| Abstract: | Before a Children's Court decision is reached, a clinical assessment may be ordered by the court. This assessment often occurs when tension is high for the family and when well-established defenses may falter, and it can provide a prime, critical opportunity to facilitate positive change. Comprehensive psychological assessment at the Children's Court Clinic in Melbourne, Australia, indicates the intervention value of a serious attempt to understand the complexity of the psychological issues facing a child and family. With the aid of illustrative case studies, this article discusses the therapeutic aspects and implications of such assessment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
