IVAT

What IVAT does

IVAT (Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1984 as the Family Violence & Sexual Assault Institute and operating under the IVAT brand since 2006. Headquartered in San Diego, California with a Hawai'i-Pacific branch called Ho'omaluhia, the organization delivers a multidisciplinary portfolio spanning direct clinical services (individual, couple, and family therapy on a sliding scale), forensic services (psychological and neuropsychological evaluations plus expert witness testimony), professional training, accredited continuing education, and specialty certifications for legal and mental health practitioners working on abuse-related family court cases. Its core technology is human-delivered, evidence-based trauma treatment (CBT, DBT, Prolonged Exposure) wrapped in a credentialed clinician and supervisory infrastructure.

Revenue is generated across six interlocking streams: clinical therapy (sliding scale), forensic evaluations and expert testimony, LEFCC certification cohorts (priced $130-$300), conference registration for the San Diego and Hawai'i International Summits, accredited continuing education across seven discipline bodies (APA, BBS, BRN, State Bar of California, CCAPP, NBCC, ASWB), and a virtual bookstore ($2.50-$125). Go-to-market combines event-driven acquisition (two annual summits) with sales-led clinical and certification delivery across multiple U.S. training sites. Customer segments are intentionally horizontal, spanning trauma survivors, family court attorneys and judges, mental health professionals, law enforcement officers, and child welfare organizations served through the Stop the Silence® program.

In 2023 IVAT trained 4,500+ professionals, delivered 1,000+ hours of trauma-informed therapy, and contributed to 201 peer-reviewed publications; the 2019 baseline showed 4,300+ trained, 1,800 therapy hours, and 196 publications. The organization is privately governed with no parent company, no institutional funding events, and no app or API surface. Founding President Robert Geffner has announced a leadership transition extending to July 1, 2026, making succession the single most material forward-looking variable.

Name

IVAT

Legal name

Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma

Website

https://ivatcenters.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IVAT is a 40-year-old 501(c)(3) non-profit that delivers trauma-informed clinical and forensic services, accredited continuing education, the LEFCC family-court certification, and two annual summits to mental health, legal, law enforcement, and survivor communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trauma and Violence Prevention Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Offices of Physicians, Mental Health Specialists (621112), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Forensic & Correctional Behavioral Health Services (HLAFACAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Couples & Family Therapy Teletherapy Platforms (HLALAEAG)

Keywords

• Trauma-informed therapy
• Professional clinical training
• Forensic psychological evaluation
• Continuing education accreditation
• Violence prevention programs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Clinical Services: Individual, couple, and family therapy services provided on a sliding scale fee basis. All clinicians trained in trauma-focused and evidence-based treatment modalities.
2. LEFCC Certification Program: 30-hour certification program for family court professionals consisting of 20 hours in-person training and 10 hours of online webinars. Pricing ranges from $130-$300 depending on program selection and CE/CLE credit add-on.
3. Professional Training and Continuing Education: Training events and certifications offering continuing education credits for psychologists, social workers, nurses, attorneys, and other professionals. Also co-sponsors other organizations' conferences to offer continuing education.
4. Bookstore Sales: Virtual bookstore selling books on trauma, abuse, therapy, and related topics. Books range from $2.50 to $125.
5. Conference Registration: Revenue from San Diego Summit and Hawai'i Summit registrations, including various tracks, poster sessions, and plenary ceremonies.
6. Forensic Services: Professional consultation and expert witness testimony on psycho-legal questions, including comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological evaluations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

IVAT delivers professional clinical therapy (individual, couple, and family) on a sliding scale, comprehensive forensic psychological and neuropsychological evaluations with expert witness testimony, accredited continuing education and specialty certifications (including the LEFCC program for family court professionals), and multidisciplinary summits focused on violence, abuse, and trauma prevention, intervention, and research. The organization links practice, policy, research, and advocacy through annual summits, training programs, the Stop the Silence® child sexual abuse prevention department, and the Ho'omaluhia Hawai'i-Pacific branch.

