Mediation Profile
Dr. Victoria Simon, LMFT
Mediator

After completing her university education in Europe, Dr. Simon focused her mental health training in forensic psychology, communication and conflict resolution, receiving a Ph.D. in forensic psychology, a license in Marriage and Family Therapy, and training in mediation through the Los Angeles County Bar Association.

As a child custody evaluator working with children and families in the midst of the emotional trauma of divorce, separation and custody disputes and as an experienced divorce and child custody mediator, she has developed a keen ability to assess quickly and accurately what skills, tools, and resources families and individuals need to survive these upheavals. Additionally Dr. Simon has worked with dozens of foster children, their caregivers and family members in order to guide them in the process of healing from family trauma and separation.  Dr. Simon has lectured nationwide and has written articles that appear in publications ranging from the Journal of Forensic Psychology to Bridal Guide.

Mediation Style:

• Solution-focused – While the mediation process can be healing, it is not therapy.  The solution-focused model ensures that, while parties may discuss the past, they remain focused on the future and the mediation goal of finding solutions for the issues at hand
• Child-centered – A mediation model that helps to focus on and promote decisions tailored to the individual needs of the children in order to minimize the potentially negative impact of separation and divorce on them
• Transformative – Helping parties arrive at a better understanding of the dispute from both sides and empowering each party to find successful resolutions

Education:

B.A. with Honors, English Literature/Philosophy, University of Sussex, 1991, Brighton, England
M.A. Clinical Psychology, specialty in Forensic Psychology, Antioch University, 1997, Los Angeles, CA
Ph.D. Forensic Psychology, The Union Institute, 2002

Additional Qualifications

Member of the Association for Conflict Resolution
Member of American Psychology Association
Member of California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists

Mediation Training:

Advanced Negotiation Skills, Center for Dispute Resolution (UK), 2004
Transformative Mediation Training, Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation, Inc., 2003
Alternative Dispute Resolution Mediator, Certified through the Los Angeles County Bar Association, 2000
Conflict Resolution Skills, Center for Dispute Resolution (UK), 1991

Personal Values in Mediation:

• To ensure the fairness, equality and civility that are paramount to the mediation process
• You are your own expert; our job is to ensure that you needs and goals are met
• To provide an informal, friendly approach that enhances expectations of professional ‘authority’
• To ensure that everyone’s voice is heard – talking and listening are important to the mediation process in equal measures
• To ensure that you are provided with research-based information regarding child development as it relates to ‘best interests’ custody arrangements and given as much guidance as is needed to develop your child-centered custody plans