Ep 202: Inside Family Court: What Domestic Violence Assessments Actually Do with Lisa Fontes

What actually happens in a domestic violence assessment? And how do you know if you even need one?In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Lisa Fontes, an expert in coercive control and domestic violence assessments, to talk about something many survivors are navigating but don’t fully understand — how these evaluations and expert witnesses show up in family court.If you’ve ever been told to “get an expert” or wondered if that would help your case, this conversation will give you a clearer picture of what that actually means and when it might (and might not) be helpful.We also talk about the reality that many survivors face in family court — where experiences like coercive control, sexual coercion, and post-separation abuse are often misunderstood, minimized, or not given the weight they deserve.Inside this episode, we talk about:• What a domestic violence or coercive control assessment actually looks like • The difference between an expert witness and a subject matter expert • When an expert can be helpful in family court — and when they may not be necessary • Why self-report assessments can be unreliable in abuse cases • How coercive control and sexual abuse often go unrecognized in legal settings • What “manufactured” claims and “provoke and record” tactics can look like • The misuse of the term “parental alienation” and how it shows up in court • Why post-separation abuse is often missed — and why that matters • How to evaluate whether an expert witness is actually qualified • The growing trend of survivors pursuing civil cases for damagesThis episode is especially relevant if you are navigating family court, dealing with custody issues, or trying to figure out how to advocate for yourself in systems that may not fully understand abuse.Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.If you want to chat more about this topic, I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpcIf you want to support the show, you may do so here at Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.htmlIf you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7Where to find more from Rising Beyond:Rising Beyond FacebookRising Beyond LinkedInRising Beyond Pinterest