Matt Atkinson

Matt Atkinson is a Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Professional with a background in work with trauma survivors. He has worked in crisis services in prevention of domestic and sexual violence, where he developed and implemented programs with women's prisons, university sports teams, churches, and Indian tribes.

In 2004, he became the first male given the National Award for Outstanding Advocacy and Community Work in Ending Sexual Violence by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. In 2005 he was awarded "Most Therapeutic" by his professional peers, and he received top marks from client evaluations every year of his practice. In 2006 he began to teach college courses on domestic violence and crisis intervention as an adjunct professor.

In 2009, Atkinson provided a series of all-day training workshops for therapists, funded through grants and organized by the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. The methods presented in "Resurrection After Rape" have become the "gold standard" treatment approach taught to many crisis workers/therapists.

In 2010, Atkinson wrote "You Can Take Your Power Back: A Guide to Your Rights After Rape", a booklet distributed to thousands of victims of sexual assault in English, Spanish, and Braille.

Atkinson has organized a retreat/recovery weekend for rape and trauma survivors, drawing in participants from across North America and the EU, and featuring a Grammy-award winning musician as guest of honor. Attendance increases each year, and many participants identify it as the single most healing experience of their lives.

He also developed a model program to establish multiple Sexual Assault Response Team services in rural communities so that rape victims will have improved access to crisis care. He still manages to accept frequent requests to speak to university classes, conferences and workshops, such as keynote speaking one of 2009's Domestic Violence Awareness Month events.

Matt has degrees in Art/Human Physiology, Behavioral Science, and a Master's in clinical Social Work. He is married and has two sons. He is also a successful, collected oil painter.