At the Center we collaborate with many experts in the field of psychology.
Several of these individuals act as a resource to the many families taking the Children in Between Online Course. While their individual contact information is provided within the Children in Between Online class forum, we are pleased to introduce these experts to you here:
Dr. Les Herold
Dr. Herold is a licensed psychologist in California, and has specialized in the field of divorce for nearly 30 years. He currently serves on the Center for Divorce Education Board of Directors and brings with that his expertise in working with families to conduct child custody evaluations, mediate parenting plans, and use of his experience in developing a comprehensive divorce education program specifically for high conflict parents. Dr. Herold's course for High Conflict families is widely used in Southern California. In addition he and his staff have trained other professionals in California, Colorado, Utah, Missouri, New Hampshire and Delaware to offer skills-based co-parenting classes for families that are not High Conflict. When not teaching and consulting, Dr. Herold regularly mediates with parents disagreeing about matters such as parenting times and other topics. The Center for Divorce Education is honored to have Dr. Herold as part of its Expert Panel and Board.
Dr. James Billings, LMFT
Dr. Billings holds both a Masters Degree and Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy. He is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in the state of California. Dr. Billings is dedicated to helping individuals, couples, and families create healthier and happier relationships. Dr. Billings has developed and implemented divorce parenting programs using both the Children in Between and After the Storm programs which he provides to family courts in Southern California. Dr. Billing’s clinical interests are in parenting, divorce parenting, and grief and loss with children. He currently works as a Clinical Director of a non-profit counseling agency that specializes in working with families in distress. The Center for Divorce Education is honored to have Dr. Billings as part of its Expert Panel.
Dr. Shirley Thomas
Dr. Shirley Thomas is a licensed psychologist in Colorado. She has been helping families of separation and divorce for over thirty years. Her practice includes many court assignments, therapy, mediation and several kinds of co-parenting education programs. Dr. Thomas is author of three co-parenting books for parents and children; and runs a divorce education program for families, certified by courts in Colorado. The philosophy that Dr. Thomas employs is that children need both parents in their lives. The focus of the intensive program she provides is on how parents can transition to a successful businesslike relationship, for the sake of the children they love. Dr. Thomas is happy to work with families after they taken the Children in Between course. The Center for Divorce Education is honored to have Dr. Thomas as part of its Expert Panel and a close advisor.
Ms. Ellen Taner
Ms. Ellen Taner holds a Master of Arts in Public Health Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, NY. She is also a Certified Prevention Specialist in the State of New Jersey. For over 30 years, Ms. Taner has been dedicated to parents and entire families throughout the United States. Her specialties include working with divorcing or separating parents, families with high-risk youth as well as families with a history of substance use and abuse or incarceration. She knows that parenting and co-parenting skills are often easy to learn but rarely easy to apply. Coaching on an as-needed basis Ms. Taner helps parents build strengths that relieve problems and achieve goals. Ms. Taner is also a certified national trainer and facilitator of many parenting and family education programs, including the Children in Between Program, After the Storm Program, The Strengthening Families Program (Iowa and Utah versions), The Systematic Training for Effective Parenting by Dinkmeyer and McKay, and Dialogue Training of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. She has edited both manuals of the Children in Between Program and After The Storm. Ms. Taner believes that divorce and other life challenges don’t have to be the end of joy in the lives of parents and their children. With support, she believes you can be the loving and effective parent you truly want to be. The Center for Divorce Education is honored to have Ms. Taner as part of its Expert Panel and appreciative of her skill towards helping to review & edit our course manuals.