An agent of change
Relationship Matters
Relationship Matters is a transforming force, which helps shape positive change in an ever-changing world. A little company co-founded by Kim Barthel and Bob Spensley in Victoria, BC, Canada, it has been expanding to include Hilary LeRoy Gauthier and Eugene Hayduk, and other esteemed colleagues will soon be announced. A few ways that this organic organization touches and shapes the lives of people around the world are through supporting, teaching, mentoring, innovating, inspiring and sustaining people and organizations that support a lot of people.
With a propensity to travel, a contagious will to help, and a growing capacity to connect with web-based training, Relationship Matters contracts with private clinics, school boards, hospitals, government agencies, NGO’s, universities, group homes, not-for-profit organizations and even corporations. Each service arrangement or partnership is unique, depending on the professional/personal development needs and the local context.
“Kim’s clear and compassionate messaging was spirit-lifting and life-affirming for me in its simplicity.”
Beyond contracts and what some might consider “traditional” training, there are a few things that Kim and Relationship Matters care about greatly:
o Jhamtse Gatsal Children’s Community, A key passion for Kim and Bob (along with their 23 year-old daughter Lista) is voluntarily supporting the well-being and sustainability of this unique home and school in a remote corner of the Himalayas of India. . This inspiring community and its co-founder Lobsang Phuntsok are the basis for the multi-award-winning documentary Tashi and the Monk by Andrew Hinton and Johnny Burke. This community is a heart-warming example of resilience, love and compassion. Bob is honoured to serve on the board of Jhamtse International, and Kim assists as needed as the community’s Therapeutic Director.
o Healing from Trauma: Kim has effectively collaborated with several influential beings on this topic, and one of them is Theo Fleury. They love to work together because of the way they can reach people of different stripes and backgrounds, and because when they co-present, they can see that lives are being changed. Aside from day-long healing events, corporate mental health sessions and developing video resources, they speak in prisons with inmates and guards alike. Their aim is to prevent emotional pain, stop the cycle of trauma and get people the help they need. The book Kim and Theo co-authored, Conversations with a Rattlesnake: Raw and Honest Reflections on Healing and Trauma, edited and co-managed by Bob, is a national bestseller in Canada.
o The SYNCroSI Centre for Child Development in Shenzhen, China – Following the holistic philosophy and practice of SYNCroSI (Synchronized Sustainable Interventions, an integrated therapy approach for supporting children with special needs created by Kim and Manoj Pathnapuram, SLP of Singapore), this inspiring centre of excellence has been up and running since June, 2017. Owned and managed by local visionary Gary Chen, Relationship Matters was instrumental to this Centre’s initiation and consistently supports its operations through on-site and distance staff training.
o The Breaking Free Foundation based in Alberta, Canada. This foundation, with its key spokesperson Theo Fleury and other committed volunteers, advocates across Canada for the healing of all forms of trauma. Kim and Bob both serve as honorary advisors to the board.
Bob Spensley - CEO
Bob’s purpose as a natural connector is to bring people together for the greater good.
As CEO and Co-founder of Relationship Matters, he helps create training programs and supports for professionals world-wide, in many different forms. This involves developing relationships with various partners, co-creating a multitude of contracts, strategizing resource materials, workshops and consultations, and navigating a diversity of inspiring projects.
From 2001 to 2014, Bob was Co-founder and Principal of Sequoia Energy, initiating and developing responsible large-scale renewable energy projects (wind and run-of-river hydro) across North America. Bob’s greatest joy and focus was on understanding and helping to nurture healthy community dynamics and business partnerships in a new and meaningful industry.
From 1992 to 2001, Bob worked in the field of education in the Canadian Arctic.
He had many roles, from supporting Inuit teenagers from remote communities to helping to create and manage a range of learning programs at Nunavut Arctic College. He was at a time and place to witness extreme social change; he got to work alongside many respected elders, always aimed to promote empowering learning environments, and learned imminently more than he taught.
Bob speaks four languages fairly fluently with enthusiasm, and then was humbled with Inuktitut, despite best efforts. Academically, Bob has Honour Degrees in History and Spanish Literature, a Certificate in Adult Education, an Honorary MBA (it’s a good story), is certified as a community development facilitator by the International Association for Public Participation, and continues to gain experience related to counselling and communication. His greatest strengths, as always, are the people around him.
