A Thunderbolt Strikes Psychology: The Inspirational Life of Laura Brown

Abstract Laura Brown is a clinical and forensic psychologist who works from a feminist theory perspective. She is an intellectual, a writer, and ardent social justice activist. Growing up the grandchild of immigrants in a middle class, well-educated suburb, Laura’s early career aspirations felt within reach but did not insulate her from the “rampant sexism” of the time simply because that was so pervasive. Built on foundations of fairness and equal treatment for all beings, shaped equally by her Jewish heritage and family values of contrarianism, Laura’s path to feminism and liberation felt like the inevitable outcome of all of her previous immersion in the world of social justice activism and provided a community of likeminded women. These women and spaces would become critical beacons in the fostering of her own consciousness-raising and racial and sexual identity development. Her contributions to psychology and related fields are extensive and include prominent themes in feminist therapy theory and psychotherapy and the treatment of trauma.