1386 Old Freeport Rd, Suite 3B, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15238, United States
Child Specialist: Kids at the Center not in the Middle
Who Hears the Voice of the Child?
As a Child Specialist in Collaborative Law, I’ve been the voice of the child for over a decade.
✨I’ve sat with children who couldn’t quite find the words to express what family change felt like.
✨I’ve helped parents hear what their child was trying to say beneath the silence, the acting out, or the anxiety.
✨ I’ve partnered with Collaborative teams and mediators across the country to make sure children aren’t just protected—they’re respected.
I have special training and experience in interviewing preschoolers, children, and teens and provide a safe, impartial, and private setting for kids of all ages to communicate their needs and preferences regarding their family situation. This allows parents to give their children a voice in the decision making in a less costly and less intrusive way than other processes commonly used by the courts.
I meet with kids in a neutral, age-appropriate way and share themes with parents and the team—so your plan fits real life
Kids don’t make legal decisions—and they don’t carry messages. Ready to make the plan easier on your child?
Child Inclusive Divorce Services
Infants (0-3)
Children (4-12)
Children (4-12)
Being a parent of a baby or toddler is a big job. All parents worry about a lot of things. Like, am I parenting the best I could? Is our baby developing the way it should be? A bit of worry is just part of the job. But being separated parents with a baby or toddler can be an even bigger job, that comes with many more worries, complexity,
Being a parent of a baby or toddler is a big job. All parents worry about a lot of things. Like, am I parenting the best I could? Is our baby developing the way it should be? A bit of worry is just part of the job. But being separated parents with a baby or toddler can be an even bigger job, that comes with many more worries, complexity, and lots of questions.
For separated parents, arriving at an appropriate parenting plan in difficult circumstances can feel confusing.
Dr. Gilman helps parents ask the right questions, and make plans in their particular circumstances, based on sound, evidence-based information.
Dr. Gilman gives ideas for sorting out emotions and conflicts that might be getting in the way of being the best parent you can be. Dr. Gilman offers an effective program to boost knowledge and skills about co-parenting infants and young children after separation.
Children (4-12)
Children (4-12)
Children (4-12)
Children who have had an opportunity to express their views about the issues affecting them often feel less anxious as a result. A Child Specialist considers parenting issues through the child’s eyes. It can help parents to make parenting decisions that include the wishes of their children.
In Child Inclusive Solution Focused Co-Parenting
Children who have had an opportunity to express their views about the issues affecting them often feel less anxious as a result. A Child Specialist considers parenting issues through the child’s eyes. It can help parents to make parenting decisions that include the wishes of their children.
In Child Inclusive Solution Focused Co-Parenting Education children are interviewed by Dr. Gilman in a safe and private setting. Hearing the children’s perspective can help elucidate what is impacting the children in both positive and negative ways. This can be a powerful tool in helping co-parents stay focused on the needs and best interest of their children in the decision making process. Importantly, it gives children the opportunity to have their views heard
Dr. Gilman provides opportunities for children to think about their needs in a safe and confidential environment. Children can have their voices heard without the fear of upsetting either parent. The idea is for children to feel listened to and to have their views respected.
Dr. Gilman brings feedback to the team and family to help inform and design child-focused parenting plans.
teens (13-18)
Children (4-12)
teens (13-18)
Adolescents who have had an opportunity to express their views about the issues affecting them often feel less anxious as a result. A Child-Specialist provides an opportunity for teens to express their view about the issues affecting them often feel less anxious as a result and considers parenting issues through the child’s eyes. It can h
Adolescents who have had an opportunity to express their views about the issues affecting them often feel less anxious as a result. A Child-Specialist provides an opportunity for teens to express their view about the issues affecting them often feel less anxious as a result and considers parenting issues through the child’s eyes. It can help parents to make parenting decisions that include the wishes of their teenage children.
Child-inclusive collaborative processes are designed to assist parents in reaching good decisions for their children’s future arrangements. It is a process that helps separating parents to focus on the best interests of their children.
Importantly, it gives teens the opportunity to have their views heard
Children can easily feel as though their opinions don’t matter when parents separate, whether there is acrimony or not.
During the difficulty of separation, teens will often say what they think a parent wants to hear, as opposed to what they really think. A Child Specialist can help a teen make parents aware of true feelings.