A smiling woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a black top and cardigan, standing in front of beige curtains.
A woman giving a presentation to an audience in a conference room. A large screen behind her displays slides titled 'Stressors Vs. Stress' with bullet points about stress responses.

It’s Time to Do Something Different. It’s Time to End the Burnout Crisis.

MELISSA in ACTION

SIGNATURE SPEAKING TOPICS

KEYNOTE #1:

Taking Care of You: Break Free From Burnout

Those working in the helping professions tend to put everyone else’s needs before their own. This “me last” mentality is leading to significant burnout and compassion fatigue causing many to leave the helping professions altogether. Melissa provides valuable insights into recognizing and addressing burnout, understanding compassion fatigue and the importance of engaging regularly in meaningful self-care activities. You Matter!

This keynote speaks to those experiencing high levels of stress, struggling with burnout, and having difficulties with finding time for self-care. They will leave feeling inspired with a renewed sense of purpose.

Key Takeaways: 

  • Identify the signs and symptoms of burnout and compassion fatigue.

  • Understand the impact of stress on your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

  • Discover why self-care is essential for your survival and effectiveness in your work and personal life.

  • Explore practical and enjoyable self-care strategies that address your physical, mental, and emotional needs.

KEYNOTE #2

From Burnout to Balanced: Debunking Burnout Myths & What to Do Instead

Even those who teach about burnout prevention aren't immune to burnout itself. In this deeply personal and research-backed keynote, you'll discover why traditional approaches to preventing burnout often fail—and what actually works.

Through the lens of a life-changing journey on Spain's Camino de Santiago that included a broken arm, unexpected "Camino Angels," and profound loss, Melissa challenges five myths that keep helping professionals trapped in cycles of exhaustion and overwhelm. You'll learn why burnout doesn't actually come "out of nowhere," why perfect plans can become prisons, and why toxic positivity can lead to real breakdown.

Drawing from Harvard Medical School research on emotional agility and UC Berkeley's longitudinal studies on burnout patterns, this keynote provides evidence-based alternatives to common misconceptions about resilience, self-care, and professional sustainability.

This keynote is particularly powerful for audiences dealing with burnout, change fatigue, or the challenge of maintaining resilience while serving others.

Key Takeaways: 

  • How to recognize your body's early warning signals before burnout becomes inevitable.

  • Why adaptable plans open doors to unexpected opportunities when life derails your carefully crafted schedules.

  • The essential skill helpers rarely learn: how to receive help as gracefully as you give it.

  • How to distinguish between busy work and meaningful impact in your daily practice.

  • Why processing difficult emotions (rather than avoiding them) leads to better outcomes for both you and those you serve.

WORKSHOP #1

Breaking the Stress Cycle: A Science-Based Approach to Managing Stress and Preventing Burnout

This interactive workshop explores the critical difference between dealing with stressors and actually completing your body's stress response cycle. Based on the groundbreaking book from "Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle," participants will learn why traditional stress management often falls short and discover evidence-based strategies to break free from chronic stress patterns.

Through a blend of education, self-reflection, and practical skill-building, participants will gain a deeper understanding of their body's stress response and learn multiple techniques to signal safety to their nervous system, preventing the accumulation of incomplete stress cycles that lead to burnout.

This workshop is ideal for anyone who has struggled with stress management and is interested in learning research-based practical tools needed to break free from chronic stress and to build lasting resilience.

Length: 1 to 1 1/2 Hours

Key Takeaways: 

  • Understanding the stress response cycle and its impact on our physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.

  • Reasons we get stuck in the stress cycle.

  • Identify own physical, emotional and mental responses to stress.

  • Ways to complete the stress cycles.

  • Practical and effective strategies for stress reduction.

WORKSHOP #2

Recognizing & Combatting Unhelpful Thoughts

We all engage in thought processes that can make a situation feel more stressful than it needs to be. This session focuses on how your thoughts contribute to your stress level as well as identify the unhelpful thought patterns getting in your way. Learn specific strategies to combat these unhelpful thought patterns so we can engage in healthier thinking patterns.

