Ep 216: The Problem with Using Children as Evidence in Family Court

This week's episode comes from a question I was asked by a group of family law attorneys."What behaviors can we look for in a child that tell us coercive control or domestic violence is happening?"On the surface, it seems like a simple question. But the more I sat with it, the more I realized just how complicated, and potentially harmful, that question can become.As a child therapist, I absolutely believe we need to understand children's experiences. Their voices matter.But when our legal and child protection systems rely too heavily on children to provide the evidence, we can unintentionally place them in impossible loyalty binds, increase pressure on them, and even teach them that speaking up doesn't change anything.In this episode, I process these tensions out loud and share why I believe we need to think differently about assessing coercive control.We answer:Why is it so difficult to use children's behaviors as proof of coercive control or domestic violence?What should parents actually pay attention to when trying to understand their child's experience?How can we support our children without turning them into evidence in a family court case?If you've ever wondered why your child's behaviors seem confusing—or why professionals sometimes miss what's really happening—this conversation is for you.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