Jane Ellen Shatz, Ph.D

Janes Shatz is an outstanding custody mediator and co-mediator!

LAFMS Mediator and Therapeutic Co-Mediator

881 Alma Real Avenue, Suite 220

Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

(310) 288-0264

Dr. Jane Shatz brings a uniquely broad range of skill-sets and talents to mediation and therapeutic co-mediation. She is available to Mediate and Co-Mediate all manner of parenting conflicts, and to facilitate resolutions of stubborn and persistent problems between parents that often result from poor or negative communication skills and resentments or fears that have not been openly addressed and worked with. She helps them to make sense of what is happening to and with their children because, while our culture pretends that parents are born with a child-rearing expertise hardwired into their brains, this just isn't the case as often as we would like. Adults have an innate ability to sense what best serves their children, but they do not always have a present ability to follow that sense without outside support or when conflict with the other parent keeps recycling.

While her professional psychology practice today largely centers on child and parent related conflicts and custody issues, including regularly making detailed Evidence Code 730 evaluations and recommendations to the Courts, her training over many years combined with a deep personal compassion and interest in helping others gives Dr. Shatz a keen ability to mediate couples with family crises that involve legal and financial impasses besides kids.

Together with the legal members of the LAFMS Team, Dr. Shatz is adept at helping people de-escalate around the sensitive financial, emotional, and power imbalances that often are the source of conflict and dispute and a reason why people become stuck in their conflicts.

Dr. Shatz received her Ph.D in psychology from USC in 1988. She is a published author, she has been a psychology professor and lecturer, and she regularly presents at seminars, workshops, and conferences to lawyers, judges, accountants, and other mental health experts around the country. She is a wonderful mediation resource opportunity for you.

Education

University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Ph.D. Psychology (1988)
California State University, Long Beach, B.A. "With Great Distinction" in Psychology (1984)

Positions Held

10/91 - Present. Private full-range clinical and forensic (since 1995) practice with an emphasis on work with divorcing families, including 730 child custody evaluations, focused evaluations, mediation, post-divorce parental counseling, providing special master services and conducting psychotherapy with children and adults, and parenting coaching.
2/96 - 03. Consultant, Reiss-Davis Child Study Center. Director of the Keeping Kids First Program, a post-divorce parent education program for parents in conflict that I developed.
4/95 - 4/98; 10/00 - 8/01. Child Custody Evaluator, Los Angeles Superior Court. Duties included performing in-depth assessments of families, making recommendations to the Court regarding disputed custody matters, writing reports which are taken into evidence by the Court, and providing frequent expert witness testimony in fast track evaluations.
9/91 - 6/93. Manager, Psychoeducational Diagnostic Services, Saint John's Child Study Center. Duties included managing and supervising the psycho educational diagnostic assessment team. The team conducts assessments for learning disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and concomitant emotional contributants to school difficulties. Following evaluations, plans and recommendations for remediation, including attending IEP meetings and working with teachers and parents, are implemented
1/89 - 9/92. (Various semesters) Lecturer, Department of Psychology, University of Southern California. Subjects Taught: Developmental Psychology, Developmental Psychopathology, Introduction to Personal Counseling Techniques, Psychology of Sex Differences.
1/87 - 6/89. Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Wisconsin. Subjects taught: Developmental Psychology, Developmental Psychopathology, Statistics, Introduction to Psychology.
7/89 - 7/91. Post-Doctoral Fellow, Reiss-Davis Child Study Center. Two-year training program included training in the following areas: psychotherapy with children and adults, psychological testing and diagnostic evaluations of children and their families.

Organizations and Achievements

Past President, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), California State Chapter (2003-2005)
Board of Directors, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, California Chapter (1995-2005)
Member of Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, National and California Chapters (1995-present)

Presentations Since 2000

Shatz, J.E. (February 13, 2010) "Parenting Shadow: An Innovative Intervention for Troubled Parents in Difficult Custody Situations," AFCC California State Chapter Conference co-sponsored by Los Angeles Superior Court Family Services
Shatz, J.E. (September 22, 2008) appearance on Good Morning America as psychological expert on high conflict divorces entitled, "Alec Baldwin's Divorce Memoirs"
Shatz, J.E. (February 2008) "Narcissistic Parent," AFCC California State Chapter Conference co-sponsored by Los Angeles Superior court
Shatz, J.E. (March 2006) "Parenting Coordinator /Special Master Conference for Mental Health Professionals and Attorneys," Family Law Departments Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
Shatz, J.E. (February 2006) "Managing A Train Wreck: Using A Special Master In Custody Cases," AFCC California State Chapter Conference co-sponsored by Los Angeles Superior Court Family Services
Shatz, J.E. (February 2006) "To Sleep Over Or Not Sleep Over," AFCC California State Chapter Conference co-sponsored by Los Angeles Superior Court Family Services
Shatz, J.E. (September 2004) "Containing Conflict in Custody Cases: The Role of Judges, Attorneys, and Mental Health Professionals," 34th Annual Child Custody Colloquium. Sponsored by the Los Angeles County Bar Association and the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Shatz, J.E. (February 2004) Moderator, Judges Plenary Panel, AFCC California State Chapter Conference co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Superior Court
Shatz, J.E. (September 2001) "The Solution Oriented 730 Evaluation: How to Make it Work for Your Client", 33rd Annual Child Custody Colloquium sponsored by Los Angeles County Bar Association and the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Shatz, J.E. (February 2001) Co-Chair, "Do Great Work: The Art of Therapy in Custody Cases", AFCC California Chapter Conference co-sponsored by Los Angeles County Superior Court Family Court Services.
Shatz, J.E. (April 2000) "Ethical Issues in Forensic Psychology", Los Angeles County Psychological Association.
Shatz, J.E. (March 2000) Chair, "Structuring Therapy for Children of Divorcing and Post-Divorce Families: Legal, Ethical and Clinical Issues", 32nd Annual Child Custody Colloquium sponsored by Los Angeles County Bar Association and the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Publications

Shatz, J.E. and LaViolette, A. (1998). For Our Children: Helping Parents Help Their Kids. A 12-Week Curriculum For Never Married, Separated or Divorced Parents Where Domestic Violence Has Been an Issue. Published by Family Court Services in Los Angeles County as a result of a grant from the Administrative Offices of the Court.
Wilson, J.E. and Jacklyn, C.N. (1989). "Adopting a Sex Role". (N.A. Campbell, ed.), Opposite Sex. Tops, Field, MA: London Avery Press, Salem House Publisher.
Wilson, J.E. and Jacklyn, C.N. (1989). "The Freudian View". (N.A. Campbell, ed.), Opposite Sex. Tops, Field, MA: London Avery Press, Salem House Publisher.
Weisner, T.J. and Mitchell, J.E. (1990). "Nonconventional Family Lifestyles and Sex Typing in Six Year Olds". Child Development, 61, 1915-1933.

Awards

2004 - Distinguished Service Award from the Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law

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Contact Dr. Jane Shatz at Los Angeles Family Mediation Services!