Child custody consultation.

Abstract

The limited influence of the needs of the child upon the decision-making process in child custody disputes is discussed, with particular attention to the consultant's role and unique aspects of this type of consultation. A case is described in which a multitude of consultants presented the court with a morass of parent-oriented conflicting testimony. It is concluded that clinicians can better serve children by seeking to consult not for one of the competing adult parties, but only for the court.