Sessions

All times in Eastern US Time (EST)

Pre-Symposium Institutes

8:45AM - 4:45PM

Institute 1. A Dangerous Paradox

In family law custody cases, the constitutional and due process rights belong to the parents, and yet, the law is in the best interest of the children. This strange dichotomy of interests has created a paradigm where family law professionals have normalized parent-focused custodial orders despite the orders being contrary to the best interests of the children. This session will include examples from a judicial and clinical perspective of cases where the child’s best interests were lost and look at the research on factors that predict good outcomes for children.

Robin M. Deutsch, PhD, ABPP, Newton Centre, MA
Leslie M. Drozd, PhD, Seattle, WA
Marsha Kline Pruett, PhD, ABPP, Smith College, Northampton, MA
Hon. Harvey A. Silberman (Ret.), Signature Resolution, Palm Desert, CA

Institute 2. Parenting Coordination That Works: Practical Tools, Proven Strategies, and New Insights Across Systems

This timely workshop offers a fresh, candid, and practice-focused look at Parenting Coordination (PC) across jurisdictions, disciplines, and professional roles. Designed for professionals working with high-conflict families, this session moves beyond theory to deliver practical tools, real-world strategies, and field-tested insights that attendees can immediately apply in their own practice. Participants will explore how Parenting Coordination has evolved, what the field has learned about effective intervention, and where persistent challenges continue to shape outcomes for children, parents, and professionals. See the brochure for full description. 

Debra K. Carter, PhD, National Cooperative Parenting Center,
Bradenton, FL
Shana L. Duehring, JD, Our Family Parenting Coordinator, Tampa, FL
Hon. Diana M. Tennis, 9th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Orlando, FL
Shely Polak, PhD, MSW, RSW, Mackenzie Clinic, Concord, ON, Canada

Institute 3. The AI-Ready Family Professional: Practical Tools and Ethical Guardrails for Custody Work

Artificial intelligence (AI) is already in your family cases, whether you invited it or not. The question is no longer whether to use it, but how to use it responsibly. The faculty will provide family lawyers, mediators, custody evaluators, judges, and mental health professionals a clear-eyed look at what AI can and cannot do in custody and family matters. They will walk you through the tools now reshaping family practice, with live demonstrations across every stage of a case and a candid look at how these technologies affect the parties and the children in your care. This session brings OZMAP, a five-part judgment framework for deciding when and how to rely on AI in any practice, along with the professional responsibility rules for each discipline, whether you answer to the bar, a licensing board, or the bench. Together they move you from the promise and the perils of AI to a working set of tools, a shared judgment gate, and concrete steps to practice with confidence while protecting the people who depend on you.

Susan E. Guthrie, JD, Guthrie Consulting, Chicago, IL
Clare Fowler, EdD, Mediate.Com, Eugene, OR

Institute 4. Identifying and Addressing Interpersonal Violence: A Judge’s Toolbox (Judicial Institute)

Registration for this institute is limited to judicial officers. This comprehensive educational program is designed to provide judges with practical tools, current legal guidance, and evidence-based strategies for effectively handling interpersonal violence cases. Through sessions led by experienced judges and a nationally recognized expert, participants will examine Florida Supreme Court best practices for civil and criminal case management, explore trauma-informed and victim-centered judicial approaches, and strengthen collaboration with justice system partners. The program also addresses the impact of violence on children, methods for identifying hidden victims, and evidence-based approaches to assessing lethality and escalating threats. Emphasizing victim safety, offender accountability, and judicial excellence, the conference equips judges with practical resources to enhance courtroom decision-making, improve case outcomes, and promote a more responsive and effective justice system.

Hon. Doneene Loar, 6th Judicial Circuit, Clearwater, FL
Hon. Holly Grissinger, 6th Judicial Circuit, Clearwater, FL
Mark Wynn, Mark Wynn Consulting, Nashville, TN

Institute 5. 2026 Domestic Violence Case Managers Track

This one-day educational program is designed to strengthen the knowledge and skills of court personnel who handle domestic violence cases. Through presentations from judicial leaders, attorneys, court personnel, and victim service providers, attendees will explore the HOPE Card Program, best practices in case management, ethical and secure use of artificial intelligence in the courts, the critical role of case managers, and community resources available to survivors. This institute emphasizes victim safety, trauma-informed practices, collaboration, and improving access to justice for individuals affected by domestic violence.

