psycho-legal concepts for parenting in child custody and child protection vol. 4: therapy interventions for vulnerable families

Dr. Don Tustin is a clinical psychologist working in Adelaide, Australia. He has worked for 25 years with vulnerable families where children are at increased risk of maltreatment and mental health disorders because their parents use parenting practices that are inadequate to meet all of the needs of the child. Dr. Tustin has worked in a community mental health team for adults where 30% of clients were parents whose parenting practices were affected when the parent experienced an episode of mental illness including depression, anxiety and mood disorder. Dr. Tustin received two grants to deliver interventions for parents with a mental illness. An innovative collaborative approach was used, where a mental health clinician and an in-home parenting coach worked cooperatively with parents and their children to improve dynamics in the family. Dr. Tustin has presented to World Congresses on Children’s Rights about treatment reports submitted to courts.