Virginia Williams
By Barbara Petty
July 2008

When Virginia Williams contacted Boom! Magazine regarding advertising and writing, I had, to be honest, never heard of her or her company Williams LifeSkills, Inc. But my curiosity was piqued so I went to their Web site and discovered that: Virginia was the co-author of numerous books; had been interviewed on national television; and was co-founder of an international business. Clearly, this is a woman of substance.

Virginia was kind enough to have lunch with me recently and to share some insights into her background. But first I had to get over her appearance: glowing skin, beautiful hair, sparkling eyes, obviously fit, and smartly attired. I was impressed from the get-go. Then of course she had to order the healthiest thing on the menu, acutely reminding me of the high fat content of my entrée. I felt I needed to be on my toes for this meeting.
Virginia was forthright in sharing her background, and her pleasant, unassuming demeanor immediately put me at ease. What was intended to be an interview turned out to be a warm and friendly conversation with a woman I am pleased to say is now my friend.

While growing up, Virginia always had a keen interest in medicine, and initially, was a pre-med student at college. Unfortunately, cultural pressures at that time were more prevalent than today, and she ended up going into teaching, considered a "more appropriate" female career. Virginia received a MA in Teaching from Brown University. She taught for eight years in Woodbridge, Connecticut, ultimately becoming chair of the department. She also had her first child, daughter Jennifer during this period.

Redford and Virginia Williams.

In 1972, husband Redford Williams was offered a position with Duke University and they subsequently moved to Durham. (Dr. Williams is currently Professor of Psychiatry, Professor of Psychology, Professor of Medicine, and Director of the Behavioral Medicine Research Group at Duke.) During their early years in Durham, Virginia went back to school (receiving another MA and a PhD in History) had their second child, son Lloyd. She graduated in 1980, and she and her husband began to develop the Williams LifeSkills training program.

Williams LifeSkills was originally developed as a general program that taught ten coping skills to help individuals better manage stress and anger. Those coping skills included: awareness of feelings and objectivity; thinking before you act; calming down; problem solving; assertion; saying no; speaking in ways that get listened to; listening; empathizing; and emphasizing the positives. Once the effectiveness had been demonstrated, the dynamic duo proceeded to fine-tune and evaluate the training for particular populations such as individuals that work in law enforcement, a workshop for teens, and the healthcare industry.

Continuing to research the effectiveness of their training program, the Williams' discovered a very positive correlation between improved mental and/or physical health in those that had completed the LifeSkills training. In the world of healthcare, learning to deal effectively with distressful situations can help individuals cope better with illness, and to the extent that distress is contributing to the physical problem, health may improve, or at least stabilize. In randomized clinical trials, heart patients receiving LifeSkills training enjoyed subsequent better health than those patients in the control group (see charts).

1n 1990, Redford and Virginia released Anger Kills: 17 Strategies for Controlling the Hostility that Can Harm your Health. This book became a bestseller and led to an appearance on Oprah (over the years, Virginia has also appeared on 20/20, Good Morning America, and The Today Show, among others.) The book has been translated into numerous languages, and that led to the development of LifeSkills training program facilitators around the world.

Two more books followed: LifeSkills, and In Control, neither of which achieved the same level of international acclaim of Anger Kills, but none-the-less, cemented the Williams' as pioneers in the medical profession. The combination of Virginia's training as a cultural historian with her husband's in-depth research concerning the effects of personality and behavior on health and quality of life is akin to a metaphysical alignment of the stars.

When asked why her program has been so successful Virginia replies, "Mental health services are erratic at best. We need to develop good mental health practices - similar to good physical healthcare. We need to be as healthy as possible to deal with our complex world." Apparently, thousands of participants around the world agree with her.

"Our ongoing research program for caregivers with a relative with Alzheimer's may be of special interest to Triangle residents," said Virginia. Williams LifeSkills and the Duke University Family Support Program developed a special video and workbook with accompanying telephone coaching for such caregivers. They are now testing it with participants who live within 55 miles of Durham. Participants are compensated for their time and can choose to be tested in their homes or in the LifeSkills office. "The informal feedback we are getting from those who have completed the program is that the intervention has been very helpful."

(For more information about the Coping Skills Training, call 919.286.4566)

As a woman who has achieved a level of professional success others can only admire, I was curious to find out what continues to motivate her. The overarching general goal is the continued expansion of the business and to provide coping skills training that helps individuals deal effectively with their lives. "I am particularly interested in reaching specific groups such as individuals with compromised health, individuals caring for a relative with Alzheimer's (see clinical trial study above), high school students trained as part of their regular curriculum, and individuals in countries undergoing rapid change," she explains.

On a personal level, her goals were simpler, although no less significant: "I want to continue warm, loving relationships with my husband, children and extended family, I want to get better at aerobics, and I want more time at home to enjoy my deck!"