Child Custody Essentials for Counselors

Practical guidance for counselors on NC child custody, court processes, best-interest standards, boundaries, and documentation.

Child Custody Essentials for Counselors

When parents are navigating separation, divorce, or ongoing custody conflict, counselors and therapists are often supporting children and families in the middle of highly emotional, legally sensitive situations. This live online CE program is designed to help mental health professionals better understand North Carolina child custody issues, the legal processes families may face, and the boundaries clinicians need to protect both their clients and their practice.

Presented by Mary Gurganus, CEO and Senior Attorney at Triangle Divorce Lawyers, this program offers practical, real-world guidance for counselors working with custody-related concerns. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of legal and physical custody, parenting arrangements, the best interest of the child standard, temporary and permanent orders, emergency custody, and the counselor’s role in these matters.

If you work with children, parents, or families affected by custody issues, this course will help you feel more informed, more prepared, and more confident when these situations arise in your practice.

Participants will learn how to:

• Understand key North Carolina child custody concepts, including legal custody, physical custody, and parenting schedules
• Explain how the best interest of the child standard affects custody decisions and clinical considerations
• Recognize common custody-related legal processes, including mediation, temporary orders, permanent orders, and emergency custody
• Maintain appropriate ethical and professional boundaries when working with families involved in custody disputes
• Identify documentation and consent issues that may arise in counseling children and families during custody matters
• Better understand the counselor’s role without stepping into legal advice or decision-making

Who should attend:
Counselors and therapists working with children, parents, and families impacted by separation, divorce, co-parenting conflict, or child custody concerns.

Why attend:
Custody-related issues can raise difficult questions for clinicians. This course is designed to provide practical insight you can use right away, while helping you better understand the legal context surrounding the families you serve.

CE Credit Information:
Child Custody Essentials for Counselors has been approved by NBCC for NBCC credit. Triangle Divorce Lawyers is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.

Register today to reserve your spot.