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Psychotherapy Malpractice, Clinical Forensic Psychology, Clinical Forensic Psychology, clinical, forensic, child, adolescent, adult, family, addiction, abuse, custody, molestation, behavioral, criminal, domestic violence, trauma, incest, malingering, malpractice, evaluations, trauma, injuries, ptsd, developmental delays, juries, bipolar, depressive disorders, personality disorders, anxiety disorders, pain disorders, sexual problems, family, marital, mental health issues Services include psychological testing, family custody evaluations, training for professionals, individual therapy, family therapy, behavior management programs, brief therapies, agency consultation, staff training, clinical supervision therapists, group homes for emotionally handicapped, children with special needs, adolescents, developmentally delayed dual diagnosed people, law enforcement personnel regarding treatment for alcohol emotional problems they experience, analyze assess personal injury accidents trauma provide forensic evaluations expert testimony in both civil criminal courts, evaluations for mental disability, intellectual disability organic brain disability associated with the full range of disorders including alcohol substance abuse problems, criminal behavior

Licensed Psychologist (NY, NJ)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (NY)
National Register of the Council of Health Service Providers in Psychology
Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology (State Reciprocity):
(Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards).
Certificate of Clinical Training in Psychology (NJ)
Post-Doctoral Certificate in Family Forensics, Washington Square Institute (NY)
Mental Health Panel Member, New York State Law Guardian Program
Forensic Psychologist Expert, New York City Assigned Counsel Program
Approved Forensic Psychologist for NJ Office of the Public Defender

 

CURRENT STAFF AND CONSULTING POSITIONS:

FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST (2011-Present): Rutgers Biomedical and Health Services (RBHS), University Behavioral Healthcare: This is a regular half-time Forensic Psychologist staff position for Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey. I provide specialized forensic and psychological testing and assessment of patients, which includes psychological diagnosis, psychosocial history, trauma history, criminal history, child abuse/neglect and alcohol/substance abuse assessments. I provide Forensic and Psychological report writing, communication of findings to other staff, consultation with other agency staff, including social workers, physicians, nurses and psychiatrists as well as referral to the State of New Jersey office of the Attorney General for civil commitment. I conduct and review forensic evaluations including suicide assessments, sex offender specific assessments, risk assessments of sexually violent predatory patients, assessment of malingering of emotional and mental symptoms, assessment of patients reporting sexual and physical assaults and related evaluations to assess risk of dangerous behavior toward self and/or others. Currently assigned to East Jersey State Prison (EJSP), in Rahway, NJ where I provide the above services to inmates who have special emotional and mental needs. Other tasks include pre-release evaluations, suitability for work detail, changes in level of custody, disciplinary evaluations related to competency to attend court and administrative segregation evaluations. I also provide crisis intervention, training of corrections officers in suicide prevention, individual and group psychotherapy as well as experiential psychodrama groups for inmates.

FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST (2006-Present): Rockland County (New York) Department of Mental Health Forensic Unit, Court Evaluation Service:  I have been a Consulting Forensic Psychologist for the Rockland County courts since 2006. Providing court ordered forensic evaluations involving custody, visitation, competency, criminal responsibility, child abuse/child sexual abuse/neglect, domestic violence and juvenile delinquency/juvenile sexual offender risk assessments referred by Family and Supreme Court Judges as well as the Department of Mental Health. Duties include face-to-face interviews with all parties involved, psychological testing and interpretation, actuarial tests to assess risk, custody reports, court testimony, consultation with probation officers, mental health staff, attorneys, judges and other agencies involved in legal/psychiatric issues. Evaluations are performed at the County office building or Rockland County Correctional Facility. I specialize in assessment of domestic violence, assessment of parental capacity, emotional and developmental needs of children, parental alienation and other aspects of psychological assessment in court related matters.

