For attorneys, guardians ad litem, amicus attorneys, and courts
A therapist who reads the order first
Well-versed in not just therapy, but the legal system, and high-conflict divorce. Referrals from family law practitioners are a core part of this practice.
Why the legal fluency matters
Court involved therapy fails for predictable reasons. The clinician works outside the scope of the order. Reports arrive late, or arrive as unusable narrative. A well meaning therapist becomes an advocate for one parent and loses credibility with everyone. Sessions get scheduled at a pace that suits the docket rather than the child.
Sandra V. Aguilar, LPC has spent years inside family law matters and structures the work to avoid all of that. She reads the order before the first session and confirms in writing what she is and is not being asked to do. She keeps documentation contemporaneous and specific. She stays inside her role, and she says so directly when a request falls outside it.
She is also candid about prognosis. If a reunification is unlikely to progress on the timeline a party wants, counsel will hear that early rather than after three months of billed sessions.
Scope
What Sandra can take on
Court ordered reunification therapy
Structured reunification with defined phases, written summaries, and coordination with counsel on both sides.
Guardian ad litem appointments
Independent investigation of a child's best interest, with a written report and testimony where required.
Individual and family treatment
Treatment for a child or parent alongside a pending matter, with clear boundaries on what is reportable.
Adoption related evaluations
Assessment and support work in adoption matters, including post placement adjustment.
Parent coaching
Focused work with a parent on conduct, communication, and expectations while litigation is active.
Coordination with other providers
Communication with existing therapists, evaluators, and amicus attorneys so the record stays coherent.
Process
How referrals work
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Send the referral
Submit the consultation form or call the office with the case posture, the order or proposed order, and what the court is asking for. Sandra reviews conflicts and current capacity before agreeing to anything.
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Confirm scope in writing
Sandra returns a written scope covering role, phases, reporting format, communication rules with counsel, and fees. This becomes the engagement letter and is separate from any therapy agreement with the family.
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Begin and report
Clinical work starts with individual sessions. Counsel receives summaries at the agreed intervals and immediate notice of anything material, including a recommendation to pause if the plan is not serving the child.
Boundary
Next Move, TLC does not provide legal advice and does not take positions on legal strategy. Guardian ad litem and forensic services are conducted under separate court orders and engagement letters, distinct from any treatment relationship.
Start with a consultation
Every new matter begins with a short consultation so Sandra can hear the situation, explain how the work would run, and confirm whether she is the right fit.