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Abstract: 

Barry Goldstein and Elizabeth Liu explore the advantages and disadvantages of using court-appointed mental health experts. As the authors point out, the use of mental health experts, especially in child custody evaluations, can be tremendously helpful, or alternatively, incredibly harmful, depending upon the professional’s level of training, expertise, experience, and insight into the dynamics of domestic violence. Absent such preparation, mental health professionals typically do far more harm than good, dooming already traumatized survivors to further traumatization. The authors outline the essential ingredients involved in using mental health professionals effectively in child custody cases so that survivors can achieve the safety, freedom, and justice they deserve.

Keywords: Contested Custody Cases; Misapplication of Family Systems Approach; Misuse of Psychological Tests

Affiliations:  1: Attorney at Law; 2: Attorney at Law.