FORENSIC AND EXPERT WITNESS PRACTICE: 

Preface:  I received my PhD in 1979 and worked as a Psychologist for the next four years for the largest foster care and group home agency in Brooklyn, NY (Catholic Charities). I have been a licensed psychologist since 1981. I have worked full-time over the last 35 years in independent practice as well as agency positions that gradually increased in responsibility to the point that I served for five years as the Director of a large mental health system for a community of over 100,000 Native Americans in Oklahoma. Upon my return to New York, I was hired as the Clinical Director of a large County Mental Health clinic that served dual-diagnosed patients (with mental health, developmental disabilities/autism spectrum disorders and psychosis). My doctoral dissertation at Wisconsin-Madison was on criminal behavior and I have been involved in Forensic work in various capacities since that time. I have been qualified as Psychologist expert in State and Federal Courts. As an expert witness, I have been qualified numerous times as a Psychologist, Child Psychologist, Forensic Psychologist, Expert in Child sexual abuse, Expert in Domestic violence, Expert in child custody cases and other areas. I have listed below many kinds of cases I consider myself experienced in as a forensic psychologist because I have actually worked on these kinds of civil, criminal and family court cases.  Additionally, over the years I personally have diagnosed and treated thousands of patients, in outpatient, inpatient, alcohol/drug rehabilitation, residential schools and correctional settings and supervised other clinicians in clinical matters.

  • Civil litigation (related to emotional and mental injury): Personal Injury Litigation evaluations for both defense and plaintiff counsel. I have special expertise in the forensic evaluations necessary in civil matters, with interview, data collection, collateral interviews, record review and the use of psychological tests to document in metric terms the emotional and mental symptoms related to posttraumatic stress (PTSD) reported by plaintiffs and to assess whether a plaintiff may be minimizing, suppressing or exaggerating symptoms of PTSD or other emotional reactions. Cases that I have worked on have included:
  1. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)/Emotional pain suffered by people who have Disabilities,  Intellectual retardation, Developmental delays, Autism spectrum disorders, Brain injury/trauma, Asperger’s disorder.
  2. Injured Child Assessments.
  3. Children who have been burned, bitten/injured by animals,  sexually abused, emotionally abused or neglected in foster homes, hospital, group home or other settings (e.g. a neighbor’s home, children’s camps, school bus drivers, school bus aides, classroom).
  4. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and stress reactions.
  5. Assessment of children and adults who do not show obvious signs of PTSD or effects related to trauma due to cultural/family taboos about showing or talking about the trauma (e.g. Punjab culture, Native Americans, closed, suppressive family system rules) or due to developmental/autism spectrum disorders/Brain injury/verbal expression problems.
  6. Foster care (standards), group homes (standards), institutional care for intellectually retarded/developmentally disabled (standards regarding level of supervision required, pain and suffering), psychological care (standards) and assessment of evidence-based treatment.
  7. Malpractice/ethical issues of behavioral health providers/institutional staff.
  8. Psychological, Psychiatric and Alcoholism Treatment Record Review (inpatient and outpatient).
  9. Inappropriate psychiatric hospitalization, negligent child welfare agency performance and care.
  10. Alcoholism and other drug abuse problems, Accidental death caused by alcohol and other drug abuse. Addictions to prescription pain medication, Adderall, and other substances.
  11. Personal injury, sexual harassment, emotional pain, long-term effects, long-term psychological treatment plans and estimation of costs.
  12. Symptoms and signs of child sexual abuse.
  13. Children with special needs (psychological, educational), learning disabilities.
  14. Bullying (effects of), School and agency response to bullying, inappropriate handling of school issues by schoolteachers, guidance staff, school principals.
  15. Suicide, homicide, psychological autopsy, crime victims, accidental death and liability.
  16. Work-related Injuries (emotional and trauma assessments).
  17. Assessment of emotional pain to victim or plaintiff’s significant others/family.
  18. Eating disorders, sexual addictions, gambling addictions, other compulsive disorders (treatment of, effects of).
  19. Native American issues (alcoholism, inter-generational posttraumatic stress, cross-cultural psychology, domestic violence, adoption issues, criminal involvement, pain and suffering).
  20. Postpartum depression,
  21. Police officers and stress, Critical incident stress.
  22. Pain and suffering caused by false arrests, inappropriate police/security guard behavior.
  23. Americans with disabilities Act (ADA) and alcoholism/drug/psychiatric claims.
  24. Independent medical examinations related to accidents/motor vehicle accidents/other accidents.
  25. Case and trial consultation to legal team regarding psychological/emotional aspects of and analysis of pertinent psychological issues of a case.
  26. Emotional pain and suffering due to domestic violence/abusive spouse.
  27. Review and analysis of case documents, including medical records, peer review and critique of evaluation reports performed by opposing experts, and other consultation regarding psychological/psychiatric/mental health treatment discovery.
  28. Assessment of symptom under- or over- reporting related to recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse and other reported emotional/mental issues.
  29. Written briefs on related forensic/ethical issues for attorneys (e.g. the inappropriate use of a psychological test by another forensic practitioner with a plaintiff from a different culture in which the test was not standardized/normed).

