I am writing about Bruce E. Mapes psychologist appointed by the Chester County Court to perform Child Custody Evaluations.
BEWARE If you have an opportunity to select another child custody evaluator you should.
There is a very high probability that what you say will be twisted beyond all recognition, misquoted, and yes even taken out of context.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
sent in by a Very Concerned Parent in Chester County
new updated post www.chestercountypost.com
and read new post on rants regarding cys http://chestercountyrants.com/2009/06/25/children-and-youth-rita-borzillo-nosy-neighbors-in-downingtown-teachers-teen-suicide/
http://cdca29x7jdbmoc13wiw8qs707y.hop.clickbank.net/?tid=1WD6RBT3 you must see this if your reading about Bruce Mapes or any other custody issue!!! Good Stuff!!
It’s a fact that the psycologist in Chester County are fed by the Judges at the court house, its a joke at our childrens expense.
You are right on point. Here is a case where the SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA had a problem with his testimony.
Read this carefully and you will see that he recommended that a mother’s patrental rights be terminated and had not even intervied the parties. He simply reviewed the records.
BEFORE: FORD ELLIOTT, P.J., MUSMANNO, LALLY-GREEN, BENDER, BOWES,PANELLA, DONOHUE, SHOGAN AND ALLEN, JJ.
THE OPINION BY ALLEN, J, in part reads as follows:
‘In this regard however, the Majority’s extensive discussion of the testimony provided by Dr. Mapes, whose opinion was sought by the trial court and who gave his opinion based solely on his review of the agency’s case file, essentially as a hypothetical situation, is not founded upon actual interaction with the parties involved. Dr. Mapes never interviewed Mother, the child or the foster parents. This in my mind is quite troubling when so much of Dr. Mapes’ testimony is relied upon and in some ways is not consistent with testimony provided by agency personnel, who did interact with the parties.’
There is something VERY WRONG with a professional making such a serious recomendation (to terminate a parents rights) based soley on a simple chart review. I wonder if he even talked to the case worker since his opinion was ‘not consistent with testimony provided by agency personnel, who did interact with the parties.
Dr. Mapes has been feeding at the trough for far too long and we as residents of Chester County should be VERY concerned.
We all should be very concerned about the future use of this psychologist.
In my oppinion the entire judicial system in Chester County is corrupt.
I agree!! The system should be working for the benefit of our children and in my personal experience with other issues (domestic relations) they seem to be more concerned with cutting my son’s dead beat dad all the breaks. I am SO FRUSTRATED with the system. I feel like I never get anywhere. I guess they think that my childs needs can be put on hold while they keep accepting his father’s excuses of why he can’t pay his child supportl. It’s been the same story for 8 years now. When is enough enough? Why aren’t theses dead beats being held responsible??? I don’t get any extra assistance in raising my son. Just because because his father doesn’t pay his child suppport does not mean that raising my son becomes any less expensive. If any one has some advise on how to get the system to do their job please let me know. They just keep allowing his father to come up with excuse after excuse and it seems like every time that he is supposed to make his payment they keep giving him more time and it never comes.
During the course of my interview, Dr. Mapes referred to the information he gathered as “evidence”. I wonder if he withholds certain information or twists it beyond recognition if this could be considered “tampering”?
Here is another thing I always wondered about concerning MAPES’ handling of “evidence”. If he is collecting “evidence”; and he leaved say standardized test score sheets in an unmonitored room for an indeterminate time and lets say the score sheet will produce a profile of “personality” or “sociopathy” or “sex offender” status or terminate a parents rights; should his test results be given any weight since the chain of “evidence” could not be followed?
In my case, he left me in dumpy copy room on the first floor of his office to complete the MMPI. He indicated that I should “just leave the test booklet and score sheet on the table. You are free to go when you’re finished”. About 10 mins. into the test MAPES came down to say he was stepping out to the Post office. When I finished, I was not comfortable just leaving a sensitive test form (with my name on it) in an open first floor room of a multi-occupant office building. I went up to his office only to find his office door locked. I knocked and called his name but no answer. No telling how long that score sheet sat there; if it was altered or even taken by someone.
Since Mapes does not administer the MMPI (or MMPI-2) in the standard fashion, one has to question the results. In his book Clinician’s Guide to Child Custody Evaluation, Marc J. Ackerman offers the following:
“As reported in the July 1993 issue of the American Psychological Association Monitor, the APA’s Ethics Committee was asked ‘to address whether it is a per se violation of the ‘Ethical Principals for Psychologists and Code of Conduct’ to send the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory home for administration” (p.14). The response of the Committee was that it would not be an automatic ethics violation and that each case would have to be considered individually.
In the past, the Committee has found it to be a violation to write a report based on information from a test that was sent home. The reason for the violation involved failure to protect the security of the test, failure to adequately supervise the test.
The Committee endorsed the following points in response to the question:
1. Nonmonitored administration of the MMPI does not represent sound testing practice and may result in an invalid assessment.
2. Test security cannot be guaranteed when the MMPI is allowed outside of the clinical setting [such as an unmonitored first floor copy room].
3. There is debate as to whether there is even any circumstance in which it might be reasonable or appropriate to allow the MMPI to be completed outside of the clinical setting. “
Another author puts it this way:
“Whereas psychologists may sometimes deviate from standardized administrations with therapy clients, it is NEVER acceptable for a forensic evaluation where the results of the evaluation are to be presented in the justice system and are to be used in making decisions about people’s lives. Ziskin (1981) warns against this practice:
The ‘take home’ MMPI should be avoided in the forensic situation. This practice can lead to questions as to whether the individual took the test in the standard way and whether all of the responses are purely his own, as highlighted by Graham’s amusing anecdote about the mental hospital patient who had his ward colleagues assist him by voting on the appropriate answers. (p. 7)”
If the APA and others scholars recognize that the non-monitored administration of the MMPI is an unsound testing practice, one has to wonder why Dr. Mapes continues to this practice – especially in court cases where families depend on the results.
Should we be concerned? Should we ask the DA it step up and investigate? Should we ask that MAPES be removed from the “approved list”?
Not convinced yet? I have tons more examples that speak to DR MAPES’ integrity.
Please contact me …I am scheduled for Mapes and my ex has alienated my daughter and I believe the therapist is also corrupt…she was also decided by my husband attorney. Very concern about Chester county corruption. Please help before I lose my 13 yr old baby
If its Dr Linda Shope….you gotta a HUGE problem. On her word alone they squelched my daughter and forced her to interact with the man who sexually assaulted her when she was only 8.
Wait shope wasnt the therapist…. She was hand picked , supposedly by CPS to do a veracity study….turns out the the perps Atty and her are colleagues who have offices in the same complex and are long time co workers.
In 15 mins claimed my daughter was lying….which is not the truth….she told the truth over and over….and that ONE persons word DR LINDA SHOPE.. ..determined that a sexually assaulting father would have full access to his child victim. CYF CPS whatever you call it is a joke.
Bruce E. Mapes, PhD , Child Custody Evaluation on FOLLOWING THE RULES:
“STANDARDS, RULES AND REQULATIONS ARE NOT WRITTEN IN STONE”
Thats what Dr. Bruce Mapes wrote to e when asked him to follow the APA Ethical Guidelines and APA standards for conducting a child custody evaluation.
