GALINA SMITH

Years ago, when I first stepped into community work, I was full of compassion—but I lacked the tools I now know are essential. I often think: “This is the kind of training I wish I had back then.”

That’s why I’m passionate about trauma-competent care—helping others move from good intentions to effective, meaningful action. I believe that those who care deeply deserve to be equipped deeply, too.

For me, it all comes down to this: I want to see love become the driving force—not just in the Church, but across every layer of community.

I serve as a TBRI® Practitioner and Trauma Competent Care Trainer with CareImpact and Trauma Free World, training people to care well for children, families, and communities impacted by trauma.

My journey has taken me across continents and cultures, shaping a well-rounded, deeply personal approach:
✅ Youth outreach work in Nova Scotia
✅ Community work in children’s homes in Russia and Thailand
✅ Bachelor’s in International Relations
✅ Foster and biological mom
✅ Advocate for love-informed care and cross-cultural empathy

Outside of training, I find healing and joy in art. I learned to paint watercolour during a time of deep burden—to support friends living in a war zone. Since then, I’ve painted cards and children’s book illustrations, creating beauty as an act of hope.

I’m a wife to Tim and a mom to both biological and foster children, and I carry that role with reverence and resilience. Whether in parenting, painting, or presenting trauma care, my mission remains the same:
To love well, and to help others do the same.

I long to see a world where those who care most are also those who are best equipped—where churches and communities become places of restoration, not just refuge.

💗 Love must lead the way—but wisdom helps it go further.
🌍 Trauma-informed care is needed everywhere, from classrooms to congregations.
🎨 Healing can happen through stories, relationships, and even brushstrokes.

Through CareImpact, I’m honoured to help others grow in both compassion and competence, so they can make a lasting difference wherever they are called.