High Conflict Divorce Coach Training Team 

Tina Swithin, Founder and Instructor

Tina Swithin survived a “Category Five Divorce Hurricane” while acting as her own attorney in a high-conflict custody battle that turned her family’s life upside down for ten-years. While divorces are never easy, Tina quickly learned that divorcing a narcissist takes the term, “high-conflict” to a level that few can comprehend. To articulate what was happening, she took shelter from the storm by chronicling her journey in her (now) internationally recognized blog, One Mom’s Battle. With all odds against her, Tina’s battle came to an end on August 30, 2019, when she successfully terminated her ex-husband’s parental rights.

Tina has become an advocate for change in the Family Court System after experiencing the flaws first-hand. Tina believes the courts have lost sight of their primary focus, the best interest of the child and are too focused on parental rights. Tina is working to raise awareness on narcissistic abuse and post-separation abuse through her judicial education program at One Mom’s Battle.

Tina Swithin has been awarded honors such as the “Top 20 Professionals Under 40” and the “Top 40 Professionals Under 40” in several regional California newspapers. Tina has authored five books (the Divorcing a Narcissist series). Tina resides in San Luis Obispo, California with her husband, two daughters and two Standard Poodles. She enjoys coffee, travel, wine, family and lots of laughter.

Dr. Ramani Durvasula

Dr. Ramani Durvasula is a licensed clinical psychologist in Los Angeles, CA and Professor of Psychology at California State University, Los Angeles. She takes on our modern scourges of entitlement and incivility in “Don’t You Know Who I Am”: How to Stay Sane in the Era of Narcissism, Entitlement and Incivility She is the author of the modern relationship survival manual  Should I Stay or Should I Go:  Surviving a Relationship With a Narcissist, and of You Are WHY You Eat: Change Your Food Attitude, Change Your Life.  The focus of Dr. Durvasula’s clinical, academic and consultative work is the etiology and impact of narcissism and related high-conflict, entitled, antagonistic personality styles on human relationships, mental health, and societal expectations. Her work has been featured at SxSW, TEDx, and on a wide range of media platforms including Red Table Talk, Oxygen, Investigation Discovery, Bravo, Lifetime Movie Network, CNN, and she is a featured expert on the digital media mental health platform MedCircle and on the Mel Robbins show. Dr. Durvasula is an honest, authentic, and brutally honest voice on the struggles raised by narcissism in the US and globally.

Dr. Catherine Barrett 

Catherine Barrett is a licensed Clinical Forensic Psychologist who has been practicing as a psychotherapist for 12 years and a forensic psychologist for 6. Dr. Barrett has a dual focus, working both in family practice and forensic psychology. Her pre and post-doctoral work was in the evaluation, assessment, and treatment of mentally disordered offenders, individuals found not guilty by reason of insanity, sex offenders, and sexually violent predators. It was here where Dr. Barrett first gained her experience working with severe personality disorders specifically Narcissistic and Antisocial personality. Dr. Barrett’s practice is in Calabasas where she sees teens, young adults, and adults. Her practice includes survivors of emotional abuse, LGBT, substance abuse, and risk assessment. Dr. Barrett also performs forensic evaluations for the court system. Dr. Barrett has been a core faculty professor for the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California since 2016. 

Dr. Kristine Danback

Dr. Kristine Danback is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in narcissistic abuse, high conflict divorce, relationships, and life’s transitions. She is in private practice and treats individuals all over the world, via face-to-face tele-therapy sessions. Dr. Danback’s practice consists of psychotherapy, divorce coaching, divorce mediation, custody evaluations, co-parenting, and expert testimony. She is a psychoanalytical interpersonal-relational psychotherapist who values a collaborative approach to her work. She works with individuals to strengthen their resilience, become more aware, and strategize for legal cases in order to protect the healthy parent and the children. Dr. Danback understands that pain is natural to feel, but suffering is not, therefore, a focus on supporting others to become unstuck is primary. This may include exercising strength and independence through the power to say no to a personality disordered family member; moving out and disowning a disordered individual; filing for divorce, and/or fighting an arduous insurmountable court battle. In addition to her profession, Dr. Danback is a mother to three young men who join her as survivors and overall fierce Warriors. Contact her at kristinedanbackphd.com

Dr. Susan Korb Bernstein

Dr. Susan Korb Bernstein is an experienced Certified Divorce Coach helping individuals pre, during and post divorce save time, money and headaches. Susan earned her bachelors, masters and doctorate in Education, Leadership and Child Development and was a school teacher, administrator and college professor until she had her first child in 2004. At that point Susan became an educational consultant until 2014 when she filed for divorce and transitioned to divorce consultant as her divorce story made 3 National Television shows. 