Hilary LeRoy-Gauthier, BSc.OT, MBA
Even at the very beginning of her career when she was first working in the field of Mental Health, Hilary always had a clear goal of becoming an Occupational Therapist. Her focus was naturally on how best to serve others with humility, integrity, and authenticity. Today, with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy, an MBA, a Certificate in Adult Education and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Leadership Studies, Hilary’s educational pursuits have led her to work serving others in the fields of Health, Business, and Education. Her work in the past 25 years as a clinician, manager, small business owner, facilitator, trainer, and leader have all allowed her to follow her clear passion and
skill in serving others in their pursuit to live fulfilling and meaningful lives.
Her most recent work in Adult Education across a diverse cultural group in the Northwest Territories has provided her with the opportunity to further grow her skills, knowledge, and expertise in the area of Business and Leadership. She is also certified in the EQ-i 2.0 tool, allowing her to weave together leadership, emotional intelligence, and personal growth.
Hilary’s work with Relationship Matters is a perfect fit in bringing these diverse experiences together to continue her mission to serve others in their important work of becoming more of who they are.
Eugene Hayduk
Eugene is a compassionate therapist from Winnipeg who has been supporting adolescents and adults for over 30 years. His genuine approach and emphatic nature have allowed him the privilege of assisting numerous people on their healing journeys. Eugene values the time he spends with his clients and truly sees it as an honour to be able to walk alongside them. He uses a number of therapeutic intervention methods available to him and will offer a treatment plan that is realistic and goal-oriented. He practices from a Client Centred Perspective, and relies on Solution Focused Therapy, Therapeutic Conversation and a Problem-Solving Model, to name a few.
He has worked extensively with at-risk, adolescent youth and their families for most of his career. He has been certified to conduct threat and risk assessments for youth who have shown signs of causing legitimate danger to their communities or themselves. Eugene spent twenty years at Marymound, an adolescent
treatment centre, working in a variety of roles, but mostly as the Day Treatment Coordinator.
His role was to assist with intake, treatment planning and follow up for Outpatient Students and their families. He currently works for the River East/Transcona School Division as a School Social Worker and also has a thriving private practice. Eugene and Kim share a long professional relationship; they first met over 20 years ago when Kim was a consultant at Marymound, an adolescent treatment centre where he worked. They have since had many professional collaborations. Of note, Eugene acted as Kim's Consultant/Sounding Board while she was working with Mental Health Services in Nunavut; they consulted on numerous high-risk cases on a regular basis.
Eugene values relationship and will be happy to connect with you and support your emotional and psychological needs. He looks forward to the opportunity of supporting you or your family member.
Beyond contracts and what some might consider “traditional” training, there are a few things that Kim and Relationship Matters care about greatly:
o Jhamtse Gatsal Children’s Community, A key passion for Kim and Bob (along with their 23 year-old daughter Lista) is voluntarily supporting the well-being and sustainability of this unique home and school in a remote corner of the Himalayas of India. . This inspiring community and its co-founder Lobsang Phuntsok are the basis for the multi-award-winning documentary Tashi and the Monk by Andrew Hinton and Johnny Burke. This community is a heart-warming example of resilience, love and compassion. Bob is honoured to serve on the board of Jhamtse International, and Kim assists as needed as the community’s Therapeutic Director.
o Healing from Trauma: Kim has effectively collaborated with several influential beings on this topic, and one of them is Theo Fleury. They love to work together because of the way they can reach people of different stripes and backgrounds, and because when they co-present, they can see that lives are being changed. Aside from day-long healing events, corporate mental health sessions and developing video resources, they speak in prisons with inmates and guards alike. Their aim is to prevent emotional pain, stop the cycle of trauma and get people the help they need. The book Kim and Theo co-authored, Conversations with a Rattlesnake: Raw and Honest Reflections on Healing and Trauma, edited and co-managed by Bob, is a national bestseller in Canada.
o The SYNCroSI Centre for Child Development in Shenzhen, China – Following the holistic philosophy and practice of SYNCroSI (Synchronized Sustainable Interventions, an integrated therapy approach for supporting children with special needs created by Kim and Manoj Pathnapuram, SLP of Singapore), this inspiring centre of excellence has been up and running since June, 2017. Owned and managed by local visionary Gary Chen, Relationship Matters was instrumental to this Centre’s initiation and consistently supports its operations through on-site and distance staff training.
o The Breaking Free Foundation based in Alberta, Canada. This foundation, with its key spokesperson Theo Fleury and other committed volunteers, advocates across Canada for the healing of all forms of trauma. Kim and Bob both serve as honorary advisors to the board.
