Designed for judicial officers, but applicable to all family law professionals, this book applies lessons learned from the field of mental health to the family court system, especially when working with parents with personality disorders or traits. Bill Eddy provides tips on what individual judges or court systems can easily do, without sweeping changes or creating new players in the decision-making process.

Written from Bill Eddy’s perspective as a family lawyer and mental health professional, and as a trainer of judges managing high-conflict people in court, he provides tips on what judges can do. He illustrates how the court is in a good position to prevent child stress from the start or to reduce it by mandating efforts for positive changes by their parents—from ordering parenting programs and classes, to setting limits on emotional attacks during the hearing process.