After receiving the results of a parenting evaluation, which likely includes recommendations for timesharing and decision making responsibilities, many parents are left feeling speechless and shocked by the clear signs of biases found throughout the final report. This is because, the reality is, that the results of a Social Investigation (previously referred to as a “child custody evaluation”), often hold a tremendous amount of weight in the courtroom. This fact is especially true if the outcome of the report is not properly challenged by the less favored parent and their attorney. There are many warning signs that should alert unfavored …

Child custody evaluations should never be taken lightly and should always be done by mental health experts who specialize in family law. So, if you’ve recently gotten a child custody evaluation and you aren’t sure if it was done properly, read over these simple questions to check if your evaluation is solid: Inequality of time spent with parents. It can be seen as a huge weakness in  court when an evaluator spent more time with one parent than the other. This can be seen a favoriting one parent over the other and the evaluation will not be as valid. As a …

There are two very different ways of attempting to change a child’s negative behaviors. The first is punishment and the other discipline. If what you are doing now isn’t working, I’d venture to guess you’ll recognize yourself as having a punitive parent. If you need to see fast changes, keep reading to jump on the discipline ban wagon! It will take you where you want to go!! Punishment is a penalty for a child’s behavior or action. It usually gives children the message that “I’m bad.” Often, the focus is on the parent trying desperately to maintain control and trying …

After a divorce that involved children, although the idea may be dreadful, we are often placed in a position where we have to communicate with our former spouses and manage our behaviors in front of the kids. Because we encounter this scenario on a daily basis at our forensic psychology practice, we have come up with several tips to help improve your communication without worsening the situation: Separate your feelings from your behaviors It’s okay to be hurt and angry, but your feelings don’t have to dictate your behavior. Instead, let what’s best for your kids—you working cooperatively with the …

Of course, we all know that becoming a parent is one of life’s most rewarding gifts; but the truth is, it can also be very difficult and emotionally exhausting. This is especially true when you feel like you’re trying your hardest to be a supportive and loving parent, but you are continuously faced with a strong willed child or frequent behavioral issues. Check out our parenting tips below and leave a comment with your own tips you use in your family! Please also feel free to leave a question or two on our comments section below – we promise to …

Several weeks ago, a guy in a pickup truck came flying down the dirt road that leads to my house and as he reached the soft bend in the road, he lost control of his car and plowed directly through my fence. Without slowing down at all, he sped through our front yard and came way too close to hitting my husband and our two precious little boys, who were all playing together outside. It didn’t end with that though, surprisingly, the man decided that he wasn’t going to stop and take responsibility for what he had done. Instead, he …

As a father involved in a child custody dispute, you may feel nervous when thinking about the possibility that some child custody evaluators and judges could hold antiquated and inaccurate belief that men are less capable of providing nurturance than the mother, or that your bond is somehow less important than the child and mother’s. History Before the eighteenth century, a father who divorced his spouse had property rights to not only any marital asset, but his children as well. During the 19th century, thing flipped when the Tender Years Doctrine came out. In this doctrine, a mother would get …

In high conflict divorces, many times a spouse will use false allegations of abuse or even sexual abuse of a child to alienate the accused parent from the child. Not only is this a form of parental alienation, but it is very dangerous to the relationship between the accused and child. Once the allegations have been sorted and found to be false, it can be very difficult to interact and co-parent with your former spouse. Here are some tips on how to keep the conflict at bay: Open Communication. Keeping an open and healthy form of communication may be the most difficult …

In the court room there are certain unspoken rules to follow when you are up on the stand as a forensic psychologist. Here are a couple of tips on how to follow those rules while you’re on the stand: As a forensic psychologist, your overall attitude should be confident, yet relaxed when you’re on the stand. To the average judge or jury, a professional can convey an air of authority and respect, so make sure you use this to your advantage. Maintain composure and dignity at all times and remember, no matter how difficult the cross-examination may be, you are …

A fact witness is an individual, sometimes a clinical professional such as a forensic psychologist, who has personal knowledge of events pertaining to the case can testify as to things they have personally observed or witnessed. They may not offer opinions, which are the province of the expert witness, who, in a civil case is either retained by the plaintiff or defense or, more rarely, appointed by the court to make statements about aspects of the case that the professional has personally not observed but in which he or she has specialized training. Ultimately, as a fact witness you are …