EDUCATION
| Degree | Area of Study | University |
|---|---|---|
| Ph.D. | Counselor Education (CACREP Accredited) | University of South Carolina |
| M.E. | Counselor Education (CACREP Accredited) | Clemson University |
| Ed.S. | Counselor Education | Clemson University |
| B.A. | Psychology | University of New Mexico |
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Traumatic Brain Injury
Help-Seeking Stigma
Couples and Family Strengthening
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Relationship education
Trauma
Mental health interventions
Substance use disorders
Dyadic coping
Neuroscience-informed practices
HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATIONS
- Hodge, V., Gao, R., Carlson, R. G., Barden, S. M., & Taylor, D. D. (2024) Association between help‐seeking and motivation for completing a couple relationship education program across service modality. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy.
- Carlson, R. G., Gao, R., Hodge, V., & Zhang, T. (2025). Six Month Impact Evaluation of Project Harmony Examining In-Person PREP and Online OurRelationship in Orlando, Florida – Final Impact Evaluation Report for the University of Central Florida. Submitted to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance. Washington, DC.
- Silverio, N., Gao, R., Skeen, A. I., Hodge, V., Carlson, R. G., Barden, S. M., & Dillman‐Taylor, D. (2025). The Dyadic Influence of Relationship Hope on Family Functioning. Family Process, 64(2), e70036.
- Gao, R., Carlson, R. G., Hodge, V., Go, J., Taylor, D. D., & Barden, S. M. (2023). Factor structure and dyadic measurement invariance of the English version of dyadic coping inventory measuring low-income couples in US. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 02654075231200603.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS / ACTIVITIES
- Provides community training on TBI awareness, mental health impacts, and family reintegration
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
Dr. Hodge’s teaching philosophy is centered on facilitating personal and professional growth in students through education. She believes in creating a classroom environment that supports connection and engagement through novel presentations of material and fostering relationships.
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Violet Hodge is an Assistant Professor of Counselor Education at The University of Alabama. She earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education from the University of South Carolina (2025), where she also served as a Research Associate and Lab Manager for Project Harmony, a federally funded initiative evaluating relationship and family-strengthening interventions. She holds a Master of Education and Education Specialist degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Clemson University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of New Mexico.
Dr. Hodge brings clinical experience as a mental health counselor in community and clinical settings where she focused on substance use treatment and brain injury recovery for individuals, couples, and families. Her research interests center on relationship education, trauma, and mental health interventions, with a strong background in substance use disorders, dyadic coping, and the application of neuroscience-informed practices. She has published in leading journals such as Family Process, Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, and Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, and has contributed to federally funded evaluation reports for the Administration for Children and Families.
Dr. Hodge has presented nationally at conferences including the American Counseling Association, the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, and the National Council on Family Relations. Her teaching experience spans core counseling courses in interpersonal communication, counseling theories, assessment, and research methods, alongside supervision of practicum students in marriage, couples, and family counseling.