This a DIRECT QUOTE FROM A LETTER MAPES SENT ME IN May:
‘Please understand that any ‘guidelines’ are suggestions for professional conduct but they are not standards, regulations, nor rules written in stone and they are subject to variations depending on the type of service and the context of service’
Well there are standards, rules and regulations that must be followed. These are not optional – and yes it says that in the PA Practie Act for Psychologists.
DO JUDGES or LAWYERS in CHESTER COUNTY know that MAPES or any other psychologist doing a child custody evaluation must meet some minimum requirements?
When I pointed out to DR. MAPES that the standards, quideline and rules were in the PA Practce Act for Pyschologists and that he must follow them he changed his tune.
Here is what he wrote in August:
“Let me assure you your, to the the maximum extent possible, I adhere to the Pennsylvania ‘Practice Act’ for Psychologists, the ethical standards of the American Psychological Association, the APA Guidelines for child custody evaluations, as well as relevant case law and (legal) procedual issues.”
Here is the troubling part – even though he acknowleges that he follows all of this, it does not come through in his practices, procedures or in his written report.
I would be happy to assist you in the investivation of DR. Mapes. Chester County Rants , you know how to reach me.
A Very Concerned Parent in Chester County
Thank you so much, is it okay if chestercountyrants puts this info on the other site also?
Yes, please feel free to add this information on your other site.
As residents of Chester County we should all be very concerned about the practices of Bruce E. Mapes, PhD. Dr. Mapes, according to his OWN COUNT, HAS DONE 700 to 800 of these evaluations.
If your like me, YOU SHOULD BE ASKING how MANY OF THESE 700 to 800 CHILD CUSTODY EVALUATIONS were based a TRUE reflection of the FACTS.
LETS JUST SAY THAT HE FUDGED 20 % of the 700-800 cases. This represents 140 to 160 children who were placed at risk or potentially experienced a negative custody change based on his inacurate reporting.
NOW lets consider that each of the children had 2 parents and 1 sibling. Add to that grandparents, stepparents, step siblings. THE NUMBERS GROW RATHER QUICKLY.
If anyone has had a similar experiences with BRUCE E. MAPES, PhD, they should be encouraged to post a comment and join the CAUSE to ELIMINATE BRUCE E. MAPES, PhD from the panel of expert WITNESSES in child custody cases.
Yes, please post this on your other site.
Very Concerned Parent in Chester County PA
Here is what Dr. Mapes wrote as the REASON for REFERRAL.
“[MY NAME] did not provide information concerning how he and [HER NAME] met, nor about the marriage, as he did not believe this to be relevant to the current evaluation”.
REALLY, Dr. Mapes? Here is what you asked during our interview : “Mr. Name you had indicated, that, you have given several issues in the relationship, that, such as… ”
In your report you directly quoted me re: the relationship. So here a question:
IF I DID NOT provide information about the marriage HOW IS IT THAT DR. MAPES QUOTE ME on the MARRIAGE in his REPORT? Did he just MAKE UP these quotes?
IF I provided information about the relationship to DR. MAPES (such that he could quote me) why did DR. MAPES say that I didn’t provide this information? DID he just ths MAKE UP too?
Accuracy counts when it comes to child custody. DiD Dr. Mapes make a MISTAKE or should his creditability as an EXPERT be question?
Dr. Mapes made an unlawful disclosure of my HIPAA protected health care information to opposing counsel. During the course of his testimony Dr. Mapes exhibited selective amnesia:
DR. MAPES: “I did not recall doing that” (related to an unlawful release of
protected health information).
Discussion: Dr. Mapes made this unlawful release of personal health information and attempted to conceal this disclosure through selective recall. In May, Dr. Mapes unlawfully released the name of a confidential health care provider to opposing counsel in correspondence without my written authorization, and made outside of the scope of the Honorable Judge Hall’s court order. The facts related to this unauthorized release are well document by the United States Department of Health and Human Service, Office of Civil Rights.
Clearly, Dr. Mapes wrote the letter with the knowledge that he was releasing the names of a confidential treatment provider. He demonstrated a command of the content of that specific document in which the disclosure was made when opposing counsel questioned him and often referring to a copy of the document when he “did not recall doing that”.
Hyper technical violation or BLATANT violation of the oath he took to tell the TRUTH, the WHOLE TRUTH and nothing but the TRUTH? What do you think?
It is interesting, Bruce MAPES wrote a book in 1995 entitled Child eyewitness testimony in sexual abuse investigations. Despite his recognition of the necessity for neutrality, Mapes seems to identify more with victims than with the falsely accused. MANY OF THE REFERENCES AT THE END OF THE BOOK ARE NOT USED IN THE TEXT AND THE BOOK OFTEN APPEARS UNBALANCED.
In short, at least one reviewer back in 1995 questioned Mapes neutrality.
NOT CONCERNED YET? Hold on there is more…
Chester County Children and Youth Services has Bruce E. Mapes, PhD in their 2009 operational budget for $80,000 for consultation services. Are you at all CONFORTABLE with this expenditure of TAX PAYER money? Are we getting what WE as tax payers PAY FOR?
There is still more to consider:
Dr. Mapes has provided in-service training to the Chester County Court of Common Pleas (Judges) in the past. Specifically referencing CHILD CUSTODY AND VISITATION. I have a copy of his handouts. Are you CONFORTABLE with the Chester County Bench receiving in-service training FROM Dr. MAPES, who by the way makes what appears to be a very comfortable living on the referrals he receives from the Chester County Court of Common Pleas.
I for one think that a complete investigation of Dr. MAPES MUST be conducted by authorities outside of Chester County. It is clear that the County has a very biased view of MAPES as they continue to feed him cases through the Family Court, and Children and Youth-systems. We should call for a Special Investigator to be appointed, or an independent panel of professionals and parents to review his work. It would not be hard to evaluate if he followed the rules by a simple record review of his work.
If your concerned, I urge you to call the County and voice your concern. Call or write your County Commissioners, the Director of Children and Youth, Administrator of Family Court, and/or the President Judge.
With your help we can put an end to Chester County using Dr. Bruce Mapes in child custory matters on in providing consultation services involving Chester County’s social service agencies.
I AM SURE THAT Chestercountyrants will be mort than happy to post a link (or contact information) to all of the people/Agency’s mentioned above.
Master Lombardi aligned himself with a perpetrator’s viewpoint (in this case a father) to deny my child a Psychiatric evaluation despite the fact there were three Medical Doctors who requested in writing that she been seen. Sighting that Dr Mapes, a Psychologist, did not mention that it was needed in his custody evaluation.
This is when I had to step up and say “But the Psychiatric referral does not fall into the scope of Dr Mapes’ Evaluation.” He still denied my plea.
So Master Richard Lombardi, took the word of the perpetrator’s atty who stated that the reunification therapist, Randy Hess felt it necessary to force the victim/my child to see the perpetrator/father two times a week outside of the therapy session with supervision. So there it was ordered, without proof.
Lombardi also refused to meet with my daughter, even though Rose Anderson said that she would definitely meet with her to hear my daughter’s opinion. When asked why Lombardi did not want to speak with my child, he replied, “It’s not like she’s 16.”
The reunification therapist, Mr Randy Hess, decided that it would be in my child’s best interest to reunify them despite her intense fear of her father and his abusive history and the inability to control his anger and aggression.
Last week he assaulted her again during a supervised visit.
He had already been under house arrest and probation for violating the PFA.
And even though my daughter wanted desperately to speak with the Master, why was he allowed to dismiss her so easily?
