

William Bernet, M.D.
Professor Emeritus Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Kaire Talviste-Baiocco, M.A. (EGTC)
Expert assessment of a child’s
best interests in family matters.
Rafaela Lehtme, PhD. (Tallinn University)
Lecturer of Children's Rights and Advocacy in Tallinn University
ONLINE WORKSHOP SERIES FOR SPECIALISTS
“There are no battles in the courtroom more brutal or intense
than those fought over children,”
-an attorney with extensive experience in post-separation custody cases.
Some custody disputes become so heated that they spill into the public sphere, where people are compelled to form opinions and take sides based on limited information. Issues involving children resonate deeply - with personal histories, emotional responses, and genuine compassion all shaping public perception.
Professionals working with these highly complex cases are not immune to these same influences. They operate in an environment of conflicting narratives, competing interests and power struggles. At the same time, they are expected to remain focused on one central principle: the best interests of the child.
This requires a high level of professional knowledge, skills and self-awareness, an ability to recognize one’s own biases, value systems, and emotional triggers, alongside the professional duty to act when a child’s well-being is at risk. It also demands a clear understanding of which behaviors are harmful to children, what they need protection from, and what constitutes “good enough” parenting.
The most crucial question: how can children be protected
in high conflict separation?
How can harmful and abusive behaviors, particularly those which end up for a child by losing one parent, be recognized and evaluated? How can theoretical knowledge be supportive, understood and thoughtfully addressed in professional practice?
This workshop series is designed to explore these important questions in depth. It offers a space for respectful dialogue, shared reflection, and meaningful professional exchange in a supportive and collaborative environment.
We are especially honored to welcome internationally renowned experts, who will share their knowledge, experience, and diverse perspectives on navigating the complex challenges that arise in high-conflict family contexts.
This is a rare opportunity to engage directly with leading voices in the field, gain valuable insights, and connect with other professionals committed to thoughtful and effective practice.
Welcome & Opening Remarks | Kaire Talviste-Baiocco, M.A. (EGTC)
Guest insight | Rafaela Lehtme, PhD. (Tallinn University)

Lena Hellblom Sjögren, Ph.D.,
is a Swedish licensed psychologist who has investigated and researched individual cases of contact refusal for three decades. She has been an expert witness in courts all over Sweden and Norway, focused on the child’s human rights to family life.
Considering the following areas:
Neurodevelopment
Attachment theory
Learning psychology
Suggestibility and memory
Personality functioning and disorders
Parental alienation
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