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Stephanie Tabashneck, PsyD, JD offers practical guidance for family court professionals handling cases involving psychedelic use by parents. She emphasizes assessing the impact on parenting rather than relying on stigma, distinguishing between medical, spiritual, and recreational use, and staying informed about evolving legal and clinical contexts. Key recommendations include using evidence-based evaluations, avoiding overreliance on drug testing, creating individualized parenting plans, and maintaining cultural competence and professional humility throughout the process.

Judges, attorneys, and clinical evaluators are confronted with endless sources of information in their daily practice. Often the information conflicts, and the parties in a family law matter are particularly motivated to have us believe their version of the truth. How do we evaluate how much stock to put in each of these sources? What do we believe? 

Expert testimony plays a crucial role in legal proceedings, providing courts with the knowledge needed to interpret complex issues. In cases such as child custody disputes, the insights offered by psychologists can significantly influence judicial outcomes. However, for such testimony to be admissible and reliable, it must be based on sound principles, scientific methods, and established professional knowledge. This article explores the legal framework surrounding expert testimony and the importance of scientific rigor in psychological evaluations. 

A Call to Include the Voice of the Child
In 1989, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child affirmed that “States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.”  Following the issuance of this document, countries, states, and provinces have met this challenge with a variety of statutes and processes.  Despite the US never having signed the Convention, states commonly include a Best Interest factor related to the child’s preference in family law disputes.  In Canada, provinces have established the Voice of the Child report as a way to hear from children and provide their thoughts, wishes, and feelings through meeting with a professional.  Mediation, parenting plan evaluations, parenting coordination, Guardians ad litem, minor’s counsel and hearings/tri

Much ink has been spilled on the topic of children resisting or refusing contact with a parent following divorce or separation, and with good reason. The political and legislative landscapes related to what are now commonly referred to as “parent-child contact problems” continue to shift and evolve, developments which only add to the complexity of these already challenging family situations.

For the mental health practitioner tasked with assisting a family that is experiencing a parent-child contact problem, consulting the relevant professional literature may lead to the impression that a team approach, with a different therapist assigned to each family member, is the optimal strategy for addressing these cases. Indeed, some authors appear to be of the view that a single therapist cannot effectively work with families struggling with a parent-child contact problem. With this perspective in mind, the natural starting point is clear: Adopt a collaborative treatment approach utilizing multiple coordinated therapists to assist such families.

But what are you to do if a team approach is not possible?