I am seeking info on Dr Randy Hess and Dr Bruce Mapes. Please help
I have 2 boys that saw Dr Mapes for a custody evaluation, then when the boys started saying they were being abused we were ordered by the courts to go back to Mapes, which I must admit he did a hack job at. He met with my boys for a total of 45 minutes and said they embelleshed and lied about the abuse. Went back to court and Hess enters the picture which we have been seeing for 8 weeks + and the boys want nothing to do with there father yet he continues to force a 13 & 11 yr old. It is very clear after speaking with him that the childrens best interest is not his agenda, however if I had a dollar for everytime I have heard him state the boys need their father, I would be rich. I agree that the boys need to have a relationship with their father BUT it needs to be a HEALTHY one. This is certainly not a healthy one . Hope that one day someone will listen to the victims in this , you know THE CHILDREN!!!
Rose Anderson is another one. When I filed my own petition for my daughter to get help after she disclosed sexual abuse by her father. She picked a therapist, when this therapist got a packet of information from the father she insisted that my daughter be seen somewhere else for treatment,, but then he refused that. About a month into going back and forth, Rose Anderson refused to speak to me about getting my daughter help and in Dec my daughter ended up in a psychiatric hospital… because Bortner claimed that if she doesn’t visit her abuser, then I would jail.
Meanwhile, since her 5 day hospital stay and discharge, she has had 2 appointments, both thwarted by her father. Although, he has one “therapist” convinced that she is the one not wanting to take her on as a patient
CYF of Chester COUNTY was another story too, they were going to allow 3 unsupervised visits even though the sexual abuse case was still open. Saying,,, oh it’s OK he said that he would have someone there to supervise.
There is something EXTREMELY WRONG with CHESTER COUNTY FAMILY COURT.
Rose Anderson is a sad excuse for anyone dealing with somthing so important as a child…Sorry, this is not just a job, these people in these positions, screw and hurt many innocent children and families…West Chester Family Court, A Pathetic Bunch
I know what you have taught your children and I pray they get to live with their father. You are a psycopath to much in love with your own self to be able to raise children with respect for others and a higher conscience.
I know that there are 100’s of people in Chester County that have be court ordered to see Dr. BRUCE E. MAPES. Were you shocked when you read his report only to find that he twisted beyond recognition what was discussed in the interview, left inportant facts our or taken statements out of context.
Share you experience. Leave a message or send a text to the Mapes On Exhibit (MOE) hotline. The number is (610) 295-5405.
Please no names, no obsenties, just your comments about your experience with Dr. Mapes.
I think there should be a class action suit against the Court System in Chester County. Can we bring it to the PA Superior Court? I feel sick that Mapes is playing with the lives of children to earn a living.
GM
I think that any parent that has NOT received a fair and objective evaluation by Dr. Mapes and can document this should file a complaint with the State Board of Psychology, the DA or let the Court know.
If you or I filed an inaccurate report with the Court or gave inacurate information while under OATH we would most likely be charged with perjury. Should ther be any different treatment of Dr. Bruce E. Mapes.
Experts like Bruce MApes have an obligation (morally and legally) to accurately report the facts and defend how they arrived at their recommendation. If his facts are inaccurate he also has an obligation to issue a corrected report.
Parents have the right to have this information corrected and MUST DEMAND that it be corrected.
Lets say your custody arrangement is acceptable for the moment. 12 months down the road circumstances change and you wish to make a change. On review of Dr. Mapes report you recall that he twisted and manipulated the truth to make the other parent look better than she actually was, that he had reported on things that were not true, and totally misrepresented your position re: custody.
Do you think that you will have any chance to get a custody modification with DR. MAPES report sitting on top of the file.
Chances are that the report, will be looked on as “pearls of wisdom”.
His “hit and run” report with all its errors of fact, misquotes and inaccuracies of what was said during the interview will never be corrected. YOU WON’T EVEN HAVE A CHANCE TO CONFRONT DR. MAPES UNDER OATH, yet his report will have a lasting impact.
Parents should and must demand that Dr. Mapes be held accountable. If his reports are ture and accurate he has nothing to fear.
Share you experience. Leave a message or send a text to the Mapes On Exhibit (MOE) hotline. The number is (610) 295-5405.
Please check our new post updated Bruce Mapes very concerned parents update. http://www.chestercountypost.com
So here is the question folks, we have parents that have posted comments here and several that left messages on the MOE hot-line. What are we going to do about Dr. Bruce E. Mapes?
He has not responded to any of these facts, he continues to do his verison of a “child custody evaluation” albeit incompleted and of questionable valuet to the courts. Families continuing to get hurt by his lack of objective practices.
I wrote the President Judge of Chester County Court of Common Pleas (Judge Ott) outlining my concerns about the continued use of the evaluator and my request for a judicial review of Dr. Bruce E. Mapes. In October 2008, I received a telephone call Judge Ott’s legal clerk. She indicated that my letter was being taken seriously.
Any parent that has experienced first hand a Mapes evaluation and been subject to the truth being twisted should DEMAND his removal and should DEMAND that their money be returned. We did not get way we paid for!
A MORNING protest of Dr. Mapes office (60 Boot Road, West Chester, PA) may help bring some free advertising to Dr. Mapes and this cause. If you want this guy to stop his unfair evaluation practice we need to organize.
We could assemble at WAWA and walk up to his office. Someone suggest a DATE AND TIME.
http://chestercountyrants.com/2009/06/25/children-and-youth-rita-borzillo-nosy-neighbors-in-downingtown-teachers-teen-suicide/
Dr Mapes also twisted many facts in my case, and then punted me and my ex off to individual counselling since he made no decision (maybe that was a good thing). All the time and money wasted going to sessions with him were wasted. He did nothing more than complicate our case and then sent us off to someone else. He probably was laughing all the way to the bank with the fees we had to pay to him
I’m sure he went he laughing all the way to the bank. He is nothing more than a hired hand who will sell his BS story to the highest bidder.
Ethics be damned, truth be damned.
Did you have the same experience where he put you in a downstares location to complete the MMPI? Did he also tell you to leave the MMPI test form (with your name on it) unattended in that location?
Can you verify that he lied in your report? If so we should talk. See the MOE hot line in an earlier post.
THANK GOD FOR DR. BRUCE MAPES. THIS MAN WAS ABLE TO PUT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF THOUGHT AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE TOWARDS MY VERY DIFFICULT CASE. I INCLUDE DR. MAPES IN MY PRAYERS AT NIGHT FOR ALL HE HAS DONE FOR ME AND MY CHILDREN. I CONSIDER THIS MAN TRULY CARING TOWARDS THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN HE SEE’S AND WORKS WITH IN HIS OFFICE.
ABSOLUTELY PROFESSIONAL PERSON WITH TREMENDOUS RESOLVE IN THE DIFFICULT MATTERS HE DEALS WITH.
THANK YOU DR. MAPES.
Dr. Mapes did not take enough time to truly evaluate everything. He saw us, for what felt like, a nano second, and placed my child in a position to be physically abused by her father again.
Albeit the physical altercation happened 3 months after the evaluation took place, but he is a psychologist, he is suppose to understand human nature and to evaluate the parents to see if there is a propensity to harm the child. And in my case he did not see it. In fact, his written evaluation was incomprehensible in some places and was filled with half truths and flat out lies against me.
Too much of what he says is held in high regard within the courts system in Chester County. He needs to start taking more time to evaluate each case, and he should charge a lot less.
I feel robbed for not getting a fair evaluation and it seems to me that the courts do not care about how much things cost to hard working people.
