Alicia Hawley-Bernardez, Ph.D., LMSW, is a trauma-informed therapist, professor, and educator whose work centers on healing after interpersonal harm, identity exploration, and resilience.
She specializes in supporting individuals navigating anxiety, trauma, emotionally abusive relationships, and major life transitions, while also training future social workers through trauma-informed, relational teaching.
Across both clinical and academic spaces, Alicia prioritizes connection, empowerment, and helping people rebuild trust in themselves.
Visit Alicia’s personal website to gain further insights.
I believe healing and growth happen when people feel truly seen, believed, and supported. Whether I’m working with clients or teaching students, I focus on showing up with care, curiosity, and collaboration rather than judgment or quick fixes.
My goal is to create spaces where people can make sense of their experiences, reconnect with their own inner self, and move forward with more clarity and confidence. I’m especially passionate about trauma-informed practice and education, and about translating research into real-world work that feels human, accessible, and empowering.
Alicia is a practicing therapist whose work bridges rigorous research and real-world clinical practice. She has extensive experience working with survivors of intimate partner violence and coercive control.
Alicia provides individual therapy and facilitates structured psychoeducational and process-oriented groups, including recovery groups for survivors of narcissistic and emotional abuse. Her writing reflects this depth of hands-on clinical experience, grounded in what truly helps clients heal.
Because she actively practices, teaches, conducts research, and supervises future clinicians, Alicia writes from both scholarly expertise and frontline clinical insight. Her content is informed by current research, shaped by real therapeutic experience, and guided by a deep commitment to ethical, culturally responsive care.