 

  • Criminal behavior:  I provide the review and analysis of criminal behavior. Received PhD from the University of Wisconsin with a doctoral dissertation entitled: “Criminal Behavior and Arousal: Test of a Theory,” Presented a paper at the APA annual meeting: ‘Criminal Behavior, Individual Differences and Emotional Implications”.  Published article on the applications of Parental Acceptance-Rejection theory to forensic Psychology (2009). Mental health panel expert of the NYC Assigned Counsel program. New York City Dept. of Corrections legal pass holder and approved forensic psychologist for the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender.  Recent criminal case assignments include “death row” evaluation for the Federal Public defender (Arizona), evaluation for the Dutchess County public defender in murder case, triple homicide/kidnapping case (PA), evaluation of a Military defendant and consultation to counsel regarding a Court Martial (related to allegation of spouse abuse).  Experienced in the following crimes, assignments and evaluations:
  1. Murder, Multiple murders, Rape, Robbery, Bank robbery, Conspiracy, Arson, Assault, Burglary, Sexual assault, Sexual abuse, Child abuse, Child sexual abuse, Domestic violence, Hit and Run, DWI, Vehicular Homicide, Use of child pornography and White Collar Crime (embezzlement, fraud).
  2. Evaluations performed in County, State, City of New York, County jails in other states and Federal correctional facilities.
  3. Mental impairment/diminished capacity assessment.
  4. Assessment of competency to stand trial.
  5. Criminal behavior affected by intellectual, mental, cognitive and emotional disability.
  6. Clinical assessment of personality, psychopathology, organic deficits and intelligence.
  7. Administration and analysis of objective and projective psychological tests.
  8. The effects of alcohol and various kinds of drug abuse on criminal intent and behavior.
  9. Assessment of acute vs. chronic alcohol use as related to DUI sentencing.
  10. The assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder related to violent crimes.
  11. Assessments to rule-out malingering of posttraumatic stress disorder.
  12. Clinical Assessment and detection of Malingering and Deception in defendants.
  13. Not guilty by reason of insanity/criminal responsibility.
  14. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its effects on criminal behavior.
  15. Battered Woman Syndrome as a legal defense.
  16. Effects of domestic violence and symptoms of battered women.
  17. False arrest
  18. False confession.
  19. Coerced confession
  20. Assessment and evaluation of incarcerated defendants.
  21. Dangerousness, criminality assessment, recidivistic sex offenders.
  22. Administration of actuarial tests and other indicators of recidivism and future risk.
  23. Sex offender re-offense risk assessments.
  24. Pre-sentence Family studies and Bio-psycho-social evaluations,
  25. Immigration/deportation matters (the effects on family of person to be sentenced or possibly deported).
  26. Police officers and Post-traumatic stress disorder.
  27. Victim Assessments
  28. Mitigation reports prior to sentencing.
  29. Review of interview transcripts and recordings of other investigators (therapists, caseworkers, and police) related to standards and protocols used in assessing children about alleged child sexual abuse.
  30. False allegations of child sexual abuse and domestic violence.
  31. Problems with children’s testimony (suggestibility, recantation, memory issues, delayed outcry, the phenomena of “Believed-In Imaginings”).
  32. Forensic interviewing of children.
  33. Interview protocols used in assessment of children alleged to have been sexually abused.
  34. Rebuttal witness to other experts who promote “syndrome evidence” such as “child sexual abuse accommodation syndrome” (CSAAS), and “intrafamilial child sexual abuse syndrome.”
  35. The phenomena of delayed disclosure in child sexual abuse and rape.
  36. Explanation and discussion of myths and realities in true and/or false allegations of child sexual abuse.
  37. Testimony about “red-flag” indicators of possible child sexual abuse.
  38. Research on causes of eyewitness identification error, memory and perception.
  39. Stalking and harassment.
  40. Crime sprees, mass murders.
  41. Gangs
  42. Stalking
  43. Media consultation.
  44. Parental-acceptance-rejection syndrome related to homicide, depression and other aberrant behavior.
  45. Rejection sensitivity related to criminal acts.
  46. Pornography, internet addiction, inappropriate use of on-line sites.
  47. Cross-cultural factors in the assessment of defendants.
  48. Litigation Consultation to legal team regarding analysis and pertinent issues of a case.
  49. Assessment of complex psychological dynamics and “counterintuitive victim behavior” specific to complex domestic violence cases (delay in reporting, not leaving, numerous unexplained inconsistencies).
  50. Analyst for CBS evening News regarding “the Craig’s list killer.”  Analyst for WABC TV (Inside Edition) regarding the segment on “the BTK killer.”

