Beyond the Courtroom: Author and Dean Naelys Luna Advances an International Approach to Supporting Families

A court decision can settle a legal dispute, yet the emotional strain, relationship challenges and social pressures affecting a family may continue. Understanding those needs and connecting families with coordinated support is central to a new international book featuring the scholarly leadership of Dr. Naelys Luna, founding dean of Florida Atlantic University’s College of Social Work and Criminal Justice.

Luna serves as co-editor of Más allá del Juzgado: enfoques integrales para la resolución de conflictos familiares, translated as Beyond the Courtroom: Comprehensive Approaches to Resolving Family Conflicts. Published by Editorial Reus in 2026, the Spanish-language volume brings together perspectives from law, social work, psychology, mediation and community intervention to explore more comprehensive responses to complex family conflict.

Her contributions span editorial leadership and authorship. Luna co-edited the volume with Dr. Ana Isabel Corchado Castillo, with coordination by Dr. Marta Blanco Carrasco, and co-authored its introduction with Corchado Castillo. She also collaborated with Dr. Manny John González, an associate professor in Florida Atlantic’s Phyllis and Harvey Sandler School of Social Work, on the chapter “Building Clinical Social Work Practice: History and Challenges.”

Together, these contributions place social work within a global conversation about how professionals and institutions can respond to families navigating conflict, vulnerability and change. Clinical social work’s attention to individuals within their family, community and social environments offers an important perspective on needs that extend beyond legal proceedings.

“Families experiencing conflict need support that recognizes the full complexity of their lives. This book brings together perspectives from social work, law, psychology and mediation to help professionals respond with greater understanding and coordination. Our international collaboration reflects a shared commitment to strengthening family well-being and protecting children,” said Dr. Luna.

Luna and González’s chapter examines the development of clinical social work, its professional roles and requirements, and challenges involving demographic change, technology and perceptions of who provides psychotherapy. The volume positions clinical social work as a bridge between judicial systems and therapeutic intervention, reinforcing the importance of connecting legal responses with care for family well-being.

The publication also reflects a partnership between the Dispute Resolution Lab at Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Florida Atlantic’s College of Social Work and Criminal Justice. That collaboration creates opportunities for scholars and practitioners to exchange knowledge across disciplines and national boundaries while making their work accessible to Spanish-speaking audiences.

Throughout the book, the focus remains on the people affected by family conflict, particularly children and adolescents. Its integrated approach encourages professionals to consider underlying causes, reduce suffering and coordinate services that support more lasting resolutions.

For the college and the Sandler School of Social Work, Luna’s editorial and chapter contributions demonstrate how international scholarship can connect professional expertise with community needs. The publication extends that work to readers seeking a fuller understanding of family conflict - and more responsive ways to support the families experiencing it.

Learn more about the book through Editorial Reus.