Frequency of child custody evaluation complaints and related disciplinary action: A survey of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards.

Psychologists who conduct child custody evaluations take their practices into a most challenging and stressful area. This study surveyed the 61 member boards of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) about number and category of child custody complaints in the last decade, number of findings against psychologists, and related disciplinary action. Results reveal that psychologists who accept work in this area are extremely likely to also encounter the anguish of defending a related licensure board complaint at some point. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ethical and professional considerations in divorce and child custody cases.

The provision of psychological (e.g., psychotherapy, coparenting, mediation, collaborative divorce, child custody evaluation) services for families of divorce are growing specialties for many clinical and forensic psychologists. However, practice in domestic relations psychology, such as divorce and custody assessment and testimony, is a high-risk venture for incurring ethics complaints and law suits. The lead article and the three commentaries that follow enumerate the various roles practitioners might play, clarify how each role requires specific skill sets that may be outside one’s particular competence and necessitate additional training, describe how countertransferential issues arise, urge meticulous record keeping, discuss some of the subtleties of confidentiality and the releasing of information, describe how transparency in clarifying expectations leads to a lowering of contentiousness, and provide tips for divorce and forensic practice. The special challenges associated with psychologists being tempted to move beyond their role on a case and those of particularly high-risk situations (e.g., complaints of child abuse or domestic violence) are also discussed. Suggestions are offered to help psychologists better serve the public while taking steps to better inoculate themselves from complaints. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ethics education and adjudication within psychology.

Provides an overview of the formal ethics system within psychology. The structure of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the state ethics systems, the functions of the APA Committee on Scientific and Professional Ethics and Conduct, and the process for handling complaints, from initial inquiry to final adjudication (and appeal, if any), are described. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Report to the Ethics Committee, 1994.

Reports the number and types of complaints investigated by the Ethics Committee of the American Psychological Association (APA) for 1994. The most significant activity was the approval of a revision of APA Bylaws related to ethics. Topics discussed include Ethics Committee membership, Ad Hoc Policy and Education Committee activities, Ethics office staff, Ethics case data, and examples of specific complaints. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Report of the Ethics Committee, 2007.

In accordance with the bylaws of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Ethics Committee reports regularly to the membership regarding the number and types of ethics complaints investigated and the major programs undertaken. In 2007, ethics adjudication, ethics education and consultation, and special projects were activities of the Ethics Committee. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Report of the Ethics Committee, 2008.

In accordance with the bylaws of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Ethics Committee reports regularly to the membership regarding the number and types of ethics complaints investigated and the major programs undertaken. In 2008, ethics adjudication, ethics education and consultation, and special projects were activities of the Ethics Committee. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Licensing Board Complaints: Minimizing the Impact on the Psychologist's Defense and Clinical Practice.

Most psychologists who face board complaints experience significant personal and professional distress. As a result, they become vulnerable to cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses that may compromise their clinical work as well as their ability to defend themselves. Awareness of some of the most common sources of distress associated with complaints can allow psychologists to take steps to minimize, if not obviate, problematic countertransference, impaired objectivity, and self-defeating responses throughout and beyond the complaint investigation and adjudication process. Further, awareness of these pitfalls can inform the work of the supervisors, consultants, and psychotherapists who assist psychologists facing ethics complaints. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Report of the Ethics Committee, 2005.

In accordance with the bylaws of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Ethics Committee reports regularly to the membership regarding the number and types of ethics complaints investigated and the major programs undertaken. In 2005, ethics adjudication, ethics education and consultation, and special projects were the primary activities of the Ethics Committee. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Report of the Ethics Committee, 2004.

In accordance with the bylaws of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Ethics Committee reports regularly to the membership regarding the number and types of ethics complaints investigated. In addition to processing ethics cases, significant activities in 2004 involved further development of the ethics education and consultation programs. Some topics discussed in this report include ethics education and consultation; publications; office staff; case data; policy statements; and so forth. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Report of the ethics committee, 2009.

In accordance with the bylaws of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Ethics Committee reports regularly to the membership regarding the number and types of ethics complaints investigated and the major programs undertaken. This article is a summary of the talks and workshops of 2009, ethics adjudication, ethics education and consultation, and special projects among the activities of the Ethics Committee. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Child custody mediation and litigation: Custody, contact, and coparenting 12 years after initial dispute resolution.

Long-term follow-up data were obtained on families who had been randomly assigned to mediate or litigate their child custody disputes. In comparison with families who litigated custody, nonresidential parents who mediated were more involved in multiple areas of their children's lives, maintained more contact with their children, and had a greater influence in coparenting 12 years after the resolution of their custody disputes. The increased involvement of nonresidential parents who mediated did not lead to an associated increase in coparenting conflict. Parents who mediated also made more changes in their children's living arrangements over the years. For the most part, the changes apparently reflect increased cooperation and flexibility. Satisfaction declined for parents (especially fathers) in both groups over time, but fathers remained much more satisfied if they mediated rather than litigated custody. Few differences in satisfaction were found between mothers in the 2 groups. The 12-year follow-up data indicate that, even in contested cases, mediation encourages both parents to remain involved in their children's lives after divorce without increasing coparenting conflict. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Report of the Ethics Committee, 2003.

Presents the report of the 2003 Ethics Committee of the American Psychological Association. The Ethics Committee reports regularly to the membership regarding the number and types of ethics complaints investigated. In addition to processing ethics cases, significant activities in 2003 involved implementation of the "Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct" and further development of the ethics educative program. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social/romantic relationships with present and former clients: State licensing board actions.

