Military Mental Health Consultant & Speaker
Building leadership, clarity, and capacity where people and systems meet
Consulting, training, and speaking designed to support sustainable change in complex environments.
You’re in the right place if…
You are exploring speaking, consulting, training, or supervision because something in your organization, team, or practice needs attention. You may not be sure which format is the right fit , only that quick solutions and surface level conversations have not been enough.
This work meets that need across formats. Whether through a keynote, a workshop, consultation, or supervision, the focus is on dialogue, clarity, and practical application, helping people move from insight into shared action that can be carried forward.
The question here is not which service you choose, but whether you are ready for work that supports real understanding, responsibility, and sustainable leadership.
Why leadership feels harder than it should
It’s not just that people are tired, disengaged, or overwhelmed. Beneath that, many systems rely on insight, intention, or individual effort without providing enough structure to support follow through. People leave inspired talks, thoughtful trainings, or meaningful conversations, and then return to environments that do not change.
This is not a failure of motivation or care. It is what happens when responsibility is placed on individuals without shared language, clear roles, or practices that can be sustained under real conditions. Without those pieces, even the best intentions struggle to hold.
What becomes possible
When insight is paired with structure and shared responsibility, things begin to shift.
Conversations become clearer instead of circular.
Leadership feels steadier instead of reactive.
People know what is expected of them and what support is available.
Rather than relying on urgency or individual effort, systems begin to move with more alignment, trust, and follow through.
The work does not end when a session, training, or engagement does. It shows up in how people lead, collaborate, and make decisions day to day.
My work supports leaders, advocates, educators, court of law officials, church ministers, executives, mission focused teams, and clinicians in clarifying what is actually happening, naming what matters most, and building practical ways of working together that hold under real conditions. Rather than adding more pressure or complexity, the focus is on creating steadiness, shared language, cultural humility and clear responsibility.
Across formats, the outcome is the same: leadership, learning, and care that are aligned, sustainable, and grounded in daily practice.
Inquire for speaking, consulting, workshops or clinical supervision
Step 1: Reach out
Begin by sharing what has prompted your interest and the context you are working within. You do not need to know the exact format yet.
Step 2: Clarify the best fit
We will review your goals, needs, and constraints together to determine whether speaking, a workshop, consultation, or supervision is the most supportive next step.
Step 3: Define scope and timing
Once the format is clear, we will outline the scope of work, timeline, and expectations so everything is transparent and aligned.
Step 4: Move forward with intention
If it feels like a good fit, we schedule the engagement and move forward in a way that supports clarity, capacity, and follow through.
Hi, I’m Richard De La Garza
I work with organizations, schools, and clinical leaders who are asking deeper questions about how people lead, learn, and care for one another inside complex systems. My work shows up through speaking, consultation, workshops, leadership development, and clinical supervision — all guided by the same focus: helping insight turn into practice in ways that actually hold.
Over the past two decades, I’ve worked across healthcare, education, community organizations, and military-connected systems. What I’ve seen again and again is that many people are highly capable, deeply committed, and still stretched beyond what their roles or structures were designed to support. Burnout, misalignment, and breakdown are often treated as individual issues, when they are more accurately signals that a system needs space to reflect, realign, and redistribute responsibility.
My approach is grounded in dialogue, clarity, and shared accountability. Whether I’m invited in to speak, facilitate learning, consult, or supervise, the work is not about delivering answers from the outside. It is about creating the conditions for people to think together, name what is actually happening, and build practices that support leadership and follow-through in daily life.
I am a licensed clinical social worker, U.S. Army veteran, and doctoral scholar, with training in trauma-informed and systems-based approaches.
This background shapes how I work, not as a set of techniques, but as an orientation. I pay close attention to how power, culture, history, and role expectations shape nervous systems, decision making, and organizational behavior. That lens is especially important in environments where people are expected to carry responsibility quietly and keep things moving, even when the structure itself is strained.
At the core of this work is a commitment to praxis — the combination of honest reflection and practical action. Insight matters, but it is not enough on its own. The goal is to support leadership, learning, and care that extend beyond a single event, training, or conversation and into the way people actually work together over time.
I partner with individuals and systems who are ready to move beyond surface-level solutions and into work that is thoughtful, grounded, and sustainable.
If you’re ready to explore what this kind of work could look like in your context, the next step is a conversation.
Ways to work together
If you’re unsure which format is the best fit, we’ll clarify that together.
Speaking & Keynotes
INQUIREThoughtful, grounded talks that help audiences slow down, reflect, and name what is often left unspoken with a focus on leadership, systems, and real-world application.
Starting at $5,000 per engagement. Custom pricing based on scope and context.
Workshops & Trainings
INQUIREInteractive sessions designed to build shared language, deepen understanding, and translate insight into practical next steps teams can carry forward.
Pricing varies based on length, group size, and goals.
Organizational & School Consultation
INQUIREOngoing or short-term consultation supporting leaders and systems in clarifying challenges, aligning values with practice, and strengthening follow-through.
Rates discussed after an initial conversation.
Clinical Leadership & Capacity Building
INQUIRESupport for clinical leaders and teams focused on sustainable leadership, ethical decision making, and reducing burnout within complex care environments.
