“The other condition of the summer visitation was that I attend parenting classes with a Los Angeles therapist named Jane Shatz. As it was explained to me, Shatz was to help me learn ‘child-centered’ behavior. My sessions with her would become perhaps the most valuable I had throughout the entire experience. I believe that had my case been overseen by someone as intelligent, honest, and reasonable as Jane Shatz, my whole nightmare might have ended a lot sooner. Shatz is one of the heroes of the story. Jane is a soft-spoken and soothing woman. She sat and listened patiently and with real empathy as I told her how I ended up in her office. Jane taught me two fundamental ideas in our time together. One is that all behavior is consistent. This means that, typically, the way that the litigants behave during the divorce proceedings is a good indicator as to how they behaved during the marriage…if a litigant claims that their spouse was abusive in any way during the marriage, this should be investigated with an eye toward the past behavior or the accused. As Shatz told me, people don’t start abusing their spouses late in life….there is normally a discernible pattern of such behavior that predates the marriage. Such claims could be viewed as elements of a potential campaign of alienation.
Jane Shatz also taught me that the children in divorce do some amazing things in order to protect themselves, particularly when the pressures of alienation are exerted on them” (pg.110). A Promise to Ourselves: A Journey Through Fatherhood and Divorce by Alec Baldwin
“I have worked with Dr. Shatz for many years. She has served as both a mediator in child custody matters I have handled, as well as an expert consultant to me on more challenging and complex child custody cases. Dr. Shatz has an excellent reputation in our family law community, and in the matters I have dealt with, I have found her to be insightful, capable, and extremely knowledgeable.
In mediation matters, she has an appropriate and engaged manner with family law litigants, helping them to focus on the best interests of their children, listening to both sides evenhandedly, making appropriate suggestions, and helping the parties bring their matters to resolution”. Kleeman, Dena. 2017.
“Throughout the 20 years I have known (Dr. Shatz), I have known that she is among the ‘elite’ of the mental health professionals who are very involved in Family Law in the Los Angeles area. I have experienced that the Family Law Bar and the Judges routinely seek her out because of her extraordinary training, experience, insight and skill in the areas of full-blown Custody Evaluations, Solution Focused Evaluations, reunification therapy, and therapy. My Family Law colleagues who are at the very top in our field are known to insist upon having Dr. Shatz in order to obtain the highest quality evaluation, therapist, or whatever the need is”. Estep, Ruth. 2017.
“Dr. Jane Shatz will always hold a special place in my heart. She came into my life during what I would easily call its lowest point: several months into an incredibly complex custody battle. In Dr. Shatz I found a caring, compassionate advocate who put the needs of my child first. Her calm guidance through this very painful period kept me sane, and my hope intact. Her ability to quickly evaluate the situation, to cut through the emotional morass that enshrouds these conflicts, moved the process towards the quickest and best possible outcome. To this day, many years on, I am struck from time to time by the need to reach out and thank her for what she has done for my family”. Newman, Eric. 2018
“I would like to say one more important thing about Dr. Shatz. Rarely have I met a colleague who is so motivated and intent on increasing her fund of knowledge. She continues to take continuing education, but far surpasses the minimum requirements. She has gone to specialized training across the country to learn more about a particular interest of hers, parental alienation…it is impressive to see how dedicated she is to gaining expertise…
Dr. Shatz is considered an ethical, compassionate and truthful professional. Her custody evaluations are regarded as ‘child-centered’ and always placing the best interests of the child in the forefront. I am pleased to call her my colleague and I know that judges, family lawyers and other mental health professionals share my opinion of her as an intelligent, thoughtful and ethical professional”. Yellin, Ph.D. Alan. 2017
“I also had the opportunity to see Dr. Shatz at educational functions…I have retained her in many matters to assist the court and the parties involved. She is one of the most reliable and respected evaluators in Los Angeles. Dr. Shatz is known throughout the community as a dedicated, hardworking, even-handed, honest, careful and caring professional.
Her careful assessments and detailed reports are the benchmark for all evaluators in this city. The Judges often recommend she assist on highly contested matters because they know her work to be reliable. She is trusted and respected by both the local Bar and courts. Her work at reunification therapy is also noteworthy and groundbreaking”. Ross, Terry. 2017.
