The role of behavior therapists in child custody cases

Given awareness of research, a focus on the present, sensitivity to multiple life events, and preference for active interventions that characterize the social learning tradition, behavior therapists are well equipped to expand their work into the child custody context. However, therapists need to be aware of the multiple potential roles they may be asked to play in child custody cases. All therapists must make clear whether they are functioning as an evaluator, a mediator, or a therapist. These roles overlap somewhat in function, and on occasion the same psychologist may successfully fulfill more than one role. However, the wise course of action is for the therapist to define a single role from the outset of the case and to remain in that one role throughout. Although a social learning background is an excellent starting point, therapy with child custody cases requires specialized knowledge about the emotional, practical, and legal aspects of divorce. Self-education is an especially important precursor to working in the child custody context, because perhaps the single most important intervention with divorcing and divorced families is to educate them. Given the lack of institutionalized guidance on how to handle both the emotional and the practical aspects of divorce, families often turn to therapists for direction. To provide such direction, therapists must educate themselves about the various emotional, social, practical, and legal aspects of divorce. We hope that this chapter is but an initial step that the reader will take toward that goal.