Custom engagements based on organizational needs.
Clinical Supervision
INQUIREReflective, systems-aware supervision for clinicians seeking thoughtful guidance, accountability, and professional growth.
Rates and availability discussed by inquiry.
“Richard’s work reflects both intellectual depth and genuine care. He brings clarity, discipline, and empathy to every role, making him an exceptional clinician and consultant.”
— Academic & Clinical Reference
“Richard combines clinical skill with deep leadership. He brings clarity, compassion, and structure to complex environments, empowering individuals and families to move forward with dignity and accountability.”
— Keith D. Washington, LCSW, DCSW
“Richard’s leadership in high-pressure military systems stood out immediately. His ability to balance clinical judgment, teamwork, and mission readiness makes him a trusted guide in complex, real-world settings.”
— Senior Military Supervisor
“What sets Richard apart is his ability to connect systems, people, and purpose. He leads with integrity, cultural awareness, and a deep respect for lived experience.”
— Community Mental Health Colleague
“Richard creates spaces where growth feels possible. His approach is thoughtful, structured, and human—especially for those navigating leadership, identity, and high-stakes environments.”
— Professional Peer
“Richard’s work reflects both intellectual depth and genuine care. He brings clarity, discipline, and empathy to every role, making him an exceptional clinician and consultant.”
— Academic & Clinical Reference
“Richard combines clinical skill with deep leadership. He brings clarity, compassion, and structure to complex environments, empowering individuals and families to move forward with dignity and accountability.”
— Keith D. Washington, LCSW, DCSW
Testimonials
Frequently Asked Questions
General questions
What types of organizations do you work with?
I work with schools, nonprofits, community‑based organizations, healthcare settings, and mission‑driven teams who want to deepen their capacity for reflection, care, and ethical action. My work is especially supportive for organizations navigating change, burnout, power dynamics, or the emotional labor of leadership and service.
Speaking & Organizational Consulting
What is your approach to speaking and organizational consulting?
My approach is grounded in Freirean praxis—reflection paired with action. Rather than offering top‑down solutions, I work collaboratively to help organizations examine the conditions shaping their work, name tensions and strengths, and co‑create strategies that are context‑specific, humane, sensitive to cultural humility, and sustainable.
Consultation (Organizations & Schools)
What does consultation look like in practice?
Consultation is a dialogic process. Together, we explore what’s happening within your organization or school—culture, relationships, leadership structures, and systemic pressures. From there, we identify realistic actions that support both people and mission, without defaulting to blame or burnout.
Who is consultation for?
Consultation is well‑suited for leadership teams, executives, administrators, educators, legal courts, and clinical directors who want support thinking critically about power, care, and capacity—especially during periods of growth, transition, or strain.
Workshops & Trainings
What topics do your workshops and trainings cover?
- Workshops and trainings often focus on:
- Leadership rooted in dignity and accountability
- Burnout, moral distress, and emotional labor
- Power, culture, and relational dynamics in organizations
- Trauma‑aware and justice‑informed practices
- Sustainable care for helpers, educators, and clinicians
Each session is tailored to your setting and invites participants into reflection, dialogue, and practical application.
Are your workshops interactive?
Yes. Workshops are intentionally participatory. Participants are invited to reflect on their lived experience, engage in dialogue, and connect learning to their real‑world roles—rather than passively receiving information.
Speaking & Keynotes
What can audiences expect from your speaking engagements?
My talks are grounded, thoughtful, and human aligned with cultural humility. I speak to the realities people are living—not abstract ideals—while offering language, insight, and hope for change. Keynotes are designed to open reflection, deepen shared understanding, and spark collective movement rather than deliver quick fixes or feel good patches.
What audiences do you speak to?
I speak with educators, clinicians, leaders, advocates, and community‑centered professionals across California, New York, and beyond.
Clinical Leadership & Capacity Building
What is clinical leadership and capacity building?
This work supports leaders and teams in strengthening their ability to hold complexity, care for others without erasing themselves, and lead ethically within real constraints. We focus on reflective leadership, relational accountability, and building systems that support long‑term well‑being—not just productivity.
How is this different from traditional leadership coaching?
Rather than focusing solely on performance or individual skill‑building, this work attends to context, power, structure, regulation, and emotional realities. Leadership is treated as a relational and ethical practice, not just a set of techniques.
Clinical Supervision
Do you offer clinical supervision?
Yes. I offer clinical supervision for therapists and clinicians seeking a reflective, social justice lens, cultural humility awareness and relational supervisory space.
What is your supervision style?
Supervision is collaborative and growth‑oriented. I support clinicians in developing clinical skill, ethical clarity, and self‑trust while also attending to systemic pressures, identity, and power in the work. Supervision is not about evaluation or correction—it’s about learning, meaning‑making, and capacity building.
How do we get started?
You can begin by reaching out to schedule a consultation. This is a shared conversation to understand your needs, goals, and context—and to see whether my approach aligns with what you’re looking for.
When you’re ready, we begin with a conversation.
I’m ready to get started, but the next step is up to you.
