Transform your life with Love & Alvarez Psychology

Bridging the Gap Between Legal Strategy and Child Development Expertise

When parents are involved in custody or divorce proceedings, attorneys often focus on legal strategy—while parents are left navigating the emotional and developmental impact on their children. Custody coaching offers parents and their legal teams valuable insight into child development, family dynamics, and what it means to prioritize a child’s well-being during litigation. As a child psychologist, I partner with parents and their attorneys to provide guidance that complements legal planning with child-focused understanding.

Custody coaching is a service where I work alongside a parent (and, if desired, their attorney) to offer professional input on issues such as parenting plans, co-parenting challenges, or how a child may be experiencing conflict or transition. While I do not provide legal advice, I offer developmentally informed guidance that can help parents make decisions—and present them in legal settings—that truly reflect the best interests of the child.

Custody coaching is especially helpful when:

• A parent is trying to understand what type of custody arrangement best supports their child’s needs
• There are concerns about how conflict, transitions, or parental behavior may be affecting the child
• A parent wants to align their legal goals with child development principles
• An attorney is seeking professional insight into child behavior or emotional functioning as part of case preparation

This service can also assist with preparing for court appearances, mediation, or custody evaluations with a stronger child-centered focus.

Consultation sessions may include:

• Discussion of the child’s developmental stage, temperament, and needs
• Review of parenting plans or proposed custody arrangements
• Guidance on effective co-parenting practices during litigation
• Support in communicating child-focused concerns to the legal team
• Input on how to protect the child from stress or exposure to parental conflict

Sessions are confidential and goal-oriented, always with the child’s well-being at the center.

Legal matters involving children are deeply personal—and the stakes are high. My role is to help parents and attorneys think beyond legal positions and consider how each decision may impact the child emotionally and developmentally. When legal strategy and child development work hand in hand, families are more likely to arrive at outcomes that are stable, healthy, and sustainable for the long term.