In this study we expanded, updated, and refined a previous survey of state association ethics committees and state boards regarding the disposition of cases involving allegations of sexual impropriety. Findings revealed a dramatic increase in the number of complaints filed against psychologists for sexual impropriety. Also, all psychologists who acknowledged sexual contact with clients were found to be in violation, regardless of the amount of time that may have elapsed after termination. Last, we found evidence of complaints of sexual impropriety in nontherapeutic professional relationships, as well as violations of nonsexual dual relations. The implications of the findings are discussed, and recommendations for practitioners and the profession are made. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Some ethical and legal features of child custody disputes: A case illustration and applications.

Explores the complex ethical and legal problems that can attend being an expert witness in a child custody dispute and mitigates some of the antagonism and anxiety in the field so that psychologists without specialized training can adapt more effectively to the child custody arena. A case example illustrates applications of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists by the American Psychological Association (1992) to an otherwise routine case (child acts out in response to parents' marital difficulties) that was complicated by a subsequent child custody dispute. Psychologists should note the differences between legal and clinical methods and goals and be aware of the numerous broad issues they confront in the custody arena. Their proper role is that of a consultant-expert, who assists the trial judge by careful psychological observation, factual reporting, and reasoned inferences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gender-related ethical dilemmas and ethics education.

After a summary of the current approaches to the ethics education offered in psychology training programs, various assessment techniques and results are presented. On the basis of the summary of the usefulness of such ethics education, three fictional ethical dilemmas involving sexual intimacy with a client, a dual relationship with a graduate student, and a biased child custody evaluation are examined from the perspective of gender. For each situation, possible ethical, unethical, and poor judgment responses are given. Suggestions are given on ways to educate or sensitize graduate students so that they will be prepared to recognize the dilemmas and face the issues involved. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The real numbers: Psychological testing in custody evaluations.

A reanalysis of M. J. Ackerman and M. C. Ackerman's (1997) figures on the frequency of use of psychological tests with adults and children in custody evaluations was undertaken. The analysis revealed that, contrary to widely held opinion, nothing approaching a standard of practice for test use in custody evaluations exists other than an estimated 84% frequency of use of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory in the assessment of adults. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychologists' current practices and procedures in child custody evaluations: Five years after American Psychological Association guidelines.

What is the current state of professional practice among child custody evaluators, and how congruent is current practice with the 1994 American Psychological Association (APA) "Guidelines for Child Custody Evaluations in Divorce Proceedings" (APA Guidelines; APA, 1994)? A national survey of 198 psychologists revealed a high degree of training and experience among respondents and an increased understanding of procedural issues. Evaluators reported using multiple sources of data collection, critical decision-making skills, and knowledge of ethical, legal, and risk management issues. Overall, child custody evaluations appear to have become more sophisticated and comprehensive during the past 15 years, with current practices and procedures adhering to APA Guidelines. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reactions to child custody decisions involving homosexual and heterosexual parents.

Examined the effects of gender and sexual orientation of petitioning parents on attitudes about child custody decisions among 274 undergraduates who were either high or low in homophobia. In Phase 1, Ss completed the Heterosexual Attitudes Toward Homosexuals Scale and the Kinsey Heterosexual-Homosexual Rating Scale that were embedded in a general questionnaire on social attitudes. In Phase 2, the same Ss were asked to give their opinions about the outcome of contrived custody cases where the parent winning custody was homosexual or heterosexual. There was less support for a homosexual than a heterosexual parent. This was particularly noticeable for male Ss. Unexpectedly, mothers were not favored over fathers; instead, Ss favored parents of their own gender. Ss who scored low in homophobia reacted more favorably to a homosexual parent than a heterosexual parent, while the reverse was true for those scoring high in homophobia. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Child custody evaluations when one divorcing parent has a physical disability.

Objective: To explore how parents' physical disability status might impact the process of divorce-related child custody evaluations and custody decisions, the level of training received by psychologists regarding assessment of parents with physical disabilities, and whether psychologists recognize that testing persons with physical disabilities requires specialized knowledge. Study Design: Survey mailed in 4 waves. Participants: 206 child custody evaluators (31% response rate). Outcome Measures: A survey regarding custody evaluations, a custody questionnaire, evaluation practices, education and training regarding disability, demographics, and a question about the purpose of the study. Results: Almost 70% had performed ≥1 child custody evaluation involving a parent with a physical disability. Over 85% of participants reported no training with regard to such evaluations, and 49% reported no training regarding any disability issues. 65% stated they would use the same tests without modifications, regardless of disability status of the parent. Conclusions: Recommendations include mandated training on disability for child custody evaluators, graduate training on disability accommodations in assessment, specifying conditions when evaluating parents with disabilities, more information regarding accommodations in custody evaluations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Child custody evaluation practices: A survey of experienced professionals.

Investigated the activities, beliefs, and experiences of mental health professionals in 3 primary child custody areas: custody evaluation procedures, custodial decision making in joint and single-parent custody, and custodial recommendations. An extensive questionnaire was developed and mailed to 190 professionals (mean age 47.7 yrs) experienced in child custody evaluations. Results indicate that although Ss expressed a preference for impartiality, many continued to be retained by 1 parent only. This raises important ethical issues concerning the efficacy of certain evaluative roles in the pursuit of an optimal custodial recommendation. (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)