Viola Vaughan-Eden has provided child and family counseling services to the Southeastern Virginia community for more than 25 years. Following her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree in 1987, she worked for eight years as a psychotherapist in Norfolk at The Barry Robinson residential treatment center for emotionally and behaviorally troubled youth. Next, she was a founding staff member of a Child Abuse Program that eventually became a nationally accredited Children's Advocacy Center at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters. Since 2002, she has been in private practice in Hampton Roads offering mental health services to trauma victims and their families. In 2003, she completed her dissertation on parenting sexually abused children earning a PhD in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. Currently, she is Associate Professor and PhD Program Director with The Ethelyn R. Strong School of Social Work at Norfolk State University. Throughout her career, Dr. Vaughan-Eden has evaluated and consulted on more than 2,000 cases of maltreatment and provided expert testimony more than 500 times. She has trained MSW students, psychology interns, medical residents, physicians, social workers, guardians ad litem, judges, and law enforcement to enhance their awareness of child development, assessment, and treatment. She has served as a consultant and/or expert witness in more than 22 jurisdictions within Virginia as well as California, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Washington, DC, and U.S. Federal Court. In order to enhance her understanding of the judicial system, she attended Loyola University Chicago Law School and in 2013 obtained a Master of Jurisprudence in Children’s Law and Policy. As a result of being an expert witness in family courts for more than 20 years, Dr. Vaughan-Eden is active in establishing Collaborative Divorce Solutions in the Hampton Roads community. Collaborative practice is a non-adversarial process in which couples select a team of professionals to assist them through their divorce. Collaborative Divorce Solutions helps non-violent families resolve co-parenting issues without court involvement. By serving as a child specialist and a divorce coach, she is able to help couples and families get through a difficult process while supporting their sense of self-determination. She found that litigated divorces are often emotionally destructive to families, especially children, therefore she uses collaborative practice as a constructive way to make the transition.
Having served as an expert witness in family courts for more than 20 years, I am extremely excited to help families with co-parenting issues prior to court involvement. By serving as a Child Specialist and Divorce Coach, I am able to help couples and families get through a difficult process while supporting their sense of self-determination. In my experience, litigated divorces are often emotionally destructive and in some cases traumatizing to families especially children. Collaborative Divorce is a constructive and healthy way to make the transition.
1991 LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER, Virginia Board of Social Work
2012 FELLOW; 2006 DIPLOMATE, American Psychotherapy Association
2015 FELLOW; 2012 DIPLOMATE; 2010 CERTIFIED MASTER FORENSIC SOCIAL WORKER, American Board of Forensic Social Workers ,Ph.D. ,LCSW
CURRENT:
2009-2017 Virginia Collaborative Professionals, Board
2009-Present, National Organization of Forensic Social Work, Board
2009-Present National Partnership to End Interpersonal Violence Across the Lifespan (NPEIV)
2008-Present, American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, Board
PRIOR:
2008-2014, Collaborative Divorce Solutions of the Virginia Peninsula
2007-2014, Collaborative Divorce Solutions of Tidewater
2004-2013, Center for Child and Family Services, Board
American Psychological Association
American Psychotherapy Association
International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
National Association of Social Workers
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
Year | Course Title | Instructor | Hours |
---|---|---|---|
Basic/ Introductory Collaborative Law or Interdisciplinary Collaborative Team Training. | |||
