Alicia Hawley-Bernardez

Profile

Join date: Nov 18, 2024

About

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.

Posts (39)

Oct 9, 2026 ∙ 5 min

Why the Cornell Case Is Triggering To So Many Survivors

If this one is sitting heavy on you Content note: this post discusses sexual assault. I've kept the details to a minimum on purpose. More than one person I've sat with this week has brought the same story into the room. Not their own story, at least not at first. The Cornell story. And then, slowly, their own. If you've been anywhere near the news, you've probably seen it. A former Cornell student has filed a lawsuit alleging she was drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple fraternity...

Sep 22, 2026 ∙ 3 min

EMDR for Domestic Violence Survivors: What to Expect

Domestic violence leaves a very specific kind of mark. Not just from the incidents themselves, but from living in sustained fear, from constantly monitoring someone else's moods, from the confusion of loving someone who hurts you, and from all the ways you had to adapt yourself just to survive. That kind of experience doesn't just go away when you leave. Often, survivors find that the trauma is still very much present: in their nervous system, in their relationships, in how they move through...

Sep 8, 2026 ∙ 4 min

How to Leave a Coercive Control Relationship Safely: A Practical Guide

If you’re thinking about leaving a coercive control relationship, the fact that you’re planning is important. Leaving is the most dangerous period in an abusive relationship, and that’s not said to scare you out of going. It’s said so you go with a plan.