Developmental Psychology for Family Law Professionals: Theory, Application and the Best Interests of the Child

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 Professionals serves 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