Length: 1 to 1 1/2 Hours

Key Takeaways: 

  • Understanding how our thoughts contribute to our stress levels.

  • Identifying unhelpful thought patterns.

  • Strategies to combat these patterns.

WORKSHOP #3

Emotionally Exhausted to Firmly Flourishing: Self-Care for Those Who Care for Others

Working in the helping professions is very rewarding work as well as stressful and challenging. Participants in this session will identify the signs and symptoms of burnout and compassion fatigue, learn proven and practical self-care strategies to implement immediately, and develop their own self-care action. Participants will also have the opportunity to complete a self-assessment tool measuring burnout, compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction.

Length: 3 Hours

Key Takeaways: 

  • Develop an understanding of compassion fatigue and burnout and the impact on our physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.

  • Recognize our own personal sources of stress along with our signs and symptoms of stress.

  • Explore what we do to make our stress worse than it needs to be.

  • Learn the components of self-care.

  • Develop a personalized self-care plan tailored to your interests, needs and lifestyle.

TESTIMONIALS

  • I have had the distinct pleasure to know Melissa Pickle professionally and personally for nearly ten years. I am in awe of her ability to communicate her wisdom and knowledge in such an understandable manner. Melissa’s sincere desire to make life better for others is a driving force in her life. I am very blessed to call her my friend and colleague. Melissa is balanced, open, fun and smart. I believe Melissa is a master communicator with so much wisdom and deep compassion to make the world better.

    Judee Wilson

  • We have had the privilege of hearing Melissa Pickle speak on several occasions, and each time, we walk away feeling not only inspired but empowered to make a real, lasting change in our lives. Her ability to guide others from a place of emotional exhaustion to true flourishing is nothing short of remarkable. With a warm and grounded presence, she weaves together self-reflection, practical strategies, and evidence-based tools in a way that feels both manageable and deeply meaningful. Her approach isn’t just informative — it’s transformational. You can see it in the audience: people leaning in, taking notes, and having lightbulb moments as she speaks. The techniques she shares aren’t theoretical, they’re tools you can begin using right away to create more balance, energy, and joy in your daily life. Whether in a workshop, coaching session, or course, Melissa shows up with intention, authenticity, and a genuine desire to help others flourish—and it makes all the difference.

    Jodi Berscheid, SD Head Start Collaboration Office Director and Katie Sieverding, South Dakota Head Start Association

  • Melissa, Thank you so much for presenting at the Alaska Home Visitor’s Alliance Summit! What a beautiful session! Your passion and care are so genuine and contagious. I felt so cared for by your words. You impact was felt deeply by all.

    Reanne Honemann-Queja, Partnerships Lead, All Alaska Pediatric Partnership

  • “Melissa, Your passion and care are so genuine and contagious. I felt so cared for by your words. You impact was felt deeply by all."

    Reanne Honemann-Queja

  • “Melissa is one of the most engaging speakers I’ve ever had the privilege to watch. She speaks with a great deal of animation and passion, which captivates the audience. " ”

    Traci Baker

  • “Melissa keeps you wanting to learn and know more. She brings real life experience into each topic and makes you want to do your best. ”

    Amber Ingles

Let’s Get Started 

BOOK MELISSA to be a SPEAKER at YOUR EVENT

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MELISSA’S OFFICIAL BIO

Melissa Pickle has an extensive background in supporting the emotional well-being and personal development of others, grounded in years of dedicated study and hands-on experience. She has a B.A. in Psychology, M. Ed., and is an Associate Certified Life Coach with a Health and Wellness Certification. She has honed her expertise in guiding individuals from states of overwhelm and burnout to resilience and growth. Melissa’s own journey in overcoming burnout has equipped her with a wealth of practical strategies and interventions aimed at fostering self-awareness, self-compassion, and sustainable life balance.

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