If this is your first time meeting a Clinical Psychologist, you may have some questions about working with this type of professional and what it entails. According to the American Psychological Association:
"Clinical psychology is the psychological specialty that provides continuing and comprehensive mental and behavioral health care for individuals and families; consultation to agencies and communities; training, education and supervision; and research-based practice. It is a specialty in breadth — one that is broadly inclusive of severe psychopathology — and marked by comprehensiveness and integration of knowledge and skill from a broad array of disciplines within and outside of psychology proper. The scope of clinical psychology encompasses all ages, multiple diversities and varied systems."
As Clinical Psychologists, our aim is to meet our clients where they're at and work together to achieve outcomes which will positively impact on our client's lives. When it comes to family law, our goal is to gain a greater understanding of the psychological functioning of the family unit in order to provide recommendations which we believe will lead to more adaptive functioning.
So what does this look like? Clinical Psychologists use a mix of clinical interview and relevant psychometrics (such as questionnaires) to learn more about our clients. We integrate the views of parents, children, and other relevant people (such as teachers) to come to a shared understanding of how the family is functioning. Based on that and our professional knowledge, we offer clinical opinions which inform decisions made to promote family wellbeing. Occasionally we may also be asked to provide therapeutic interventions either with parents (such as Parenting Plans) or through direct work with children who are struggling to cope with their parents' separation. The length of these interventions varies based on the needs of the child and identified aims of the therapy, but all of this is discussed and agreed at the start.
If you feel that working with ATA may be right for your family or someone you know, please arrange a call with us where we will be happy to discuss your questions/concerns further.