Navigating cases when narcissistic behaviors are present
Thursday, March 27th
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM Pacific Time
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Mountain Time
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Central Time
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Eastern Time
Description
High-conflict family law cases often involve adverse parties who exhibit narcissistic behaviors, creating significant challenges for attorneys, mental health professionals, and judges.
While it’s important to note that Narcissistic Personality Disorder is rare, narcissistic behaviors can play a pivotal role in co-parenting. According to the Cleveland Clinic’s 2023 research data, “Between 0.5% and 5% of people in the U.S. may have [NPD].”
Oftentimes, mental health professionals observe a significant presence of narcissistic traits in high-conflict custody disputes and these traits can complicate proceedings and impact the well-being of the children involved.
This webinar will provide a deep dive into how narcissistic traits—such as manipulation, gaslighting, scapegoating, and a lack of empathy—manifest in legal disputes and impact family law proceedings. Experts will discuss strategies for effectively managing these cases, minimizing harm to clients and children. Participants will gain insights into psychological dynamics, courtroom strategies, and approaches to crafting legal and therapeutic interventions that mitigate the negative effects of these behaviors.
This is a free event. Attendees will receive a Certificate of Attendance after the webinar to use for self-reported CLE credit if your state allows it.
Please complete the form to register for the event. Can't attend? register anyway and we'll send you a copy of the recording when it becomes available.
Learning objectives
- Recognize key narcissistic behaviors: Identify common traits and tactics used by individuals with narcissistic tendencies in high-conflict family law cases.
- Implement trauma-informed approaches: Integrate mental health strategies to support clients and help protect children from the psychological harm that can be caused by a parent with narcissistic behaviors.
- Expand your tool kit: Identify and utilize key tools, courses and resources to effectively navigate interactions with clients and opposing parties exhibiting narcissistic behaviors
Speakers
Judge Ashleigh Parker
Judge Ashleigh Parker is a District Court Judge in the 10th Judicial District, which encompasses Wake County. Prior to her appointment by Governor Roy Cooper in 2017, Judge Parker served the citizens of North Carolina as an Assistant Attorney General at the North Carolina Department of Justice and as an Assistant District Attorney at the Wake County District Attorney's Office.
Helen O'Shaughnessy
Helen O’Shaughnessy), a partner at Wake Family Law Group, is a board-certified family law specialist. Helen has been previously recognized by Business North Carolina magazine as one of the Legal Elite in North Carolina for family law. She has been selected by North Carolina SuperLawyers for inclusion on the 2009, 2011-2013 North Carolina Rising Stars list and as a North Carolina Super Lawyer since 2016. Helen has earned an AV Preeminent rating for the highest level of professional excellence from Martindale-Hubbell. Helen is a certified as a Family Financial Mediator and has served as a mediator in family law cases since 2006. Helen litigates high conflict custody cases and also serves as a certified Parenting Coordinator in high conflict child cases. Helen also volunteers for The Child’s Advocate, an organization that represents children in high-conflict child custody cases in Wake County Family Court.
Helen is a member of the Wake County Bar Association. She is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association and its family law section, presently serving on the family law council, and its dispute resolution section.
Helen is a member of American Bar Association and its family law section. She is a Past Chair of the Family Law section for the North Carolina Advocates for Justice and served as Continuing Legal Education Chair and co-chair for the Advocate for Justice’s family law section. She previously served a three-year term as a member of the Tenth Judicial District Bar Grievance Committee. Helen was as editor for two chapters for the publication North Carolina Family Law Marital Claims Deskbook (fourth edition and fifth edition). Helen has spoken on family law issues for several organizations including Our Family Wizard, the National Business Institute, North Carolina Advocates for Justice, NC Bar Foundation, North Carolina Central University School of Law, and Wake Forest University School of Law.
Christine Profito
Dr. Profito is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Certified Parenting Coordinator. She also has training in Florida Supreme Court Family Law Mediation. In these capacities, she has worked extensively with children, families, and the court over the past 10 years. Dr. Profito is an Officer in the 12th Judicial Circuit Family Court Professional Coalition and member of Florida Chapter of the AFCC.
Moderator
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Danielle Kestnbaum
Danielle earned her law degree with honors from IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to graduating from law school, she received her Masters degree in Social Work from Columbia University in New York City and a BA from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Danielle externed with the Chief Judge of the Domestic Relations Court for the Circuit Court of Cook County during law school. She has worked in the public sector as a child’s advocate and also in the private sector representing parents in a broad range of family law matters. She currently works as a professional liaison for the OurFamilyWizard website and serves as the President of the North Carolina Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.
About OurFamilyWizard
Working alongside clients on OurFamilyWizard, family law and mental health practitioners can assist families to move beyond conflict and co-parent with confidence. OurFamilyWizard's web and mobile applications offer parents living separately an array of tools to easily track parenting time, share important family information, manage expenses, and create an accurate, clear log of co-parenting communication.
