Oak Arias is a nationally recognized trauma recovery and crisis-mitigation expert, author, speaker, athlete, and the founder and CEO of Navigating Resilience—a trauma recovery practice grounded in radical empathy, evidence-based methodology, and the conviction that healing is both possible and powerful. Oak brings a rare integration of lived experience, analytical precision, and embodied resilience to their work, creating transformative environments where individuals and communities can reclaim safety, agency, and connection.
They hold a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Relations from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems and Data Analytics from Colorado State University Global. A Nationally Registered EMT licensed in multiple states, Oak is trained extensively in crisis mitigation and intervention, de-escalation, suicide prevention, peer support, and Psychological First Aid. They are also a Certified Trauma Care Practitioner (CTCP) through the Global Trauma Institute, complemented by additional trauma-care certifications across disciplines. This interdisciplinary foundation allows Oak to merge rigorous assessment with compassionate presence—an approach that has become a defining hallmark of their work.
Oak is the author of Healing Forward: The Power and Promise of Trauma Recovery Coaching and Restoring Signal: Healing the Nervous System After Medical Trauma. Their writing offers accessible, practical guidance for navigating the complexities of recovery and resilience. They have also served as an invited graduate practicum lecturer, contributing thought leadership on affirming LGBTQIA+ individuals in faith-based and clinical settings.
A ruptured cerebral aneurysm survivor and six-time National and International Olympic Weightlifting gold medalist, Oak embodies the principles of endurance, renewal, and adaptive strength that they teach. Their journey informs a speaking philosophy centered on empowerment, evidence-based practice, and the transformative potential of personal narrative integrated with professional expertise.
Beyond their work, Oak finds grounding in movement, nature, and travel—pursuits that reflect their belief in curiosity as a pathway to restoration. Whether leading from the front of a classroom, a keynote stage, or a crisis-response environment, Oak Arias advances a simple but profound mission: to make resilience a lived experience, a learned skill, and a collective cultural movement.
