The HCC-RI is a trauma-informed, non-diagnostic clinical awareness screener created to help providers identify escalation risk and plan ethical, supportive care for those who are considering separation or divorce.
HCC-RI is intended for providers who work with individuals who have experienced relational harm, including but not limited to:
counselors
therapists
social workers
advocates
family law attorneys
“This is one of the most grounded, trauma-informed, and court-aware referral ecosystems I’ve seen—an excellent companion for clinicians supporting clients in high-conflict family systems.”
Author of Safe Church + founder of Christian Counseling Center
Therapists and counselors commonly use the HCC-RI in the following ways:
As an early-session orientation tool
As a check-in during escalation
To provide a shared language when clients feel “crazy” or misunderstood
To support informed referrals without unduly alarming a client
tools
HCC-RI Online Tool
link for clients to complete the screening questions
HCC-RI Provider Scoring + Interpretation Guide
detailed user guide and scoring interpretation overview
Ready-to-Use Scripts + Prompts
client introduction scripts and gentle reflection prompts
Support + Referrals Ecosystem
grow your resources and referrals with lists tailored to each scoring category
"Every coach and therapist who deals with broken intimate relationships needs this in their toolbox!
The HCC-RI is a tremendous resource for the uncharted waters of impending separation and divorce - especially for clients with minor children.
I love how each stage is detailed for the provider: including goals, framing, and support lists for that stage.
The client-guided reflection prompts are thoughtful but not intimidating. They build agency and confidence in the client."
"As a clinician, I especially appreciate the HCC-RI's clear objectives and directives as well as therapeutic guidance for supporting the client with the information gathered.
This is a space that often clinicians can feel intimidated (if they choose to be honest) and is NOT the space where any provider should profess expertise or minimize limitations.
I believe in being honest with the client while also communicating support and resources that are beyond the scope of practice. The HCC-RI Provider Tools guide communication and enhance the language of safety and support without overcommitment or false promises."
"I have been searching for something like this for a long time, and I've never seen a high-conflict assessment tool this thoughtful, practical, and genuinely usable. The guided reflection prompts are especially powerful.
The HCC-RI doesn't just assess risk—it helps clinicians and advocates slow down, think clearly, and orient toward safety in a system that often feels chaotic and overwhelming for survivors.
As someone who works directly with survivors of abuse—especially those navigating court systems—I cannot overstate how important the HCC-RI is!"
"As an advocate at a domestic violence agency, the HCC-RI is an incredible resource for those who wish to navigate separation and divorce.
Whether you are low risk or high risk for conflict, this tool gives knowledge of what to expect, how to plan, and ways to prepare for the best possible outcome for yourself and your children.
Every professional needs this resource at their fingertips!"
"The High Conflict Court - Risk Index is invaluable for engaging clients in supportive, collaborative conversations as they navigate the intensity of high-conflict court cases.
The HCC-RI includes clear scoring interpretations, thoughtful scripts clinicians can use in session, and guided reflection prompts that support intentional planning. These elements help clients establish appropriate boundaries, seek multi-layered support, and move forward with clarity, confidence, and dignity."
"The High-Conflict Court Case Risk Index (HCC-RI) is an excellent assessment tool for anyone who is considering or facing separation or divorce from a person who has been unsafe in their marriage.
As a therapist with many years of experience with conflicted couples, it would be very helpful to have the HCC-RI available to review as a way of advising the person who has experienced gaslighting, manipulation, or any other hurtful behavior from the unsafe spouse."
If you're here, you probably work with individuals who have survived trauma, endured betrayal, and are now faced with life-altering decisions about how to move forward well.
Many survivors enter the family court system with little or no preparation for how quickly the dynamics can escalate when they are trying to extricate from a manipulative or high-conflict person. If there are minor children involved, the stakes become even higher.
I developed the High-Conflict Court Case Risk Index (HCC-RI) to help providers more effectively identify, educate, and empower clients who are vulnerable to these dynamics.
The HCC-RI is a non-diagnostic clinical awareness screener designed to assist therapists in identifying systemic, relational, and contextual stressors that may impact treatment planning when clients with betrayal trauma are considering separation or divorce.
The HCC-RI is intended for collaborative use with clients as a reflective and psychoeducational tool and should be interpreted alongside clinical judgment, informed consent, and ongoing assessment.
Thank you for caring enough to equip your clients to navigate toward freedom well as they enter into the family court system! If you have any questions, please email my office at friends@myfreedomnavigator.com.
important:
The HCC-RI is a risk awareness screener designed to help therapists identify systemic and relational stressors that may intensify conflict during separation/divorce following betrayal trauma.
It does not assess or predict legal outcomes, parental fitness, personality pathology, or credibility of allegations.