Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt Custody Battle: To Whom Will the Court Grant Primary Custody?

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have entered a new phase in their custody battle as the evaluation process already started earlier this month. The court assigned Dr. Stan Katz as the physician to oversee this evaluation, an expert who isn’t new to the drama surrounding Hollywood celebrities, The Blast reported.

The process will involve interviewing family caregivers and talking directly to the children themselves. As such, the final decision of the court will depend largely on the statements given and the overall findings of Dr. Katz. Right now, it isn’t clear if Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie will receive the primary custody of their kids.

It goes without saying that this whole debacle has taken a toll on the lives of those who are involved. But this is doubly true for the children of Brad Pitt and Angelina since parental separation always has a negative effect on the psychological growth of a child. This effect, however, will vary depending on the child’s age.

But since all six children are already in their teenage years, this result will be uniform among them. Of course, for some, the separation process started before they were teenagers, so the psychological impact has been felt through the mind of a child. And with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie throwing damaging accusations towards each other in recent months, the children are going to need all the support they can get.

According to Psychology Today, teenagers often become aggressive when their parents separate, exhibiting behaviors such as anger, rebellion, and a complete disregard for family discipline. Teenagers also attempt to take care of themselves rather than rely on parental care since their parents failed to keep the commitment that was previously promised. While there isn’t a lot of legitimate news saying this has occurred, it’s likely that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie may have already witnessed this behavior manifest.

Psychology Today advises that separated parents follow what are called the three Rs: routines, rituals, and reassurance. By implementing these three guidelines, parents can restore a child’s broken trust and help mend the psychological damage created by the divorce. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie will do well to follow this advice if they value their kids’ mental and emotional health. While both stars undoubtedly love their six children deeply, they should also find a way to mend the rift between them in order to successfully co-parent their kids once the custody proceedings conclude.