WALK WITH ME:
MEET Dr. Shannon
WELCOME, I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE
I'm Dr. Shannon Imhof-Clark, Ph.D., founder of Restoration Psychology® and developer of the 5R Restoration Model®, the foundational framework of the field. I am a psychology researcher, educator, author, and speaker dedicated to advancing the understanding of how individuals move from adversity toward restoration and human flourishing. I believe that while adversity may shape our lives, it does not have to define our future.
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My work is devoted to equipping individuals, students, educators, helping professionals, researchers, and organizations to better understand adversity and discover practical, research-informed pathways toward restoration, resilience, and human flourishing. Through research, education, writing, and practical application, I seek to translate psychological science into meaningful resources that support lasting growth and well-being.
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Whether I'm teaching in a graduate classroom, presenting at a conference, mentoring a student, conducting research, writing, or developing educational resources and assessments, my goal remains the same: to translate scholarship into practical application that equips people and communities to move toward restoration with greater confidence, purpose, and hope.
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Thank you for taking the time to visit. Whether you've come to learn about Restoration Psychology®, explore opportunities for research or collaboration, or discover resources for your own life, I'm glad you're here. I hope you'll find something that informs, encourages, and serves you well.
Why Restoration Psychology®?
People often ask why I created Restoration Psychology®. The answer wasn't found in a single research study, classroom, or life experience. Rather, it developed over years of education, teaching, research, service, and personal reflection, all centered around one enduring question: How do people move from adversity toward restoration and human flourishing?
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Throughout my academic and professional journey, I became increasingly interested in what enables people not only to cope with adversity but also to move forward with renewed meaning, identity, purpose, relationships, and hope. While many psychological approaches help us understand distress, reduce symptoms, or navigate hardship, I found myself asking a different question: What psychological, relational, and environmental processes facilitate lasting restoration?
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That question became the foundation of Restoration Psychology®, an area of scholarship that examines the psychological, relational, and environmental processes through which individuals move from adversity toward restoration and human flourishing.
Rather than asking, "How do I get back to who I was before adversity?" Restoration Psychology® asks a different question:
"How can I move forward and become who I am capable of becoming because of what I've learned along the way?"
My Journey
My professional journey has been shaped by many roles, including educator, researcher, nonprofit leader, ministry volunteer, author, speaker, and professor. Each experience has provided a unique perspective on adversity, resilience, and the remarkable capacity for restoration. Together, these experiences have shaped both my professional calling and the development of Restoration Psychology®.
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I earned my Ph.D. in Counseling & Psychological Studies from Regent University, where my doctoral research examined the relationship between late-adolescent caregiving experiences and resilience among college students with higher Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Although that work introduced the Late-Adolescent Caregiving Experiences Questionnaire (LACE-Q), it also laid the groundwork for Restoration Psychology®, an area of scholarship that examines the psychological, relational, and environmental processes through which individuals move from adversity toward restoration and human flourishing.
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Today, I serve as a psychology researcher, educator, author, and speaker while continuing to advance Restoration Psychology® through scholarship, assessment development, speaking, and educational resources. Whether I'm teaching graduate students, presenting at conferences, collaborating with colleagues, conducting research, or developing practical tools, my goal is to bridge psychological science and real-world application in ways that help individuals, professionals, educators, and organizations better understand and support restoration.
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Although my work continues to evolve, my mission remains constant: to advance the science of restoration while translating scholarship into practical resources that help individuals, families, communities, and organizations move toward restoration and human flourishing.
Beyond My Work
While my work is grounded in research and education, it is also deeply personal.
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I'm a wife, a mother of five, and someone who understands that life often asks us to carry more than we expected. Like many people, I have experienced seasons of caregiving, uncertainty, loss, growth, and profound gratitude. Those experiences have continually reminded me that behind every research study, psychological theory, and statistic is a person with a unique story.
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They have reinforced my belief that meaningful restoration is not about erasing adversity, but about learning to move forward with greater resilience, purpose, and hope.
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That perspective continues to shape my research, teaching, writing, and the ongoing development of Restoration Psychology®.
Looking Ahead
Although Restoration Psychology® continues to grow as an area of scholarship, my mission remains the same: to advance the science of restoration while equipping individuals and the professionals who serve them with practical, research-informed resources that support resilience, restoration, and human flourishing.
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In the years ahead, I hope to continue advancing this work through research, teaching, writing, speaking, assessment development, educational resources, and collaboration with researchers, educators, organizations, and practitioners who share a commitment to restoration and human flourishing.
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I am especially passionate about equipping those who walk alongside others every day, including educators, helping professionals, ministry leaders, parents, caregivers, and organizational leaders. When we strengthen those who support others, the impact extends far beyond a single conversation, classroom, or community.
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Whether you're here to learn about Restoration Psychology®, explore educational resources, invite me to speak, collaborate on research, or simply learn more, I'm grateful you're here.
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Before you continue exploring, I'd like to leave you with one question: What are you carrying?
Specializations
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American Psychological Association
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Psychology of Substance Use, Depressive Disorders, & Trauma
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Psychology of Disorders Related to Trauma, Anxiety, & Stress
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Psychology of Anxiety, Mood, Substance Use, and Addictive Behaviors
University of Pennsylvania
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Foundations of Positive Psychology
Johns Hopkins University
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Epidemiology in Public Health Practice
Professional Development
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National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)
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Adolescent Trauma and Substance Abuse Online
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Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) Online
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Johns Hopkins University
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Data and Health Indicators in Public Health Practice
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Essential Epidemiologic Tools for Public Health Practice
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Surveillance Systems: The Building Blocks
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Surveillance Systems: Analysis, Dissemination, and Special Systems
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Opioid Epidemic: From Evidence to Impact
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Outbreaks and Epidemics
University of Pennsylvania
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Positive Psychology: Martin E. P. Seligman’s Visionary Science
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Positive Psychology: Character, Grit and Research Methods
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Positive Psychology Specialization Project: Design Your Life for Well-being
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Positive Psychology: Applications and Interventions
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Positive Psychology: Resilience Skills
Stanford University
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Stanford Introduction to Food and Health
American Psychological Association
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Less Stress, Better Health
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Depressive and Bipolar Disorders
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Disorders Due to Substance Use and Addictive Behaviors
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Anxiety and Related Disorders
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Disorders Related To Trauma
Yale University
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The Science of Well-Being for Parents
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Introduction to Psychology
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Addiction Treatment: Clinical Skills for Healthcare Providers
WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT
Dr. Shannon & WalkingWithHER
VICTORIA M.
"Working with Dr. Shannon truly transformed my life. When I felt overwhelmed and lost after losing the person I loved most in life, she empowered me to take charge and regain control of my days and decisions. Her support and guidance helped me see my strengths and navigate through challenges with confidence and excitement. I now embrace each day with a renewed sense of purpose and direction."
TOM & MICHELLE B.
"Working with Dr. Shannon has significantly improved our marriage. Michelle and I struggled to connect after careers and children made our lives so busy, but Dr. Shannon's guidance showed us how to communicate more deeply in the midst of all that. We've revived the spark we thought had faded, and I am truly thankful to Walking with HER for helping us find true love again."
SHARNICE W.
"Dr. Shannon has really changed the game for me. In a world where everyone just expects things from me, she actually takes the time to listen and understand what I'm going through. Thanks to her support, I finally feel seen and heard, which has helped me tackle my challenges with way more confidence. I can’t thank her enough for her kindness and guidance!"