healing the stories that shape how we serve

leadership coaching + consulting for sustainable service

STORY-HEALING | MORAL IMAGINATION | SPIRITUAL ECOLOGY

humanitarian \hyü-ma-nə-'ter-ē-ən

1. a person working to alleviate the pain and suffering of others.

2. involved with or connected with improving people's lives and bettering the world.

If you're here, you're likely a humanitarian.

Now before you decide that's not you — read on.

At the heart of the word humanitarian is human.

Teachers, activists, caregivers, healthcare professionals, first responders, public servants, government workers, journalists, lawyers, international aid and development workers, and so many others that fall under my definition of humanitarian — tend to carry a deep sense of duty, responsibility, and commitment to the mission. They also armor themselves to the fullest extent possible, determined to push through at all costs, regardless of how that impacts their own well-being.

After almost two decades working alongside and leading other humanitarians, I believe those of us who choose to work in in service of others love the work and are compelled by a common desire to alleviate the suffering of other humans — even if it means bearing our own pain in shame and silence. But those same two decades of experience have shown me that service doesn't have to come at this cost. I know there is a better way, and I’ve seen it work.

At Roots in the Clouds we’re redefining what it means to be of service to others and asking:

what if the path we've chosen is actually an invitation — to see, heal, and embrace our own humanity through the stories of the people we serve? And what if that healing could happen at the individual and organizational levels?

Learn more →

two pathways

i’m here for my organization

for government, humanitarian, and nonprofit organizations ready to address root causes of harm and support their staff.

i’m here as an individual

for mission-driven professionals navigating oral injury, institutional betrayal, systemic grief, or other exhaustion in an era of polycrisis.

Tell Me My Story

"What if the service path we've chosen is actually an invitation—to see and heal and love and embrace our own humanity through the stories of the people we're serving? And what if that healing could happen at both the individual and organizational levels?"

— Dimple Dhabalia - Tell Me My Story

Challenging the Narrative of Service Before Self

Written for mission-driven professionals who have dedicated their lives to serving in systems that were never designed to honor their full humanity — and who are ready to reclaim the story of what it means to serve without sacrifice.

upcoming engagements

april 2026

  • From Restoration to Regeneration - Spiritual Ecology and Collective Care as Response to Collective Moral Injury and Institutional Betrayal – Durham University, International Centre for Moral Injury | Durham, United Kingdom

  • Holding Pain and Possibility Together - Simple Grief Rituals for Collective Care in Fractured Times – Yale Women’s Mental Health Conference | New Haven, CT, USA

  • Challenging the Narrative of Service Before Self – Beyond Aid Summit - The Women Behind the Work | Virtual