When a judge, guardian ad litem, or attorney says your family needs therapy, the next step can feel stressful and unclear. I provide structured, goal-focused therapy for parents and families involved with the family court system, whether the therapy is ordered or recommended. My aim is the same as yours: less conflict, steadier communication, and children who feel safer between two homes.
Three Ways I Work With Court-Involved Families
Court-involved therapy is not one-size-fits-all. I offer three distinct services, and part of our first conversation is making sure the service matches what your court order or recommendation actually requires.
Co-Parenting Therapy
For two parents who have been ordered or advised to work together on how they parent across two households. This is not couples therapy and is not about repairing the relationship; it is about building a workable parenting partnership.
- Reducing conflict and keeping children out of the middle
- Communication rules, tools, and boundaries
- Handling transitions, schedules, and decisions
- Problem-solving disagreements before they escalate
Hoped-for outcomes
Parents leave with a shared communication system they can actually use, whether that means brief, business-like messages or more cooperative planning. Arguments over exchanges, schedules, and expenses become less frequent and less intense. Most importantly, children stop carrying messages or feeling caught between homes. Parents don’t need to become friends; they need to be able to make decisions together without re-litigating the past every time.
Parent–Child Therapy
For a parent ordered or recommended to attend therapy together with one or more of their children. I provide this service only when every child participating is 13 or older, an age when teens can engage meaningfully in the work and speak for themselves.
- Rebuilding trust and everyday connection
- Improving communication and repairing ruptures
- Helping teens voice their experience safely
- Practical routines that support the relationship
Hoped-for outcomes
The goal is a relationship that feels safer and more predictable to both parent and teen. Teens feel heard instead of pressured, and parents learn to listen without becoming defensive. Over time, visits and conversations become less tense, old hurts are acknowledged rather than avoided, and the two of you build shared routines and positive moments that make time together something to look forward to, not just something to get through.
Individual Therapy or Coaching for a Parent
For a parent ordered or recommended to engage in their own therapy or parenting-focused coaching. Depending on your goals and the order’s language, this may be clinical therapy or a more skills-based coaching format.
- Managing stress, anger, and reactivity
- Parenting skills and age-appropriate expectations
- Navigating the emotional toll of separation and litigation
- Clear, measurable goals you can demonstrate progress on
Hoped-for outcomes
You develop practical, lasting skills for staying calm under pressure, responding to your children thoughtfully, and handling conflict with the other parent without escalating. You gain insight into the patterns that led to the court’s concern and concrete evidence of change. Many parents also find that this work reduces their own stress and helps them feel more confident and grounded as a parent, well beyond what the court asked for.
Clinical Techniques and Methods
My practice is integrative, meaning I draw from several evidence-based approaches and tailor the combination to your family and to what the court is asking for. Court-involved families often arrive with high stress and little trust, so the work starts with structure and safety before moving into deeper change. You can read more about my overall therapy approach and the types of therapy I use.
Structured, Solution-Focused Sessions
Each session has a clear agenda and stays focused on present and future problems rather than relitigating the past. This keeps high-conflict conversations productive and makes progress visible to everyone involved.
Cognitive-Behavioral and Third-Wave Approaches
Techniques from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) help parents notice their triggers, step back from reactive thoughts, and respond in line with the parent they want to be.
Communication and Conflict-Resolution Skills
Parents practice concrete tools such as brief, neutral written communication, structured problem-solving, active listening, and agreed ground rules for exchanges. For co-parents in high conflict, we may start with a more parallel parenting structure and build toward cooperation over time.
Emotion Regulation and Nervous-System Awareness
Mindfulness-based and Polyvagal Theory-informed strategies help parents and teens recognize when they’re becoming overwhelmed and calm themselves before conversations escalate. These skills are especially useful during handoffs and difficult conversations.
Relationship Repair for Parents and Teens
In parent–teen sessions, we use guided conversations to acknowledge past hurts, rebuild trust in small, consistent steps, and create positive shared experiences. Teens are given room to speak for themselves while the parent practices listening without correcting or defending.
Measurable Goals and Progress Tracking
We set specific goals at the start and check progress regularly using practical measures. This gives you clear evidence of change and, with your written authorization, allows me to describe progress accurately if the court requests it.
Important Things to Know Before We Begin
Court-related time is billed separately and paid by you
Anything the court process requires beyond our sessions is professional time, and it is billed at my hourly rate. That includes written reports or letters, attendance or progress summaries, phone calls and emails with attorneys, guardians ad litem, or the court, record review, preparation time, and any court appearances, depositions, or testimony, including travel and waiting time. These services are not covered by health insurance. A retainer may be required before court-related work begins, and I will review all fees with you in writing before we start.
