Charles R. Figley, Ph.D., is a pioneer of trauma psychology, a clinician and a researcher. After serving in the Viet Nam War, he started working as a psychologist for Viet Nam War veterans in the 1970s. As a family therapist, his work extended to the families of war veterans, to hostages, and to the families of the crime victims and emergency workers.

Dr Figley is the author of numerous publications. He was the founder and managing editor of the Journal of Traumatic Stress and the founding chairman of The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. Also, he has established and maintains a Traumatic Stress Internet Forum for trauma professionals. Dr Figley presently is a professor at Florida State University's Department of Social work. Futhermore, he has founded the Traumatology Institute that is engaged in training, research, services, and international humanitarian work.

Charles R. Figley served as trainer at the following seminars organized in 1997 by the center: Family, Trauma and Grief, and Compassion Fatigue. His visit spread knowledge about the systemic impact of trauma and extended the focus from individuals to families and to concepts of "compassion stress" and "compassion fatigue" that emphasize vicarious traumatization.

Dr Figley is deeply spiritual, his personal characteristics promoted peace, and clearly had an impact on the participants of the seminars.