Frequently Asked Questions

For Parents:

High‑Conflict Custody and Safety

Q: What is a high‑conflict custody case and how is it different from a “difficult divorce”?
A: A high‑conflict custody case is defined less by frequent disagreements and more by persistent, intense, and often one‑sided patterns of hostility, litigation, and boundary‑violating behavior that harm children and distort the legal process. Unlike a typical difficult divorce, high‑conflict cases often involve coercive control, psychological abuse, or entrenched patterns that do not respond to ordinary negotiation or co‑parenting interventions.
Q: How can I tell if one parent has a high‑conflict personality versus both of us just disagreeing?
A: High‑conflict personalities tend to show repeated blame‑shifting, extreme all‑or‑nothing thinking, refusal to accept responsibility, and patterns of escalation even when the other parent attempts to de‑escalate. Evaluation looks at behavior over time—who is primarily driving conflict, who is trying to set healthy boundaries, and how each parent’s actions affect the children’s safety and well‑being.
Q: How do courts view coercive control, stalking, or psychological abuse in custody disputes?
A: Courts are increasingly recognizing that non‑physical abuse—such as coercive control, stalking, threats, and gaslighting—can be as harmful to children as physical violence, particularly when it undermines a safe parent or exposes children to chronic fear. Expert input can help the court understand these patterns, document risk, and craft parenting plans that protect children while minimizing opportunities for continued control.
Q: What can I do to protect my child emotionally during a high‑conflict custody case?
A: Protecting a child emotionally includes maintaining predictable routines, shielding them from adult conflict, and responding calmly and truthfully (but age‑appropriately) to their questions. Therapeutic or forensic consultation can help parents learn developmentally appropriate communication, support children’s coping skills, and create parenting plans that reduce exposure to conflict.
Q: Can parallel parenting or non‑traditional parenting plans help in high‑conflict situations?
A: Yes. When direct co‑parenting is too conflictual or unsafe, parallel parenting and other structured plans with detailed schedules, clear boundaries, and limited direct contact can reduce opportunities for control and reduce stress for children. These plans often rely on written communication tools and clear decision‑making protocols, and may be recommended when traditional co‑parenting is not realistic.

Working With Dr Saul

Q: What types of cases does Dr. Jenna Saul specialize in?
A: Dr Saul provides expert forensic consulting in cases a high conflict custody dynamic exists, where there are concerns about domestic abuse, coercive control, and child safety.
Q: How can Dr. Jenna Saul help in custody disputes?
A: Dr Saul provides forensic consultation, expert testimony, work product reviews, and comprehensive assessments, to develop strategies that place child safety and well-being at the forefront in family court.
Q: How does Dr. Jenna Saul protect children's best interests?
A: Dr. Jenna Saul protects children’s best interests through evidence‑driven forensic assessments that use systematic methodology and the latest scientific research. She evaluates risk, patterns of coercive control, and parent–child dynamics to inform clear, court‑ready recommendations that prioritize child safety, stability, and healthy development. When appropriate, she outlines structured, measurable steps to support safe, meaningful parent–child contact.
Q: How can private custody consulting help me prepare for court or mediation?
A: Private custody consulting helps parents clarify goals, organize documentation, and understand how family courts evaluate “best interests of the child.” Sessions often focus on safety concerns, patterns of behavior, and ways to present information coherently and respectfully so judges, evaluators, and attorneys can clearly see the child’s needs and risks.
Q: What is the difference between individual consultation and group strategy sessions?
A: Individual consultation offers confidential, tailored support focused on your specific case, including evidence organization, communication coaching, and emotional coping skills. Group strategy sessions provide education, structure, and peer support in a guided format, helping participants learn core concepts, ask questions anonymously, and reduce costs while still gaining expert guidance.
Q: How do you help parents organize evidence without becoming overwhelmed?
A: Parents are guided to focus on patterns and relevance rather than volume, grouping texts, emails, recordings, and records around key themes such as safety incidents, boundary violations, and support for the child’s needs. This structured approach reduces anxiety and produces clear, chronological, and developmentally focused materials that are easier for attorneys, evaluators, and judges to understand.
Q: Can you help me communicate with my ex in ways that look reasonable to the court?
A: Yes. Coaching focuses on brief, child‑centered, non‑reactive communication that demonstrates respect for boundaries and supports the child’s relationship with both parents where it is safe to do so. This can reduce conflict, improve how you are perceived by professionals, and create written records that reflect thoughtful, responsible parenting.
Q: How do you support fathers or mothers who feel they are not being heard in family court?
A: Support includes helping parents translate their lived experience into clear, evidence‑based narratives, preparing them for evaluations and testimony, and identifying when expert input is needed to explain coercive control or trauma responses. The goal is to make sure the court can see the underlying dynamics affecting the children, rather than misinterpreting trauma, fear, or protective actions as “mutual conflict.”
Q: What should I expect emotionally from a custody evaluation or interview process?
A: Parents often experience heightened anxiety, grief, anger, and fear during evaluations and court involvement. Preparation can include psychoeducation about the process, skills for emotional regulation during interviews or depositions, and strategies for staying focused on the child’s needs rather than on reactive conflict.
Q: How does working with Dr. Jenna Saul reduce legal costs?
A: Working with Dr. Jenna Saul helps streamline family court and high‑conflict divorce cases by providing evidence‑driven assessments, clear strategies, and scientifically grounded insights. Her expertise supports attorneys with focused analysis and well‑structured case narratives, allowing the legal team to concentrate on advocacy while ensuring child safety and psychological issues are fully addressed. This collaborative approach strengthens outcomes and promotes efficiency in complex custody, coercive control, and domestic abuse matters.