 

  • Family Court/Custody evaluations: Expert to the Court in New York City (all boroughs) also providing custody evaluations in Rockland, Westchester, Putnam, Nassau and Orange Counties (New York) as well as numerous counties in New Jersey. Qualified as a Psychologist expert witness by New York State Supreme Court, Family Court, and Integrated Domestic Violence Court (IDV) as a Psychologist expert witness, Psychologist Expert for the assigned counsel plan (18 B), City of New York (all boroughs) and the Law Guardian Program as an expert custody evaluator (Supreme Court Appellate Division, First and Second Judicial Departments, State of New York, State of NJ Office of the Public Defender in parental representation cases (for forensic child risk assessments, parent-child bonding assessments, determination of parental capacity) and New Jersey Superior Court as a Psychologist expert witness.  Received a Post-Doctoral certificate in Family Forensics, after successfully completing a two-year advanced training program at the Washington Square Institute. This is one of the only post-graduate training programs in advanced issues related to performing custody/family forensic evaluations. Experienced in cases that have included the following areas and evaluations:

 

  1. Child Custody and Visitation evaluations that focus on the best interests of the child (“A Best Interests Evaluation”).
  2. Special expertise in domestic violence, parental alienation, child sexual abuse. physical/emotional abuse, and neglect.
  3. Juvenile delinquency evaluations.
  4. Consultation to attorneys regarding adverse custody evaluations.
  5. Relocation and removal evaluation cases.
  6. Cases in which children of a batterer (or who formerly lived in a domestic violence situation) choose to live with the perpetrator (and the reason why as well as what the emotional and psychological injuries are that would cause a child or teenager to choose to reside with the batterer).
  7. Risk Assessment regarding visitation.
  8. Domestic violence/issues of power and control/assessment of allegations of domestic violence.
  9. Sexual assault perpetrated by a spouse or the other parent.
  10. Parental alienation/irrationally alienated children/assessment of allegations of parental alienation.
  11. Individual and parent-child treatment for alienated children and targeted (rejected) parents.
  12. Parents who cause their children to be estranged from them.
  13. Alcohol and substance abuse related to custody issues.
  14. Parental capacity/fitness.
  15. Child attachment and emotional bonding.
  16. Child abuse, child sexual abuse and neglect.
  17. False allegations of child sexual abuse.
  18. Juvenile delinquency/sexual assault perpetrated by adolescents/fire-setting/violence/substance abuse.
  19. Evaluation of psychopathic tendencies in adolescents.
  20. Recidivism and risk assessment for re-offense in adolescent sexual abusers.
  21. Credibility assessments.
  22. Symptoms of Battered Women.
  23. Analysis of Evaluation reports and Peer Review/critiques of other expert child custody reports.
  24. Consultation to legal team regarding relevant case issues and Briefings on related forensic issues.
  25. Assessment of Potential for Parental child abduction/evaluation of children who have suffered international parental child abductions.
  26. Termination of parental rights.
  27. Home visits/observation of parenting skills/observation of transition between each parent.
  28. Grandparent custody and visitation issues.
  29. Posttraumatic stress disorder in children and adults/traumatized children.
  30. Parents with criminal history/or who are incarcerated.
  31. Home visitation and related family system analysis.
  32. Supervision and training in conducting custody evaluations.
  33. Parental acceptance-rejection syndrome related to parents and children in custody, delinquency, abuse and neglect cases.
  34. Folie-a-deux/Shared delusional disorder (mother and child).