She then became a Certified Divorce Coach and Divorce transition and recovery coach as well as Certified Divorce Specialist to best assist her clients long term needs. Coaching specialties include high conflict divorce and divorce with special needs children. Susan speaks at numerous local and national events and guest podcasts for national and international groups. She leads a mastermind course to teach other coaches and is the Director of the Rockland, NY chapter of the National Association of Divorce Professionals (NADP) as well as the leader position of Divorce Coach for the NADP National Divorce with Special Needs Chapter

Dr. Bernstein was also chosen to be Vesta Divorces first New York State divorce coach as well as a Divorcify Coach and has helped hundreds of individuals all over the US and world focus forward and get unstuck from toxic relationships.  She can be reached through her website at www.divorcecoachplus.com

Dr. Elizabeth Cohen

Dr. Cohen is the CEO and founder of the online divorce course and membership Afterglow: The Light at the Other Side of Divorce. This 14-week course teaches women how to heal, grow and thrive after divorce no matter how difficult the process has been. Dr. Cohen offers a monthly membership program to provide 1:1 coaching, expert support from divorce professionals and an engaged community of like-minded people.  Dr. Cohen received her PhD in clinical psychology from Boston University. She  was the recipient of the prestigious American Psychological Foundation Research Award for her doctoral research. She has been featured on the Tamron Hall Show, the Wall Street Journal,  NBC News, Women’s Health, Huff Post, Thrive Global, Daily Beast and Good Housekeeping. Dr. Cohen is a weekly contributor to Psychology Today with her “Divorce Course” column.

Nancy Forrester, MBA, B.Ed., B.Sc.

Nancy Forrester, MBA, B.Ed., B.Sc. is a clinical psychotherapist (retired), coach trainer, international speaker, corporate consultant and Canada’s only Accredited Master Trainer and Trainer of Trainers in Emotional Freedom Techniques (often referred to as EFT or Tapping). Thirty years ago, Nancy left a successful post-secondary academic career when a series of life events left her with anxiety symptoms that her intellectual capacity couldn’t manage. This led her on a path of deep study of trauma; how it impacts the body, mind and spirit and how unresolved trauma shows up in the here and now. Nancy’s unique background as a scientist, adult educator, coach and therapist has led her to passionately believe in the absolute requirement for a trauma-informed approach in both therapy and coaching. Nancy founded the National EFT Training Institute in 2012 out of a desire to bring transformational trauma-informed coaching and therapy to a broad audience of professionals. NeftTI offers professional-level training, mentoring and certification to active psychotherapists, medical professionals, social workers, personal and business coaches, holistic practitioners as well as people transitioning to becoming transformational coaches. You can learn more about Nancy and her work at neftti.com

Joanna Kleinman

Joanna Kleinman is a licensed psychotherapist, Amazon #1 best selling international author of Dethroning Your Inner Critic, life and corporate coach, podcaster, and motivational speaker. She is also the creator of The M.I.N.D Method™, a time tested, proven system that brings together practical psychology, neuroscience and the power of intention to discover who you are separate from the critical voice in your mind. She considers herself to be an unconventional therapist and is driven by the conviction that the most powerful life you can live is when you know the difference between YOU and your Inner Critic. With over 25 years experience, she has worked with corporations such as Campowerment, Cigna, Nestle, TD Bank, Provider Trust, Susan G. Komen, Lendlease, and Virtua Health Systems, and has transformed the lives of thousands of people, detailing how they can design a new future by rewiring the automatic way they think and act, and breaking the habit of giving energy and attention to their Inner Critic.

Beth Tibbot

Beth Tibbott, attorney, has been a driven and resourceful advocate since her legal career began in 2003. After graduating Summa Cum Laude in 2002 from Mount Aloysius College, Beth accepted a position at the Pittsburgh law firm of Dornish & Scolieri, PC as a Law Clerk in 2003. Her natural talents for keen observation and critical analysis were utilized by the firm to prepare and draft pleadings, commercial agreements of sale and contracts. She assisted attorneys in the practice areas of civil litigation, landlord-tenant law, property law, business law, and estate planning and administration. And, as Beth worked on these matters for the firm, she was also attending law school at Duquesne University School of Law.

