Dual Roles - Forensic &. Therapeutic in a custody evaulation

[txveedub]

Is anyone familiar with or dealt with psychologist violations of this nature? Basically my son is seeing a play therapist. My ex (who hired him) wants me to see him too. Then they want this therapist to make a custody recommendation. Well, my attorney obviously didn't even know about this rule because he pressured me into agreeing to see this psychologist. He seems to think I can win him over. I am leary. This psychologist(who never met me) has already testified negatively about me. I feel like it is a set up. I have heard so many nightmare stories. This code was pointed out to me by another psychologist: 465.18-- The psychologist must not perform an evaluation where there has been a prior therapeutic relationship with the child or the child's immediate family members, unless required to do so by court order. -- From what I hear, this happens a great deal to people. I just need some advice on what to do next. How to defend myself. I only found out about this law after the fact, when I agreed (under pressure) that I would go see this psychologist...after great pressure from my attorney. By the way - this psychologist is an intern. The psychologist I spoke to laughed at that fact. She said he probably doesn't even know he is violating board rules. A friend told me to get into therapy right away with my own psychologist so that she can counter whatever this guys says about me. Any tips/pointers would be greatly aprreciated.

[TGB]

I agree wholeheartedly.

Even though you already agreed to see the child's therapist, I think you should not go. This is your ex's hired gun. Submit a response that says you just learned of this code and feel it would be better to find a neutral evaluator. You can even say that you do not believe, based on previous statements made by this therapist and the willingness of this person to violate code and act as both therapist and evaluator, that an unbiased evaluation is possible from this therapist.

Request a separate, impartial evaluator, preferably one that you know to be familiar with parental alienation tactics. Consider a new attorney, also.

Psychologists and counselors often get "recruited" by alienating parents who want to legitimize their desires to cut off the other parent. Many counselors fall into this trap without realizing it, especially those who have their own bias that favors the parent recruiting them.