Virginia L. Colin, Ph.D.
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P.O. Box 2481
Springfield, VA 22152
USA
703.864.2101
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Description of Practice
Family Mediation is the only kind of mediation I do professionally. I specialize in providing professional support for Do-It-Yourself divorces in addition to assisting couples in conflict. I have helped many couples and ex-couples resolve issues about parenting plans, separation, divorce, child support, alimony, and property division. My book “The Guide to Low-Cost Divorce in Virginia,” available from Amazon for $4.99, is a great place to start if you are considering divorce. In addition to marriage mediation, divorce mediation, and co-parenting mediation, I can help with elder care planning and internal family business disputes. There are five family mediators in my group practice. We offer a flat fee plan.
Professional Background
- Family Mediation Specialist (private practice)
- Author of book "The Guide to Low-Cost Divorce in Virginia"
- 2018 President of the Academy of Professional Family Mediators
- 2017 Vice President of the Academy of Professional Family Mediators
- Research Analyst at Second Genesis
- Research Associate at Children's National Medical Center
- Author of the book "Human Attachment"
- Self-employed Research Consultant
- Therapeutic Foster Parent at TRIAD Care Program
- Psychotherapy Associate at Bleach and Associates
- Psychology Associate at Clinical Associates
- Visiting Assistant Professor at St. Mary's College of Maryland
- Therapeutic Foster Parent at Family Group Homes
Experience
I began doing family mediation in 1999 and have worked with a wide variety of couples.
In my roles as a parent (married, then divorced, and then, years later, remarried), step-parent, foster parent, friend, counselor, and mediator, I have extensive experience with divorce. I know the emotional, financial, and legal aspects of family distress, separation, and divorce. I have helped many ex-couples renegotiate parenting plans when children got older, when parents changed jobs or moved to different neighborhoods, or when a family’s situation changed in other ways. More recently, I have discovered the joys of marital mediation -- helping couples resolve issues and improve their marriages, instead of just helping people minimize the damage when it is too late to save the marriage.
Degrees
B.A. in Psychology from Swarthmore College
M.A. in Psychology from Columbia University
Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from University of Virginia.
M.A. in Psychology from Columbia University
Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from University of Virginia.
In addition, I have completed the training and apprenticeship program developed by the Supreme Court of Virginia and earned certification to mediate cases referred from Juvenile and Domestic Courts and from Circuit Courts.
Training
| Dates | Trainer(s) | Title |
| 2008 | Northern Virginia Mediation Services | Eleven mediation courses, 107 hours |
| 2010 | Virginia Law Foundation | 29th Annual Family Law Seminar: Spare the Child, 6 hours |
| 2010 | Supreme Court of Virginia Dispute Resolution Services | Theater of Ethics, 2 hours |
| 2011 | Supreme Court of Virginia Dispute Resolution Services | Child Support, Basic and Advanced, 8 hours |
| 2012 | Academy of Professional Mediators | many programs, 30 hours |
| 2013 | Academy of Professional Mediators | many programs, 32 hours |
| 2014 | Academy of Professional Mediators | many programs, 32 hours |
| 2014 | Supreme Court of Virginia Dispute Resolution Services | Ethics, 3 hours |
| 2014 | Northern Virginia Mediation Services | various programs, 10 hours |
| 2015 | Academy of Professional Mediators | many programs, 30 hours |
| 2015 | Northern Virginia Mediation Services | various programs, 6 hours |
| 2015 | Supreme Court of Virginia Dispute Resolution Services | Mediation Ethics, 2 hours |
| 2017 | Academy of Professional Mediators | many programs, 30 hours |
| 2017 | Supreme Court of Virginia Dispute Resolution Services | Mediation Ethics, 2 hours |
| 2018 | Professional Family Mediators Forum of Northern Virginia | Creating Child-Focused Parenting Plans: What Does the Research Say?, 1.5 hours |
| 2018 | Center for Mediation and Training (in NYC) | Divorce Mediation — Working with Difficult Couples, 3 hours |
| 2018 | Center for Mediation and Training (in NYC) | Divorce Mediation — The New 2018 Federal Tax Law, 4 hours |
| 2018 | Academy of Professional Mediators | many programs, 22 hours |
| 2018 | Northern Virginia Mediation Services | three programs, 5 hours |
| 2019 | Academy of Professional Mediators | many programs, 21.5 hours |
| 2020 | Academy of Professional Mediators | many programs, 16 hours |
Approach
In a confidential setting, I help each party to communicate what is important to him or her and to hear what is important to the other party. I facilitate the conversation to help them identify the issues that need to be resolved, focus on one issue at a time, brainstorm ideas about ways to resolve issues, discuss the possible solutions, come to agreement about parenting plans, financial, and/or other issues, prepare a draft of their emerging agreement, and review, revise, and (usually) sign the agreement. I do recommend that the parties each have an attorney review the draft agreement before they commit themselves to it.
Fees
$250 per hour for others in my group practice; $350/hour for my time. Sometimes we accept less if clients really cannot afford our standard rates. We also offer a discounted Flat Fee plan. We accept cash, checks, and credit card payments.
Other Information
My current mission in life is to make myself available on neutral ground in almost any part of northern Virginia where people need family mediation services. I am also available by phone or Skype for clients anywhere if jurisdiction of the case is in Virginia. Usually if a minor child is involved, jurisdiction is where the child lives.
Also, listen to my radio show Family Matters at http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/2397/family-matters
Areas of Practice
- Divorce (all issues)
- Divorce (parenting)
- Family
- LGBTQ
- Marital Mediation
Professional Services
- Mediator
- Mediation Consultant
- Mediation Trainer
- Online Mediator
References available upon request.
This dispute resolution professional keeps professional liability insurance.
Attachments
Human Attachment book cover.jpeg
The Guide to Low-Cost Divorce book cover.jpg