Abstract
Dr. Lenore Walker is a pioneer in feminism and trauma counseling. Her contribution to these fields is vast, including topics of gender violence, battered woman syndrome, child abuse and trauma, false confessions of battered women, sex and human trafficking, and psychology and the law. Her theories and conceptualizations have shaped how providers approach trauma-informed care and the assessment of trauma survivors. Moreover, her work has spanned a variety of functions such as a clinician, researcher, educator, advocate, leader, consultant, and mentor. For the purposes of this article, Dr. Walker engaged in an interview to discuss her career, contributions, legacy, and the future of trauma counseling. During this interview, Dr. Walker shared what influenced her career and how she forged paths in uncharted areas. She provided insight into the importance of strength-based interventions, increasing prevention efforts and essential counseling skills when working with trauma and abuse survivors. Additionally, Dr. Walker discussed some of her experiences working with the legal system and recommendations for providers whose work overlaps with the criminal justice system to gain proficiency in forensic mental health assessment. Given her role in cross-cultural counseling, Dr. Walker reflected on how culture can influence the identification and treatment of gender violence. Finally, she reviewed the development and evolution of battered woman syndrome, assessing and treating trauma across the lifespan, and how to cope with working in a challenging field.
Recommended Citation
Diaz, B. (2024). A Legacy of Feminism and Advocacy: An Interview with Dr. Lenore Walker. Trauma Counseling and Resilience, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.33470/2997-7088.1017
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Counseling Commons, Law and Gender Commons, Law and Psychology Commons, Psychology Commons