MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH: Mental Health Professionals
Mental health professionals facilitate the psychological healing of the child/adolescent and provide support to the family. A mental health professional may be requested to conduct an extended assessment of a child/adolescent when the disclosure is not clear or when there are complicating developmental or psychological issues. Mental health professionals may also be asked to conduct the investigative interview with the child/adolescent while other members of the multidisciplinary team observe. The same person should not act as both investigator and therapist. The mental health professional that is providing therapeutic intervention to a child/adolescent and his/her family should maintain communication with the multidisciplinary team because the status of the investigation will have an impact on the child/adolescent's psychological health.
Mental health professionals may provide:
Support to the child/adolescent and family
Expertise in child development, family systems, and clinical intervention for the psychological needs of children and adolescents
Assistance in the psychological recovery of the child/adolescent and supportive assistance to the family
Evaluation of the emotional condition of the child/adolescent, his/her ability to testify, and how testifying might affect his/her mental status
Expert testimony on the psychological impact of child sexual abuse
Information regarding state-of-the-art research and literature on psychological effects and therapeutic issues
If not involved in a therapeutic relationship with the child/adolescent, assistance with the investigative interview when requested by the investigative team
