We remain discerning, compassionate and unflappable in our efforts when faced with challenging dynamics

Working alongside Dr. Castaldi has been an amazing benefit to our education and therapy organization over the past 8 years. During this time Dr. Castaldi has implemented ongoing SIVA trainings for staff and worked alongside management to formalize fundamental guiding principles for the whole organization. His breadth of knowledge and collaborative approach has resulted in streamlined safety planning and increased efficiency of staff training, which has led to reductions in overhead and administrative costs.

The association between Low Tide Resources and Dr. Castaldi began ten years ago, the services he has provided regarding the need for a comprehensive understanding and insight into the 24 hour care of mentally ill and forensic individuals has been decisive and strengthening. His clinical knowledge and guidance have aided my staff and the individuals served in multi-faceted ways, enhancing the quality of life for both in a way that focuses on our relationship based bio/psycho/social/spiritual approach, to bring long-term stability to their lives. Dr. Castaldi’s SIVA Training provides not only a competent tool to the staff; it also encourages and teaches decision making in moments of crisis when focus can so easily be lost. His expertise and knowledge of aberrant behaviours, violence sexual abuse, autism, FASD, psychosis and other mental disorders have been an invaluable addition to my organization, as we encounter these conditions on a daily basis with our work. In addition, his advice on management and collaboration and program development is integral to our team providing the specialized understanding needed for each individual we serve. His hands-on approach enhances the relationship with all those he encounters.

I have had the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Castaldi for over 10 years.  I have found his clinical knowledge and experience to be an invaluable asset to my profession.  Dr. Castaldi’s ability to view service delivery through a holistic lens, while staying current on industry themes and best practice research have contributed to his reputation as a leader in the support of complex needs and inclusive practice.

We brought Dr. Castaldi in very late to deal with a complex issue and found him very accommodating and knowledgeable.  Feedback from Leaders and the employees he worked with over several months were all positive as he gained their trust and made them feel at ease in very difficult circumstances.  We would not hesitate to recommend or bring Dr. Castaldi back to help us in the future with a trauma related incident!

I’ve had the privilege of working with Dr. Castaldi over the past 10 years in both training and consultation capacities. Dr. Castaldi’s knowledge and understanding in working with clients has always been impressive and encouraging. His caring approach and calm demeanor makes it easy to build rapport and develop a trusting relationship. He creates an environment that allows for honest communication to happen, even when those conversations maybe difficult to have. Working with Dr. Castaldi has always been a positive experience and I would highly recommend his service.

I heard of SIVA training from other consultants who represent regions in the Northwest Territories a few years ago. As being new to the north, I had heard wonderful comments about SIVA Training and was enthused about having it delivered to our Program Support Teachers, Principals and others from our nine schools in our area. Dr. Don delivered this training not only once but twice due to the demand and its impact on our educators and most of all our youth. It was very successful!

I heard of SIVA training from other consultants who represent regions in the Northwest Territories a few years ago. As being new to the north, I had heard wonderful comments about SIVA Training and was enthused about having it delivered to our Program Support Teachers, Principals and others from our nine schools in our area. Dr. Don delivered this training not only once but twice due to the demand and its impact on our educators and most of all our youth. It was very successful!

Some participant comments afterwards:

“It is very easy to follow, with practical skills and interventions that address challenging behaviors.”
“I have a lot interest in managing compassion fatigue and know I can utilize the safety techniques in my school.”

Dr. Don is an excellent presenter who gives clear, concise deliberation without loosing his audience. He is very organized and stays on the topic. When can I take the “Train the Trainer” part of SIVA? We want to build capacity of these wonderful strategies in our school community and teach
others.

SIVA is not costly and Dr. Don is a very accommodating guest. He did not mind walking in -35 weather and was very interested in the northern culture. It was a pleasure to have him in our school and in our community. We cannot wait for his return next spring to continue with “Train the Trainer” with reps from 9 schools and 8 coastal communities. We are fortunate to have Dr. Don and SIVA Training and highly promote it anywhere.

I have worked collaboratively with Dr. Don Castaldi for the past 3 years to bring the SIVA model to our program in Ithaca, NY. Don has been thoughtful, curious, responsive, flexible and generous to a fault with his time and expertise. He demonstrates in every interaction his regard and commitment to kids who face unrelenting challenges. He holds hope, re-frames problems to access solutions and communicates that he is willing to get into the ‘tough stuff’ undaunted. He has a wonderful sense of humor, is humble and appreciates how this work impacts the adults charged with providing an education to kids with significant mental health issues. I have learned so very much from him I am remarkably lucky that our paths have crossed and most importantly so are the kids we serve!

Dr. Castaldi is, without a doubt, one of the most brilliant minds of our time. He is the perfect mix of intelligence and intuition; his intellectual background and extensive experience paired with his innate ability to understand people allows him to be successful with anyone he works with.