Victoria Blankenship, MSML, Family Justice Center Harbor House of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Carolina I. Nunez, JD, Winter Park, FL
Kristina L. Lawrence, JD, Statewide Legal Services, Tampa, FL
Hon. Christopher A. France, 7th Judicial Circuit, Bunnell, FL
Andria Chaney, Orange County Clerk of Courts, Orlando, FL

Opening Session

5:15PM - 6:45PM

Opening Session: Should Parental Rights Trump a Child’s Best Interest?

Join in an examination of the tensions between parents’ constitutionally protected rights to direct the upbringing of their children or the exercise of free speech and the child-centered “best interests” standard which governs much of family court decision-making. Analyze how child-specific factors shape the reliability and meaning of children’s stated views, as well as the extent to which legal professionals adequately assess and represent those views in testimony and decision-making. Explore parental conflict, the assertion of rights, and evaluate the appropriate role of children’s voices in the balance.

  Alexander D. Jones, JD, MSW, Brick Jones McBrien & Hickey LLLP, Needham, MA
  Hon. Mary M. Ferriter, Boston, MA
  David Medoff, PhD, Suffolk Univ., Boston, MA
  Lauren Byrne Persing, PsyD, Newton, MA

Yoga and Meditation

6:15AM - 7:15AM

Coffee and Rolls

7:45AM - 8:30AM

Plenary Session

8:30AM - 10:00AM

Plenary Session: Real Role of Counsel for Children: Ethical Conundrums & Practical Challenges

This workshop will explore the role of counsel for the child, examining and critiquing statutes, rules, orders, and beyond, to the space where child advocacy is left to the practitioner’s judgment and a set of governing principles becomes critical to ethical practice. Participants will work together through challenging hypotheticals designed to help us consider the value and utility of our work in systems that claim to be for and about children but too often fail to genuinely listen to them.

  Hon. Liberty Aldrich (Ret.), The Children’s Law Center, Brooklyn, NY
  Stacey E. Platt, JD, Loyola Univ. Chicago School of Law, Chicago, IL

Break

10:00AM - 10:30AM

Workshops 1-6

10:30AM - 12:00PM

1. Parenting Plan Evaluations in the Age of AI: Promise, Peril, and Practice

Concerns expressed about Parenting Plan Evaluations (PPEs) include cost, delay, inconsistency, quality, bias, and comprehensibility. This workshop will discuss ways in which artificial intelligence (“AI”) may address these concerns, including: AI used as an efficiency tool thus reducing cost and delay; lower cost preliminary evaluations; standardization of procedures and work product development of bespoke checklists; mitigation of unconscious bias; plain language tools, etc. The adequacy of these potential benefits will be analyzed and debated by a panel of two highly experienced parenting plan evaluators, and an experienced family court judge.

Hon. Tom Altobelli, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Matthew J. Sullivan, PhD, Santa Cruz, CA
Chris Mulchay, PhD, ABPP, Asheville Testing, Asheville, NC

2. A Bridge to Nowhere: Rethinking Relationship Existence in PCCP

When a child resists contact with a parent post-separation, clinicians and courts typically assume a good relationship was damaged. This workshop challenges that premise. Presenters introduce the Scaffolding Model, distinguishing between authentic parent-child relationships and those constructed through the other parent's facilitation. Using case illustrations and a structured assessment protocol, participants learn to identify scaffolding collapse, differentiate it from alienation and safety-based rejection, and design interventions grounded in what the relationship was.

Jennifer Harrison, PsyD, ABPP, Oakland, CA
Leslie M. Drozd, PhD, Seattle, WA

3. Digital Risks & Parenting Plans: Protecting Children in High Conflict

Children’s digital lives are increasingly at the center of high-conflict parenting disputes. This workshop provides practical tools to help professionals assess and manage risks related to social media, messaging, and technology use. Participants will learn how to distinguish conflict from child safety concerns, implement structured decision-making frameworks, and draft clear parenting plan language addressing digital issues. This session includes real-world scenarios, sample provisions, and strategies to help parents reach workable agreements that prioritize children’s safety and well-being.