I understand you lost custody so you are mad. I understand that and I am sorry for your loss. I dont think any human being is perfect and I dont think any human being can know everything. I only know that in this position it is difficult to be correct 100% of the time. If you want to bash the guy then thats your business. I think you should be less critical of this mans job and findings until you walk a mile in his shoes. He has a tough position and he is never going to please both parties and thats just a fact he has to deal with. I understand your feelings but I dont understand you method of dealing with it.
I have sole physical custody, and I am not mad. My daughter and myself have a restraining order against her father because he is an abuser. He had abused her in the past and is unable to control himself.
Mapes and Hess placed my daughter in a supervised setting with a psychopath who happens to be her father. Her father has rights, but luckily Hess has realized her father’s true colors, but Mapes had not spent enough time to see the real person behind the facade.
This is frightening because he is making life decisions about people he hardly takes time to understand.
In June the father backed off after a physical altercation that he pleaded guilty to. The therapist told my 12 year old that her father wants to have no contact with her for “years”… and she is very happy about that.. although we will need to go back to conciliation next month. I think it is sad, that she wants nothing to do with him, but she had seen him perpetrate violence against me and her little 12 lb dog… and had experienced injuries herself.. that I completely understand her reasoning for not wanting to be anywhere near him.
Getting back on topic…. when a mile in Mapes , shoes places a child in the hands of a perpetrator, or he makes a life decision based on the notes of a third party, I think he needs a new pair of shoes, maybe take a break and recharge himself.
The fundamental problem with the custody evaluation process is that it is inherently flawed. The law requires that custody decisions be based on the best interests of the child. There is no psychological diagnostic tool that can predict who is the better parent. Yet when it comes to child custody cases the courts defer almost exclusively to the report and testimony of the evaluating psychologist. The so-called expert opinion is based on tests that prove nothing and interviews that are so short as to be worthless. The custody decision is ultimately based on the rather unscientific game of he said-she said. And the children are caught in the middle.
I am with you on that. Custody evaluations are worthless. The best interest of any child is to have both loving parents in their life. But when one of the parents isn’t loving and the child is scared to the point of becoming suicidal, then there is a huge problem. And chester county courts will not talk to children.
Custody evaluations are a crock! Bruce E. Mapes may be viewed by some as a “professional” BUT, those of us that have seen and experienced his form of professionalism know that he is simply a BS artist who simply sells his story to the highest bidder or the attorney that has the greatest referral potential.
Experts are unbiased – Mapes is not unbiased. Mapes as a “professional” has long ago forgot about professional ethics! It is clear that releasing confidential information to attorneys without consent and outside of the court order is an unethical practice.
Custody evaluations completed by Bruce E. Mapes have no value other than helping Mapes make a good living.
The Chester County Court system needs to ditch Mapes and the attorneys in Chester County need to step up and stop tolerating the twisting of the truth, and other abuses that occur in the context of a child custody evaluation as completed by Bruce Mapes.
Just to clarify, I am not at all unhappy wth my custody arrangements. I am, however, appalled with the way Mapes conducts his interview and his lack of committment to the truth as put forth in his report.
An interesting note here is that Timothy J. Trott (if it is the same Timothy J. Trott) is a well respected attorney in West Chester, PA.
Mr. Trott, I think you know first hand the abuses that happen in custody evaluations especially those conducted by Bruce Mapes.
Why dont you take on the cause to end these abuses in Chester County? Help those who have suffered by the hand of this “professional”.
Please help those parents that can prove that Mapes twisted and turned the turth into an unrecognizable mess. You would be doing the right thing for the Chester County community (parents and children).
Its about the law not justice! We are entitled to a fair and unbiased evaluation of the facts and to have this ACCURATELY reflected back to the court so that the needs and best interest of our children can be met.
When Mapes can condone that an abusive sex addicted violent perpetrator should have a week long unsupervised visit with his 11 year old daughter, who is suicidal because of him.. there is something VERY wrong.. this violent sex addict ended up physically harming my 80 lb daughter in front of 2 supervisors leaving bruises on her for a week.
Not to mention the mental abuse and FORCED reunification with her perpetrator.
What does that tell you about Dr. Mapes?
I told Mapes that I had to pick up my daughter from her father’s house while he hosted a sex party.. come to find out that she was there many times during these parties and she was only 11 at the time…..
Tell me there isn’t something wrong with Chester County Family Court!
Mapes is gullible… he cannot identify a sociopath when he sees one.
This is very scary for the children in Chester County.
When will the CHILDREN have a VOICE?
Wake up folks. Power is in numbers.
You need to take action if you have had one of Dr. Mapes so called child custody evaluations and witnessed first hand his inability it be unbiased, experienced the way in which he twists and turns the truth or the inaccuracy reflected in his reporting and his lack of professionalism (including his standard “I need to run to the bank, post office etc.,” just leave that highly sensitive MMPI form in a commonly used copy room).
Protest at his office, protest at the court house on custody hearing days – he must be forced out of his “expert role” and it can not happen on a case-by-case basis.
Mr. Trott will you be willing to help? GM can we talk? Anyone else out there willing to help please leave a comment on this site.
I will certainly state my case. I would like to talk to the media, or an attorney who can make a difference in the way custody cases are handled in Chester County.
Children need a voice, and they should not be reserved for people who can afford high priced lawyers.
Children need advocates.
The courts should be held liable if a parent commits violence against any child. If they are forcing children to be with dangerous parents they need to rethink their process and change the way cases are handled.
If a judges daughter was hurt during one of these “court ordered abuse” visits~ they would do something about it.
But since it is not and it’s just any girl from any town they do not care and it shows.
The courts are so afraid of being sued over parental “rights” being violated that it totally obscures the rights of the child.
Children have rights, the right to live in a home without the fear of being abused.
Lombardi refused to speak with my child AFTER Rose Anderson said that she would. NOW why isn’t there any consistency?
I have no choice but to fight for full custody, my 12 year old daughter said she’d kill herself if she has to be with her father.
So tell me what is a mother to do?
GM, many would argue that Bruce E. Mapes is the voice for the children caught up in custody matters. His role as a Court appointed “expert” is to represent to the Court “the best interest” of our children.
I think that those of us who have experienced Bruce E. Mapes know that the only thing he represents is his own twisted form of reality and his only motive is tomake a living.
If you think for one minute that Bruce E. Mapes cares about your child or the best outcome…think again.
His primary object is to make a good living. He is professionally lazy and really does not care about anything but his own self serving interests. His expert opinions are not based on the facts, but rather how many cases he can receive from the Chester County legal community.
Wake up people. If you want the truth represented in your child custody evaluation either seek another professional or have your attorney present during the evaluation.
I had no choice, he was appointed by the court. The Domestic Violence Center of Chester County said he was excellent and was highly recommended.
Boy, were they wrong. I’ll contact them later today and let them know that he is not as great as they make him out to be.
GM and anyone else reading this post,
Read carefully the APA Guidelines. APA gives you 10 years to file an ethics complaint. If you think there has been a violation of the APA ethical guidelines – consider filing a complaint.
It costs nothing for you to file a complaint however it can cost Bruce E. Mapes real $ to defend. Here is the address:
American Psychological Association
Ethics Office
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC
20002-4242
Phone: 202-336-5930
http://www.apa.org/ethics/homepage.html
You can also file a complaint with the State of PA against Mapes if you think that he acted in ways that go against the PA professional psychology practice act.
You have the right in this state to be protected from unethical professionals.
