Leadership Development & Employee Engagement Training for Organizations

Counseling to Comfort provides leadership development and employee engagement workshops for organizations in New York City, New Jersey, and nationwide.

Founded by Quinelle Hickman, LMFT, a licensed therapist with 11 years of experience, we specialize in helping organizations build emotionally intelligent leaders and high-performing teams. With a proven track record of over 5,600+ sessions and an 85% success rate, we bring clinical expertise to corporate training.

Our methodology—rooted in systems theory—diagnoses root causes of miscommunication and disconnection in teams, then intervenes with targeted emotional regulation and communication skills training to create measurable behavior change.

Through keynote talks, workshops, and training programs, we help organizations strengthen team connection, create psychological safety, and improve performance and engagement—while reducing costs and empowering your people to thrive.

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Our Approach: Clinical Expertise Meets Experiential Learning

We don't deliver traditional corporate training that relies on lectures and theory. Our methodology combines evidence-based psychological frameworks with experiential learning—creating interactive workshops where participants practice skills in real-time, receive immediate feedback, and build lasting behavior change.

  • Using systems theory to diagnose root causes of workplace dysfunction, we design learning experiences that address the human dynamics behind performance issues. Through carefully structured activities, reflective exercises, and skill-building practice, participants don't just learn ABOUT emotional regulation and communication—they experience what it feels like to regulate under pressure and communicate effectively through conflict.

    This approach drives measurable results:

    - Improved productivity through better emotional regulation and focus

    - Stronger company culture built on psychological safety and trust

    - Reduced absenteeism by addressing burnout at its source

    - Increased retention through improved manager-employee relationships

    Whether through keynote talks that inspire new thinking, workshops that build specific skills, or multi-session programs that create sustained change, we meet organizations where they are—and help them get where they want to go.

Our Services Target:

Leadership Development (for managers & executives)

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  • Emotional Intelligence for Leaders

  • Leading Difficult Conversations with Direct Reports

  • Creating Psychological Safety

  • Building Team Resilience to Sustain Performance

Employee Engagement & Performance (for All Staff & ERGs)

  • Burnout Prevention & Sustainable Work Practices

  • Personal Emotional Regulation & Communication Skills

  • Peer-to-Peer Conflict Resolution

  • Contributing to Team Connection & Collaboration

Training, Workshop, and Talk Formats & Delivery

Customizable according to needs. Standard Delivery Below:

  • Keynote & Panel Talks (45-60 minutes) Perfect for: All-hands meetings, conferences, kick-off events

  • Interactive Workshops (90 minutes) Perfect for: Skill-building, team development with a social component, ERG events

  • Half-Day Training (3-4 hours) Perfect for: Deep-dive skill development, leadership cohorts

  • Multi-Training Program (3-12 sessions) Perfect for: Sustained behavior change, manager development

    Delivery Options: In-person (NYC/NJ metro area) or virtual (nationwide)

Testimonials & Past Clients

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"Quinelle is a powerhouse! Her presence is strong and she offers lots of helpful content!"

"Quinelle is a gem! She made us view relationships and connections differently."

"It's amazing to see Quinelle in action. She commands attention and knows how to control the room. Ensuring that conversation flows, each person feels comfortable enough to speak, and gets adequate time to speak."

"Quinelle curated a space that inspired me to seek therapy for assistance with some of the issues I struggle with."

“It was a great event! If you want to figure out what your next step is going to be, who you are… I encourage everyone to come out to the next one.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Our learning experiences are interactive and engaging! We incorporate icebreakers, discussions, myth-busting, and interactive learning, as well as structured learning. Participants also engage in breakout sessions to dive deeper into the topic before coming back together for a group debrief and closing.

  • Absolutely! We tailor our trainings, talks, and workshops to meet your unique needs, ensuring a meaningful and relevant experience.


  • Yes! Our longer training sessions follow a similar structure but provide more in-depth learning opportunities. We’ve found that participants retain information best through discussions, role-playing, and hands-on practice.


  • They’re designed for organizations and professionals looking to explore professional development and employee engagement solutions. Including effective communication under pressure, improving workplace relationships, and preventing burnout while maintaining performance. Trainings, workshops, and talks are customized to needs and delivered in an engaging and interactive way.

  • My approach to speaking is to be relatable. Using the combination of my own story, passions, and professional expertise, I find creative ways to deliver down-to-earth, educational, and thought-provoking experiences for my audiences in person and online.

  • The goal of our workshops is to offer a dynamic and engaging experience that promotes active learning and practical takeaways. Participants will learn key leadership skills and improve team dynamics topics through interactive discussions, simulations, and myth-busting exercises. By the end of our time, attendees will have a deeper understanding of the subject matter and actionable strategies they can apply in their daily lives. The workshops, trainings, and talks foster a sense of community and open dialogue, making it easier to learn and grow together.

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Want to learn more or ready to book?

Contact Us Today!