“Parenting coordination is a non adversarial dispute resolution process that is court ordered or agreed on by divorced and separated parents who have an ongoing pattern of high conflict and/or litigation about their children.”
-APA. (2012). Guidelines for the Practice of Parenting
Coordination. American Psychologist, 67(1), 63-71.
Sarah B. Vasquez is a parenting coordinator, coach. and guardian ad litem who brings to her work a decade of experience with high-conflict families undergoing divorce and separation. Sarah is committed to helping people avoid unnecessary court appearances and expensive litigation, and to protecting the best interests of those involved.
Sarah received her bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology from the University of Michigan. She specialized in Latin American and Caribbean studies, linguistics and medical anthropology. During her studies, Sarah began to investigate how laypeople navigate difficult systems such as medicine or law. This sparked an interest in learning how innocent people get caught in and ground up by such systems, and how to help people to better navigate them.
Sarah also received her master’s degree in public health at University of Michigan. Here, she continued her research on how people navigate systems, and also specialized in human sexual behavior. At the same time, she worked in a law firm that focused on false allegations of sexual abuse, and her research began to focus on the effects of false allegations, how these allegations come about in high-conflict divorce and what can be done about them.
In her experience in the legal field, Sarah has worked with numerous families undergoing very high-conflict divorce. Under the supervision of a psychologist and a lawyer, she authored reports and recommendations for use in court. Additionally, she became proficient at managing the psychological aspect of cases, including: case management, assisting clients undergoing psychological assessment, depositions of psychology professionals, interpretations of tests or psychological results, and much more.
Sarah holds a Ph.D in clinical psychology specializing in neuropsychology and forensic psychology. She is also a certified parenting coordinator, having attended training with the Cooperative Parenting Institute.
Areas of Practice
- Parenting coordination
- Alternative dispute resolution
- Guardian ad litem
- Scientific research
- Litigation coaching
- Report evaluation and review
Professional Associations & Memberships
- Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC)
- Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
- American Psychological Association
- Washtenaw County Bar Association
- Ypsilanti Bar Association
- University of Michigan Alumni Association
Recent Training
- Association of Family & Conciliation Courts, Regional Training – 2013, Mediation, MMPI-2, Custody Evaluation, Conflict Management
- Cooperative Parenting Institute – 2012, Certified Parenting Coordinator
Recent Publications/Contributions:
- D. Lorandos, T. Campbell, S. Vasquez and B. Griffor (2013). Consultation and treatment in high conflict and parental alienation cases. American Journal of Forensic Psychology, 31 (1)
- DLorandos, T. Campbell, S. Vasquez and B. Griffor (April 2013) Differential Diagnosis in High Conflict Divorce (presentation subsection). Presentation at the American College of Forensic Psychology, San Diego, California
- Presented scientific process of differential diagnosis, and common issues that arise in high conflict divorce
- DLorandos, S. Sauber and W. Bernet ( in press) Parental Alienation: The Handbook for Mental Health and Legal Professionals.
- Provided substantial assistance in research and editing for all editors and authors involved
- DLorandos (January/February 2011). Saving Tonya Craft: An Integration of Science and Law. The Champion.
- Edited article for author D. Lorandos; provided the majority of the research for the landmark case & article.
- W. Bernet (2010). Parental Alienation, DSM – 5, and ICD – 11. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas Publisher.
- Prepared database of references for author W. Bernet
- D. Lorandos & A. Joshi (Sept/Oct 2007) Is That What I Meant? Litigating Intent in White Collar Crime. The Champion.
- Edited article for authors D. Lorandos and A. Joshi.
- R. Gardner, S. Sauber & D. Lorandos (2006). International Handbook of Parental Alienation Syndrome: Conceptual, Clinical, and Legal Considerations. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas Publisher.
- Edited chapters for author D. Lorandos
- Campbell, T.W. and Lorandos, D. Cross Examining Experts in the Behavioral Sciences, Eagan, Minnesota, West Group – Two Volumes, annual updates, 2001
- Provided substantial edits and research assistance to author D. Lorandos for annual updates
Presentations
- Poster Presentation: Critical Thinking in the Case Study Method, September 19, 2012
- Ms. Vasquez spoke to students at Fielding Graduate University. She detailed the importance of a differential diagnosis and critical evaluation when preparing a case study for review and publication.
- Career Panel Discussion: June 7, 2012
- Ms. Vasquez discussed practical application of the MPH degree to family law settings. The panel was held for students and faculty of University of Michigan Dearborn in Health Policy.
- Health Education Seminar Series: Summer 2008
- Ms. Vasquez taught a series of workshops and classes for tourism industry workers in the Dominican Republic, detailing the latest public health procedures and practices to increase workplace safety.
