Screenwriter Helmreich and Psychologist Marcus, the latter a longtime court insider who has witnessed untold trauma as an evaluator in custody disputes, present us with a book that is shocking, tragic and ultimately enlightening. The authors present in-depth understanding of the havoc child custody disputes can wreak not only on the couple but, more importantly, on the children. Harshly detailed, we come to know through this text the personal motivations and behaviors that end up devastating lives. Here, parents can learn what to do, and what not to do, to avoid bitter tragedy in such cases. Judges, lawyers, guardians and mediators will also find this book enormously educational and useful.

The ten cases in this book have been culled from years of experience as a court-appointed child custody evaluator. Commentaries at the end of each chapter offer analyses and concrete, practical information for parents in similar situations.

"In his behind-the-scenes view of custody battles, Paul Marcus, a forensic psychologist, recounts the ravaging effects of hateful exes wielding punitive measures to seek revenge at the expense of the emotional well-being of their children. One hopes that by reading these tragic family scenarios, other couples will approach divorce with a constructive attitude that reflects care and concern for the children involved." -- Miriam Arond, former Editor-in-Chief of Child magazine and coauthor of The First Year of Marriage: What to Expect, What to Accept, and What You Can Change "Remarkable, gutsy, powerful portrayals...If you are contemplating entering into, or are amidst, a nasty custody, visitation or relocation conflict- and you love your children and care about yourself-this wonderful book is essential reading to help avoid unnecessary suffering. Marcus and Helmreich have written a small gem." -- Samuel L. Pauker, M.D. Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry Weill-Cornell University Medical College

About the Author

Joseph Helmreich is a screenwriter, journalist, and musician. A graduate of Rutgers University, he lives in New York City and works in International Film Distribution for The Weinstein Company.

Paul Marcus is a Psychologist and Psychoanalyst. The author or editor of nine books, he has been a Forensic Evaluator in child custody cases before New York State's Family and Supreme Courts for more than 20 years. A Diplomate in Child Custody Evaluation from The American College of Forensic Examiners, a Founding Member of the Parenting Coordinators Association of New York, and a Supervising and Training Analyst at the National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis, he lives with his wife and two children in New York. He has been a faculty member at New York University, Queens College and at The University of London.

Reviews
"With journalist Helmreich, psychoanalyst Marcus....has collected a sad, scary docket of divorce stories, taken from his 20-plus years on the job, that expose the dysfunctional legal system currently making the worst of already traumatic situations....The tone is suitably professional and detached, and the final chapter lists the take-home messages in clear language." - Publishers Weekly Web Exclusive Review



Book Information
ISBN 9780313349737
Author Joseph Helmreich
Format Hardback
Page Count 144
Imprint Praeger Publishers Inc
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing Plc