We know what you are probably thinking, “I’m willing to do this stuff, but my ex is a moron who only thinks about his or herself.” As a forensic psychologist focusing on high conflict divorce and parental access disputes, we hear this type of information on a daily basis. The fact of the matter is, when people are getting divorced they often do act like idiots. There’s no denying that fact. People who were once able to have a level head, are all of a sudden acting completely out of character, doing things that they swore I would never do. …

Court-ordered therapy is meant to be a catalyst for change, for an individual or family who, is at any time, involved in the legal system and subsequently ordered by a judge or magistrate to participate in therapy with a mental health provider. Throughout the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, court-ordered therapy is used to persuade litigants to get the help they need, when they are unable or unwilling to seek it out on their own. If a judge has ordered that you or a loved one must participate in individual therapy sessions, special consideration should be made to …

Our practice goes above and beyond any standard to achieve excellence. We guarantee you won’t find the expertise, experience, and knowledge anywhere else in Palm Beach County, Florida! Please feel free to give us a call with any questions or if you would like a consultation: 561-429-2140 Education & Licensing It isn’t uncommon for other professionals to become somewhat confused with the different types of mental health professionals today. What you should know is that, when it comes to the court system, the professional that generally has the largest scope of practice and are generally considered to be the authority …

The Difference Between TherapeuticSupervised Visitations & Reunification Therapy In high-conflict divorces in which DCF or the state become involved, there is sometimes the possibility that the children could become distant from one or both parents. Once the case plan or allegations are resolved, the parents will then need to be reintroduced into the children’s live in a therapeutic, consistent, and safe manner. In these situations it is very important to know which intervention is needed as well as it’s purpose and goal. A “one size fits all” plan doesn’t is not always the best. Below are brief descriptions of the …

Myth: Violent child abuse is a more serious issue than non-violent child abuse While physical abuse and sexual abuse are generally thought of as clear examples of child abuse, it is important to recognize that the effects of neglect, emotional abuse, parental substance abuse, and exposure to domestic violence can be just as damaging. The danger of these kinds of abuse is that they tend to be more difficult to identify due to the absence of physical evidence. Because of this, family members and members of the community may not always be as inclined to pick up the phone and call in an abuse report, despite the …

When dealing with the court system regarding your divorce, child custody, or parenting schedule, there might be quite a few words you may not know. For this reason, we’ve compiled a glossary of terms you should be aware of: Arbitration: Arbitration is a type of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Arbitration does not take place in court or before a Judge, but it has basic similarities to a judicial setting. Instead of arguing issues to a Judge, however, in Arbitration the issues are submitted to a neutral third party, who makes a final decision. In divorce Arbitration, the third party is …

When a child is removed from their home due to abuse or neglect, that child can go through the very difficult process of grief and loss of their birth parents. The feeling of loss or grief aren’t only about their parents, but that of extended family, home, pets, neighborhoods, schools, friends, treasured belongings, and in some cases culture. This is especially true for children who were removed from their home at an older age in which children are more alert and able to realize their situation. In adopted children, it is very important that the adoptive parents understand the process …

There are times in all of our lives when someone close to us suffers emotionally. It could be as a result of depression from the loss of someone close to them, or from a period of long-term unemployment, poor adjustment to divorce or separation or it may even stem from distant events, such as physical or emotional abuse they endured as a child. As much as we may try, as a close friend or family member, we are not usually in the best position to provide what is needed for helping them to deal with these emotions properly. It isn’t the easiest thing …

When going through a divorce, if it has become abundantly clear that you and your ex are not able to come to an agreement regarding post-divorce parenting plans, families can ask the Court to order a child custody evaluation, also referred to as a social investigation, to occur, in order to help the Judge make an informed final decision. Because these evaluations can literally change the outcome of a case, careful consideration must be made prior to agreeing to a forensic psychologist.  Once the order has been signed by the judge, the evaluator cannot be replaced and you are stuck with them, despite concerns that may arise as the investigation is taking place. At our …

Sometimes, the part of the divorce process women find most difficult can often be directly after it is finalized. This is when women often feel frustrated and vulnerable due to role changes, environmental changes, and possibly financial changes. With all these changes occurring at once, women often come in feeling a bit overwhelmed and at times, feel that they are unable to communicate their feelings or requests with their former spouse effectively. For this reason, we are here to help you. Here are some quick tips for mothers after divorce: The key to co-parenting is to focus on your child. …