Leticia Lopes, PsyD, Imagine Psychology Practice, Stuart, FL
Samuel Bourgeois, MS, DYOPATH, Port St. Lucie, FL

4. Healing Anger: Mindfulness Strategies for Parents and Children

Anger is a complex, difficult emotion. People who frequently experience intense, long-lasting anger often have physical and mental health problems, sleep problems, and low life satisfaction. In divorcing or divorced families, parents’ or children’s unregulated anger contributes to hostile family environments, poor parent-child relationships and coparenting, and negative child outcomes. This workshop introduces a mindfulness-based approach to healing anger for parents and children. Drawing on affective science, clinical practice, and contemplative wisdom, participants will learn how to teach parents mindfulness strategies they can use themselves, with their children, and in coparenting.

Na Zhang, PhD, Univ. of Connecticut, Stamford, CT
Karey L. O'Hara, PhD, Arizona State Univ., Phoenix, AZ

5. Sacred Values, Secular Courts: Religious and Cultural Conflicts in Custody

This presentation provides a comparative analysis of how cultural and religious issues are addressed in custody and parenting disputes in both secular and religious legal systems. It focuses on how evaluators, attorneys, and courts manage conflict involving children’s religious upbringing, cultural identity, and parental disagreement over practices, rituals, and community expectations.

Martin E. Friedlander, JD, Brooklyn, NY
Shimmy M. Lev, JD, Rehavia, Jerusalem, Israel

6. Interviewing Children in Family Law Litigation: What Works in Practice

Interviewing children is one of the most meaningful yet challenging parts of a Parenting Plan Evaluation or minor's counsel work. This session gives practitioners practical, evidence-based tools for talking with kids in ways that are developmentally attuned, ethically sound, and genuinely illuminating. Participants will learn how to build rapport, ask effective open-ended questions, avoid common interviewing pitfalls, and gather reliable information without losing sight of the child’s lived experience. Attendees will leave with real-world strategies they can use immediately to conduct clearer, more confident, and more child-centered interviews.

Christy Bradshaw Schmidt, MA, LPC, Coppell, TX
Victoria T. Harvey, PhD, MSCJ, Frisco, TX

Luncheon (Included)

12:00PM - 1:30PM

Workshops 7-12

1:45PM - 3:15PM

7. From Findings to Follow-Through: Improving Impact in Custody Evaluations

This workshop examines how language in custody evaluations shapes family outcomes. Traditional deficit-focused reports often heighten conflict, leaving parties feeling judged, misrepresented, and less likely to engage with recommendations. Drawing on motivational science and therapeutic jurisprudence, this session introduces a growth-oriented, collaborative framework that invites parties into the process as active participants rather than passive recipients. By inviting parties into dialogue, evaluators can reduce defensiveness, increase buy-in, and support more sustainable, child-centered outcomes. Participants will learn practical strategies to transform report writing and feedback processes into more engaging, solution-focused interactions.

Premela G. Deck, JD, PhD, SD Family Services, Inc., Canton, MA
Yael Osman, PsyD, SD Family Services, Canton, MA
Hon. Susan D. Ricci (Ret.), Roach + Ricci Conciliation Mediation,
Boston, MA

8. Storytelling in Courtrooms: The Power of Persuasion of a Good Story

Family courts decide child custody by weighing statutory best interests factors—emotional ties, home stability, parental fitness, the child’s health, community ties, and more. But legal theory and the case’s story are not the same; theories are abstract while stories persuade. Savvy advocates weave each factor into a compelling human narrative, transforming legal elements into vivid, memorable moments. Similarly, over-reliance on competing expert witnesses risk burying the story in scientific jargon. Experts should support the narrative, not replace it. Give the judicial officer a story worth believing in.

