Family law attorneys are trusted to guide their clients through some of the most challenging moments of their lives.  Though it is rewarding to help people navigate the close of one chapter and the beginning of the next, the role of the family law attorney often comes with its own challenges.  Divorce, custody disputes, criminal and protective order proceedings, and abuse and neglect cases are all emotionally charged; those emotions are often turned towards the attorneys working on the case. These strong emotions, as well as other occupational risks and stressors, can affect well-being and professional integrity. Throughout the course of representation, family law attorneys may be exposed to sensitive and disturbing auditory and visual materials. This exposure can lead to significant distress for the attorney, putting the attorney at heightened risk for trauma, vicarious trauma, and other mental health issues. This course will explore vicarious trauma experienced by family law attorneys, and provide practical strategies for addressing and mitigating this impact, to protect the emotional well-being of the attorney, improve competency and lead to greater occupational satisfaction.

Barbara Mardigian
Deputy Clinical Director 
Virginia Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program 

Barbara Mardigian is a Licensed Professional Counselor who joined Virginia Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program as the Deputy Clinical Director in 2019, and November 1, 2022, became the Clinical Director.

She has been licensed in the State of Virginia since 2004 and has worked in the field of addiction and mental health since 1997. She was formerly the Executive Director of an outpatient addiction treatment center in Richmond providing a wide variety of services including adult and adolescent Intensive Outpatient Services. In her career she has worked as a clinical director, and clinician in a variety of levels of treatment, including outpatient, residential, private practice and acute psychiatric inpatient care.  Barbara was a lead clinician at the Farley Center in their Professionals Program from 2011-2016.                                                                     

Barbara has been supervising individuals working towards their LPC and CSAC counselors in the state of Virginia since 2011. Barbara is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University receiving her Masters of Science, in Rehabilitation Counseling and undergraduate degree in Psychology from Ferrum College.