The Art and Science of Child Custody Evaluations [Hardcover]

Jonathan W. Gould Phd ABPP (Author), David A. Martindale Phd (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 10, 2007 | ISBN-10: 1593854889 | ISBN-13: 978-1593854881 | Edition: 1

Addressing key topics in child custody evaluation, this book provides essential knowledge for practitioners who want to meet the highest standards for both scientific validity and legal admissibility. The authors are leading experts who describe the latest data-based approaches to understanding and assessing relevant child, parent, and family factors. Going beyond the basics, the book gives in-depth attention to challenging, frequently encountered issues, such as how to evaluate allegations of domestic violence, child sexual abuse, and child alienation. Also covered are the complexities of interviewing children effectively and working in the adversarial forensic context. A user-friendly appendix contains sample letters and statements of understanding, with permission to photocopy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Gould and Martindale have given mental health professionals a thoughtful, thorough, and impressively evidence-based overview of the what, how, and why of child custody evaluations. I want separated parents to decide what's best for their own children, but when they can't or won't, I urge custody evaluators to follow Gould and Martindale's careful advice. This book should be read by students and professionals not only for the information it offers, but also for its cautions--ethical, practical, and human."--Robert E. Emery, PhD, Department of Psychology and Center for Children, Families, and the Law, University of Virginia

"A groundbreaking book by Gould and Martindale. Their expertise provides the reader with a comprehensive guide to building the best possible child custody evaluations, with a thorough examination of issues such as minimizing and correcting for an evaluator's bias and assessing allegations of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and alienation. An exquisite work by two of the field's most brilliant forensic experts!"--Leslie M. Drozd, PhD, Editor, Journal of Child Custody

"The past decade has seen a sea change in custody evaluations, from impressionistic interviews and 'clinical wisdom' to systematic evaluations and data-based findings. In this extraordinarily clear and well-written book, Gould and Martindale explain key forensic methods of custody evaluation, laying bare their foundations and showing how to apply them to everyday work. The book is simultaneously a manifesto for the new era of custody evaluations and a handbook for those who perform them. It is a fine starting point for graduate students in forensic psychology, fellows in forensic psychiatry, and mental health professionals entering the field of custody evaluation, and will also help the most experienced evaluators refine their thinking. The emphasis on risk management should help evaluators minimize the formal complaints that are the bane of their existence. Judges and lawyers will appreciate the book's authoritative, jargon-free exposition."--Robert M. Galatzer-Levy, MD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago, and Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Jonathan W. Gould, PhD, ABPP, practices forensic psychology with a specialization in issues related to family law, including child custody, and is board certified in forensic psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology. He performs court-appointed custody evaluations and consults with attorneys and psychologists in the areas of child custody, Child Protective Services evaluations such as termination of parental rights, and professional ethics and standards. Dr. Gould also consults with attorneys in the areas of criminal child sexual abuse and other forms of child maltreatment.

 

David A. Martindale, PhD, ABPP, is board certified in forensic psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology. He performed court-appointed custody evaluations for 16 years in New York state and served as the Reporter for the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts’ Model Standards for Child Custody Evaluation. Dr. Martindale’s practice is now limited to consulting with attorneys, psychologists, and psychology licensing boards in the areas of child custody and professional ethics and standards.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 450 pages
• Publisher: The Guilford Press; 1 edition (July 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593854889
• ISBN-13: 978-1593854881
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,357,524 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great addition to the field, November 14, 2007

By 

Karen Franklin "Forensic Psychologist" (El Cerrito, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art and Science of Child Custody Evaluations (Hardcover)

Back in the dark ages, a psychologist hired by one parent or the other in a child custody case could just waltz into court and give a subjective clinical opinion. Thankfully, while such practices may still occur here and there, it is no longer the norm. Such a psychologist might be legally barred due to inadequate training or experience, or might face legal action by the other parent. Back in 1998 (and revised last year), Jonathan Gould wrote a really helpful manual called Conducting Scientifically Crafted Child Custody Evaluations, Second Edition, to help custody evaluators avoid the many pitfalls and landmines in this litigious subfield of forensic psychology. Now, he has teamed up with fellow expert David A. Martindale to bring us even more of the latest information and advice in this rapidly evolving area.

The authors focus both on the law and on the clinical practicalities. Clear and well-written chapters explore ethics and bias, child interviewing, child development research, assessing parents, child sexual abuse allegations, domestic violence, and child alienation. The authors carefully explain the primary legal standard in child custody work, "The Best Interests of the Child" standard. Of special use to the practitioner, the appendix contains sample letters and statements of understanding, all with permission to freely photocopy.

The overall messages here are ones worth repeating: Know the law, know the science, remain unbiased, and be humble. This updated reference book will be useful not only to child custody evaluators but also to attorneys and to students of forensic psychology.

For those of you interested in learning more, another good resource is Ackerman and Kane's Psychological Experts In Divorce Actions, which summarizes empirical data on child custody evaluation practices. It was published in 2005, but the publisher puts out annual supplements summarizing new research.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have for anyone doing CCE's, November 5, 2007

By 

Snipe (Idaho) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Art and Science of Child Custody Evaluations (Hardcover)

Martindale and Gould are well known leaders in this area, and anyone looking to go into custody evaluations would be well advised to follow Martindale and Gould. Anyone already doing them should follow these guidelines, too. After several years of doing CCE's, I am still learning and improving, and this book really helps.

This area is one that requires high expertise, high tolerance for conflict, and a hide made of Rhino skin. Still, many kids really need good services. By following this book's recommendations, you lessen the chance of being successfully grieved against.

3.0 out of 5 stars Ours never saw this book, December 28, 2011

By 

Jamie - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Art and Science of Child Custody Evaluations (Paperback)

I am pretty sure the evaluator in our child custody battle never saw this book, or had these high ideals. She came in with an attitude and a decision already set in stone. Every question was an attack fully weaponed by the children's mom. The evaluator would not look at the background check for wants and warrants the police department ran for me. The glance she gave the letters from my employer and long time friend were cursory. No help here.