Lisa A. Fontes, PhD, stands as an internationally recognized authority in the fields of coercive control, child abuse, intimate partner abuse, and sexual violence. Her multifaceted role as a researcher, activist, expert witness, and author underscores her unwavering commitment to protecting society’s most vulnerable individuals from violence and abuse. With numerous journal articles and several influential books to her credit, including, Interviewing Clients Across Cultures: A Practitioner’s Guide, Invisible Chains: Overcoming Coercive Control in Your Intimate Relationship, and Child Abuse and Culture: Working with Diverse Families, Lisa has significantly contributed to the understanding and prevention of various forms of abuse.
Currently serving as a Senior Lecturer II at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Lisa draws from her extensive background as a family, individual, and group psychotherapist. Her research experience spans across international borders, from Santiago, Chile, to diverse communities within the United States. Beyond academia, she engages with the wider public as a sought-after conference speaker, workshop facilitator, and prolific blogger for reputable publications such as Domesticshelters.org and PsychologyToday.com. Lisa’s’ expertise extends to the legal realm, where she has been qualified as an expert witness in numerous states, offering her insights and guidance in family, civil, and criminal court cases related to trauma, coercive control, child welfare, sexual violence, domestic abuse, and sexual harassment. Her lifelong dedication to advocating for the well-being of survivors and those affected by abuse is a testament to her unwavering commitment to creating a safer and more just world.