Upon graduating from law school at Duquesne and receiving her Juris Doctorate in 2007, Attorney Beth Tibbott sat for the bar examination and was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar that year. Beth accepted a position at Allegheny Attorneys at Law in Pittsburgh, PA where she became a valuable asset as an attorney working on pleadings, briefs, motions and praecipes for the firm. It was here that she first discovered her passion for the challenging elements of defending those accused of a crime. Then, in 2008, Beth took an attorney position for the Cook Law Group. Beth prepared for and attended all aspects of criminal law cases; which included jail visits, preliminary hearings, arraignments, motions, trials, sentencings and plea entries.

Wendy Hernandez, Esq.

Wendy Hernandez is a Phoenix family law attorney, divorce coach, founder of the Hernandez Family Law Firm and creator of the Command the Courtroom You Tube channel and online programs. 

Having tried over 1,000 cases during her 23 years as a litigator, Wendy is a courtroom warrior who has tackled every type of family law matter — from divorce to child custody and everything in between.

Sharing secrets learned from the country’s top law professors at the University of Notre Dame Law School and during her battles on the family law front lines, Wendy is passionate about helping not only her clients, but also those representing themselves, to feel competent, confident and comfortable in the courtroom.

Jeff Diamant, Commercial and Divorce Trial Lawyer

With over 25 years of experience, Jeff Diamant has a broad-reaching legal and professional background making him uniquely suited for a wide variety of complex litigation. He began his career at what was the largest litigation-only firm in the Southwest handling commercial litigation, personal injury, insurance and aviation cases. After that, he spent the bulk of his legal career as a partner at Ware, Jackson, Lee & Chambers (formerly Ware, Snow, Fogel & Jackson) for 12 years, where he achieved several successful accolades including being 1 of 4 partners on the successful trial team representing the Estate of J. Howard Marshall II precluding Anna Nicole Smith from recovering from the billion-dollar Estate. Mr. Diamant has taken an active role as both lead and additional counsel on many of the most complex divorce cases in Texas reaching over a broad range of issues from complex estates to complex custody issues. He is frequently heralded as one of the best divorce attorneys in practice and his history in commercial litigation and complex civil trials brings him a perspective unique to divorce cases that has proven to be advantageous to his clients repeatedly. His clients have benefited significantly from his blend of “actual lawyer work” with a business and pragmatic sensibility coupled with a history of handling heavy-conflict cases.
Through his own firm, Mr. Diamant has continued his work in both complicated commercial cases as well as high-conflict divorce cases. His services continue to be provided in business/corporate consulting, all areas of family law, malpractice and even complex personal injury cases and have been utilized in multi-million dollar divorces, international kidnapping, fraud and many related fields ranging up to hundreds of millions of dollars at issue.

Dr. James S. Peet

James S. Peet, PhD, CFE is the principal manager of Peet & Associates, LLC, a Washington State licensed Private Investigative Agency specializing in fraud investigations and forensic accounting for fraud. Along with being a PI and an accountant, he is also a Certified Fraud Examiner, one who is specialized in the detection, investigation, and prevention of fraud.

For over ten years, he has investigated fraud for governments, businesses, and individuals as a CFE. During that time, he has also published a dozen articles on fraud in a number of journals, such as Fraud Magazine, PI Magazine, and Pierce County Lawyer. He is the Training Director for the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and has personally provided training to other fraud investigators, accountants, and attorneys. James also developed and taught classes on Organizational and White Collar Crime and Business Crimes Investigations for City University of Seattle.

James is a graduate of two law enforcement academies and served as a federal and local law enforcement officer. As a police officer, he responded to many cases of domestic violence and has experienced the trauma that the victims go through first hand. He is glad to be able to help victims of high-conflict divorce cases.

Reneé Rodriguez

Reneé Rodriguez is the CEO of Best Foot Forward and Custody Warriors program which were both founded in 2018. Over the years, Reneé’s combined career path included teacher, administrator, entrepreneur, strategist, coach and instructional designer. It was her own journey through the family court system (and a degree in psychology) that allowed Reneé to hone in on her strengths; guiding others through child custody evaluations.

It was her own forensic custody evaluation that prompted her to create a superbly organized binder, using categorized templates to showcase her documentation. Renee formed a blueprint (strategy, mindset and evidence using truth and virtue in the face of lies and manipulation) which led to the evaluator forming a clear picture of her narcissistic (diagnosed) co-parent and the tenor of their co-parenting relationship. Renee lives in Montclair, NJ, with her boisterous 8-year-old son and two mischievous cats.

