Expert: Joyce A. Anthony - 11/24/2009

Question
My ex husband has a history of abuse, depression, mood swings, violent rages and blackouts.  after several incidents of severe attacks against me, our 11 yr. marriage ended. I tried for years to get him help and he always refused- thinking that would be the last time and he would do better to control it the next time. The really bad rages come every 2-4 months. We have been divorced 5 yrs and now he has started hurting our kids. His parenting time has been suspended to only supervised visits. He has seen a psychologist on his own for counseling, but I fear that is not enough. I have been encouraging him to go see a psychiatrist- I believe he needs meds; and I cannot allow my kids to be alone with him anymore until we know that this is under control. Can you give me your opinion on the best route for him to take for treatment? I may not like him because of what he has done to me and our kids- but my kids need and love their father and I want him to be healthy and them to be safe- so going the right direction with treatment is very important.  
Thank you for your time.  

Answer
Hi Melanie:

The best thing at this point would be to have him get a psychiatric evaluation by a psychiatrist and then follow the suggestions made at that time.  I do believe supervised visits should continue until he does have things under control.  Children do need their parents, but they need to know they are safe.  If necessary, maybe you can make psychiatric treatment a  condition set down by the courts.

                  Joyce A. Anthony