California Rules of Court explain that a child custody evaluation must include an assessment of the quality of the attachment that the child has with each parent. However, research in the area of family systems repeatedly demonstrates that a child does not have a relationship with just each parent separately but also to the parental unit as a whole. This triad, measured by the degree of cooperation and hostility in the interparental relationship, is considered by some theorists to be more foundational to the child’s identity than each parent-child dyad and certainly an important dynamic to observe when considering the child’s experience of safety and security with each attachment figure.

The family triad becomes all the more complex and important to study after an interparental separation as it is one of the strongest predictors of the child’s adjustment. In this course, the theoretical underpinnings of family triads will be reviewed along with a discussion of the implications for evaluations. In addition, methods will be presented about how to capture information about triads in each evaluation activity including the child interview, the parent interview, the conjoint parent interview and the family observation using an adaptation of Lausanne Triadic Play.

At the end of the course, participants will understand the concept and significance of triadic relationships in family systems, apply structured observation tools in custody evaluations and convey nuanced family insights to the court effectively. The incorporation of these family level processes will aid evaluators in obtaining a comprehensive understanding of the family while relaying critical information to the court that will assist in the development of parenting plans that serve the best interests of children.

Applicable California Rules of court (Education and training requirements) rule 5.225(d)(2)(3)(13)