I don't think it will affect your case because you are already out of that dangerous environment and have left and filed for divorce....the therapist I think is suggesting if DCF gets involved because of your ex he will have a very difficult time of suing you for custody....sometimes it's good to have a paper trail which seems to have been started by the therapist...I don't think this would be a bad outcome for you...but I do think having DFC involved against your ex is a bad thing for HIM...not you. The therapist is doing what is best for you and your child....they can help you with your case more than you think...in a good way. Good luck on your decision.

Here in Texas that would be a non-issue. As a licensed healthcare professional, the therapist has to report all allegations of child abuse, neglect or endangerment. I would be very surprised if the law is much different in CA.

Those laws exist for the benefit of the children, and if DCF comes to investigate, they are doing it for the benefit of the child. I don't see where that would adversely affect your divorce and trying to get custody yourself. Actually, to have a neutral third party making the abuse report will probably help you.

Good luck to you and your son!

Isn't that the reason you left him? To get the kid away from him?

Do quite the opposite and use this to keep the kid away from a dangerous individual. Encourage the therapist to call. This guy should only have supervised visitation at most.

I think you have gotten some good advice here from everyone. Listen to your therapist and let them call DCF, it will only strengthen your case.

Hugs to you for your pain...

Thank you everyone for your support. The therapist is a licensed child psycologist. She wants to talk to me tomorrow. She said that I have nothing to be afraid of. She thinks that I and the kids are "very intimidated" by my stbx. I think she is going to call. All I know is that my stbx is going to be very very angry and I hope he doesnt come over here to start trouble.
I guess i was worried also about having a file/case open on having to do with MY kids becuz my stbx can't cant control his temper.
I wish it didnt have to be like this. But, it is what it is, and i must stay strong, so that my children feel safe and secure.

Im new here and still learning what things mean. What does STBX stand for?

not to be the downer but when did these things that the child witness happen? if right before or after the breakup then you are fine but i really got screwed in the beginning because i stayed with my ex 2 years after he grew a substance abuse problem. it started when i was pregnant and finally right before my daughter 2nd bday i kicked him to the curb and of course i waited because i thought he would change. not to mention the bad things my daughter had to see and go through with this problem.......needless to say the courts views were well if you were concerned why did you wait so long?ect.ect. i used to call in sick because i did not feel comfortable with her own dad watching her while i went to work because he came home at 6 am stil drunk and high.

on the other hand i did not have a therapist willing to testify so in your case unless the things happened way before your split it would probably help you with your case.

If you let your child continue to see a dangerous person that he is afraid of, because you are afraid of something reflecting on you, that would be bad parenting.
Maybe you are still in shock or something due to abuse, but you need to get your head out of the sand and let this happen. I think the T has to do it anyway - and how will it look, since that is what you are concerned about - if you prevent her from called DCF? It will look like you are enabling the abusive environment.