Child Custody: Practice Standards, Ethical Issues, and Legal Safeguards for Mental Healthprofessionals

Essential reading if you are currently involved in custody cases or are considering work in the family law arena. Also a valuable resource for judges and attorneys who must evaluate the extent to which testimony by mental health practitioners is ethical, appropriate, and consistent with accepted practice standards.The author, a psychologist and attorney, uses his unique perspective to delineate standards for practice when providing services to children and families where there are custody disputes.Ethical issues, legal risks, and appropriate safeguards for providing services in child custody cases are described. Core areas for custody evaluations are defined, including: child development, family relations, parenting skills, psychopathology, family systems and dysfunction, and the ruling-out of child abuse. The importance of clarifying professional roles and functions is stressed. Specialized intervention and assessment strategies are presented as well as management issues, legal concerns, and guidelines for testimony. Also includes over 100 valuable summary guidelines and cautions.Robert Henley Woody is the author of 'Child Custody: Practice Standards, Ethical Issues, and Legal Safeguards for Mental Healthprofessionals', published 2000 under ISBN 9781568870625 and ISBN 1568870620.