Again, there are no costs to you but for Mapes it can be a very costly to defend. No license, no practice = problem solved!
All matter presented in you complaint should be related to the practice act. Send in copies of all documents, letters, etc. to support your claim. Here is the address:
Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs
Department of State,
Professional Compliance Office,
PO Box 2649, 2601
North Third Street
Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649
1-800-822-2113
Here is the web site: http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/cwp/view.asp?a=1104&Q=432617&bpoaNav=|
GM,
Any other parent that took the MMPI as part of your child custody evaluation AND where shuffled off to the copy room AND were given the story by Dr. Bruce E. Mapes that he “needed to step out” – lets all join forces.
In an eariler post I indicated that the Mapes’ non standard administration of the MMPI represents unsound testing procedures.
Here is what the American Psychological Association Monitor and the APA’s Ethics Committee say about this practice
1. Nonmonitored administration of the MMPI does not represent sound testing practice and may result in an invalid assessment.
2. Test security cannot be guaranteed when the MMPI is allowed outside of the clinical setting [such as an unmonitored first floor copy room or left unattended for God knows how long].
3. There is debate as to whether there is even any circumstance in which it might be reasonable or appropriate to allow the MMPI to be completed outside of the clinical setting (Is a crappy little room used by the many non psychologist office occupants considered a “clinical setting”).
Here is what I am suggesting:
1) We all file a complaint withthe APA on some very specific grounds, i.e., improper test administration, failure to safeguard testing security, failure to safeguard personal and confidential information (ie unattended completed testing materials with your name on it).
2) We should work together on a coordinated filing date in order that our case against Mapes has more impact.
3) The date to submit the complaints to the APA should be posted on this page so that other who want to get behind this cause can do so.
4) We should also consider filing multiple complaints with the State of PA. It would be important that these be filed after the APA complaints AND for different issues (ie., NOT the MMPI issue).
5) Again, we should coordinate the submission date of the complaints.
6) Other wishing to get on board should read very carefully this post and reflect back on their dealings with Bruce E. Mapes and join this cause.
I trust that Chester County Rants will continue to support this very important cause by getting the word around to the loyal readers.
MOE
The copy room was a dump. I had assumed that the room was monitored remotely. But by the looks of his office it was evident that he did not put much money back into the business.
After all his “Packet” included that the money was supposed to be paid prior to any appointments being scheduled.
In Chester County Parental rights trump child safety, and they should not.
No one wants to understand the reason why my daughter feels unsafe, suicidal and afraid to be with her dad.I feel that she was a paycheck for Mapes.. and that her blatant abuse by the courts and Mapes disgusts me.
After all she went through at the hands of her father to be subjected to mental torture at the hands of the courts and Mapes is horrific.
GM and any other interested parties, lets work together to bring his professional conduct under review by the APA and the his liciencing group. You can leave a message on the MOE hotline.
If Mapes monitored anything via any electronic method including the interview without your expressed and written consent it is both a violation of PA law and against the APA code of ethics. I would not be surprised if he didn’t have his office wired to tape record these child custody evaluations.
If you review his written report iyou will find very long passages, often running 4-5 lines, that have quotes around them. This would indicate that it is a complete and verbatim statement you made during the interview.
Mapes is a 63 year old man, who likes to “drink matinies and smoke cigerettes”. It would not be too much of a stretch to assume that his memory is failing either by age or other circumstances. No way he could remember all that he puts in quotes and his chicken scratch notes are a complete mess.
He’s lazy professionally, and sure I think Mapes taped my interview as well without my consent or that of my children. It would not surprise me if he didn’t tape all of his interviews.
You can leave a message on the MOE hotline.
MOE
Is Dr Bruce Mapes practicing child custody evaluation from a scientific basis or is he just engaged in some form of junk science? Many suggest it is nothing but junk science.
excerpts from Family Court Review, April, 2009
Unfortunately, there is little scientific research on custody evaluations.
A substantial and important literature on custody evaluations does exist, but it is primarily directed at the performance or practice of evaluations. Much of this published work centers on the issue of best-practices standards for mental health professionals and tends to focus on micro, case-level issues related to how a responsible evaluator should conduct an assessment (Ackerman & Ackerman, 1996; American Psychological Association [APA], 1994; Bow & Quinnell, 2001; Gould, 2006; Martindale & Gould, 2004; Stahl, 1994).
There also is a research literature on the appropriateness and scientific validity of various psychological tests used in custody evaluations (Erard, 2007; Erickson, Lilienfield, & Vitacco, 2007a, b; Martindale & Gould, 2004; Quinnell & Bow, 2001). Addressing issues of measurement validity by identifying best practices and appropriate instruments is essential to all good science, but measurement validity is only the beginning. The scientific method also requires that testable hypotheses be formulated about the anticipated effects of practices such as custody evaluations and that these hypotheses be rigorously and empirically tested. Unfortunately, there is virtually no reported empirical research on custody evaluations that tests for hypothesized systemic effects. (Pruett, 2008).
Discouragingly, this assessment of the research on custody evaluations is not a new insight. Grisso (2005) indicates that “[t]he complaint that clinicians often exceed their scientific basis for child custody testimony was first heard about thirty years ago. . . .” Turket (2005) noted that, while custody evaluations are generally considered to be very important in processes related to resolving custody disputes, there is no research showing actual impact. Further, he notes that this assessment is unchanged from one based on his 1993 review of the same literature. Bala (2004) states the same overall conclusion: “This is not an area of professional practice that is guided by science, nor do many assessors engage in meaningful research to determine the validity of their individual analysis, predictions, or recommendations” and others have reached similar conclusions (Krauss & Sales, 2000; O’Donohue & Bradley, 1999). Because of the absence of rigorous scientific studies assessing the accuracy and impact of custody evaluations, it is not possible to determine whether custody evaluations have no overall effect, significant overall negative effects, significant overall positive effects, or some combination of positive and negative effects. This is distressing in light of the fact that courts consider the evaluations, often recognize evaluators as experts, and it is recommended that forensic child custody evaluations be scientifically informed (Gould & Martindale, 2007).
I am curious if there were follow up studies done in reference to the children who were subjected to custody evaluations in their past.
One these children turn into adults they should be able to go back and sue the courts and officers of the courts who placed them in harms way.
If a terrorist threatens the United states we put them away , if a parent threatens to hurt a child, the most vulnerable of our society, the courts hand them over to their terrorist. This does NOT make sense.
Like that 17 year old that fled to Florida, in her case both parents want to kill her…. and she has to “FIGHT’ to be kept safe? Does anyone see a problem with how things are for children?
We need a severe change in the way children are being treated in courts.
GM,
You’re not likening Bruce E. Mapes to a terrorist are you?
I will do some research on child custody evaluation outcomes. I’m sort of thinking that there is not much information out there about the long term impact. As noted above there is a general LACK of scientific data on these sort of evaluations. Its sort of a big black hole that these so call professionals want to keep secret. Remember were talking their meal ticket.
Perhaps Dr. Mapes could address this question. How about it Dr. Mapes?
Its sort of interesting that Mapes has not made a single comment to defend himself. I’m thinking he knows hes been caught with his hands in the cookie jar.
Lots of people have read this post and I’m sure that many lawyers are moving away from using this guy based on this post.
I made no correlation between Mapes and a terrorist.
But I believe that he can sleep at night completely free from guilt, even if he feels that he may be placing a child in a dangerous situation.
I believe that any person who instills fear in a child, by threats or harming them physically emotionally or mentally, are terrorists. The absolute worst type.