As a Registered Psychiatric Nurse and Director of Care for brain injury support services, I find his in depth knowledge of functional approaches when supporting individuals with brain injuries invaluable. I am especially appreciative of his insight into how the injured brain responds differently in times of crisis, and his guidance in taking this complex concept and presenting it to support staff and families in such a way that enhances understanding and acceptance.

Having worked closely with Dr. Castaldi for over three years I can attest to his deep dedication to the work of improving both the wellness and the skills of staff working directly with children and to having an impact on the larger systems our children are part of. Dr. Castaldi has a perspective and presentation that brings psychological safety to his audience. Our staff have felt heard and understood. As someone who trains and advises groups on significant cultural change, he is always curious, respectful, sensitive and insightful as he introduces new ideas and challenges us to think about the way we’ve been doing things. He takes a thoughtful, strategic approach to this process and has generously shared his time so we could plan thoroughly and is optimistic and flexible when things get challenging. It is a pleasure to work with Dr. Castaldi and to learn about the valuable information he shares.

As a gifted psychologist, Dr. Castaldi demonstrates a wise mind and a compassionate heart. Whether supporting families of children with special needs, or clients within the forensic system, Dr. Don helps people understand themselves and the people around them. With keen insight and clear communication, he provides practical, manageable suggestions that transfer into sustainable change.

With a wealth of experience working in the youth and adult correction system, Dr. Don Castaldi offers a compassionate understanding into the mind of the offender. He taught a workshop in Winnipeg on psychopathology that I will never forget, it left an indelible mark in my mind, and he helped me gain a deeper perspective on deviant behaviour. As an engaging presenter Dr. Don brings concepts alive. More importantly, as a teacher he leaves learners with transferable strategies to work effectively with this challenging population.

I have worked with and known Dr. Don Castaldi for 10 years, as a provider of training and psychological consultation services to our Alberta Program for Children and Youth with Complex Needs.  He was selected for our program due to his unique and specialized ability to provide a comprehensive perspective on the needs of individuals who have multiple psychiatric, behavioural and neurological conditions. Dr. Castaldi’s approach allowed us to shift from linear thinking (e.g., the cause and effect of behavioural management strategies which are short-lived and symptom-focused) to a more in-depth perspective on the dynamics of safety as a two-way relationship between the caregiver/educator and the person being supported. As the administrator, Dr. Castaldi’s approach allowed us to integrate training and front-end problem-solving on cases, to combine training, with safety planning, caregiver supports and team-building around specific cases. Not only did this save time and resources, it also contributed to sustainable outcomes. His flexibility, generous nature and compassion contribute considerably to the service he provides. For all these reasons, I strongly recommend Dr. Castaldi  to any organization working with individuals who have complex behavioural needs, or for anyone who requires greater understanding of complex neurological and mental health issues.

With the guiding principles of the SIVA model, we are able to reach our most vulnerable learners. When we support our kids grounded in valued and authentic relationships, we provide them with the tools they need to communicate their thoughts, feelings and needs. SIVA gives us the structure and understanding of how to recognise and maintain a child’s optimal learning environment so that they can reach high levels of success. Dr. Don’s approachable nature and extensive experience gives us the practical knowledge to create the structures we need for all of the caregivers to come together with one common plan. The plan then becomes the highly responsive guide for home, school and community. Over the many years as a train-the-trainer for SIVA, I have watched kids flourish and grow because their support network was grounded in and fully committed to their SIVA plan. The key component of SIVA is it truly becomes not what we do TO kids, or FOR kids, but WITH kids. You cannot make a viable SIVA plan without them. It becomes their plan and strengthens their independence and success. It allows our most vulnerable learners to reach their fullest potential.

Dr. Don Castaldi has a strong understanding of trauma including the psychological and physical effects on the human body.  He was able to relate to our traumatic experience and provide advice for us to move forward in our personal lives.  He possesses strong communication skills and was able to provide a clear and concise action plan to our company Management.

During the course of my tenure as the elected Business Manager for IBB Local 128 (construction union servicing the power generation sector) we engaged the services of Dr. Castaldi for a leadership training seminar. The focus of Dr. Castaldi’s interactive lecture was helping leaders understand the pathology of addiction. By identifying key indicators and ultimately helping members receive the support they need via removing stigma and bias of mental health and addiction.

The Leadership was extremely impressed and by unanimous consent the executive board further engaged the services of Dr. Castaldi on one of our major projects to assist in dealing with complex issues on that job site.

Today, I regularly consult with Dr. Castaldi on organization behavioral issues. Dr. Don Castaldi’s holistic approach is always to create and support positive norms and culture with in an organization, while identifying barriers that inhibit positive culture growth.