When a child custody case or divorce dispute involves allegations of abuse, New Jersey’s family law courts may decide to bring in therapists or other professionals to provide counseling or expert testimony. It is often necessary to do this in order to prove or disprove accusations, as well as ensure that the safety and rights of those involved are protected.

Unfortunately, if these cases are not handled very carefully and if the professionals who are involved are biased it can jeopardize the entire dispute. A child custody case in Highland Park, New Jersey, recently resulted in a psychologist losing her license after she allegedly engaged in malpractice in the case.

This psychologist was frequently tapped as an expert for criminal child abuse cases in New Jersey, and the case in question was a 2003 divorce that involved allegations by the wife that her husband had sexually abused their daughter.

The psychologist allegedly manipulated her therapy sessions with a 3-year-old girl to cull suggestions from her that confirmed the mother’s suspicions of sexual abuse. Videotapes of weekly interviews show the psychologist bribing the child with toys to admit the abuse.

An administrative judge has found that not only did the psychologist misuse her influence in the case, but she also inflicted confusion on the young child that would have interfered with any potential future police or child protective services investigation.

The psychologist has denied the accusations but her license has now been revoked by the New Jersey Board of Psychological Examiners on the recommendation of an administrative law judge.

This case illustrates how important it is to handle allegations of abuse delicately. It is necessary, of course, to ensure victims are protected, but it is also imperative that when false accusations do exist it is possible to uncover them.

Source: NJ.com, “N.J. board revokes license of psychologist accused of manipulating interviews with child,” Tom Haydon, Nov. 21, 2012