Both parents must consent to any work involving the children
I require written permission from both parents before any session in which a child is present, regardless of which parent schedules or pays for the work. I will also ask for a copy of the current custody order or parenting plan so that our work stays consistent with it. This protects your children, keeps the process transparent, and prevents therapy from becoming another point of conflict.
My role is therapist, not custody evaluator
As your treating psychologist, I can confirm attendance and describe participation and progress toward treatment goals when you authorize it in writing. I do not make custody or parenting-time recommendations, and I do not offer opinions about which parent is the better parent. Professional ethics standards keep those roles separate so that therapy remains a place where real change can happen. If your case needs a custody evaluation, that is a different service from a different, neutral professional.
How It Works
- Free phone consultation. We talk through the court’s order or recommendation, which service fits, and whether I’m the right match for your family.
- Documents and consent. I’ll ask for the relevant court order or recommendation, signed releases for anyone I may need to communicate with, both parents’ consent where children are involved, and a signed fee agreement.
- Clear goals. In our first sessions we set specific, measurable goals tied to what the court is looking for and what your family actually needs. You can read more about how I build individualized treatment plans.
- Ongoing sessions. We meet regularly, in person in Westwood, MA or Lee, NH, or virtually where appropriate.
- Court communication as authorized. When a report, letter, or appearance is needed, it is handled within the limits of your written authorization and billed as described above.
If your family is not court-involved and you’re simply looking for support, you may find my general family therapy page or individual therapy page a better starting point. You can also explore the types of therapy I offer or learn more about my background.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you accept court-ordered therapy clients?
Yes. I work with parents and families who have been ordered or recommended to attend therapy by a family court judge, guardian ad litem, attorney, or probation officer. I offer co-parenting therapy for two parents, parent–child therapy when the children are 13 or older, and individual therapy or coaching for one parent. During a free consultation, we review the language of the order or recommendation together to make sure the service I provide actually satisfies what is being asked of you.
What is the difference between court-ordered and court-recommended therapy?
Court-ordered therapy is a requirement included in a judgment, temporary order, or agreement adopted by the court, and not following it can have legal consequences. Court-recommended therapy is suggested by a judge, guardian ad litem, or evaluator but is not formally mandated. In practice, recommended therapy often carries real weight in later decisions. I approach both the same way clinically, though ordered therapy more often involves reports or other communication with the court.
Who pays for reports, letters, and court appearances?
You do. Any time the court process requires beyond our sessions is billed at my hourly rate. This includes reports, letters, attendance summaries, calls and emails with attorneys or guardians ad litem, record review, preparation, and court appearances or testimony, including travel and waiting time. These services are not covered by health insurance. A retainer may be required, and I review all fees with you in writing before any court-related work begins, so there are no surprises.
Why do you need both parents’ permission to work with the children?
Requiring written consent from both parents for any session where a child is present protects the children and keeps the process transparent. In high-conflict separations, therapy that one parent didn’t agree to can quickly become another source of conflict, or even a legal dispute of its own. I also request the current custody order or parenting plan so our work stays consistent with it. This requirement applies regardless of which parent schedules or pays for sessions.
Why do you only see children who are 13 or older?
Parent–child therapy in a court-involved context asks a lot of a child. Teens 13 and older can typically reflect on their own experiences, express their perspective, and participate actively in repairing relationships. My approach is built around that kind of engagement. For younger children, a clinician who specializes in early childhood and play-based family work is usually a better fit, and I’m glad to help you find a referral.
Will you recommend custody arrangements or testify about which parent is better?
No. As your treating psychologist, my role is to help your family change, not to evaluate it for the court. With your written authorization, I can confirm attendance and describe participation and progress toward treatment goals. I do not make custody or parenting-time recommendations or compare parents. Professional ethics standards keep therapy and custody evaluation separate, and that separation is what allows people to be honest and make real progress in therapy.
Is court-involved therapy confidential?
Partially. Therapy is still confidential in most respects, but court-involved work has important limits that we review at the start. When the court expects confirmation of attendance or progress, you’ll sign releases that specify exactly what I can share and with whom. I share only what your authorization covers, and standard exceptions such as mandated reporting of child safety concerns still apply. Knowing the boundaries upfront helps everyone participate with confidence.
Can court-ordered therapy be done online?
Often, yes. I see clients in person in Westwood, MA and Lee, NH, and virtually in the states where I’m licensed or authorized to practice through PSYPACT. Whether virtual sessions satisfy a particular order depends on its wording and sometimes on the judge’s preferences, so it’s worth confirming with your attorney. Co-parenting sessions often work well virtually because each parent can join from their own location.
Let’s Talk About What Your Family Needs
Schedule a free phone consultation. Have your court order or recommendation handy, and we’ll figure out together whether I’m the right fit.
Schedule a Free ConsultationI am not an attorney and cannot provide legal advice. Please consult your attorney about the requirements of your specific court order.
