You don't need to discuss with your therapist, you need a plan to get out with your kids. If things are getting worse that is a red flag to get out now. I do not think any of this reportable to CPS by your therapist.

OP

My spouse has been more violent behind closed doors but not in the presence of our children.

Last year however they have started also pushing me and calling me names in front of them.

Things are escalating.

This is stupid just call the police on your spouse.

What does that have to do with child abuse r neglect? Stop wasting their time, grow up and divorce.

Anything is reportable. Nothing will happen.

No.

OP what constitutes abuse under the law? Is there a place where I can read more. I was not able to find much detail. Just that if a child witnesses abuse it can be reportable.

Will look into what my state requires, not DC. I would not discuss with my therapist but at the same time it could be helpful to have this documented for custody proceedings. It’s a catch-22.

Anonymous wrote:OP I don’t think CPS would take kids away. But am concerned my therapist would report this and am not ready to leave my spouse yet. If my therapist reported and CPS would call, that would just escalate things with my spouse at a moment in time when I am not ready to do that.

What jurisdiction are you in?

In many jurisdictions, only abuse of a child is reportable to CPS. In DC abuse that is witnessed by a child is reportable, but while what you describe may be “abusive” it probably doesn’t meet the definition of abuse under the law.

I think you are safe to talk about this with your therapist.

Anonymous wrote:OP I don’t think CPS would take kids away. But am concerned my therapist would report this and am not ready to leave my spouse yet. If my therapist reported and CPS would call, that would just escalate things with my spouse at a moment in time when I am not ready to do that.

I'm sorry you're going through this. I hope you're making financial and legal plans. I would just not say anything in case you have a zealous therapist. Good luck to you.

OP I don’t think CPS would take kids away. But am concerned my therapist would report this and am not ready to leave my spouse yet. If my therapist reported and CPS would call, that would just escalate things with my spouse at a moment in time when I am not ready to do that.

If you are being pushed hard by another adult, you can file a police report if you want to go there. Even they probably won't do anything but CPS rarely gets involved in adult-to-adult abuse except in the most extreme cases.

You think CPS can take people’s kids away if a person snatches something out of their spouse’s hands?

No dumbass

I don't think so.

Are the following reportable to CPS if done to a domestic partner in presence of child

- pushing / forcefully taking objects out of a spouse’s hands

- calling spouse names