This is your go-to Podcast, where we help parents navigate the complexities of family life. Hosted by Ali Kessler of Greyson’s Choice, we’ll cover everything from understanding domestic violence to navigating the legal system, finding the right therapists, life hacks, family law, mental health, custody battles, and how to protect children in dangerous situations.

Dr. Catherine Barrett, a licensed clinical forensic psychologist, shares her journey and expertise in the field of forensic psychology, particularly focusing on domestic violence and risk assessment. She discusses the importance of understanding the complexities of domestic violence, the role of forensic psychologists in legal cases, and the challenges faced in family court. Dr. Barrett emphasizes the need for proper training in domestic violence for legal professionals and the significance of building a supportive legal team to ensure justice for victims. The conversation also highlights the importance of recognizing risk factors and the historical context of abusive behavior in assessing future risks. In this conversation, Catherine Barrett and Ali Kessler delve into the complexities of parenting, the influence of cults, and the failures of the judicial system in protecting children. They discuss the psychological implications of being involved with narcissistic individuals and the importance of recognizing red flags in relationships. The conversation emphasizes the need for systemic change in family courts to prioritize child welfare over parental rights and the challenges faced by mothers in custody battles. They also touch on the healing process from toxic relationships and the intersection of mental health and true crime.

About Catherine Barrett:

Dr. Catherine Barrett is a licensed Clinical Forensic Psychologist, based out of Los Angeles, California. She first gained clinical experience after graduating from the University of Southern California in 2009, with a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Through her training and experience, she has worked with marginalized communities, committed to social justice in mental health, and has developed a practice that is not only cross-culturally competent but also affirmative.

Clinical training and populations include addiction recovery, LGBTQ+, domestic and intimate partner violence, chronic mental illness, and narcissistic personality disorder. Dr. Barrett specializes in narcissistic abuse recovery.

Following a Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, Dr. Barrett continued her commitment to social justice and psychology in the law by obtaining a Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Forensic Psychology. She graduated from Alliant International University’s California School of Forensic Studies in 2014. A significant amount of her training was in risk assessment, evaluation, and treatment of sex offenders, sexually violent predators, mentally disordered offenders, and individuals found not guilty because of insanity. Dr. Barrett completed her Pre-Doctoral internship at the San Francisco Forensic Institute, where she evaluated, treated, and ran psychological assessments on sex offenders and sexually violent predators. Dr. Barrett was first certified with the Sex Offender Management Board at this time.

Dr. Barrett has performed various clinical and forensic assessments, including psycho-educational evaluations, risk assessment, and psychological evaluations for court. Dr. Barrett has been clinically trained and certified to administer the ABEL Assessment of sexual interest and the STABLE-2007, which measures potential risk for future violence. She has also assisted Dr. Charles Flinton in administering the Penile Plethysmograph (PPG) to forensic hospital patients at Patton State Hospital in San Bernardino, California. Dr. Barrett has spent a significant amount of time providing group and individual therapy, as well as risk...