Val Walker MS

About

Val Walker, MS, is the author of The Art of Comforting, a Nautilus Gold Medal winner that was recommended by the Boston Public Health Commission as a guide for families impacted by the Boston Marathon bombing. As a rehabilitation consultant, speaker, and author, Walker believes we can break through isolation by building our confidence for creating our communities. Her second book, 400 Friends and No One to Call: Breaking Through Isolation and Building Community, is a candid and comforting guide for isolating times when we have no one to count on. Her latest book, Healing Through Wonder: How Awe Restores Us After Trauma and Loss (Bloomsbury Publishing, January 2026), blends memoir, profiles of recovery, and neuroscience research on the ways our sense of wonder is a source of resilience as well as connection.

With a Master of Science degree in rehabilitation counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University, Walker has explored and practiced the art of comforting since facilitating her first support group in 1993. In the trenches of isolated and disadvantaged communities for 30 years, she has organized and led support groups for people living with illness, disability, grief, and trauma. She is a contributing blogger for the Health Story Collaborative in Boston and teaches and speaks throughout New England.

Books by Val Walker MS

Recent Posts

Building Your Social Life With Wonder and Curiosity

We can break through social anxiety and isolation by sharing awe and wonder with others who are wowed by the same things we are.

What the Pain of Being Ghosted Can Make People Do

Rumination, maladaptive daydreaming, and narcissism.

How to Recover From an Act of Rudeness

To recover from the sting of rudeness, turn to the solace of open-minded people, open places, and open time.

Interruptions and Surprises Can Be Good for Us

In cynical and testy times, unexpected moments of surprise, wonder, and joy build resilience—as long as we stay open enough to notice.

Grounding Yourself Through a Moment of Wonder

In a distracting, cynical world of ever-breaking news, we can lose our focus and attention to what really matters. But a few minutes gazing at the sky can switch us back on track.

Helping Someone in Financial Distress Due to a Health Crisis

What happens when loved ones are suffering financial distress due to a serious illness? We can help them get through it and mitigate the toxic effects on their well-being.

3 Myths About Awe and Wonder That Curtail Our Experience

It is our willingness to be wowed—not so much the thing that wows us—that we can claim as a source of strength. Letting go of expectations allows for surprises of awe and wonder.

The Power of Sharing Moments of Awe

When we’re captivated by something greater than ourselves in a moment of awe and wonder, we see each other in a new light.

3 Things to Avoid in Polarizing Times

What can derail a conversation, especially a political or emotionally charged discussion? Being preachy, pushy, and presumptuous.

Easing Loneliness With Wonder, Awe, and Nature

Our awe-inspiring moments with wildlife that take our breath away can restore our sense of belonging in the world, especially when we feel lonely. Wonder opens us to connection.