LISTEN to Arroe Collins interview Val on his "Like It's Live" podcast about Healing Through Wonder.

 

 

  

 

PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS   

 Healing Through Wonder

 

A ready-made presentation for author talks, workshops, and events:

 

 

Our sense of wonder is a source of resilience and hope--and it's contagious.

 

Even brief moments of awe open our minds and shift our focus out of our mental chatter and nagging thoughts. Awestruck, we're fully present and time seems to stop. Something wondrous takes our breath away--a sunset, a blue heron flying overhead, a song that gives us chills, an unexpected sign, a bold act of kindness—awakening a feeling of aliveness and belonging.

 

Author, blogger for Psychology Today, and rehabilitation consultant, Val Walker, will share inspirational stories from people profiled in her book who've been transformed by encounters of awe and wonder. She will also highlight neuroscience research that explains how awe builds resilience and connection. Finally, group participants are invited to share their own recollections and insights about wonder. 

(Presented in 45-minute or 1-hour programs online or in person.)

 

"Another absolutely wonderful workshop! It is rare to see so many participants so engaged–a testament to making the topic interesting and creating a safe space where the audience felt comfortable sharing."–Laura Vargas, MSW, LCSW, Director of Outreach Programs, Peer Support Community Partners, MA

 

"Healing Through Wonder propels us towards health by reminding us to step outside of ourselves and to celebrate our collective humanity and wonder of the world."–Annie Brewster, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Founder of the Health Story Collaborative, Author, The Healing Power of Storytelling

BLOGS

 

Val has been regularly blogging for Psychology Today since 2019 and often writes about awe and wonder. She explores how awe-inspiring moments can be shared to build resilience and community. 

 

 

 

READ "Building Your Social Life with Wonder and Curiosity" on Val's Psychology Today Blog

 

 

Val blogs for the Health Story Collaborative with her series, "The Healing Through Wonder Project."

 

READ "The Healing Through Wonder Project: Sharing Our Love of Birds" on the Health Story Collaborative blog.

 

MEDIA APPEARANCES

 

RADIO INTERVIEWS AND PODCASTS

 

• The Friendship Tour Podcast with Cecelia Curtis, "Is Social Media Stealing Your Confidence?" 2025
• Get the Funk Out! with Jeneane, KUCI, March 16, 2020 podcast
• Jefferson Exchange, NPR affiliate, Jefferson Public Radio, Breaking Through Isolation, Now and Always, March 19, 2020 podcast
• Unplugged and Totally Uncut with Arroe Collins, iHeartRadio, 2020
• The Current, CBC Radio, 2020
• Alaska Public Media (NPR affiliate) Your Health Connection, 2020
• The Dr. Pat Show, Interview,  2020 Podcast
• Signal Boost on Sirius XM with Zerlina Maxwell and Jess MacIntosh,  2020
• Kathryn Zox Show, Voice America, April, 2020
• Change Your Attitude, Change Your Life with Joan Herrmann, 2020
• The Patricia Raskin Show, Author Interview, May 18, 2020 podcast
• Mountain Life, NPR affiliate, KPCW, Reaching Out and Being Reached in this Time of Isolation, March 25, 2020
• America Trends with Larry Rifkin Podcast, Mental Health Network, Author Interview, 2020
• Fresh Tracks with Kelly Robins Podcast, May 4, 2020

 

 

VIDEO/TV  

• Global TV Canada Morning Show, interview, "The Stigma Surrounding Loneliness" 2020 
• Interview with Kim Berns, host of "What's the Story," Rye TV, April, 2020
• Interview with host, Cat Smith, KSVY Hollywood and West Napa (YouTube), 2020
• Interview with CJ Liu, host, Fire It Up with CJ, 2020

PRINT

 

• Blogger for Psychology Today since December, 2019
• Next Avenue, quoted, "Good Friends and the Money Gap," Janet Siroto, January 2024
• New York Times, quoted, "How Volunteering Can Help Ease Loneliness," Christina Caron, December, 2021
• Fatherly.com, quoted, "How to Comfort an Adult Who's Feeling Sad," Steve Calechman, November, 2023
• Next Avenue and Forbes, quoted, "Should You Get a Coach for Your Retirement?" August, 2020
• Tracking Happiness, Featured and quoted, "5 Ways to Comfort Someone Who Needs You Right Now, by Jesse Faber, January, 2023
• Caregiver Solutions, "Building a Support Network: Four-hundred friends and no one to call," March, 2020
• AARP, "Coping with Isolation During the Coronavirus Outbreak,"Q&A with Val Walker by Aaron Kassraie, March, 2020
• Parade, quoted, "40 Ways to Maintain Social Ties," September, 2020
• Rewire, quoted, How to Talk to Your Parents About Coronavirus, With Tips from a Millennial Pastor, March 2020
• Catching Health, "How Are You Holding Up?," Q&A with Val Walker by Diane Atwood, April, 2020
• Healthy Aging Magazine, "Building Social Support as an Older Adult," June, 2020
• BabyBoomer.com, "10 Ways to Make Meaningful Connections in Retirement, " March, 2020
• BoomerMagazine.com, Book Review by Annie Tobey for 400 Friends and No One to Call, March, 2020 
• Caregiver Space, "How Caregivers Can Build Community," April, 2020
• Sweety High Magazine, Q&A with Val Walker by Amanda McCarthur about how to comfort a friend, November, 2019
• Coping with Cancer Magazine (Copingmag.com)"The Language of Commitment," March, 2016
• TIME, Q&A: The Art of Comforting, Interviewed by Maia Szalavitz, January, 2011
• The Wall Street Journal, quoted, "When a Friend Grieves, How to Get Sympathy Right by Elizabeth Bernstein, January, 2011
• Chicago Tribune, "How to Offer Comfort," Cheryl Stritzel McCarthy, March, 2011
• BeliefNet, "Tips from Val Walker's The Art of Comforting," Inspiration Report Guest Blog, October, 2010
• Marie Claire, quoted, "Dos and Donts for Comforting a Friend Post-Breakup," Maura Kelley, 2011
• Boston Globe Sunday Magazine, "Listen Closely: A First Person Q&A with Val Walker" by Nancy Heiser, 2010 (Archive Access)