Ashish S. Joshi, LLM, Joshi Attorneys + Counselors, Ann Arbor, MI
Hon. Dolores Bomrad (Ret.), Family Matters Resolution Services,
Hartford, WI
Mindy F. Mitnick, EdM, MA, Uptown Mental Health Center,
Minneapolis, MN

9. Dialogue in the Shadow of Violence: Coercion, Consent, and Mediation

This workshop examines the tension between mediation and coercive control in family disputes. Participants will learn to identify patterns of intimate partner violence (IPV) beyond isolated incidents, assess mediation suitability, and implement process adaptations that support safety and informed consent. Through case-based discussion and interdisciplinary perspectives, this session addresses screening strategies, ethical challenges, and when mediation may be inappropriate. Designed for family law professionals across disciplines, this program emphasizes the challenge of navigating power imbalances.

Kristen G. Lyndaker, JD, LMSW, New York, NY
Adam J. Halper, JD, White Plains, NY
Donna Erez-Navot, JD, Univ. of Florida Levin College of Law, Gainesville, FL

10. From Stigma to Science: Addiction Literacy for Family Law Attorneys

When family law attorneys misread a toxicology screen or misunderstand medication-assisted treatment, families pay the price. This workshop gives attorneys the addiction literacy they never received in law school—covering the brain disease model, relapse science, and toxicology interpretation through the lens of family court practice. Case vignettes and reflective exercises translate knowledge into action, equipping participants to challenge flawed clinical evidence and advocate more fairly for clients affected by substance use disorder.

Eric E. Friedlander, MS, PsyD(c), Hofstra Univ, Woodmere, NY

11. Adjudicating Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse When Custody is in Dispute

Adjudicating Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) When Custody is in Dispute is an American Bar Association (ABA) judicial training program used to address the most vexing and difficult aspects of dealing with CSA in the family courts. These issues perplex even the most experienced participant trying to figure out what really happened. Truth and fiction in these matters are incredibly difficult to determine. This session is intended to provide current information on CSA allegations occurring in child custody matters for the attorney, mental health professional and others involved in the adjudication of these cases.

Seth L. Goldstein, JD, Law Offices of Seth Goldstein, Monterey, CA
Robert Geffner, PhD, ABPP, ABN, Institute on Violence, Abuse, and Trauma, San Diego, CA

12. In Search of Common Ground: PCCP, Dynamics, Labels, and Assessment

This workshop will explore the search for common ground when considering approaches to Parent-Child Contact Problems (PCCP) through the examination of three components. The first component will address the common causes of PCCP through the lens of Garber's rubric of six domains of causes. The second component will address the uses and misuses of diagnostic labels and will include discussion of the Baker Five-Factor Model of identifying parental alienation as a possible cause in PCCP. This model relies on a set of behavioral criteria rather than a global diagnosis. The third component will present a multi-method assessment of PCCP by focusing on interviews, observations of parent-child interaction, relevant records, and the pros and cons of testing. The use of the timeline will be included as an added assessment tool.

Alan D. Blotcky, PhD, Birmingham, AL
William Bernet, MD, Vanderbilt Univ. School of Medicine, Nashville, TN
Benjamin D. Garber, PhD, DefuseDivorce.com, Hollis, NH

Break

3:15PM - 3:30PM

Workshops 13-18

3:30PM - 5:00PM

13. Pixels and Parenting: The Mental Health Impact of Virtual Parenting Time

This presentation will provide professionals with an overview of how virtual parenting time affects child mental health across developmental stages (infants, school-age children, adolescents). Participants will learn how these groups differ in their cognitive, social, and emotional readiness for video-based contact, and how conflict level, family dynamics, and case context influence virtual parenting outcomes. Both the benefits and risks of virtual contact will be discussed. Attendees will learn how to structure developmentally appropriate virtual parenting plans that protect children’s emotional safety and support healthy parent–child relationships.

Christine A. Profito, PsyD, National Cooperative Parenting Center, Bradenton, FL

14. No Magic Wand: The Real Work of Safe Child Support Decisions

This workshop offers a clear overview of the child support process from establishing and enforcing orders to understanding how decisions affect children over time. Presenters will highlight the barriers survivors face when seeking child support, including economic abuse, coercive control, and other forms of postseparation abuse that can make engagement unsafe. The session will help professionals recognize how routine procedures may heighten risk and will provide practical strategies to support survivor-driven, child-centered, and safety-focused approaches in child support cases.

