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Lenore Walker, Ed.D.

Lenore Walker received her doctorate at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey in 1972 and immediately went on the psychiatry faculty at the then CMDNJ Rutgers Medical School where she began her research about the psychological effects of domestic violence on women and children. In 1978 Walker received an RO1 research grant from NIMH to study what she named “Battered Woman Syndrome”.  She continued that research on the faculty of Nova Southeastern University Center for Psychological Studies where she is the Coordinator of the Clinical Forensic Psychology Concentration in the doctoral program and Director of the Masters in Forensic Psychology program. During the almost forty years, Walker has engaged in clinical and forensic practice and policy issues around the world in the area of gender violence, published twenty books and authored numerous chapters and articles, and is working on the fourth edition of The Battered Woman Syndrome. She is known internationally for her keynote speeches and workshops to professionals as well as expert witness testimony in high publicity legal cases.

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Domestic Violence: Psychological Impact and Treatment for Victims Home Study (3 CE's) 
Lenore Walker, Ed.D.
$69.00
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 “Enjoyed how this CEU went further than domestic violence education and actually educated us on how to apply that to mental health practice. Gave a nice range of materials to access and consider. She was also obviously knowledgeable about the topic and gave concise explanations on various items that was beneficial compared to just reading slides.”-Kelley K., Social Worker, Maryland

The field of domestic violence has been evolving over the past thirty plus years as the knowledge base has increased and new assessment and intervention techniques offer assistance to the families in which it occurs. This Webinar will begin by reviewing identification and assessment tools for victims, perpetrators, and children that can assist mental health professionals. We will then review the field of trauma and the psychological impact on victims. Finally, we will look at one specific treatment program that can be used with victims of domestic violence and other gender-based trauma.

session: 7861
STEP: Manualized Treatment for Survivors of Domestic Violence Home Study (3 CE's) 
Lenore Walker, Ed.D.
$69.00
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“The explanation of the 12 STEP units was clear and interesting. Dr. Walker is a confident, relaxed speaker who was easy to listen to and ask questions if needed. Her PPT was helpful in following her ideas.”-Lynda B., Licensed Professional Counselor, Arizona

Survivors of domestic violence have many psychological effects similar to other trauma victim/survivors, particularly those who have experienced gender-based violence such as sexual assault, rape, sexual exploitation, trafficking, and child sexual abuse. Although many different types of psychotherapy and other interventions have been described in the literature, the consensus is that trauma-specific treatment has the best efficacy in helping victims become survivors with new resilience. Using an evidence-based, trauma-specific treatment program, the Survivor Therapy Empowerment Program (STEP-2) helps move victims to a survivor status with a tripartite program. The three areas are psychoeducation to assist in the understanding of the various trauma responses, a period of discussion where the impact of these trauma responses are understood from an individual perspective, and a skill-building period where new skills are learned and old skills reinforced. The transparent intervention program has 12 units that can be broken down into smaller sessions if necessary. Goals are negotiated with the clients as part of modeling the empowerment process necessary to heal from trauma. Rebuilding lost resilience is included as a part of healing from PTSD.

Topics include safety planning, relaxation training, cognitive restructuring faulty cognitions, boundaries and assertiveness, cycle of violence, trauma and PTSD, numbing behaviors and substance abuse, attachment and emotional re-regulation, impact of domestic violence on children, dealing with legal issues, grieving and letting go of old relationships, and building wellness and resilience. Each STEP can be used in a group or individually, in sequence or using each unit as its own stand alone section.
session: 8712
Women's Reproductive Mental Health & Justice Home Study (3 CEs) 
Lenore Walker, Ed.D.
$69.00
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Reproductive rights and justice for women, believed to have been won in 1973 with Roe v Wade, has a much longer history that remains unsettled up until today. Marginalized populations and those with few economic resources continue to have disparities in access to competent health services in all areas especially reproductive health. Sexuality and gender issues are regulated by politicians and religious leaders rather than health care practitioners, often based on myths and misinformation. Women continue to die unnecessarily in childbirth even in industrialized countries. Research on prevention and termination of unwanted pregnancies demonstrate the safety of surgical and medical abortion yet the laws continue to restrict women’s choice. The new reproductive technologies allow women to become a mother who otherwise might have remained infertile. Mental health clinicians need to have accurate information and know how to assess women’s competency in making these decisions. A recent research study showed that over half of psychologists and graduate students surveyed did not have accurate information necessary to counsel clients about reproductive health and abortion. Many had similar stigma about abortion and failed to address the issue with their clients leaving it to specialty clinics, many of which give false and politically motivated information. This workshop will attempt to close the gap and provide the information needed to counsel around reproductive health, justice, contraception, abortion, and assisted reproductive technologies. Participants will learn how to assess and build client’s competency in decision-making as well as assess their emotional stability. This webinar will provide the requisite knowledge, assessment and counseling skills needed to assist clients who face these sometimes life-changing decisions. 

session: 10584