Parenting Plan Evaluations

Jonathan W. Gould, PhD, is a board-certified forensic psychologist specializing in psychological aspects of family law matters, including child custody and child maltreatment. He has authored or coauthored seven books and several dozen peer-reviewed articles and book chapters addressing child custody matters. He has presented at national and international conferences to mental health professionals, attorneys, and judges for more than three decades. This book represents an update and conceptual extension of his previous books, Conducting Scientifically Crafted Child Custody Evaluations and The Art and Science of Child Custody Evaluations (with David Martindale). Christopher M. Mulchay, PhD, ABPP, is the coauthor of The Family Law Professional's Field Guide to High-Conflict Litigation: Dynamics, Not Diagnoses. With Jonathan Gould, Dr. Mulchay has coauthored chapters on child custody in both The Oxford Handbook of Psychology and Law (2023) and APA Handbook of Forensic Psychology (2025). Dr. Mulchay has also reviewed tests for the Journal of Pediatric Neuropsychology. He has published four test reviews, and he has multiple currently under review. Dr. Mulchay is board-certified in forensic psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology. He is a fellow in the American Academy of Forensic Psychologists.

"There is really nothing like this book. What makes it especially strong is the clear and detailed background and rationales explaining why each component of a custody evaluation might be necessary and how an evaluator might make appropriate decisions about what to include in their evaluations. The breadth and depth of coverage make this book the definitive handbook for custody evaluators. It is exceptionally well referenced and will equip evaluators with the skills and information necessary to answer challenging questions, including those from hostile lawyers dissatisfied with the recommendations offered." - Michael E. Lamb, PhD, Department of Psychology, Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England"Parenting Plan Evaluations: An Evidence-Informed Approach to Child Custody offers a sophisticated and comprehensive guide to one of the most challenging areas of family law. Grounded in the scientific process, it blends dimensional and categorical analyses with an ecological perspective. Jon Gould and Chris Mulchay have taken their guidance to the next level with new insights, data-gathering tools, and research for conducting one of family court's toughest jobs. For mental health professionals, attorneys, judges, or anyone working in the family court system, this is essential reading if you want to stay current and make decisions in the best interest of children." - Robin M. Deutsch, PhD, ABPP, independent practice, Newton, MA, United States"Like Gutenberg's printing press, Edison's light bulb, and Jobs's personal computer, this magnificent volume is a game changer. Gould and Mulchay have performed a feat of alchemy: They have taken a million disparate concepts, practices, and cases and produced intellectual gold. Don't let the page count sway you. This volume distills many thousands of pages' worth of insight, concepts, and hands-on practical direction. If you read or rely on one published work in family law, this must be it. Thank you, Jon and Chris, for helping us to better help children." - Benjamin D. Garber, PhD, Family Law Consulting, PLLC, Hollis, NH, United States; DEFUSEdivorce.com

• Introduction: The Forensic ExplorerPart I. Conceptual Foundation for an Evidence-Informed Approach to Parenting Plan EvaluationChapter 1. Daubert and the Changing Nature of Parenting Plan Evaluations: From Clinical to ForensicChapter 2. Current Expectations and Criticisms of Parenting Plan EvaluationsChapter 3. Common Errors in Child Custody EvaluationsChapter 4. The Role of Clinical Judgment in the Time of DaubertPart II. Using Scientific Knowledge and ProcessChapter 5. What Qualifies as Scientific Evidence in Parenting Plan Evaluations?Chapter 6. Applying General Scientific Findings to Individual Cases: The G2i ChallengePart III. Mitigating Bias in Your EvaluationChapter 7. The Role of Bias in Data Collection, Data Integration, and Opinion FormationChapter 8. Sociocultural Identities and Systemic InequitiesChapter 9. Gender Identity and Sexual OrientationPart IV. Data Collection and IntegrationChapter 10. Using Story Development Principles to Guide Data Collection and IntegrationChapter 11. Procedural Variables in Forensic InterviewingChapter 12. What to Ask About in Forensic InterviewsChapter 13. Special Considerations for Interviewing Young ChildrenChapter 14. Parent-Child ObservationChapter 15. Usefulness and Limitations of Psychological Testing and AssessmentChapter 16. Selecting and Using Psychological TestsChapter 17. The Shift from Categorical to Dimensional Diagnostic ModelsChapter 18. Collateral Interviews and Record ReviewPart V. Common Issues in Parenting Plan EvaluationChapter 19. Early Conceptualizations of Parent-Child Contact ProblemsChapter 20. Modern Conceptualizations of Parent-Child Contact ProblemsChapter 21. Evolving Conceptualizations of Domestic ViolenceChapter 22. Tools to Assess for Domestic ViolenceChapter 23. Forensic Assessment of Parental Requests to RelocateEpilogue: The Integration of Judgment, Data, and Science in Custody EvaluationReferences