Product overview

IVAT (Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1984, originally known as the Family Violence & Sexual Assault Institute (FVSAI). The organization operates as a comprehensive resource, training, and professional services center addressing all aspects of violence, abuse, and trauma across the lifespan. IVAT offers a portfolio of interconnected services including clinical therapy and forensic evaluation services, professional training programs, accredited continuing education, specialty certifications (such as the LEFCC certification for family court professionals), and hosts two major annual conferences (San Diego Summit and Hawai'i International Summit). The organization also maintains a virtual bookstore, publishes journals, runs the Stop the Silence® prevention program, and operates the Ho'omaluhia Hawai'i-Pacific branch. Key service delivery channels include on-demand training/CE21, sliding scale therapy, and various professional development offerings. IVAT links practice, policy, research and advocacy to end violence through multidisciplinary prevention and intervention strategies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Stop the Silence®: A department of IVAT committed to prevention, treatment, and mitigation of child sexual abuse (CSA), other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and related interpersonal trauma.
• Ho'omaluhia
• Beautiful Dying Expo
• More Than Surviving

Products and services

• Clinical Services Professional clinical services including individual, couple, and family therapy with trauma-focused, evidence-based treatment modalities (CBT, DBT, Prolonged Exposure). All unlicensed clinicians are supervised by licensed psychologists on staff. Targeted at victims and survivors of violence, abuse, and trauma.
• Forensic Services Comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological evaluations to answer psycho-legal questions, plus professional consultation and expert witness testimony on various topic areas related to violence and abuse. Targeted at attorneys, courts, and legal proceedings requiring expert psychological input.
• LEFCC Certification Program Litigation and Evaluation involving Abuse Allegations in Family Court Cases (LEFCC) — a 30-hour training certification consisting of 20 hours in-person and 10 hours of online webinars. Targeted at legal and mental health professionals working with domestic violence and abuse cases in family court. Pricing ranges from $130 to $300 depending on program selection and CE/CLE add-on.
• San Diego Summit Annual international multidisciplinary forum for professionals across all disciplines to gather for in-depth exchange of current information on all facets of violence, abuse and trauma prevention, intervention and research. Offers networking opportunities, continuing education credits, and specialty certifications.
• Hawai'i International Summit Multidisciplinary international gathering of professionals from around the world working together to tackle major issues in violence, abuse, and trauma. International and local speakers share findings on causation, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. Offers networking, continuing education, and specialty certification opportunities.
• Professional Training Various professional training programs including the POST-certified law enforcement wellness training 'More than Surviving: From Traumatic Stress to Wellness' and other trauma-informed training offerings for service providers. Targeted at law enforcement and professionals working with trauma-exposed populations.
• Continuing Education Accredited continuing education credits for professionals in psychology, nursing, social work, counseling, and legal fields. Targeted at psychologists, social workers, nurses, attorneys, and addiction counselors seeking license renewal credits through multiple accredited CE programs co-sponsored by IVAT.
• Virtual Bookstore Online bookstore offering books, workbooks, and resources on trauma, violence, abuse, mental health, therapy, and related topics. Books range from $2.50 to $125. Targeted at professionals and individuals seeking curated literature on trauma and violence-related topics.
• Sliding Scale Therapy Affordable therapy services provided on a sliding scale fee basis to increase accessibility for clients regardless of their financial situation. Provided virtually and in-person in San Diego. Targeted at individuals and families needing accessible trauma-focused therapy.
• Program Evaluation Evaluation services for programs addressing violence, abuse, and trauma to assess effectiveness and outcomes. Targeted at organizations running violence prevention, intervention, or treatment programs that need rigorous external assessment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trained over 4,500 professionals in 2023
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NPEIVcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 August 2025National Partnership to End Interpersonal Violence co-hosted the 2025 Think Tank with IVAT and The CIRCLE. The theme was Current State of Intimate Partner and Interpersonal Violence in the USA: Prevention and Intervention Strategies Across the Lifespan.
• The Coalition for Inclusion, Resilience, Change, and Lasting Equity (The CIRCLE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 August 2025The CIRCLE co-hosted the 2025 Think Tank on intimate partner and interpersonal violence prevention and intervention strategies across the lifespan.
• Ruby's PlaceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Ruby's Place sponsored the 2025 Think Tank hosted by NPEIV, IVAT, and The CIRCLE.
• Action OhiominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Action Ohio sponsored the 2025 Think Tank hosted by NPEIV, IVAT, and The CIRCLE.
• American Psychological Association (APA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVAT is approved by APA to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. This accreditation satisfies CE requirements for psychologists in many states.