Anadelle Martinez-Mullen, JD, Battered Women’s Justice Project,
Saint Paul, MN
Jillian Young, MSW, Battered Women’s Justice Project, Saint Paul, MN

15. Weaponizing Parenthood: AI and the Rise of Digital Surveillance

Parents increasingly use recordings, surveillance, wearable devices, and AI in parenting disputes. This session draws on a preliminary review of Canadian case law and an ongoing survey of professionals to examine how these technologies have shaped practice. Participants will explore the challenges and potential benefits of digital evidence and recognize when it may escalate conflict or undermine relationships. A practical, child-focused framework will guide responses across legal, clinical, and mediation contexts, along with discussion on legislative and policy reforms.

Michael A. Saini, PhD, MSW, RSW, Univ. of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Shely Polak, PhD, MSW, RSW, Mackenzie Clinic, Concord, ON, Canada

16. Reunification with Uncertainty: Navigating Allegations, Memory, and Repair

In cases involving parent-child contact problems, there is often uncertainty or disagreement about what happened, resulting in challenges about whether, when, and how to proceed. Drawing upon research in trauma, memory, and family systems, the presentation explores how stress, development, loyalty conflicts, and relational dynamics shape memory and belief. This program highlights the variables that influence reunification when histories are contested and certainty is limited. The program will share child-centered, evidence-informed approaches to reunification that prioritize safety, emotional regulation, and functional repair, even when factual uncertainties remain unresolved.

April Harris-Britt, PhD, AHB Forensics and Consulting, Durham, NC
Cynthia M. Sortisio, PhD, Counseling Services Inc., Durham, NC

17. Behind the Screens: Understanding Teens and Technology

In today’s digital world, teens navigate relationships, conflict, and family stress through screens—using emojis, encrypted apps, and disappearing messages to communicate more than words reveal. This workshop explores adolescent technology use across platforms like Snapchat, iMessage, TikTok, and private “finsta” accounts. Family law professionals will learn to decode teen communication, including slang, emojis, and hidden behaviors relevant to custody, visitation, and protective order cases. Attendees will also gain practical insight into identifying digital evidence, understanding parent-teen dynamics, and effectively interviewing youth in technology-driven disputes.

Steven Bradley, MBA, OurFamilyWizard, Pottsboro, TX
Hon. Maggie Simar, 16th Judicial District Court, St. Martinville, LA

18. The STABLE Model: Attachment-Informed Parenting Plans for Children Ages 0–5

Parenting plans for children ages 0–5 must align with early attachment and developmental needs, especially in high-conflict cases. This workshop introduces the STABLE Model, a structured forensic framework for designing developmentally appropriate, court-implementable parenting plans. Participants will learn to assess caregiving stability, attachment security, transition tolerance, behavioral regulation, conflict exposure, and environmental predictability. Through case examples and applied strategies, attendees will gain practical tools to construct clear, durable parenting plans that support child stability, reduce litigation recurrence, and translate attachment science into defensible forensic recommendations.

Jamie C. Niesen, MA, LPCC-S, Niesen Resolution Services, Worthington, OH
Molly C. May, MSW, LISW-S, Niesen Resolution Services, Worthington, OH

DE&I Forum

5:00PM - 6:00PM

Yoga and Meditation

6:15AM - 7:15AM

Coffee and Rolls

7:45AM - 8:30AM

Workshops 19-24

8:30AM - 10:00AM

19. Trauma-Responsive Courts in Action: Tools for the Family Court Professionals

This presentation examines how trauma shapes the behaviors family court professionals are likely to encounter. Attendees will learn how to recognize trauma responses, avoid misinterpretation, support client regulation and apply practical trauma-informed strategies without crossing professional boundaries.

Peggy Gummoe, LCSW, Tampa, FL
Hon. Anthony B. Miller, Leon County Courthouse 2nd Circuit,
Tallahassee, FL
Sarah E. Kay, MEd, MBA, JD, Tampa, FL
Rick T. Miller, MA, JD, Second Judicial Circuit Court, Tallahassee, FL

20. Designing Structured Listening: Operational Tools for Custody Courts

This workshop introduces a Structured Listening Model for custody courts. Through applied hypotheticals, participants will evaluate how different listening modalities shape decisional outcomes and procedural transparency. The session provides practical tools for integrating trauma-informed safeguards, documentation standards, and proportionality into child participation practices—transforming listening from discretionary practice into accountable procedural design.