2006 | Basic Interdisciplinary Training | CD Team Training | 20 |
30-Hr Interest-Based Negotiation & Mediation Skills | |||
2009 | Mediation | VaCP | 6 |
2009 | Family Mediation Skills Building | Community Mediation Center | 8 |
2007 | Mediation Training | Mediation Center of Hampton Roads | 8 |
2007 | Family Law Arbitration Training | Charlie Hofheimer, JD | 4 |
2005 | Mediating High Conflict Child Custody Disputes | NOFSW | 3 |
2005 | Collaborative Divorce: A New Interdisciplinary Initiative | NOFSW | 1.5 |
Additional 15 hours Intermediate/ Advanced interest-based negotiation, communication skills, collaborative, or basic professional coach training | |||
2013 | The Collaborative World Café | IACP - George Por & Alan Briskin | 2 |
2012 | Roadblocks to Financial Resolutions in Collaborative Cases | VaCP-Debora May, CDFA; Gigi Robson, CDFA & Lonnie Broussard, CDFA | 2 |
2012 | Challenges in Collaborative Practice | VaCP - Co-Presenter with Dana Cogan, MD & Marie Donlan, LMFT | 2 |
2011 | Preventing Real Property Pitfalls in Divorce | VaCP-Kelly Lise Murray, JD | 3 |
2011 | Navigating Emotional Currents | VaCP-Scharff & Herrick | 3 |
2010 | Collaborative Practice with Divorcing Couples | I was instructor | 1.5 |
2010 | An Introduction to Collaborative Practice Team Approach | I was instructor | 1.5 |
Annual 4 hours collaborative continuing education (basic, intermediate, or advanced) | |||
2022 | Responses to Domestic Violence for Victims, Survivors, and Offenders | VVE & IVAT | 3.0 |
2022 | CDST | CDST | 1.0 |
2021 | Understanding Domestic Violence and the Challenges in Getting it Right | VVE for CPNV | 1.0 |
2021 | Strategic Planning | CDST | 1.0 |
2021 | Social Work and the Court: Best Practices and Ethical Duties to Court and Clients | VVE & NOFSW | 1.0 |
2021 | BEYOND SPREAD SHEETS AND CASH FLOW | CPNV - Debbie May CPA, CFP, CDFA & Robin Taub J.D. | 1.0 |
2020 | IACP 21st Annual Networking and Educational Forum – Virtual | IACP | 8.0 |
2020 | COVID-19 EMPLOYMENT LAW UPDATES YOU NEED TO KNOW | CDST | 1.0 |
2020 | Behavioral Finance | CDST - Renee Rickrode | 1.0 |
2020 | 2020 IACP Forum | IACP | 10.0 |
2019 | The Parental Alienation Controversy | IVAT - VVE, Kathleen Faller, PhD & Robert Geffner, PhD | 1.5 |
2019 | EFFECTS OF DIVORCE ON CHILDREN | CDST - Sandy Portnoy | 1.0 |
2019 | Controversial Issues in Family Court and Child Welfare System | IVAT - VVE & Stacie LeBlanc, JD, MEd | 1.5 |
2019 | Back to the Basics | CDST - Sheera Herrell | 1.0 |
2018 | NDAA – National Defense Authorization Act | CDST - Mark Flaherty | 1.0 |
2018 | From Darkness to Light: Collaborative Practices and Interventions with Families in Conflict | VVE - Kids First Center Conference in Maine | 2.0 |
2018 | Collaborative Practice: Resolving Disputes Respectfully | VVE - University of Richmond Family Law Class | 1.5 |
2018 | Collaborative Practice & Evolving Ethical Standards | CDST - VVE | 1.0 |
2017 | Skills Workshop on Allegations of Interpersonal Violence in Cases of Divorce/Relationship Dissolution | VVE, Frank Vandervort, JD, Kathleen Faller, PhD - APSAC Advanced Training in Maine | 1.5 |
2017 | Real estate and Mortgage Issues | CDST - Neil Phelan & Micah Cummings | 1 |
2017 | Delivering Bad News to Clients | CDST - Viola Vaughan-Eden | 1 |
2017 | Collaborative Divorce: Working Together for Solutions | Viola Vaughan-Eden at University of Richmond Family Law Class | 1.5 |
2017 | Bankruptcy Issues in Collaborative Cases | CDST-Ellen Carlson, JD | 1 |
2016 | Recognizing and Dealing with Personality Disorders in Collaborative Cases | CDST | 1 |
2016 | Getting Unstuck | CDST | 1 |
2016 | Expanding Collaborative to Elder Law | CDST | 1 |
2016 | 9th Annual VaCP Meeting: Counseling Clients Through Bad News | VaCP - Marjorie Aaron, J.D. | 6 |
2015 | VaCP - What Can We Do For You | VaCP - Marshall Yoder, Esq | 1 |
2015 | The Challenge of Team | CDST - Marie Dolan, LMFT | 1 |
2015 | Improving Team Practice | CDST - Marie Donlan, Bes Maiden | 1 |
2015 | How To Fast Track Cases With Low Income Parties | CDST - Sue Anne Bryant | 1 |
2015 | Case Debrief | CDST | 1 |
2015 | Breaking Down Barriers to Support: How a Cohesive Collaborative Team Can Inspire New Thinking | CPTI | 6 |
2014 | Update on Virginia Child Support Standards | Dale Berrett, JD | 1 |
