Trauma in Children of Divorce: Research to Practice

In family law, children’s behaviors, preferences, and presentations are often central to high-stakes decisions—yet the line between developmentally expected responses to divorce and trauma-related symptoms is not always clear. Misinterpretation can significantly impact case outcomes and long-term implications for children.

This lunch-and-learn is designed for professionals who want to strengthen their ability to critically assess child-related information in court-involved cases. Drawing on current research, including Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), this seminar provides a framework for understanding how trauma can manifest across developmental stages and how those presentations may be misunderstood in legal settings.

Participants will leave with practical guidance for interpreting behavioral patterns, evaluating mental health input, and aligning legal decision-making with trauma-informed principles—particularly in high-conflict and complex custody matters.

Participants will learn to:

• Differentiate between typical divorce-related adjustment and trauma-driven responses in children

• Analyze how trauma may shape children’s behavior, disclosures, and resistance or alignment dynamics

• Assess the appropriateness and limitations of common clinical interventions within family court cases

• Apply current trauma and ACEs research to inform legal strategy, recommendations, and child-focused outcomes

This program is well-suited for experienced attorneys, mental health professionals, and judicial officers seeking to enhance their analytical lens and improve the accuracy and impact of child-centered decision-making in family law.

June Lunch and Learn with Child Experts, Shalea Schloss & Dr. Erin Guyette

Erin and Shalea will present on current research and emerging trends related to trauma in children navigating divorce. The session will also explore how professionals can effectively support children and families within their respective roles.

Drawing on Shalea’s expertise in trauma and play therapy interventions, alongside Erin’s specialized knowledge of high-conflict family dynamics, this engaging and practical presentation offers valuable insights you won’t want to miss!

Shalea Schloss, LMSW, LCSW, is a child-centered, trauma-focused therapist specializing in work with children, adolescents, parents, and families navigating separation, divorce, and other significant life transitions. Shalea brings extensive cross-system experience to her clinical and educational work.

Her professional background includes work as an outpatient therapist, as well as experience in inpatient mental health settings, child advocacy center services, prevention programming, and education. This diverse clinical foundation informs her holistic understanding of child development, trauma, family systems, and the unique needs of court-involved and high-conflict families.

Shalea’s therapeutic approach integrates evidence-based child-parent modalities, including Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) alongside trauma-focused treatments such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR). She works with children as young as age one while also supporting parents and caregivers in strengthening attachment, communication, and resilience during difficult transitions.

She earned both her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Social Work from the University of South Dakota. A Minnesota native, Shalea is passionate about helping families heal relational wounds, rebuild safety, and create healthier patterns through compassionate, trauma-informed care.

Dr. Erin Guyette, PhD, LMFT, is a licensed mental health professional, parenting plan evaluator, and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provider through her private practice, Guyette Family Guidance, PLLC, based in Maple Grove, Minnesota. She earned her Ph.D. in Family Social Science with a specialization in Couple and Family Therapy from the University of Minnesota, and her Master of Science in Couple and Family Therapy from Kansas State University.

Dr. Guyette’s clinical and research expertise centers on families navigating divorce transitions, high-conflict co-parenting dynamics, and the systems of care that support these populations. In addition to her private practice, she has contributed to the academic community as a former Editorial Assistant for the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy and currently serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota. She has published and presented research both nationally and internationally.

Dr. Guyette is an active member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), where she serves in multiple roles at both the Minnesota chapter and national levels.