Rosa Di Caprio, JD, Casoria, Napoli, Italy

21. Triphasic Neuroregulatory Model for Parent-Child Contact Problems

Parent-child contact problems require professionals to balance children’s evolving voices, safety, and long-term relational development. This workshop introduces a trauma-informed, triphasic reconnection model integrating neuroregulatory theory with staged intervention sequencing. Presenters demonstrate how to differentiate threat-based resistance from overwhelm-based shutdown and how to proportionally increase contact using observable readiness markers. Designed for interdisciplinary family justice professionals, the framework emphasizes developmental progression, titrated exposure, and reintegration strategies that support durable, child-centered outcomes beyond immediate compliance.

Reina Remigio, PhD, Sage Family Reunification, Pleasanton, CA
Christopher Cook, JD, LCSW, Sage Family Reunification, Pleasanton, CA
Steven Peterson, JD, LCSW, Sage Family Reunification, Pleasanton, CA

22. Innovations in Conducting and Reviewing Relocation Risk Assessment Evaluations

Austin’s Relocation Risk Assessment model has guided relocation evaluations for decades. This workshop introduces innovative approaches to conducting relocation risk assessments by examining alternative conceptual models and frameworks. Participants will explore how underlying assumptions influence evaluative thinking, report writing, and courtroom testimony. The workshop will also address how implicit and explicit biases can affect the interpretation and presentation of information. By increasing awareness of these influences and considering multiple perspectives, evaluators can strengthen the objectivity, clarity, and usefulness of their reports and testimony in complex relocation cases.

Jonathan W. Gould, PhD, ABPP, Charlotte, NC

23. Considering Developmental Disabilities within a Child Custody Evaluation

This workshop will focus on children with developmental disabilities, including intellectual disability. The presenter will review specifics related to care of a child with an intellectual or developmental disability, and specifics related to the education of a child with such a disability. The presenter will also discuss the types of therapy and services available for children with disabilities, how to prepare for independent living, and methods for addressing physical or mental challenges.

Sandra D. Roland, PhD, ABPP, Plano, TX

24. Plot Twists in Older Family Conflict: Assessment, Interventions, and Ethics

The Florida Chapter of AFCC has encouraged an inclusive lens inviting professionals to re-think the “best interests” framework as a lifelong, intergenerational process connecting childhood experiences, adult relationships, and aging family systems. This interactive workshop highlights our ethical obligations and provides tools to address plot twists in older family conflict, including the Eldercaring Conflict Checklist and Eldercaring Coordination. Scenarios illustrate how unresolved patterns of conflict can be identified and least restrictive approaches aligned to support family collaboration and the wellbeing of older adults as younger generations watch their story unfold.

Linda B. Fieldstone, MEd, Elder Justice Initiative on Eldercaring Coordination, Miami, FL
Sue B. Bronson, LCSW, Elder Justice Initiative on Eldercaring Coordination, Milwaukee, WI
Fran Tetunic, JD, Nova Southeastern Univ. Shepard Broad College of Law, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Break

10:00AM - 10:30AM

Workshops 25-30

10:30AM - 12:00PM

25. Truth, Trauma, and Allegations: Navigating Child Sexual Abuse Cases

Allegations of child sexual abuse (CSA) are among the most challenging issues for family law professionals. This workshop provides a practical framework for managing CSA cases from initial disclosure through court involvement. Using case examples and research, presenters address mandatory reporting, interview contamination, false allegations, and psychological testing. Regardless of whether the CSA allegations are substantiated, participants learn how therapists, evaluators, and court professionals can collaborate to protect children, ensure due process, and promote healing.

