective engagement from voyeurism by emphasizing intention, reverence, and empathy

• Apply philosophical and therapeutic frameworks (logotherapy, Jungian shadow work, Stoicism, memento mori) to encounters with mortality

• Reflect on personal transformation and how witnessing suffering can deepen compassion, resilience, and moral clarity

 

Other Topics

Chad presents on a variety of topics related to meaningful travel, memory, trauma, resilience, and mental health. Custom topics available upon request.

 

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, museum program, travel event, or private retreat, Chad brings substance, presence, and lasting impact.

 

📅 Speaking Fees & Booking

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

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

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Discounts available for select local or nonprofit events.