Court-Involved Families

I am specially trained to provide therapy to families who are currently or recently involved in court-related proceedings, such as divorce or child welfare cases.

Family Therapy for Parent-Child Contact Problems and Other Court-Related Family Conflict

This therapy is designed to support a family in navigating their relational challenges while they are in the midst of or newly finished with court-involvement, including but not limited to an open child welfare case or divorce proceedings. I begin this family work by establishing safety, boundaries, and hopes for each participant. All family work must begin with establishing safety for all members, so we may spend significant time developing an understanding of what makes each individual feel emotionally safe. Sometimes we utilize formal assessment measures to explore what each caregiver’s parenting strengths and areas for growth are, so that I can provide more directed intervention and we can measure progress across time. Often treatment involves a combination of repairing past ruptures in the relationship and establishing a new sense of connectedness, trust, and delight in one another. We accomplish these tasks through therapeutic activities that are evidence-based and also tailored to meet the needs of the particular child and parent dyad. For younger children, this will mean activities that to them look and feel like ordinary play, and for older children and teens, activities will align with the pastimes they enjoy (writing, art, performance, sports, etc.).

Individual Therapy for children and Teens in Court-involved families

In individual therapy with children and teens from high-conflict, court-involved divorcing families, I use a prescriptive, play-based or art-based approach that prioritizes establishing emotional safety in treatment. I integrate a range of science-backed modalities and, when appropriate, formal assessment tools to understand each child’s needs and family dynamics, allowing for an individualized approach. Sessions focus on helping children process family changes, repair relational ruptures, and build resilience through developmentally appropriate, engaging activities—using play for younger children and interest-based art activities for older youth—so that healing and resilience can emerge even in the midst of conflict.

Fees for Court-Involved Therapy Services

Court-Involved Family or Individual Therapy: initial intake sessions: $360/hr

Court-Involved Family or Individual Therapy: collateral contacts, document review, document preparation, and treatment planning: $250/hr

Court-Involved Family or Individual Therapy: ongoing regular sessions: $330/hr

Weekend appointments are occasionally available and involve an additional fee.