Christine M. Hammond, MS, LMHC, NCC, Psychological Affiliates,
Winter Park, FL
Kyle J. Goodwin, PsyD, Psychological Affiliates, Winter Park, FL
Melvin Pagán-González, PsyD, Psychological Affiliates, Winter Park, FL
Hon. Christopher Sprysenski, Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court,
Sanford, FL

26. But They Just Don't Want to Go: When Doing Nothing Does Damage

When a child says, “I don’t want to go” and a parent responds, “I can’t make them,” courts often face a difficult question: is this protection or obstruction? This workshop explores how passive non-facilitation can erode parent-child relationships and undermine court authority. Participants will learn to distinguish protective estrangement from restrictive gatekeeping, assess psychological and legal implications, and implement practical, child-centered interventions. The session provides actionable strategies for judges, attorneys, and mental health professionals addressing refusal dynamics in high-conflict custody cases.

Angelina T. Ray, JD, CFLS, Pacem Tempestate Law APC, Elk Grove, CA
Jessica A. Wharton, LMFT, Sacramento, CA

27. Impact of Abuse on Custody Cases Involving LGBTQ+ Families

Family law attorneys increasingly encounter cases involving LGBTQ+ parents where intimate partner violence (IPV) is present, yet practitioners lack training on how abuse may manifest within LGBTQ+ family systems. This workshop examines patterns of IPV in same-gender and gender-diverse relationships, including coercive control such as threats of “outing,” misuse of sexual orientation or gender identity in litigation, and barriers survivors face when seeking protection or disclosing abuse. Participants will explore how stereotypes influence custody proceedings and gain strategies for trauma-informed advocacy, prioritizing the safety and well-being of children and families.

Maricarmen Garza, JD, American Bar Association, Washington, DC
Heather Wilkie, MA, LMHC, Orlando, FL

28. Job-Share Parenting: A Curriculum for Separated and Divorced Parents

Job-Share Parenting is a structured curriculum that defines post-separation parenting as a "job-share" focusing on responsibilities and duties. Shared parenting requires communication, decision making, problem-solving, and conflict resolution in four areas of interest: education; health, wellness, and safety; optional enrichment activities; and family. There is a clearly laid out parenting job description and standards to evaluate the parents; this workshop connects the dots between parents’ behaviors and the best interests of the children with the principles of job-sharing. This can be of value to evaluators, parenting coordinators, attorneys, and judges.

Allen L. Levy, MS, LPA, Generations Family Consulting, Anchorage, AK

29. In the Room Where It Happens: Conducting Valid Parent-Child Observations

Parent–child observations in parenting plan evaluations remain notably under-standardized, with wide variability in methods and limited consensus on best practices. This lack of structure raises concerns about reliability, validity, and potential bias in high-stakes determinations. This presentation introduces a decision-tree model to guide evaluators in selecting observation methods based on case-specific factors, such as child age, developmental needs, and cultural context. The proposed framework aims to enhance consistency, cultural responsiveness, and the defensibility of findings while preserving flexibility to meet the unique needs of each family.

Kathleen McNamara, PhD, Fort Collins, CO
Kelle Scannell, MS, ANCHOR Counseling Services, Westminster, CO
Jessica P. Greenwald O'Brien, PhD, Natick, MA
Yael Osman, PsyD, SD Family Services, Canton, MA

30. Got Parent Child Contact Problems? The Value of Interdisciplinary Coordination

This workshop addresses the challenges professionals face when children resist contact with a parent, despite court orders. Multiple factors contribute, including family dynamics, parental perspectives, child development, and the roles of attorneys, professionals and judges. While briefly reviewing resist-refuse dynamics, the workshop focuses on systems-based approaches, highlighting the role of parenting time professionals, in effective intervention. Emphasis is placed on coordinated communication across court-involved professionals to support aligned goals and expectations. Case examples, group discussions and role plays will be used to demonstrate how collaboration improves outcomes for families.

Howard D. Yaffe, MSW, LICSW, Brookline, MA
Lori L. Wymore-Kirkland, MPA, Stronger Together Supervised Visitation and Exchange, Fairfax, VA

Lunch (On Your Own)

12:00PM - 1:30PM

Workshops 31-36

1:30PM - 3:00PM

31. Teamwork in Action: PC and Interdisciplinary Collaboration for Better Outcomes

High-conflict families often involve multiple professionals, yet collaboration is frequently inconsistent or underdeveloped. This presentation examines the critical role Parenting Plan Coordinators (PPCs) play within interdisciplinary teams and how effective partnerships with mental health professionals can improve outcomes for families. The session offers practical strategies for building respectful, functional working relationships between PPCs and therapists. It addresses common challenges such as role confusion, communication breakdowns, and competing perspectives, while providing concrete tools to enhance coordination, clarify roles, and promote more cohesive, effective team-based interventions in high-conflict cases.

