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David F. Swink

About

David Swink is Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Strategic Interactions, Inc., an innovative training and development firm based in Nashville, Tennessee. Under his leadership, Strategic Interactions became known for its unique approaches to organizational development and performance improvement since its inception in 1990. David's work at SI has been featured by national news media including "60 Minutes," The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.

David has worked with organizations throughout the world as a consultant and trainer. David has worked with government agencies including the U.S. Senate, the CIA, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Secret Service, and companies such as Fidelity Investments, Boeing, The Carlyle Group, Ann Taylor, Deloitte & Touche, General Dynamics, Time Warner, and Booz Allen Hamilton.

From 1977 to 1987, David was the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health Training Program in Psychodrama and Group Psychotherapy at Saint Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, D.C. During his tenure there, David pioneered the use of sociodramatic approaches to train law enforcement and others how to communicate in life and death situations. In the wake of the Columbine shootings, David and other Strategic Interactions staff partnered with the Secret Service and the Department of Education to train thousands of school personnel in threat assessment to prevent targeted school violence.

David is the past President of the American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama. He is a certified trainer, educator, and practitioner of psychodrama. He is also a certified threat manager by the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals.

Recent Posts
Touching Co-workers
Touch can show support or appreciation, or it can be used to intimidate or frighten. It is one of the least understood means of communication. Does it belong at work?
That Was Horrible! What Makes Feedback Work... or Not?

We are all on learning journeys. At work, we are learning new professional skills. In our communities we are learning to make difference, be a good friend, neighbor, or weekend athlete. At home, we are learning how to be a better child, spouse, partner, or parent. Without effective feedback, it becomes impossible to get a realistic perspective on how we are doing.

We are all on learning journeys. At work, we are learning new professional skills. In our communities we are learning to make difference, be a good friend, neighbor, or weekend athlete. At home, we are learning how to be a better child, spouse, partner, or parent. Without effective feedback, it becomes impossible to get a realistic perspective on how we are doing.

I Don't Feel Your Pain: Overcoming Roadblocks to Empathy

Empathy is a vital relationship skill and a predictor of success at both home at work. Learn to overcome some of the potential roadblocks to empathy.

Empathy is a vital relationship skill and a predictor of success at both home at work. Learn to overcome some of the potential roadblocks to empathy.

The Empire State Building Shooting: Threatening Behavior At Work

The termination or resentful resignation of an employee can be a triggering event that propels a person further down a path toward violence. Once the individual has left, the organization has no clue what other triggering life events may be happening that could escalate the person’s potential for violence. What can an organization do to protect itself?

The termination or resentful resignation of an employee can be a triggering event that propels a person further down a path toward violence. Once the individual has left, the organization has no clue what other triggering life events may be happening that could escalate the person’s potential for violence. What can an organization do to protect itself?

The Ari Gold Syndrome: Can Smartphones Make You Stupid?

Do you have trouble going "off the grid" to the point that you sometimes damage your relationships? Do you know someone who has this problem?

Do you have trouble going "off the grid" to the point that you sometimes damage your relationships? Do you know someone who has this problem?

Did Intolerance Fuel the Tucson Shooting?

Two days after the horrific act of violence in Tucson, many are speculating about the impact of "political hate talk" on people who may be "unhinged." No matter how bizarre one's belief is, one can do an internet search, and find like-minded people with the same belief...Loughner did. 

Two days after the horrific act of violence in Tucson, many are speculating about the impact of "political hate talk" on people who may be "unhinged." No matter how bizarre one's belief is, one can do an internet search, and find like-minded people with the same belief...Loughner did.