Conducting family evaluations for courts, attorneys, and litigants in child custody disputes can become a rewarding frontier of private practice in psychology. However, it is a specialty with many pitfalls and risks of error, malpractice, and professional burnout for practitioners who are not adequately prepared to deal with the technical and experiential requirements of this challenging work.

A national pioneer in this exacting field, Professor Benjamin is the founding director of the Parenting Evaluation Treatment Program at the University of Washington School of Law. He has conducted and supervised more than 600 family evaluations, performed by non-lawyer psychologists and psychiatrists, without incurring a single ethical complaint.

Professor Benjamins workshop gives point-by-point practical guidance that shows psychologists how to get started and to refine their skills in this productive and expanding field.

1. Learn requirements and skills for conducting court-directed family evaluations.
2. Develop new revenue streams for professional practice outside the health care system.
3. Learn how the new mandated APA ethics requirements for continuing education affect this area of practice.
4. Protect the best interests of vulnerable children enmeshed in high-conflict marital litigation.

Benjamin, G.A.H., & Gollan, J.K. (2003). Family Evaluation in Custody Litigation: Reducing Risks of Ethical Infractions and Malpractice. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.

Questions concerning multicultural and ethnic issues will be addressed directly.

The exceptional features of Andy Benjamin's career are the breadth of his professional activities and the strength of his commitment to combining the best resources of psychology and law for the benefit of children and adults enmeshed in severe family conflicts.

While working with families engaged in high-conflict litigation, he was named Professional of the Year by the Washington State Bar Association's Family Law Section. He was elected to serve as president of the Washington State Psychological Association, and later his colleagues created an award in his name for outstanding and tireless contributions. He was honored by the Puyallup [American Indian] Nations Health Authority for serving as a modern day warrior fighting the mental illnesses, drug-alcohol addictions of the people served by the nations program.

Andy has published 36 articles in psychology, law, and psychiatry journals, and he is the principal author of Family Evaluation in Custody Litigation: Reducing Risks of Ethical Infractions and Malpractice and author of Law and Mental Health Professionals: Washington, both published by the APA. In addition, he is active in the governance of APA.

Andy earned his J.D. and Ph.D. degrees at the University of Arizona in 1984 and 1985. He has served on the University of Washington School of Law faculty as assistant professor, associate professor, and professor since 1985. He has also served on the University of Washington School of Medicine faculty in various capacities.

Andy lives in Seattle with his wife and two children. His hobbies include extensive family travel and and watching his son's and daughters soccer teams. He was an active soccer coach until last year and happily reports that both kids teams exceeded his skills by the time team members were 12 years of age.

1. Dr. Todd Kettner, Ph.D., British Columbia Psychological Association Continuing Educations Coordinator; 806 Vernon Street, Nelson, BC V1L 4G5; T: 250-352-6600; F: 250-352-6648; E-mail: todd@mindyoursoul.cc; Web: http://www.mindyoursoul.cc.

2. Annette T. Burns, J. D., President, Arizona Association of Family Court and Community Professionals. Contact addresses upon request.