I bring more than 30 years of clinical, forensic, and family-systems experience to complex family-law matters. As a Minnesota Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and Rule 114 Qualified Neutral, I offer a distinctive combination of clinical expertise, court-related experience, and practical understanding of family dynamics.

My work includes attorney consultation, custody evaluations, forensic substance use and diagnostic assessments, mediation and alternative dispute resolution, and professional education. Across these roles, I help attorneys, families, and other professionals understand complex dynamics, evaluate competing information, and make thoughtful, well-informed decisions.

My Approach

I bring the perspective of an experienced court-appointed neutral to every aspect of my work. Years of examining competing accounts and complex family dynamics have taught me to listen carefully, identify what may be missing, consider reasonable alternative explanations, and distinguish persuasive assertions from information that can be meaningfully supported.

My clinical and systems training allows me to consider individual behavior within the broader context of relationships, family history, culture, developmental needs, mental health, substance use, and patterns of conflict. I do not believe that any single allegation, diagnosis, behavior, or piece of information tells the whole story. I examine information from multiple sources when appropriate, distinguish reported information from established facts and professional interpretation, and remain attentive to both demonstrated strengths and legitimate areas of concern.

Clear communication and effective collaboration are central to my work. I translate complex clinical, behavioral, and family-system information into practical language that attorneys, clients, and other professionals can understand and use. I work effectively with multidisciplinary teams by identifying where perspectives converge or differ, asking questions that move the analysis forward, and helping maintain focus on the issues that matter most. I value collaboration while remaining willing to provide an independent and candid professional perspective.

Neutrality does not mean avoiding difficult conclusions. It means approaching the available information without prematurely adopting one narrative, testing conclusions against the evidence, and acknowledging uncertainty when the information does not support a definitive answer. When consulting with attorneys, I am not serving as a neutral; however, the skills developed through neutral work allow me to assess a case candidly, identify strengths and vulnerabilities, recognize unanswered questions, and consider how the information may be perceived by an evaluator or decision-maker.

Whether I am consulting, evaluating, assessing, facilitating resolution, or teaching, my goal is to make complexity more understandable and support thoughtful, ethical, and well-informed decisions for children and families.

Diane