Child Custody Evaluations

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a steady growth in the use of psychologists and other mental health professionals in child custody evaluations (Ackerman & Ackerman, 1997). These evaluations are used to assist the court in determining custody, visitation, and parenting plans when families divorce. At the same time, there has been an increase in the number of books devoted to child custody evaluations (Stahl, 1994, Ackerman, 1994, Gould, 1997, Galatzer-Levy & Kraus, 1999, Stahl, 1999) and other books devoted to the broader forensic psychology practice. In considering the necessary ingredients of a child custody evaluation practice, there are many areas in which a psychologist (or other mental health professional) must gain proficiency. At a minimum, these include a fundamental understanding of child development, a comprehensive understanding of the research on divorce, good evaluation skills and techniques, and an understanding of the use and misuse of psychological testing in child custody evaluations. As evaluations have become increasingly more complex (Stahl, 1999), evaluators need a thorough understanding of the issues of the alienation of children, domestic violence,