Mental Health Issues in Texas Divorce and Child Custody Cases

In this video podcast episode, Dallas area divorce attorney Mark L. Scroggins talks about mental health in child custody cases, where the mental health of the parents or children may be at issue. Is there a diagnosis? Is a psychological evaluation necessary? There are several issues Mark L. Scroggins talks about in this video podcast, including how therapists are used in child custody.

For assistance or more information, call Scroggins Law Group at (214) 469-3100. Offices in Frisco, Dallas, and Plano, Texas. Scroggins Law Group serves clients in Collin County, Dallas County, and Denton County, Texas.

More about this program:

It is common to have mental health issues in child custody cases. There are mental health professionals who may become involved when either the mental health of the parents or children are at issue in the case. In this Scroggins Law Group video podcast, Mark L. Scroggins talks about how mental health professionals, often therapists, are used in child custody cases. Among the important issues in a child custody case, are whether a parent or child has an existing mental health diagnosis and whether it makes sense to ask for the court to order a psychological evaluation of a parent or child when there are mental health issues in child custody cases.

Mental Health of Parents in Child Custody:

Mark leads the discussion with his thoughts about how the Internet has a tool that has become a blessing and a curse. People going through a divorce may be reviewing articles online that give them ideas about the mental condition of their spouse. For example, Mark talks about people self-diagnosing their spouse as a narcissist, or as being borderline or having another type of personality disorder. Mark reminds us that these are very specific diagnoses and are serious, only to be diagnosed by a licensed mental health professional.

With so many ads on television for the treatment of diagnosed mental health conditions, it is too easy for any layperson to make assumptions about the mental health of the other. Depression is another common problem that when untreated can be very dangerous and become a mental health issue in child custody.

Mark stresses that there is a very big difference between assuming a person has mental health issues and an actual diagnosis of a specific mental health condition, and whether the person is currently being treated for a diagnosed condition. If diagnosed and untreated, there can be a danger to a child.

If someone is being treated, there is no reason a parent might not be able to have the parent and child relationship anyone else would have. Mental health issues in child custody require that both parents play an active role in supporting the best interests of a child.

The next step is talking to your lawyer about whether a psychological evaluation needs to be done on the other party. Mark stresses caution, because if you request a psychological evaluation on the other parent, then there is a good chance they will request a psychological evaluation be ordered on you as well.

Who are the Mental Health Professionals Involved in Child Custody?

Depending on what is going on, you might need to request a psychiatric evaluation, much like a psychological evaluation. Mark notes that a psychiatrist can prescribe medications to treat diagnosed conditions while a psychologist uses talk therapy to work with their patients. He notes that while some people can be treated by their family physician, Mark recommends people work with a psychiatrist specialized in the treatment and care of mental health issues.

Mental Health of Children in Child Custody

Just as parents could need to undergo a psychological or psychiatric evaluation, the same may apply to the kids in a child custody case. With children’s mental health concerns, much of the information involves mental health on a spectrum. Many find the treatment of kids’ mental health more complex than in previous decades. They might need medication; they might need to participate in talk therapy. Additionally, a diagnosis today does not indicate a permanent condition in many cases. With psychological and psychiatric attention, many children's’ mental health issues are manageable.

Call Mark L. Scroggins (214) 469-3100 Scroggins Law Group: Frisco, Dallas & Plano Mark is Board-Certified in Family Law

Видео Mental Health Issues in Texas Divorce and Child Custody Cases канала Scroggins Law Group, PLLC