2014 | The Negotiated Resolution Model | Greg Vecchi, PhD | 1.5 |
2014 | Psychological Barriers to Settlement | I was the instructor. | 1 |
2014 | Negotiation Barriers to Settlement | I was the instructor. | 1 |
2014 | Collaborative Practice: A Healthier Option For Families In Transition | I was a panelist. | 1 |
2014 | Collaborative Divorce Three-Day Team Training | CPTI | 20 |
2013 | What If Conflict Were an Evolutionary Gift? | IACP - George Por | 1.5 |
2013 | The Language of Collaboration: Increasing Effectiveness by Communicating Non-Defensively and Powerfully | IACP - Carolyn Wilkes Kaas, JD; Natalie Leininger, CDFA; Karen Thompson-Harry, LLB; Susan L. Zwaenepoel, Q.C | 1.5 |
2013 | The Heart and Practice of Collective Wisdom | IACP - Alan Briskin | 2 |
2013 | Powerful Non-Defensive Communication: Tools for Enhancing the Transformational Power in Collaborative Process | IACP - Sharon Strand Ellison, MS | 1.5 |
2013 | Navigating Emotional Currents in Collaborative Divorce – Part IV - Team Ground Rule and Calibration Lists | Lonnie Broussard, CDFA | 1 |
2013 | Navigating Emotional Currents in Collaborative Divorce - Collaborative Container | I was instructor with Lonnie Broussard, CDFA | 1 |
2013 | Creating Vision: The Process of Intended Change | IACP - Simone Haberstock McCartney, CPA, JD | 1.5 |
2013 | College Savings in Divorce | Margaret Little, CDFA, Mark Flaherty, CDFA & Gary Zaugg, CDFA | 1 |
2013 | Child Forensic Interview Clinic | APSAC | 28 |
2013 | Case Debrief | CDST | 1 |
2013 | An Introduction to Collaborative Practice | CDSVP - Panelist | 1.5 |
2013 | Alternative Dispute Resolution Services and Procedures of the Virginia Supreme Court | Greater Peninsula Women's Bar Association | 1.5 |
2012 | Value of a Child Specialist” Priceless! | IACP | 1.5 |
2012 | Updates on the Collaborative Protocols | VaCP-Paul Smollar, JD, Jan White, JD, & Kathleen O’Brien, JD | 2 |
2012 | Timeless Leadership for a New World | IACP - Erika Andersen | 1.5 |
2012 | The Power of Story | IACP - Park Howell | 1.5 |
2012 | Mental Health Professional Ethics | Jeff Schlichter, PhD & Marie P Donlan, LMFT | 1 |
2012 | How to Talk About the Collaborative Process to Anyone | Lonnie Broussard, CDFA | 1 |
2012 | Family Creation Arrangements in the LGBTQ Community | IACP | 1.5 |
2012 | Domestic Violence in Collaborative Family Law Cases | IACP | 1.5 |
2012 | Divorce Law for Non-Lawyers | Sheera R Herrell, CFP, JD & K. Page Kistler, JD | 1 |
2012 | Collaborative Conversation on Support: Model between Fear and Fairness | Lonnie Broussard, CDFA & Margaret Little, CDFA | 1 |
2012 | Challenges in Collaborative Practice | I was instructor | 1 |
2012 | Can We (Lawyers and Mental Health Professionals) Speak the Same Language | I was instructor | 1 |
2012 | Alcoholism/Addiction & Family in Collaborative Divorce | IACP | 1.5 |
2012 | APSAC Child Forensic Interview Clinic | APSAC | 32 |
2011 | Working with Parents on Child Related Issues during Separation or Divorce-Parenting Plan in Collaborative Practice | CPTI | 6 |
2011 | Teaching Caregivers to Talk with Children about Feelings | APSAC | 7 |
2011 | Mitigation Training | NOFSW | 3.5 |
2011 | Ethical & Legal Issues in Mental Health Practice | IVAT | 4 |
2011 | APSAC Child Forensic Interview Clinic | APSAC | 32 |
2010 | The Wiggins Case & Capital Case Mitigation | NOFSW | 1 |
2010 | The Cost of Divorce: Collaborative Solutions for Employees | I was instructor | 1.5 |
2010 | Restorative Justice | NOFSW | 3 |
2010 | Ethical and Legal Issues in Mental Health Practice | IVAT | 4 |
2010 | Advanced Forensic Interviewing Techniques for Children | APSAC | 8 |
2009 | Restorative Justice | NOFSW | 1 |
2009 | Introduction to Collaborative Practice Team Approach | I was instructor | 1.5 |
2009 | Diversity Training: Honoring Our Common Differences | Kathy Germann Consulting | 8 |
2009 | Child Forensic Interview Clinic | APSAC | 32 |
2009 | Advanced Forensic Interviewing Techniques for Children | APSAC | 8 |
2008 | Collaborative Law and Its Impact on Divorce Litigation | I was instructor | 1.5 |
2008 | Child Forensic Interview Clinic | APSAC | 33 |
2007 | Conducting Custody Evaluations in the Best Interest of the Child | CAS & IVAT | 8 |
2006 | Conducting Custody Evaluations in the Best Interest of the Child | CAS & IVAT | 20 |