About Dr. Richard Warshak
Dr. Richard Warshak is a clinical, research, and consulting psychologist whose work on divorce, child custody, and parental alienation has influenced courts and professionals around the world.
Through research, expert consultation, and education, his work focuses on helping courts and families make decisions grounded in evidence and the long-term welfare of children.
At a Glance
- Clinical and forensic psychologist specializing in divorce, custody, and parental alienation
- Cornell graduate and former Clinical Professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center
- Consultant to the White House and American Bar Association
- Author of The Custody Revolution and Divorce Poison
- Widely published and featured on major media including ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, and BBC
Introduction
Dr. Richard Warshak is a clinical, research, and consulting psychologist whose work on divorce, child custody, and parental alienation has shaped family-law practice and professional standards worldwide. His research-informed challenges to common custody assumptions, combined with his commitment to evidence-based analysis, have established him as a leading authority in forensic psychology and custody science.
Through scholarly publications, courtroom and legislative testimony, professional presentations, consultation, and media commentary, he has contributed to reforms aimed at improving outcomes for children whose parents live apart.
Career and Academic Background
Since 1977, Dr. Warshak has examined custody practices through rigorous scientific research and logical analysis. His career integrates clinical practice, academic appointments, forensic consultation, and national policy involvement.
He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University, completed graduate study at the City University of New York, and received his doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. His training emphasized research methodology, forming the foundation for his empirical approach to custody and parent-child relationships.
Dr. Warshak was Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UT Southwestern Medical Center, and has sat on editorial boards for several professional journals. Judges, attorneys, mental health professionals, and government organizations in the U.S. and abroad have sought his expertise. He also served as a White House consultant on child-custody policy and was among 60 experts invited to contribute to an American Bar Association initiative on family-law reform.
Areas of Expertise
Dr. Warshak’s work addresses a broad range of family-law, developmental, and forensic issues, including:
- father-custody and mother-custody outcomes
- parental-alienation dynamics and intervention approaches
- stepfamily adjustment and remarriage
- relocation disputes
- parenting plans for young children
- children’s stated preferences in custody matters
- the approximation rule and custody presumptions
His scholarship includes analyses of judicial discretion, the best-interest standard, and the use of scientific evidence in custody decision-making. His services involve consultation, evaluation, and strategic guidance in high-conflict cases.
Key Contributions
Dr. Warshak’s body of work spans 13 books, more than 65 articles, and over 100 professional presentations. His research is cited widely in academic literature, legislative deliberations, and judicial decisions throughout the world.
His amicus brief on relocation—endorsed by leading divorce scholars—was accepted by the Supreme Court of California and played a meaningful role in a landmark ruling emphasizing the complexity of relocation disputes.
His writing on parental alienation appears in the Expert Witness Manual, a resource for judges and attorneys.
He is also co-author of Welcome Back Pluto, an educational program for children and parents widely used by courts, clinicians, and families.
Publications Overview
Dr. Warshak’s writing addresses parental alienation, custody standards, relocation, parenting plans, and evidence-based approaches to high-conflict family disputes.
The Custody Revolution (Simon & Schuster, 1992), which advocated mediation of custody disputes and greater father involvement—approaches now mainstream in U.S. practice.
Divorce Poison (HarperCollins, 2002/2010), now in its 25th printing and translated into six languages, recognized as the world’s best-selling resource on parental alienation.
His work has become a leading reference for courts, clinicians, attorneys, and families worldwide.
Media Presence
Dr. Warshak has contributed expert commentary to more than 75 media segments on custody disputes, parental alienation, stepfamilies, trauma, parenting, and related topics. His interviews include appearances on ABC 20/20, NBC Today, NBC Dateline, CBS, CNN, BBC, CTV, Fox, CourtTV, and other major networks.
His work has been featured in print coverage throughout the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, Italy, Germany, Colombia, and New Zealand, including front-page and feature stories in the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, London Sunday Telegraph, Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, and Time magazine.
Interviews
Dr. Warshak has given many interviews to different media outlets over the past several decades which can be found in his archive of Media & Press articles.
Some highlights include his Maclean’s Interview in 2008, Navigator’s Interview by The Atlas Society, and the Feature by M Magazine.
Professional Philosophy
Dr. Warshak’s approach emphasizes scientific rigor, balanced evaluation, and evidence-driven practice. He challenges assumptions lacking empirical support and encourages custody decisions grounded in developmental science rather than ideology or outdated convention.
This perspective informs his forensic consultation, expert testimony, research, and professional education. Across all roles, he prioritizes clarity, accuracy, and the welfare of children in high-conflict family situations.
For more information, read about Dr. Warshak in his own words.