Child Custody Policy

* No Custody or Court Involvement *

It is important that you understand the policies and procedures regarding the treatment of minors whose parents may be engaged in, or may in the future engage in, custody or other legal actions against a parent or other family member, so that you can make an informed decision about receiving or continuing to receive services from Ascend Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Services. My role is to provide psychiatric services so that your child may feel better and/or improve functioning. My role is not intended to gather information for the courts or to make judgments related to your family.

Therefore, if you/your child begins work with Ascend Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Services, you agree that you will not call upon this practice to ever provide treatment records or to testify in a future divorce or custody action. The courts can appoint, or private individuals may employ, professionals who have had no prior contact with your family to conduct independent evaluations and make recommendations to the court. Ascend Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Service’s policy is to have no court involvement as this could compromise the therapeutic relationship with your child and, therefore, negatively impact treatment outcomes. Both parents of the child must express understanding of and agree to engage in treatment with me only under these conditions. By signing the office policy treatment agreement, you are agreeing for both parents to not ever involve Ascend Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Services in any type of custody proceeding. Forensic psychiatry is not an area of expertise of this practice, but I would be happy to facilitate referrals to experts in this important field.