Wendy W. Coates, LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California and Virginia. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine, and the University of San Francisco. In 1994, Wendy began her career in Northern California providing individual, family, and group therapy for high-risk families in the juvenile justice system. This setting was the foundation for her focus on treating domestic abuse, anger management, and trauma recovery. While living in California, she also worked as a psychiatric social worker. This acute inpatient psychiatric hospital provided extensive diagnostic, treatment, and crisis intervention experience. In addition, she worked as a therapist contracted with the child protective services family reunification program. At this location, she provided individual and family therapy as well as court ordered mental health evaluations. Following her relocation to Northern Virginia in 2005, Wendy completed postgraduate coursework in marriage and family therapy at Virginia Tech. While living in Northern Virginia, she has been directing and facilitating batterer intervention, domestic violence, and anger management treatment programs. She is a member of the Virginia Batterer Intervention Program Certification Board.