1

Oxford University Press

Evidence-Informed Interventions for Court-

Involved Families: Promoting Healthy Coping

and Development

Lyn R. Greenberg, Ph.D., ABPP

Forensic and Clinical Psychology

Board Certified, Couple and Family Psychology

11340 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 265

Los Angeles, CA 90064

Tel: (310) 399-3684

Fax: (310) 988-2706

lyn@lyngreenbergphd.com

www.lyngreenbergphd.com

Barbara J. Fidler, Ph.D., C.Psych., Acc.FM

Family Solutions

1709 Bathurst Street

Toronto, ON M5P 3K2

Tel: (416) 481-2046

Fax: (416) 481-5957

Email: drbarbarafidler@sympatico.ca

Michael A. Saini, Ph.D., M.S.W., R.S.W.

Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto

246 Bloor Street West

Toronto, ON, M5S 1A1

Tel: 416-946-50277 Fax: 905-836-9455

Email: michael.saini@utoronto.ca

2

Evidence-Informed Interventions for Court-Involved Families: Promoting Healthy Coping

and Development

Table of Contents

Part A – Integrating What We Know: Coping, Adjustment, and the Legal Context

Chapter 1: Shifting Our Perspective – Focusing on Coping and Adjustment

Author: Lyn R. Greenberg, Ph.D., ABPP

Chapter 2: The Role of the Courts in Supporting Therapeutic Interventions

Authors: Nicholas Bala, L.S.M, J.D., LL.M., & Hon. Marjorie A. Slabach (Ret.)

Part B – Therapeutic Approaches and Strategies

Chapter 3: Specialized Child and Family Interventions

Author: Jay Lebow, Ph.D., APBB

Chapter 4: Matching Parent Education Programs to Family Treatment Needs

Authors: John A. Moran, Ph.D., David Weinstock, J.D., Ph.D., and Kolette Butler, J.D.,

Psy.D.

Chapter 5: Parenting Coordination: Structures and Possibilities

Authors: Barbara J. Fidler, Ph.D., C.Psych., Acc.FM, & Lyn R. Greenberg, Ph.D., ABPP

Chapter 6: The Power of Group Dynamics: Strategies for Supporting Children and

Adolescents in Groups Post Separation and Divorce

Authors: Jeff Mintz, M.S.W., RSW, Michael Saini, Ph.D., M.S.W., R.S.W., & Shely Polak,

Ph.D., M.S.W., R.S.W., Acc.FM

Chapter 7: Understanding and Using Activities

Authors: David R. Austin, Ph.D., CTRS, and Lyn R. Greenberg, Ph.D., ABPP

3

Part C – Special Issues in Intervention with Children and Families

Chapter 8: Early intervention with Resistance Refusal Dynamics and Hybrid Cases

Authors: Lyn R. Greenberg, Ph.D., ABPP, Hon. Robert Schnider (Ret.), & Julie Jackson,

Director, Family Law Division, Legal Aid Western Australia

Chapter 9: “How am I supposed to treat these cases?” Working with families struggling

with entrenched parent-child contact problems: A hybrid case.

Authors: Barbara Fidler, Ph.D., C.Psych., Acc.FM, Robin Deutsch, Ph.D., ABPP, & Shely

Polak, Ph.D., M.S.W., RSW., Acc.FM

Chapter 10: Trauma and Child Custody Disputes: Screening, Assessment, and

Interventions

Authors: Leslie Drozd, Ph.D., Michael Saini, Ph.D., M.S.W., R.S.W., Kristina Vellucci-Cook,

Psy.D., M.F.T

Chapter 11: Bringing the Previously Absent Father into the Family

Authors: Kyle D. Pruett, M.D., Marsha Kline-Pruett, M.S., Ph.D., M.S.L., & Robin Deutsch,

Ph.D., ABPP

Chapter 12 – Treating Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence within the Context

of Child Custody Disputes

Authors: Michael Saini, Ph.D., M.S.W., R.S.W., Elisa Romano, Ph.D., C. Psych, Kelly

Weegar, Ph.D Student in Psychology, Sarah Zak , B.A. in Psychology , Elena Gallitto, Ph.D.

Student in Psychology

Chapter 13 – The Special Needs Child After Separation or Divorce: Involving Both Parents

in Treatment and Intervention Planning

Authors: Daniel B. Pickar, Ph.D., ABPP, and Robert L. Kaufman, Ph.D., ABPP

Part D – Best Practices and Future Directions

Chapter 14: Building and Managing Collaborative Teams

Author: Matthew J. Sullivan, Ph.D.

Chapter 15: Professional Ethics in a Legal Context

Authors: Paul C. Berman, Ph.D., & Katherine W. Killeen, Ph.D.

4

Chapter 16: Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions

Confirmed authors: Lyn R. Greenberg, Ph.D., ABPP, Barbara J. Fidler, Ph.D., C.Psych.,

Acc.FM, Michael Saini, Ph.D., M.S.W., R.S.W., Hon. Robert Schnider (Ret.), Ashley-Lauren

Reyes, M.A.

Levels of Stress, Potential Outcomes

Healthy

Moderate

SevereToxic

AvoidanceRegression

Mastery

Unhealthy StressResponses

Support Resolution Resilience

Long-term dysfunctionRisks to physical and

mental health

Interventions, Treatment, Recovery,

Resilience