And when the victims are their own children, I see no difference between a parent who threatens a child, and a terrorist who threatens or attacks a country.
Mapes is just the enabler, I liken him to the Airport security guard who looks the other way.
Someone that we rely on to keep us safe, yet refuses to accept responsibility when his actions allow a perpetrator to get away with a crime.
Mape’s Custody Evaluation was based on lies, and while my ex does not have access to our daughter at the present time, his evaluation leaves open the door for week long visits in the future. And it was never amended after the physical altercation in front of two supervisors where she was left bruised for a week.
There is something VERY wrong in Chester County Family Court.
Hey GM,
Everyone who has ever had a child custody evaluation completed by Bruce E. Mapes has complained that they only received 45 mins to 1 hour as part of the evaluation process. Hardly enough time understand the facts, let alone the biopsychosocial issues.
Whats interesting is that it discusses the “average time a competent psychologist spends on conducting a child custody evaluation.
The title of the article is Child Custody Evaluation Practices: A Survey of Experienced Professionals (Revisited). By Marc J. Ackerman, and Melissa C. Ackerman. They are prolific writers on child custody evaluations.
It was published in Professional Psychology: Research and Practice 1997, Vol. 28, No. 2, 137-145 – © 1997 by the American Psychological Association Inc. THATS RIGHT THE APA.
“The average child custody evaluation, with report writing, takes 26.4 hours, which is 7.6 hours greater than it was in Keilin and Bloom’s (1986) study. However, almost all of this difference comes from the increased
amount of time spent reviewing materials and report writing.”
OK lets review Mapes evaluation time. Im being overly generous:
2 adult visits @ 45 min each = 1.5
2 child visits @ 45 min each = 1.5
2 adult/child visits @ 45 min each = 1.5
Grand total of time Bruce E. Mapes spends in direct face to face contact with parents and children in a “Mapes style” child custody evaluation is less than 6 hours.
So lets be generous lets give him 2 hours to reviw records, 1 hour to score the MMPI and 3 hours to dictate the report. Thats 12 hours.
Seems like a far cry from the average of 26.4 hours. Is it any wonder that he makes mistakes, fill in the missing information with his own version, or frankly just makes things up?
Dr. Mapes, its time for you to retire.
There was not enough time to do a complete investigation , in my case.
I am certain that many people ,even Mapes may believe that as long as he is “keeping the family together” he is doing his job.
Keeping the family intact at all cost despite the fear and suicidal ideation of a child, is not only wrong, it is a placing the most vulnerable of our citizens in the hands of their perpetrators.
When will the children have the basic human right to live in peace? Or have a home without domestic violence?
There is a long history of Domestic violence with this guy, so why are they treating this as if we are dealing with a normal dad who misses his daughter?
For 6 LONG months they tried to reunify them. It did not work.
I drove her and forced her to go every week, and somehow he blames me for it not working.
Reunification therapy was a joke. All he did was scream and yell at her telling her how rotten I am and how my family is evil…. in front of the therapist. And when she would stand up for her family, he would blow up and yell at her, ultimately leaving a session to violate the PFA by coming outside to scream obscenities at me, within earshot of my daughter and the therapist.
Even still, supervised visits were in order, and by the 4th one he hurt her, leaving her bruised for a week.
CY&F said that he needs to break a bone for it to rise to the level of abuse.
I must say if it rises to that level, she would be dead, because he is unable to control himself. He wouldn’t stop.
CYF .. that is another story
There is no protocol to prevent violence, just to treat it once it has occurred.Placing victims in the hands of their pertpetrators, to “see what happens”. Sorry neither I nor my daughter are not going to be a part of some social experiment.
Do what you have to do, I will try to do what I can right now without compromising my case.
Take Care,
GM
Hello GM,
I had a chance to review my notes made immediately after my interview with Dr. Bruce E. Mapes. To my surprise (not really) I can only account for 20 (twenty) original questions he asked. The rest of the questions were in follow up to the original question or corrections to his original guestion. That number was in the neighborhood of 25 give of take. So in 50 or so questions spanning 52 mins Mapes is able to determine the best interest of my children.
Much of his questioning was just stupid rephrasing of the same closed ended questions.
Here is an example:
Have there been any changes in her routine? Answered NO
His very next question:
Is (child) getting up at about the same time?
Answered YES
Seems impossible that you can determining the best interest of two children with approximately 50 questions. My interview was eactly 52 mins long. On average that about 1 question (and response) per min.
With the rapid fire questioning is it any wonder her gets things all goofed up? During my interview he made many errors in his questions that lead me to beleive that he did not spend much time reviewing his records and causes me to question if he even could find the records.
When I told him the answer to one of his question was in the documents I submitted prior to the interview, He started paging through is records for a min ot two and then concluded: …well you know you can’t find anything when you need it…
He referred to my employer as that of my former spouse – Again phrased in a closed question format.
You work for the XYZ Group?
Answered NO. This again prompted him to tear through his records.
Your youngest goes to ABC School?
Answered NO. Again he had to tear through the record to get the correct information.
Way back in my very first undergraduate interviewing course we learned that you need to prepare for an interview. We also learned that if you ask closed ended questions you only going to get simple responses. Bruce Mapes clinical interviewing skills leaves a lot to be desired.
What Mapes does is worse than looking the other way (to follow your airport security guard anology). What he does is punch in to work and then professionally falls asleep.
Mapes is an ass.
I think the entire system is shattered.
The courts make money off of people’s inability to make rational choices.
When you factor in the criminal conduct of some people ( which is unbelievably kept separate from family court) it can get WAY out of hand.
You have the “Court Whores”
making life and death decisions about children.
Normally, the best interest of the child would be two loving parents. BUT when one of these parents has in fact,INJURED a child during these court ordered supervised visits there is a BIG HUGE problem with this system as a whole.
Does anyone want to talk about Immersion Therapy? It is when a person has an irrational fear of something that CAN”T harm them. Like butterflies.. they are immersed in a room full of butterflies, until their fear subsides.
Do you know what they are proposing to do to my daughter? Place her in the hands of her perpetrator (her father) for one entire month. He has HURT her THREATENED her and yet this is what they are proposing to do to MY child..
She is NOT an EXPERIMENT!!!!
If ANYTHING happens to MY DAUGHTER I will personally hold the courts of CHESTER COUNTY responsible, including MAPES, HESS, LOMBARDI and whichever judge presides over the hearing.
She is all I have…I cannot have anymore children.. On the other hand her father can have as many more children as he wants. He has an adult daughter that he neglected as a child and tried to connect with for 3 months but now she wants NOTHING to do with him and she is afraid of him. Does anyone see a pattern here?
Immersion Therapy??
GM are you kidding me. No self respecting behavioral health professional would recommend immersion therapy in a situation where it is known that a person could in fact be harmed – i.e., physical harm or there is some basis in reality that this person is at risk of harm.
Ask yourself and any professional who recommends Immersion Theray if there is any research that demonstrates that this therapy works in stuations where there is a clear and present danger of REAL harm.
Ask if there is any peer reviewed research that shows that immersion therapy works in abuse situations with children/adults in abuse situations.
As parents we would be hauled in to court if we knowingly put our kids in harms way or exposing them to un-necessary risk.
Sounds like a BS plan, GM.
We will see what happens when it goes to trial in March 2010.
I agree that NO Psychologist will condone this type of “Pseudo-therapy”.
