Question
How should clinicians approach their duty to report when working with high-conflict families where allegations may be strategically motivated?
Answer
Clinicians working with high-conflict families must recognize that their ethical and legal duty to report suspected abuse or neglect remains unchanged, regardless of the family dynamics at play. Even in cases where allegations appear to be part of a pattern of conflict between parents, the threshold for reporting remains unchanged; if there is suspicion, the obligation to report remains.
That said, clinicians may have the opportunity to provide contextual information alongside a report when it is clinically relevant. For example, a clinician may note that the family presents with a high-conflict dynamic and a history of allegations, while still fulfilling their reporting duty. This added context does not override the report, but it can offer important framing for those receiving it.
Clinicians must also remain vigilant about their own potential biases in these situations. When only one parent is present in treatment, such as when a mother is the consistent point of contact, there is a natural risk of developing a skewed perception of the family system. Actively working against that bias is an essential part of ethical, balanced clinical practice in high-conflict cases.
This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the course, "Navigating High-Conflict Co-Parenting: Ethics and Strategies," presented by Karalynn Royster, PsyD.