Poppy and Geoff Spencer, M.S., CPC 

Poppy and Geoff Spencer, M.S., CPC, are FL Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediators, certified counselors, nationally syndicated writers, relationship and parenting experts, dually certified as Myers Briggs Practitioners (personality), national speakers, authors of a #1 Bestseller, One Billion Seconds: There’s Still time to Discover Love, and Podcast hosts. Poppy and Geoff are a highly-credentialed wife-husband team, who have developed a program to help women who are in—or recovering from—a toxic relationship. Their mediation practice is Family Law Mediation, LLC and they have been interviewed on such outlets as: NBC, ABC, CBS, Bustle, Your Tango, and Popsugar.

https://wifamilylawmediators.com

https://poppyandgeoff

David Armstrong

David Armstrong has worked in the specialist security and threat management industry as an executive protection officer, crisis management consultant and private investigator for over twenty years.

Over recent years his company, KCM Consultants, through their Sentinel Crisis Response Team has specialised in helping clients dealing with high conflict individuals in divorce/child custody, domestic abuse, stalking, harassment, witness protection, kidnap and ransom and child abduction recovery cases. He is lucky enough to be a dad to two wonderful children and he lives in the UK.

https://kingsmancm.wixsite.com/kcm1

Liz Dennery 

Liz Dennery is a brand strategist, creative director and the Founder & CEO of SheBrand, a creative firm focused on women and their impact and influence. She has 25 years of marketing, branding and public relations experience working with iconic brands like Escada, Ralph Lauren, Elyse Walker, Serena Williams, Harper’s Bazaar, The America Cancer Society and more.

Through SheBrand, Liz helps women and companies that care about women build powerful brands that reach, connect with and engage the female consumer. Her personal mission is to help women rise higher, use their voices and shatter glass ceilings and old perceptions. Liz believes that a woman who builds her brand and creates abundance for herself and others is revolutionary. She is the author of Style & Substance: How to Create a Compelling Brand, a guide and workbook for building a more resonant brand in today’s loud and cluttered world.

Liz has been featured in The Los Angeles Times, The Orange County Register, The Chicago Tribune, Entrepreneur, Bloomberg, Business Insider, The Daily Beast, AdWeek, The Coveteur, The Huffington Post, and on Good Morning America and Access Hollywood.

Farouk Ajakaiye

Farouk Ajakaiye is a Marketing Strategist, Brand Strategist, & Video Marketing Expert. Farouk's marketing experience began in 2011, and shortly after, he began working for several large advertising agencies throughout New York City such as Ogilvy & Mather, Havas Worldwide & Wunderman Thompson Health. Throughout this time, Farouk was a marketing & brand strategist for brands like Rolex, IBM, American Express, Pfizer & Wilson Sports. Farouk's resume continues to grow as a freelancer where he shoots and edits videos in addition to creating video marketing campaigns. His first book, Modern Video Marketing, is set to be released in the summer of 2021.

Claudia Marquez 

Claudia Marquez is a marketing professional and copywriter with two decades of experience in advertising, branding and sales. She has worked with celebrities and on high-profile brands in the health, beauty and fitness space. As founder of Claudia Writes, she works with small and large companies on crafting the right look, feel and messaging that best support sales objectives and create happy customers. Born in Los Angeles and living in Boston, Claudia has clients throughout the U.S. and services a wide mix of industries including skincare, nutritional supplements, fitness, jewelry and trade services.  

As a fellow trainee in the High Conflict Divorce Coach Certification Program, Claudia will launch her online coaching service, Stomping On Eggshells, in Spring 2021. After a relentless high conflict divorce and custody battle, Claudia created a local support group under the same name for survivors of narcissistic abuse at a time when no such support existed locally. 

Drawing from her experiences in both marketing and high conflict relationships, Claudia is available to consult and guide HCDCCP trainees on developing their respective coaching businesses and helping them thrive. 

Nikkole Marie

Nikkole Marie is a brand strategist specializing in website and graphic design. Owner and creative director of Nikkole Marie Creative Studios, she helps entrepreneurs level up their small businesses with enticing visuals that are designed to convert and engage. A heart for serving entrepreneurs and a background in nonprofit business and memorable marketing services in San Luis Obispo, California she serves those who care deeply about what they do. You can learn more about Nikkole and the creative studio at nikkolemariecreative.com.

Annie Kenny

Annie Kenny is a protective parent from Maryland. After discovering her former husband had abused her oldest daughter, she still spent years battling him in family court, despite his criminal conviction and designation as a registered sex offender. Her story has been featured on CBS Idaho and ABC Washington DC. She is now a child safety advocate, serving on her local Family Violence Coordinating Council, and as a panelist on the Allen v Farrow panel series. She has collaborated with Maryland state officials and policy makers regarding legislation reform, testifying in Annapolis numerous times, and has provided written testimony to the United States Senate.