GM
Gm if you think I can lend support to case by impuning the integrity of mapes let me know. He has zero creditability and needs to be caught lying on the stand. MOE
dr mapes screwed over as well. gave me the same test in that downstairs room and said he would be back and he went to wawa. He to told me to leave the test booklet down there.Needless to say he gave me a bad report .He also asked me a seris of jepordey qustions to determine my memory. Ex like what temp does water boil, who wrote hamlet. This guy is a ….ing wacko
Hello AA, Sorry to hear you had a bad experience with Bruce E. Mapes, but most people do. He is a very crafty and sneaky manipulator of the truth whose only interest is getting more cases.
I am less concerned about the qustions he asked than the testing in the little room and leaving the completed test booklet in an unsecure room.
The questions he asked are not really about memory, but rather, your general fund of knowledge. These sort of questions comprise a SUBTEST on the Verbal IQ measure called Information. It is similar to “Trivial Pursuit,” this subtest measures fund of factual information. It is strongly influenced by culture. An American education and intact long-term memory will contribute to a higher score. Questions like: “Who discovered the NorthPole; What is the population of the United States. While this is a sub-test on a larger test it gives a general feel for the persons fund of knowledge. Should it be reported as a single item and used to make a case that some one is either smart or no so smart? If it was the only test used and reported as a test that determined general knowledge then this is what the professionals call a MISUSE or ABUSE of the testing and should be report to the state board of psychology. Their address is listed in elsewhere in this post.
The administration of the MMPI-2 in a copy room and instructions to leave your test score sheet in an unsecure location is considered to be poor practice but is also a potential ethical violation of test security, qnd will contibute to a violation of test protocal. This is a very serios matter when the test resuts are used in a court matter. Again if you think that Mapes violated his ethical obligations by way of licience or professional ethics, consider reporting him to the Commonwealth of PA Office of Professional Compliance or the American Psychological Association, Ethics Office. Issues related to how to file these complaints are listed in eariler posts.
By the way, check the date that your check was cashed. You’ll find it was cashed on the day of the evaluation and if your bank time stamps the check you’ll find it to be during the time he had to “run out” Is he interested in test security or getting his money?
The guy needs to be stopped. If you know of other that have been harmed by this so called “professional” please encourage them to make a post and also encourage them to file complaints. The more people that file complaints with the State Office of Professional Compliance the better chance someone will listen.
Ethical conduct is a very serious matter in these sort of evaluations since your under a court order. If Mapes can not carry out these evaluation in an ethical and unbiased way he should and must be held accountable by the Court that ordered his involvement. It is that simple – it is the LAW in this Commonwealth.
You may also consider filing a complaint against Mapes with the President Judge in Chester County. That person is ultimately responsible for the conduct of the court appointed experts in Chester County Court of Common Pleas. The more legimate concerns that are presented to the President Judge the better our chances of getting Mapes removed from the “expert” list.
If I can be of further assistance let me know.
Here is another area that any parent undergoing a child custory evaluation MUST be aware of.
A few years ago there were some changes made to the domestic relations rules that make it impossible for you to bring a complaint against a licienced psychologist (or other mental health professional) to the attention of of the Office of Professional Compliance during a child custody evaluation or 90 days following the pending matter.
If you feel that the evaluator is playing games, failing to keep up his ethical and professional responsibilities then the matter must be taken to the Court for intervention. You are unable to make a licience complaint against the professional until 90 days after the matter has been resolved.
You are in effect being denied access to the system that the State set up to protect you from unethical and unprofessional licienced professionals. This is an OUTRAGE. Is it any wonder the psychologists in this state supported this measure?
Do Judges know that they MUST step up and be the first line of defense when parents are suject to unethical or unprofessional conduct during a child custody matter. Do they want to get involved, do they even care?
These are important matters. If you have been harmed by a child custody evaluator, if what you said during the evaluation was twisted and turned beyond recognition, if you feel thay the evaluator has not complied with the exsting ethical and professional standards you MUST let the Judge know.
Its your right and it is their responsibilty to take action. Don’t wait until its too late – take action NOW.
Yes you are completely right in that regards. I had filed a complaint against an attorney who was spreading lies about me, saying that I was a drug addict to my daughter’s school secretary. Also that I did not supply them the correct PFA order that allows my daughter’s biological father access to her during school hours( which is a blatant lie) and could have given a violent man access to my daughter. Meanwhile he had violated the order 4 times in a three month period and they extended it another year. There was NOTHING unethical according to the Supreme Court of PA Disciplinary Board. these people oversee the conduct of lawyers in the entire state of Pennsylvania.
I am outraged, It’s time we get the media involved.
There is no other legal way to get the justice that all of these children deserve.
PLEASE LET’S DO SOMETHING SOON
GM, I am ready when you are. Use the MOE hotline.
We need as many people as possible to join in. ALL PARENTS should be outraged. It could easily happen to you, your sister, brother, son or daughter. This is a community issue that must be addressed.
Wow..I have heard many rumors about Dr.Mapes also. I have just decided to go with him because I trust the Judges and Rose Anderson, they have been fair . Rose Anderson has been a Master for years, she should never leave that position, the kids in chester county need her, she truly cares about the child. You as the parent should be your childs advocate, Rose listens, to Mom and to Dad. She is very thorough, sharp and wise. She knows how to pull the truth out, she is very good at it. This is a gift as anyone can be a lawyer, not everyone is gifted at it. She hears both parents and tries to problem solve. I feel she should do all custody matters. Judge Reiley, Griffin and MacElree are very caring Judges about the children. I dont know who you are having problems with but get with one of these Judges and see how much they care for our childen, I trust them completly Remember,itis hard to accept that it is better for a child to see both parents no matter what. The courts know what they are doing.Im hopeful Dr.Mapes will make a good recomendation for my son,Ican only really trust God for the outcome.
Here is my advise, if you have a father or mother who is difficult, get with a counseling agency like Southeastern Pa, Counseling Services or Family Services. Co-Parenting I think the courts should make mandatory in every case where there is high levels of conflict and make the inflicter attend until every problem is corrected. Then if they will not correct the problems the court should enter a very detailed order. The person being difficult wilol learn or go broke doing so.
“Im hopeful Dr.Mapes will make a good recomendation for my son.”
After reading all of this your still hopeful that this “professional” will come up with a good recommendation? Good luck – this might be wishful thinking.
Ask that your attorney be present during the interview or seek a court reporter to transcribe the interview so that you can assure that what you say is accurately reported (and in the correct context).
Be on your toes, be alert, this professional can not be trusted. He sees things as he calls ’em. Confabulation on his part will fill in the blanks and he’ll never correct any mis-infomation and will swear on the stand that thats how he sees things. That is if you get that far.
Being a trustworth communicator of information is not a strong suite.
Dr. Mapes is a hack, he charges $1800 to do an evaluation then meets with people for an hour and a half, also he on Chester County payroll and turns out a report full of errors and even misspelled several words including having my child’s name wrong at least 3 times. Say my ex spouse “Tends to present herself in a more positive light” also says that she seemed to have more of a plan, sounds like a contradiction. When most people do a report and it has errors you tend not to put much weight into it. My advice: from the parent that was “open and candid”, devise a story to paint the other parent as unfit, make false allegations, get people to lie for you and lie (don’t worry even if you are caught under oath doesn’t matter it’s family court in Chester County PA). These masters are a joke one master recommended a co-parenting counselor who after I brought up many issues about my ex-spouses parenting short comings made ridiculous comments including the following; My ex-spouse told my then 5 year old to lie to me “That’s okay because we had not discuss travel plans” so have a 5 year old lie for the parent? Also my ex-spouse was “Allowed” to take my 5 year old around her 45 year old pot head brother in law, “why would you have a problem with that pot heads are non violent; it’s illegal but they are non-violent”
I am confused and scared…It is in my court order that I use Dr. Mapes…my family therapist said it may be rumors unfortunatly for the doctor, I simply cannot take the chance…this person could make a decision that would be detrimental to my sons whole life. Does anyone know of any other evaluators that have a good reputation?
