About me
Founder & Developer, The CARE Method®
Domestic Violence Expert Witness | Forensic Evaluator | Author
Doctoral Student Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision (Trauma and Crisis), Walden University
Born in a small village in Northern Brazil, Eronilde "Nil" Buckley immigrated to the United States in 2007 in pursuit of higher education and a career dedicated to serving individuals and families impacted by trauma and violence. Today, she is a domestic violence expert witness, forensic evaluator, author, and counselor whose work bridges clinical practice, forensic mental health, research, and the legal system. For more than a decade, Nil has practiced in El Paso County, Colorado, providing domestic violence evaluations, treatment, expert consultation, and courtroom testimony in both criminal and family court proceedings. She serves as a Domestic Violence Evaluator and Treatment Provider for the Fourth Judicial District and has extensive experience conducting civil domestic violence evaluations involving parenting time, decision-making, and allegations of coercive control. She has testified as an expert witness in courts throughout Colorado and is increasingly retained in complex, high-risk criminal and family law matters requiring specialized expertise in domestic violence, trauma, coercive control, and forensic assessment. Her recent work includes consultation and expert testimony in cases involving homicide, survivors of domestic violence, adolescent defendants, and other complex matters in which trauma and intimate partner violence are central to understanding risk, behavior, and the broader context of the offense. She is frequently retained by attorneys throughout Colorado to assist in cases involving challenging domestic violence dynamics and is recognized for her ability to translate complex psychological and domestic violence concepts into clear, evidence-informed testimony for the courts.Driven by a commitment to improve domestic violence intervention rather than simply critique existing approaches, Nil developed The CARE Method®, an evidence-informed domestic violence intervention model integrating the principles of Risk-Need-Responsivity, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered Counseling, and trauma-informed care. Since its initial publication, The CARE Method® has expanded into multiple specialized curricula serving men, women, military service members and veterans, and Spanish-speaking populations. Today, implementation of The CARE Method® continues to expand across Colorado and has also been implemented in the State of New Jersey where Nil recently conducted a statewide training.. The model has evolved into a comprehensive fidelity-based implementation system designed to promote consistency, accountability, and treatment integrity across agencies. Outcome research evaluating the CARE Method® is currently underway through collaborative partnerships with two universities, contributing to the growing body of evidence supporting effective domestic violence intervention. Committed to advancing the field through both innovation and scientific inquiry, Nil recently returned to academia and is pursuing her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision with a specialization in Trauma and Crisis at Walden University. She is also developing additional branches of The CARE Method®, including a trauma-informed curriculum and self-help book designed specifically for survivors of domestic violence. Nil's professional mission is to bridge research, forensic practice, and domestic violence intervention by developing evidence-based assessment tools, treatment models, and professional education that improve outcomes for survivors, individuals who use abusive behaviors, and the children whose lives are forever shaped by family violence.
