Child Specialist

A Child Specialist is a neutral member of the collaborative law team who brings the voice and developmental needs of the children into the divorce process. They meet with children and provide feedback to parents and the professional team to help guide child-centered decision-making. The goal is to support parenting plans and agreements that align with each child’s emotional, relational, and developmental needs.

Teenager thinking about what they want in a divorce and sharing to a child specialist through the divorce process.

Who is a Child Specialist for?

A woman holding and looking at a young child outdoors among trees and greenery, both dressed casually, with the woman wearing a red sweater and the child in a denim jacket.
A young man who is a dad holding his daughter and demonstrating emotional safety in the parent-child relationship. Dad and daughter showing joy while experiencing quality parenting time.
A mother/parent and a young boy child sitting on a couch in a therapy office, discussing divorce. Child is expressing big feelings and shows sensitive emotions.

A Child Specialist is for families who want a structured way to include their child’s voice—without exposing them to split loyalties and adult conflict.

This service is for parents in the divorce process who:

  • Are engaged with a collaborative law team

  • Want to make thoughtful, developmentally-informed decisions for their children

  • Are navigating how to ask their children about divorce options without triangulating them

  • Need guidance creating a parenting plan that supports adjustment across two homes

  • Are committed to gathering information to make developmentally appropriate parenting decisions

Child Play Therapy VS. Child Specialist

A Child Play Therapist:

  • Goal: Clinical change in emotional and behavioral functioning

  • Who Participates: Primarily the child, with family member involvement

  • Length of Services: Ongoing

  • Focus: Symptoms, regulation, and relationships

  • Use of Play: Play is the treatment

  • Insurance: May be covered by insurance

  • Diagnosis: Diagnosis of behavioral or mental health symptoms and treatment plan

  • Role: Treating clinician for the child

  • End Outcome: Improved emotional and behavioral functioning

  • When to Use: When a child is struggling emotionally or behaviorally

Learn more about Play Therapy

A Child Specialist:

  • Goal: Child informed parenting decisions during divorce

  • Who Participates: Both parents, children, collaborative law team

  • Length of Services: Brief

  • Focus: Gathering information on the child’s needs in a two-home family

  • Use of Play: Not treatment; may use as emotion regulation tool

  • Insurance: Not covered; consultative service

  • Diagnosis: No diagnosis

  • Role: Neutral member of the collaborative law team

  • End Outcome: Clear, child-centered parenting plan and decisions

  • When to Use: When parents are making decisions during divorce

Next Step for Child Specialist
A man and a young boy are lying on the floor facing each other, engaging in emotional safety and emotional intimacy. Dad and son in parent-child relationship therapy at Seattle Family Therapy PLLC therapy play therapy office.

Child Specialist Rates

$250 per hour

Get the right support to make your parenting plans child-centered.

Reach Out Today

✔ Clear guidance on your child’s needs

✔ Neutral, balanced support

✔ Meaningful decisions

Boundaries of the Child Specialist Role

Clear boundaries protect your child, the process, and my neutrality.

  • Neutrality: I do not take sides or advocate for one parent over the other. My role is to support the family system and the child’s wellbeing.

  • Not for litigation: I do not participate in court proceedings, write evaluative reports, or gather information for litigation.

  • Child meetings are limited and purposeful: When children are included, it is typically brief and structured to understand their experience.

  • Transparency: When working with both parents, communication is shared openly to maintain trust and neutrality.

  • No decision-making authority: I provide guidance and feedback, but all decisions remain with the parents.

  • Scope of practice: I do not provide legal advice. I collaborate with your legal team when appropriate to ensure decisions reflect your child’s developmental needs.

  • Not a guardian ad litem: I am not appointed by the court and do not provide legal opinions or custody recommendations to the court.

Let’s Work Together

To get started, complete the form below with a brief overview of your situation. We will review your submission and follow up regarding fit and next steps.

Complete the Screening Questionaire

Frequently Asked Questions

  • A Child Specialist is a professional trained in family systems theory and child development. They bring your child’s perspective into the divorce process in a safe, appropriate way. They help parents understand their child’s needs, concerns, and coping—without placing children in decision-making roles—so you can make thoughtful, child-centered decisions.

  • For next steps please fill out our Client Screening Questionaire at the bottom of the page. You can also reach us anytime via email.

  • We offer an hourly rate for services. The same rate is charged for child meetings, parent meetings, professional team meetings, and communications throughout the process. Brief emails or quick check-ins are typically not billed. I aim to keep services efficient and focused.

  • Yes. Many parents reach out early for guidance. I can help you plan how to talk with your children, what to expect, and how to reduce conflict from the beginning.

  • Most often, we start with a parent session, followed by a brief child meeting, and then a parent feedback session. Depending on the family, I may meet with the professional team as well. Services are flexible and can be as short as one consultation or a few structured meetings, depending on your needs.

  • This is not therapy. I do not provide ongoing treatment or diagnose. My role is short-term and focused on supporting family decision-making during divorce.

  • I do not evaluate parents, conduct testing, or provide court recommendations. My role is not for litigation. I focus on helping parents understand their child’s experience and use that information to make decisions together.

  • No, I can work within collaborative or mediation as long as my role remains neutral and not used for court. Agreements about communication and information sharing are set at the start. Reach out to find out if we are a good fit for your process.

  • No. These roles stay separate to protect neutrality and your child’s care. As a Child Specialist, I support both parents and the decision-making process. As a therapist, I would be advocating for the child’s clinical needs. If therapy is needed, I can provide referrals.

  • Elementary and middle school children are seen in person only. High school–aged teens may be seen online. Parent sessions and meetings with collaborative professionals can also be held online. All child sessions are otherwise held in my office in the South Lake Union (SLU) neighborhood of Seattle.

  • No. Child Specialist services are not covered by insurance. This is a consultative role, not medical or mental health treatment.