• California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalifornia BBS accepts APA continuing education credit for license renewal for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs.
• California Board of Registered NursingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVAT is approved by California Board of Registered Nursing to offer continuing education for nurses (CEP #13737).
• State Bar of CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVAT is approved by State Bar of California to offer Minimum Continuing Legal Education for attorneys (#11600).
• California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVAT is approved by CCAPP to sponsor continuing education for certified alcohol and drug abuse counselors (Provider #IS-03-499-0223).
• National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVAT has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7385).
• Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVAT is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by ASWB (Approved Continuing Education program, provider #1857). ACE provider approval period: 7/18/2024 – 7/18/2027.
• Legacy ProductionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with IVAT President Bob Geffner and National City Police Department on 'More than Surviving' POST-certified training for law enforcement wellness, featuring the 'Keeping The Peace' film.
• National City Police DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with IVAT and Legacy Productions on POST-certified officer wellness training.
• National Legal Center on Children and Domestic ViolencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional Consortium on Abuse Allegations in Family Court sponsors the LEFCC training program. Anadelle Martinez-Mullen serves as Director.
• Leadership Council on Child Abuse & Interpersonal ViolencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Joyanna Silberg serves as Executive Vice President; Dr. Stephanie Dallam is Co-founder. Contributes trainers to LEFCC program.
• Battered Women's Justice ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributes trainers including Anadelle Martinez-Mullen (Director of National Legal Center on Children and Domestic Violence) and Dr. Sujata Warrier (Chief Strategy Officer) to LEFCC program.
• Child Justice, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributes trainers Luanne McKenna (Deputy Legal Director) and Paul Griffin (Legal Director) to LEFCC program.
• George Washington University Law School - National Family Violence Law CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Joan Meier serves as Professor of Clinical Law and Director of National Family Violence Law Center, contributing as LEFCC trainer.
• Norfolk State University - Ethelyn R. Strong School of Social WorkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Viola Vaughan-Eden serves as Professor and PhD Program Director, contributing as LEFCC trainer.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Darkness to Light: Non-profit dedicated to child sexual abuse prevention through awareness, education and Stewards of Children training. Directly comparable to IVAT's Stop the Silence® program in CSA prevention mission and professional/community training delivery.
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN): Federally funded network providing training, clinical resources, and research on childhood trauma. Directly comparable to IVAT's combination of clinical trauma services, professional training programs, and trauma-focused research publications.
• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): National anti-sexual-violence organization operating the National Sexual Assault Hotline and providing professional training programs. Comparable to IVAT in providing victim services plus training/CE for trauma practitioners, and convening a multidisciplinary professional community.
• American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC): Professional society advancing practice in child abuse and neglect through training, publications, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Directly comparable to IVAT in mission, professional training focus, and interdisciplinary network-building.
• Chadwick Center for Children and Families: San Diego-based child abuse clinical, research, and training center housed within Rady Children's Hospital. Directly comparable to IVAT's San Diego-based clinical/forensic service model in the same geographic market.
• National Children's Alliance: National membership and standards body for Child Advocacy Centers responding to child abuse. Highly comparable to IVAT in its training/accreditation role for child abuse professionals, multidisciplinary convening function, and policy/advocacy positioning.
• EMDR International Association (EMDRIA): Professional membership organization providing EMDR therapy training, certification, and annual conference. Directly comparable to IVAT's LEFCC certification model and trauma-treatment training/certification franchise.
• Futures Without Violence: National non-profit addressing domestic violence through training, advocacy, and resources for health, legal and law-enforcement professionals. Comparable to IVAT in combining policy/advocacy with multidisciplinary professional training across health and legal sectors.
• International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS): International professional society for traumatic stress studies with annual meetings, training, and the Journal of Traumatic Stress. Comparable to IVAT's summits, peer-reviewed journal output, and trauma-focused professional convening model.

Broad incumbents

• SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration): Federal agency overseeing mental health and substance use services, training, and research funding. Adjacent incumbent that overlaps with IVAT on behavioral-health training, professional development, and treatment modality dissemination, but at much larger scale and with a regulatory/funding remit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IVATCenters

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IVAT