The goal of every family law professional and mental health practitioner is to improve family court outcomes in the best interests of the child. This book will assist readers in meeting this critical goal.Developmental Psychology for Family Law Professionalsserves as a practical application of developmental theory to the practice of family law. This book helps family law and mental health professionals gain a broader understanding of each child's unique needs when in the midst of family crisis. It presents developmental theories with which professionals might better assess the developmental needs, synchronies, and trajectories of a given child. Ultimately, this book presents guidelines for making appropriate legal decisions and recommendations for children who have experienced crises such as abuse, neglect, relocation, divorce, and much more. Key topics include: Custodial schedules Foster and adoptive care Post-divorce disputes Termination of parental rights Psychological assessment and diagnosis Incarcerated parents and visitation rights Relocation and "distance parenting" Visitation resistance and refusal/reunification Parental Alienation/alignment and estrangement Theories of cognitive, language, and social development About the Author Benjamin Garber is a New Hampshire licensed psychologist, state certified Guardian ad litem and parenting coordinator. His practice in clinical, consulting, and forensic psychology assists families, agencies, schools and communities to better understand and meet the needs of children, particularly in the context of conflicted family transitions. Dr. Garber serves the courts by providing training, consultation, expert witness and custody assessment services. He is the founder of Parenting Coordinators of New Hampshire (www.PCANH.org), a non-profit organization of family law professionals. He also has a personal website, www.healthyparent.com. Dr. Garber is the author of Keeping Kids Out of the Middle: Child-Centered Parenting in the Midst of Adult Conflict, Separation and Divorce (Health Communications, Inc; October, 2008), which speaks to caregivers about the critical importance of co-parenting regardless of the legal status of their relationship. He also served as consulting psychologist for Your Toddler Month By Month (Penguin Books, 2007). He has published articles in journals such as Family Court Review, Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice, Journal of Child Custody, Professional Psychology, Psychotherapy, and more. |