Meet Ron Lybarger
Resiliency Resources was founded by Dr. Ron Lybarger, a seasoned psychologist, educator, and advocate with 38 years of experience as a mental helath professional and a passion for supporting interpreters. His journey began in 1987 after overcoming personal struggles, which included a challenging stint as an Army combat medic, mental illness, addiction, and homelessness. During his recovery program, a pivotal moment shaped his career path: Dr. Lybarger was asked to help a Deaf individual. Frustrated by his inability to communicate using American Sign Language (ASL) and the lack of accessible treatment resources, he decided to dedicate his life to supporting the recovery of Deaf individuals.
Dr. Lybarger’s career is defined by groundbreaking contributions to mental health and addiction recovery. While earning degrees in Addiction Studies, Counseling Psychology, and Sign Language Interpreting, he worked at the Kansas School for the Deaf and played a pivotal role at the Minnesota Chemical Dependency Program for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals. During this time, he developed a keen interest in addressing the psychological and emotional impact of the work among interpreters and mental health professionals.
In 2000, Dr. Lybarger earned his PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Over the years, he has provided support to interpreters navigating the challenges of video relay interpreting, offering tools to manage psychological and emotional stress. Dr. Lybarger has presented workshops at over 95 call centers across the U.S. and Canada, helping thousands of interpreters build resiliency and thrive in their roles.
With nearly four decades of experience, Dr. Lybarger has:
- Assisted over 2,500 interpreters in processing and recovering from work-related traumatic experiences through crisis intervention and tailored support.
- Delivered more than 2,000 hours of certified CEU credits, helping interpreters expand their skills while prioritizing their mental health.
Today, Dr. Lybarger continues his private practice, specializing in therapy for interpreters, Deaf individuals and at-risk adolescents, while offering transformative workshops that empower individuals to care for their mental and emotional well-being.
Dr. Lybarger’s unique combination of psychological expertise and firsthand knowledge of the interpreting profession allows him to address the nuanced stressors interpreters face.
At Resiliency Resources, our mission is to provide interpreters with education, information and support to enhance the quality of their lives and improve their self efficacy, resilience, and mental health. We are committed to specialized, compassionate and individualized support for sign language interpreters.
-Dr. Lybarger