You should have a discussion with your attorney about your concerns. Tell your therapist to do more homework on Mapes.
Its not just rumor…facts are facts. If your therapist is a psychologist ask about admistration on the MMPI in unsupervised settings, ask if it is an ok thing to leave testimg materials (with your name on it) in an open and un secure area within 3 steps from an open door? Ask your therapist if its an okay thing to release medical information to the other side without your ok. Ask your therapist if its ok to make recommendations to terminate a parents rights based entirely on a review of records. Ask you therapist if its ok to suggest that a telephone conversation is sufficient to determine if a person has a mental illness, and then suggest that to the court that neither part has a mental health problem. Ask your therapist if its ok to engage in converations with the other sides attorney and deny it when confronted. Ask your therapist if its ok to use other professionals records as the entire basis of your clinical decision making.
This “professional” is a hack that has no ethics.
I’d be fearful too.
Afetr I had psychologist who has custody evaluation experience read his report, the psychologist called him a hack.
Hey Bruce Smith,
Did he give you the MMPI? Did he leave you in the copy room to finish the test? Did he give you the instructions to leave the completeted test materials in the copy room? Did he tell you he had to step out? Did he state in his report that a “valid MMPI profile was obtained” by the MMPI?
I refused to leave my confidential MMPI answer sheet unattended while he “stepped out”. I took the MMPI answer sheet home with me. Funny thing – he made a report of the MMPI with pure BS.
You can’t report something you never had, now can you? Hack, I think its worse than that.
Anonymous,
He included the MMPI even though you never gave it to him? He did leave me in the downstairs copy room and stepped out, someone else posted their check was deposited at the same time he stepped out. I’m not sure but I think the MMPI is the only thing that is impartial during this evaluation process. His testimony included a satement that was not included in his report. If the guy has been feeding off family court for years, maybe it’s time for new blood. I read another post that said a custody evaluation should take 26 hours, I doubt he spent a totoal of 10 including preparing this report. Taking emotion out of the situation which is impossiable I have several questions for him. If I write him a letter does he have to respond. I read 1 post that said he has done 700 to 800 custody evaluations, in court he said 200. The lawyers, judges and Dr. Mapes get their money reguardless of outcome. The children suffer.
Sounds like a turn bull shi* story to me. On the record he informed the court that he has completed about 700 to 800 of these evaluations. Its very clearly noted in the trial transcript that he has done 700 to 800 of these child custody evaluations. Guess telling the truth between cases does not really matter.
Clearly looks like a problem to me but then again I don’t make the determination whats truth verses just plain BS…thats up to our judges and DA to determine…
Is the MMPI impartial? Does it really have anything to do with you capacity to parent, to form a bond with your child. Not at all. Was a valid profile obtained? This is a very vital part of the test – if a valid profile was not obtained – one has to question why the results would be reported.
Are there specific norms in the MMPI-2 that address the specific parental capacity of say white males between the ages of 30 -45. The answer is a resounding NO. The MMPI was not designed or normed to assess parental capacity or ones ability to form a bond with their child. Thats what these evaluations are to look at and thats what Mapes says in his introductory letter.
Seems to me that it would be much more important to have a look see at the home the child will live in, what the conditions are in that home, mqke some specific observations of parent and child doing homework together or engaging in some form of activity. To this point one needs to ask Can someone with a “personality” be a fine parent. You bet they can – so the point here is what does the MMPI really report as related to parental capacity? NOT MUCH.
Anonymous ,
I still can’t get over the fact that his reasons for me not getting 50/50 custody or more visitation cantained in the report did not match his testimony. Then sying My ex had more of a plan after he questioned her honesty? Is this a contradiction or what. He did not at all question the bonds I have with my children. My ex wife paid his fees, unbiased?
More than likely this happens all the time. So Bruce Smith what are you going to do? Do you have the trial transcript – if he lied on the stand and it is reflected in the trial transcript that he lied under oath discuss your concerns with the DA or your attorney.
You can file a complaint with the Office of Professional Compliance around his compliance with his professional standards. Its a freeby to file. IF you are going to file a complaint it takes lots of time to work through the process. The PA Department of State web site is a good place to start. If the sort of claims you are making are violations of the professional standards it can cost him lots of $ to defend and perhaps his ability to practice.
This fellow need to retire or the County needs to remove him from the list of approved providers.
I have not been as active on this site as some. The information that is contained on the site about Mapes is indeed troubling. He has not a clue how bad a job he does and what a lousy psychologist he really is. What’s even more distressing is that the Court has not a clue either.
I just sent in a rather large post concerning Bruce Mapes. IT SHOULD BE UP IN THE NEXT DAY OR SO. Hope you find it helpful, especially the new visitors to the site. USE THIS INFORMATION TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.
Suggested uses include speaking to you attorney about your fears, ask for a different evaluator. There are other evaluators approved in Chester County. Be prepared to answer his questions by making sure that you include the answers to these questions in writing. Make sure you incorporate you responses to these questions in the information you will be asked to submit. Make sure that you have your attorney include, in the Court order and Mapes appointment that he is not permitted to have ANY, I repeat ANY discussions about your case with ANYONE not specifically identified in the court order. Make sure that your attorney requests the Court to include clear enforcement language if Mapes has dialogue with ANY of the attorneys representing either party or if he releases ANY information about you or your kids that is not clearly or specifically referenced in the Court order. Trust me he is known as the King of exparte communication.
Furthermore, it is clear that Dr. Mapes does not follow the American Psychological Association standards of practice/quidelines and is incapable of providing an evaluation in accordance with the APA standards of performing child custody evaluations. You should insist that your court order require that he perform the evaluation in accordance with all of the appropriate APA guidelines. If you don’t you will get nothing but dr. Mapes version of what he thinks a child custody evaluation should look like.
Insist that your court order include that dr. Mapes be held accountable to correct any and all misinformation that he included in the report. If you are not given this opportunity (even if the corrected information would not change Mapes recommendations), this faulty information will haunt you for years to come. Make sure that a formal process is in place to assure that Mapes changes the information and that it’s included in e court record.
I guess you are getting the point that this man is not to be trusted. He is not trustworthy.
I just wrote a rather long post about our friend Bruce Mapes. It should be up very soon, and I hope it is helpful to all. Bruce E. Mapes, PhD needs to be stopped. Read it and take action to stop this so call professional.
he did the same thing with me,the mmpi unattended downstairs,
then twisted his report!
He wrote a book about a little girl patient that was sexually abused..to make him seem like he really listens to children and cares about them.. but in reality he doesn’t give a shit if YOUR child was abused or not. It is all about money with him.
Attributes the severe abusive behavior and the EX husband’s excuse as “Being Italian”, as the reason WHY he was so abusive.
He needs to have a lawsuit thrown against him in the worst way. I am talking class action… anyone in?
GM: Is there anything you think of that can be done? The law protects Mapes against filings because he is involved in custody proceedings.