If they see the safety concerns, why can’t they tell the court?
In this episode, I pull back the curtain on the role of a treating therapist in cases involving coercive control, post-separation abuse, and family court. I explain why a child’s therapist must remain focused on the child, why a survivor’s therapist may be cautious about testifying, and how therapy records, diagnoses, and even honest testimony can sometimes be weaponized.
But staying within our clinical role does not mean therapists have to remain silent about the larger systems affecting our clients.
I also explore the ways mental health professionals can make an impact beyond the therapy room through continued education, collaboration, thoughtful documentation, professional training, public education, and advocacy.
We explore:
- Why treating therapists generally cannot make parenting-time or decision-making recommendations.
- Why testifying may not always help—and can sometimes create additional risks for clients.
- How therapists can protect a child’s privacy and the trust built in therapy.
- Why diagnoses, records, and disclosures may be weaponized in family court.
- The importance of collaboration among therapists, attorneys, evaluators, GALs, and other professionals.
- How clinicians can advocate for survivors and children without practicing outside their scope.
- Why therapists have a role in changing the systems that shape their clients’ safety and healing.
I would love to hear from both survivors and mental health professionals: What do you wish therapists could do in these cases? What has surprised you about their role? And where could therapists make the greatest impact beyond an individual case?
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