CUSTODY EVALUATION BASICS
Parents & Colleagues,
As
prevalent as divorce is in our society, I have found that many
divorcing parents have incomplete and sometimes incorrect information
about the role of a forensic psychologist in divorce proceedings.
My hope is to remove any mystery regarding the role of an expert
custody evaluator and provide information that can be helpful
in stepping through the many psychological obstacles involved
in a divorce.
A
child custody evaluation is a court-ordered evaluation to assist
parents and the court in determining a parenting plan that addresses
the children's best interests. It can include many components
including interviews, psychological tests, interviews with relatives,
review of records, and of course a report that is submitted
to the court. There are many factors that can complicate custody
evaluations such as domestic violence, child abuse, substance
abuse, a parent’s mental illness, chronic fighting during
the divorce process, one parent wanting to move to a location
that is far away, and many more.
These
issues can make matters confusing and make determining the best
way to approach the issues quite challenging. In my role I can
help by providing attorneys and parents with specific, detailed,
research-driven information to help answer questions and offer
direction toward resolving the case. Depending on who has requested
my services, I can serve as a neutral custody evaluator, a divorce
coach for a parent, a mediator for both parents, or as a trial
consultant to review other custody evaluators’ work and
make specific recommendations for trial preparation for one
parent’s attorney. Regardless of my role, you can expect
a comprehensive and confidential consultation that is completed
expediently. I look forward to being of assistance at such a
trying time, and I will do my best to answer any questions you
may have.
Very truly yours,
Eric
Frazer, Psy.D.
Clinical
Forensic Psychologist
Assistant Clinical Professor, Yale University School of Medicine
PROFESSIONAL
BIOGRAPHY
Dr.
Eric Frazer is a clinical forensic psychologist with a private
practice in Connecticut. Dr. Frazer’s academic concentration
is in forensic psychology, which provided him specialized education,
training, and experience pertaining to the intersection of psychological
and legal matters. In preparation for his doctorate degree in
clinical psychology, Dr. Frazer conducted numerous evaluations
for courts and government agencies in Miami, Florida. Dr. Frazer
relocated to Connecticut and completed his graduate training
at Yale University School of Medicine, where he was appointed
for two years as a Psychology Fellow for his internship and
residency. Since then he has been actively involved in custody
related psychological evaluations, consultation, and expert
court testimony for attorneys in Boston and Connecticut. In
matters of high conflict, Dr. Frazer specializes as a reviewer
of child custody evaluations and has taken a leading role to
assist attorneys in preparing for depositions, hearings, cross-examination,
and other critical areas of trial preparation.
In
addition to his private practice, Dr. Frazer holds a faculty
appointment as Assistant Clinical Professor at Yale University
School of Medicine. In his academic appointment, he provides
regular consultation, supervision, and seminars for issues of
psychological assessment and testing.
Dr.
Frazer has regularly lectured and presented programs to the
Connecticut Bar Association, the American Psychological Association,
the Association for Advancement of Behavioral Therapy and other
local and national organizations. He is a member of the American
Psychological Association, Association of Family and Conciliation
Courts, and Connecticut Bar Association-Family Law Section.
EVALUATIONS
& CONSULTATION
| Attachment
and Bonding Studies |
Parenting
Plans & Visitation |
| Divorce
& Visitation Disputes |
Domestic
Violence & Intimate Partner Assault |
| Mental
Illness & Malingering |
Parental
Fitness |
| Parental
Alienation |
Permanency
Planning & Adoption |
| Post-Divorce
Visitation |
Move-Away
Evaluations |
| Sexual
Abuse |
Substance
Abuse |
CLIENT
COMMENTS:
“Dr.
Frazer, Thanks for the time you spent with me this morning.
It is a very difficult time and I want to make sure that I am
making the correct decision for my son. The last thing I want
is to put him through this and then months later, when the testing
is done, I find out it was unwarranted. Although I am confident
that will not be the case, it is hard for me to be objective.
Given your professionalism, not to mention your kindness
in speaking with me, I would like to use your services on some
level.
I will speak to my attorney…….Once again, thanks!”
-A parent and CT attorney
going though a divorce
“I am pleased to provide this letter of reference
for Dr. Frazer….In short, I found the expertise and assistance
of Dr. Frazer very helpful and worthwhile.”
-Lynn Thomas Johnson, Esquire,
Divorce Attorney, Medford, MA
“I
was very impressed with your report. My client was too and thought
you did a great job on it.”
-Connecticut Divorce Attorney
“Dear
Dr. Frazer, Thank you for your fine and timely work…My
sincere gratitude for delivering a comprehensive work in the
time frame you promised.”
-Connecticut Divorce
Attorney
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