Psycho-legal Concepts for Parenting in Child Custody and Child Protection Vol. 2

Dr. Don Tustin is a clinical psychologist working in Adelaide, Australia. He has worked for 25 years with vulnerable families where children are at increased risk of maltreatment and mental health disorders because their parents use parenting practices that are inadequate to meet all of the needs of the child. He has worked in a community mental health team for adults, where 30% of clients were parents whose parenting practices were affected when the parent experienced an episode of mental illness including depression, anxiety, and mood disorder. He has received two grants to deliver interventions for parents with a mental illness. An innovative collaborative approach was used, where a mental health clinician and an in-home parenting coach worked cooperatively with parents and their children to improve dynamics in the family. He has presented to World Congresses on Children’s Rights about treatment reports submitted to courts.

• 1. Introduction.- 2. Legal and ethical issues for expert witnesses on family matters.- 3. Ethical issues when treating anxious children whose parents have separated.- 4. Common co-parenting mistakes and associated orders.- 5. Court- and client-appointed experts.- 6. Risk of cumulative harm for children.- 7. Differing perspectives on parent-child contact in child custody and child protection cases.- 8. Research, policy and practice and children's contact and shared care in child custody and child protection.- 9. Conclusion.- 10. Glossary.