Topic: Conflict Resolution in Relationships

Guest: Dr. Victoria Simon, Ph.D., MFT

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. Her practical experience includes working with adults, juveniles, families and organizations through the Los Angeles County Forensic Department, the Los Angeles County jails, the Los Angeles County Juvenile Public Defender's Office and the Los Angeles County foster system.

Dr. Simon worked for over a decade in the Los Angeles County Forensic Department, performing program development, counseling and training. She was selected by the U.S. Department of Justice to develop and implement a new branch of care for adult inmates in the Los Angeles County Jails. The innovative Jail Mental Evaluation Team she organized has received high praise and recognition both locally and nationally for its outstanding contribution to inmate safety and mental health care. An experienced presenter, Dr. Simon has conducted countless trainings for organizations including: the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists; the Lesbian and Gay Psychotherapy Association of Southern California; schools within Los Angeles Unified School District; and government organizations of Los Angeles County including the Public Defender’s Office, the Sheriff’s Department, and the Forensic Department.

Through her years of experience in the field, Dr. Simon has acquired a broad range of expertise in counseling and coaching individuals who are struggling in their relationships and lives. As a child custody evaluator working with children and families in the midst of the emotional trauma of divorce, separation and custody disputes, she has developed a keen ability to assess quickly and accurately what skills, tools, and resources families and individuals need to survive these upheavals. A skilled child and family counselor, Dr. Simon has also 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. In addition, by applying her skills in life coaching and counseling, Dr. Simon has assisted hundreds of adults and juveniles towards rehabilitation, by supplying them with new skills for facing the challenges of involvement with the criminal justice system and for making a successful transition to life outside this system.

As a creative entrepreneur and successful business woman, Dr. Simon has also combined her psychological education and business experience to create the new-concept conflict-resolution firm, Talk Works. Experts and clients alike have recognized that Talk Works, founded and directed by Dr. Simon, fills an unmet need for communication and conflict-resolution education within personal and work relationships. Dr. Simon established Talk Works to provide business organizations, individuals, couples, and families with the tools they need to reduce conflict and increase business productivity and relationship success. For businesses, the underlying vision is to teach collaborative team building and reduce workplace friction; for individuals, the vision is to teach practical skills through a time-efficient and cost-efficient approach in order to move people forward in their relationship, career and personal goals.

Website: www.ourtalkworks.com