John L. Walker brings a unique experiential perspective to the practice of psychology. The road to service took a lot of turns. He graduated from North Texas State University in 1983 with honors with a BBA in Banking and Finance and became a bank vice president at the tender age of 25. He left corporate life, however, and entered the music business, becoming a touring singer/songwriter at 32. His first wife died at age 37 from substance abuse, and that formative experience was the catalyst for his departure from "the road." This led to the establishment of MacHenry's, an acclaimed entertainment venue for both touring and local music acts that Walker founded in his hometown of Fort Worth. It became a beloved hub for musicians, in large measure due to Walker's ability to bring people together for a common purpose. After MacHenry's closed, John realized that service to others would be a lifetime pursuit. As a result, he returned to school at 52 and obtained an M.S. in Counseling Psychology from Tarleton State University. This made possible his establishment of Empathy Source Counseling in suburban Fort Worth in 2017.

John has developed a track record of helping others through life experience and loss, concentrating on the treatment of grief and substance abuse. This work has led him to believe that true, lasting change begins with each individual. His cognitive behavioral approach has been incredibly effective, helping others apply considered thought and positive action to their difficulties.

His book Breaking Common Ground is the further embodiment of this approach, as it presents others with a personal means to overcome the feeling of hopeless societal division many of us feel. It is a basic, action-oriented approach to unity. It leverages proven experiential strategies and is offered as an extension of a giving heart, a desire to be of service, and evidence of unique perspective.

John now lives west of Fort Worth in Mineral Wells, Texas with his wife Glenda and their bossy cat, Emma.