Robin Sax, JD, LCSW, Beverly Hills, CA
Mary E. Lund, PhD, Lund and Strachan, Santa Monica, CA
Hon. Margo Lewis Hoy (Ret.), Signature Resolution, San Diego, CA

32. Reforming High Conflict Cases via Interdisciplinary Education and Collaboration

Brought together by the common goal of reducing the impact on children who are subjected to high-conflict divorce and custody litigation, a judge and mental health professional collaborated to raise awareness of this concerning matter in a one-day interdisciplinary symposium for mental health professionals and family law practitioners in Nashville, TN. This workshop is designed to introduce the impact of the unique collaboration and review its successes, pitfalls, barriers, spinoffs and helpful tools on how to create similar collaborations in other jurisdictions.

Hon. Stephanie J. Williams, Davidson County 4th Circuit Court,
Nashville, TN
Donald Jackson, LMFT, PhD, Trevecca Nazarene Univ., Nashville, TN

33. Parenting in a Digital World: Evaluating Online Risks and Protective Capacity

This workshop examines risky online behavior among children and adolescents, focusing on ideological radicalization and sexual exploitation. Presenters will describe research-supported behavioral and cognitive red flags indicating potential risk to youth. Participants will learn to evaluate "digital protective capacity" in child custody cases, exploring how a parent’s role—ranging from powerless passivity to active encouragement—should inform physical and legal custody recommendations. The session provides practical tools for integrating digital safety and effective protective frameworks into parenting plan evaluations.

Lindsey S. Davis, PhD, William James College/Harvard Univ.,
Brookline, MA
Lauren Ameruoso, MA, William James College, Newton, MA

34. From Conflict to Resolution: Strategic Interventions in High-Conflict Cases

High-conflict family cases tend to escalate unless courts intervene strategically. This workshop maps the “life cycle” of a high-conflict case and identifies key intervention points where professionals can shift the trajectory toward resolution. Presenters will describe practical programs currently operating in one court, including early intervention (FIT), settlement week, coordinated team involvement, and pre-trial disclosure meetings for custody evaluations and neutral evaluations. The workshop will also examine evolving parenting coordination orders that increase responsiveness and effectiveness. Participants will gain practical strategies for implementing similar interventions within their own court systems.

Hon. Randall D. Fuller, Delaware County Common Pleas Court,
Delaware, OH
Jamie C. Niesen, MA, LPCC-S, Niesen Resolution Services,
Worthington, OH

35. Immigration and Family Court: Legal & Clinical Strategies for Children

This workshop explores the intersection of immigration, trauma, and family court practice. This workshop will identify what to do if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) becomes instantly involved with the family and what, if any, paths to legal relief there are for children and their families. Participants will learn how to identify immigration-related issues affecting children, including Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJ), and apply trauma-informed, solution-focused strategies. The session provides legal and clinical tools for attorneys, guardians ad litem, judges, and mental health professionals to improve decision-making, recommendations, and outcomes for immigrant children involved in family court proceedings.

Laura C. Joyce, JD, LICSW, Joyce and Associates, Boston, MA
Hon. William P. Joyce (Ret.), Joyce and Associates, Boston, MA

36. Beyond Rebuttal: Escalating Expert Review Challenges in Custody Cases

This workshop explores the growing use of multiple expert challenges in custody litigation, including the emerging practice of “rebutting the rebuttal.” Participants will examine how escalating expert involvement can impact decision-making, ethics, and child-centered outcomes. Through case examples and discussion, this session will distinguish between necessary forensic scrutiny and excessive adversarial escalation, offering strategies to strengthen evaluation practices while minimizing unnecessary litigation complexity.

Paul Fericelli, MSW, PhD, Inter-American Univ. of Puerto Rico,
San Juan, PR