The Art Of Doing Family Therapy In Family Court
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. • 6 C.E. Hours

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Families involved in custody disputes are increasingly ordered by family court to participate in one or more forms of therapeutic intervention during or following litigation. Custody evaluators are recommending, and the court is ordering, that children, parents, or a whole family obtain treatment with specific objectives based on the findings of the court-appointed evaluator. Or, treatment may be ordered to occur while a custody evaluation is ongoing. Yet few therapists are prepared to function within this high conflict, family law arena.

Many therapists are uncertain about taking on this role because it requires the ability to effectively interact with the court, custody evaluators, parenting coordinators, visitation monitors, parents’ attorneys, minor’s counsel, and families in crisis. There is high demand for therapists who are equipped with these skills and who recognize the unique aspects of working therapeutically with this population. This intermediate course will lay the foundation for working in this setting. A certificate program for this specialty is being considered, and this course may be the first of three required courses is 2006.

NOTE: The course outline or agenda for this training has been approved as corresponding to subject areas specified in California Rules of Court, rule 5.225(e)(1)-(21). The views expressed in this training are those of the trainer and do not necessarily represent the official positions or policies of th e Judicial Council of California or the Administrative Office of the Courts.

TESTIMONIALS

Here are some comments taken from recent course evaluations about the course.

TOPICS

~ The Anatomy of a Child Custody Dispute

~ Overview of High Conflict Child Custody Issues (Parent Alienation, Sexual Abuse)

~ Issues in Working With High-Conflict Families

~The Role of the Evaluator Versus the Treating Therapist

~Treatment Coordination & Professional Interface

~Overview of Family Reunification, Co-Parenting, Parent and Child Therapy

~Boundaries, Collusion, and Alignment

~Declarations and Testimony: Harmful or Helpful?

~Practice and Ethical Dilemmas

 

 

GOALS

At the conclusion of this program you should be better able to:

~Understand the unique aspects of working with high-conflict families

~Establish and maintain appropriate professional boundaries

~Interface with multiple professionals working with the same family

~Develop treatment plans that are informed by custody evaluations

~Minimize your risk of getting drawn into litigation or practice complaints

SPEAKER PROFILE

Marjorie Mitchell, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist (PSY 7257) with 30 years of experience both as a psychologist and marriage and family therapist, specializing in the field of children and family. Dr. Mitchell has been the program director for an inpatient child abuse unit, has provided evaluations and treatment for children, adolescents and adult survivors of child sexual abuse. She has conducted over 1500 court ordered child custody evaluations for family courts in four counties. Dr. Mitchell has provided training to mental health professional groups, attorneys, and the court on issues pertaining to child custody evaluations with child sexual abuse allegations, parent alienation, and other high conflict child custody issues.

Zena Polly, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist (PSY 10702) with 28 years experience in the field of children and divorce. Her practice has included directing a court-based divorce education program for parents and children, working as court-appointed custody evaluator, special master, co-parenting counselor, reunification therapist and treating therapist for parents, children, and families. Dr. Polly has provided extensive training to forensic, court, and mental health professionals on issues pertaining to effective interventions with children during and following high conflict divorce.