forensic services

A custody investigation is a structured, neutral evaluation conducted to assist the court in determining what arrangement best supports a child’s overall well-being. This process goes well beyond surface-level observations. It involves in-depth interviews with each parent, developmentally appropriate conversations with children, and a thorough review of relevant records such as medical, educational, and prior court documentation. When appropriate, collateral contacts are incorporated to provide additional context.

My approach focuses on identifying patterns rather than isolated incidents. This includes examining parenting capacity, communication styles, co-parenting dynamics, and how each parent supports or interferes with the child’s relationship with the other parent. Consideration is also given to risk factors such as domestic violence, substance use, or mental health concerns, alongside protective factors that contribute to stability and resilience.

Findings are organized into a clear, evidence-based report that aligns with statutory best interest factors. The goal is to provide the court with a balanced, defensible analysis that translates complex family dynamics into practical recommendations that can be implemented.

Parenting coordination is a court-involved service designed for families experiencing ongoing, high-conflict co-parenting issues. It is not therapy and it is not a custody evaluation. Instead, it operates as a structured, forward-focused process to help parents reduce conflict, improve communication, and consistently follow court orders.

In this role, I work with parents to address real-time disputes related to scheduling, decision-making, and day-to-day parenting issues. The focus is on problem-solving rather than revisiting past grievances. When authorized by the court, I may also make limited decisions within the scope of the parenting plan to prevent ongoing impasse.

This process is particularly effective in reducing the frequency and intensity of conflict that children are exposed to. It introduces accountability, structure, and consistency, which often leads to more stable routines for the child. The work remains neutral and child-centered, with clear boundaries around scope and authority.

A parenting assessment focuses on evaluating an individual parent’s capacity to meet the needs of their child across emotional, developmental, and practical domains. This includes assessing parenting style, judgment, insight, and the ability to provide a safe and stable environment.

The process involves direct interviews, behavioral observations when appropriate, and review of relevant history. Rather than relying on subjective impressions, the assessment emphasizes consistency between what is reported, what is observed, and what is documented in records.

The outcome is a nuanced understanding of strengths, limitations, and how those factors may affect a child over time. Recommendations are tailored and practical, often identifying specific areas where support or intervention may improve functioning. The goal is to provide information that is useful not only for the court, but for long-term family stability.

Formerly known as Domestic Violence (DV) assessments, IPV assessments are comprehensive, trauma-informed evaluations that explore the full scope of relationship dynamics. Each assessment examines the presence of control, intimidation, fear, and coercive behavior within the relationship, as well as the context and motivation behind acts of conflict or aggression. Each assessment integrates clinical interviewing, collateral review, and careful behavioral analysis to differentiate between defensive responses, situational conflict, and ongoing patterns of abuse or domination.

The assessment process is designed to identify both risk and accountability, helping courts, attorneys, and families understand not just what happened, but why and how it happened. Reports are written with clarity, neutrality, and attention to detail, translating complex interpersonal dynamics into findings that can meaningfully inform legal and therapeutic decisions.

Expert witness work involves more than offering an opinion. It requires the ability to take complex clinical data, forensic findings, and family dynamics and translate them into clear, structured testimony that holds up under legal scrutiny. This service is designed for attorneys and courts who need well-reasoned, evidence-based opinions that are both clinically sound and legally relevant.

In this role, I provide independent analysis grounded in forensic social work principles, with experience in high-conflict custody matters, domestic violence dynamics, and complex family systems. My approach is methodical and transparent. Every opinion is tied directly to data sources such as interviews, records, collateral information, and established professional guidelines. This allows my findings to remain consistent, defensible, and easy to follow, even in highly contested cases.

Testimony is delivered in a way that is accessible without losing clinical integrity. Judges and attorneys are often working with dense, emotionally charged information. My role is to clarify, not complicate. That includes explaining concepts like trauma responses, attachment patterns, resist-refuse dynamics, and credibility considerations in a way that supports informed decision-making.

I have experience testifying in Alaska’s court system and understand the expectations around neutrality, scope, and evidentiary standards. My role is not to advocate for either party, but to assist the court in understanding the clinical and relational factors that are often central to these cases. This balance between clinical depth and legal clarity is what allows expert testimony to be both credible and useful.

A parent-child contact risk assessment is used when there are concerns about whether contact between a parent and child is safe, and under what conditions it should occur. This is often relevant in cases involving allegations of abuse, domestic violence, substance use, or prolonged separation.

The evaluation focuses on identifying both risk factors and protective elements. This includes assessing the parent’s behavior, insight into concerns, responsiveness to the child’s needs, and the child’s emotional and physical safety. The child’s perspective is considered in a developmentally appropriate way, without placing them in a decision-making role.

Recommendations are specific and structured. They may include supervised contact, therapeutic intervention, graduated increases in contact, or other safeguards designed to support safe and appropriate relationships. The goal is to move beyond uncertainty and provide a clear framework for contact that prioritizes the child’s well-being.

Child and family assessments provide a broader evaluation of overall family functioning. These are often used when there are concerns about communication, emotional regulation, or relational dynamics that are impacting a child, but where a full custody investigation may not be necessary.

This process looks at how family members interact, how conflict is managed, and how the child’s needs are being understood and addressed within the system. It allows for identification of patterns such as enmeshment, disengagement, or misalignment in parenting approaches.

The outcome is both descriptive and practical. In addition to outlining observed dynamics, the assessment includes recommendations that can guide intervention, whether through therapy, parenting support, or adjustments to routines and expectations. It provides a roadmap for improving functioning while maintaining a focus on the child’s developmental and emotional needs.