Week 11 Discussion

Week 11 Discussion 2-Main Post

A legal issue that I have experienced is custody issues. I remember this has been a scary thing as a child. I remember the counselor being the mediator and the one that had to evaluate my nephew. I remember being evaluated also because I too was young at like 10-11 years old. My nephew was almost 2 years old. The counselor was there to provide the judge with a professional assessment and voice to say what is best for the child. I remember that the counselor went to evaluate each parents home and surroundings.

Another legal issue is child abuse. In the same custody battle with my nephew, there was also child abuse that he was enduring by the hands of his mother’s boyfriend. I remember going with my older sister to pick him up for a weekend visit and he had a bloody nose at 2 years old and his stomach was swollen. We found out that the boyfriend had been punching him to get back at his mother. He had to be evaluated by a counselor and I remember talking with a counselor too because I was there when we picked him up and crying because my nephew looked hurt. The counselor has to report the abuse to CPS and then it is investigated. This is the only time when a counselor is allowed to break confidentiality because abuse is involved. The counselor can also be called to court to testify and in my nephew’s case she was called.

Reference

Gladding, S. T.  (2015). Family therapy: History, theory,  and practice. (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

             Chapter 6, “Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Family Therapy”