 

INDEPENDENT CLINICAL PRACTICE:

I continue to have a small independent psychology practice providing psychological services to a broad spectrum of clients. I have experience and have supervised other clinicians in the treatment of clients with bi-polar and other depressive disorders, personality disorders (including borderline personality), anxiety disorders, pain disorders, sexual problems, victims of child sexual abuse, alcohol and drug problems, family, marital and other mental health issues, organic and brain dysfunction. Experienced in psychotherapy and psychological testing. Consultative expert evaluations to assess children and adults for intellectual, emotional and mental abnormalities as defined by federal regulations. Expert witness for the Office of Hearings and Appeals related to disability claims.

Agency consultation: Process consultation to agencies to improve team effort and communication and reduce conflict. Facilitation of executive and leadership committee meetings and goal setting.  Staff training and clinical supervision of other therapists. Forensic Consultant and custody evaluator for the Rockland County (NY) Department of Mental Health. Child Custody evaluator for the Bergen Family Center, Court Services Program. Consultant to agencies that include: outpatient and inpatient alcoholism and drug abuse treatment centers, schools, foster care agencies as well as a variety of group homes for emotionally handicapped, children with special needs, adolescents, developmentally delayed and dual-diagnosed people.  Training of colleagues in short-term, intensive therapy modalities (brief therapies) in role as founder of the Hudson Valley Satir Training Group.  This group provides experiential, growth workshops based upon family systems theory for professionals and the public.  Volunteer Supervisor of Counselors for the Volunteer Counseling Service in New City, New York (a domestic violence clinic that serves abused women).

Services to law enforcement personnel regarding treatment for alcohol and emotional problems as well as fitness for duty evaluations. Member of the Rockland County De-briefing team for police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians who have been involved in traumatic situations and the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder.  Serve as a clinician for the member assistance program of the New York City Patrolman’s Benevolent Association. Serve as an EAP clinician for agents and staff of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

 

RECENT AND PAST CONSULTING POSITIONS

Court Services Program (Hackensack, New Jersey): Providing court ordered forensic evaluations involving custody, visitation, and relocation for Bergen County Superior Court.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey: Performing assessments of police officer candidates. This includes reviewing of all written testing material and other relevant documentation, as well as performing one-to-one interviews with candidates, to determine their suitability for employment and/or fitness for duty. I provide legally defensible clinical reports that clearly document evaluation findings in terms of candidate suitability.

New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, Division of Disability Determinations: Providing consultative expert evaluations to assess children and adults for intellectual, emotional and mental abnormalities including post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit disorder, childhood emotional problems, developmental disabilities, organic disabilities (due to brain trauma. seizure disorder and stroke), alcohol and drug abuse problems as well as pervasive developmental disorders as related to federal guidelines for disability determination.

United States Social Security Administration, Office of Hearings and Appeals: Providing review records, interrogatories and testimony at appeals hearings involving disability related to emotional and mental problems; consultation to attorneys and their clients by providing independent medical evaluations related to disabilities as defined by Federal listings.

Rutgers Law School, Rutgers Urban Legal Clinic:  Assist clinic legal team with client needs; specifically provide risk assessment and evaluation for defendant use concerning parole board hearings and other consultation as needed.

New York City Police Department, Department Advocate’s Office: Provided consultation and testimony to support prosecution of NYPD detective in relation to reasons for delayed disclosure in a sex abuse case.

Hamaspik of Orange County Inc.: Providing positive behavior management plans and staff training in Group Homes for developmentally delayed children, adolescents and adults and performing evaluations for referral and placement.

The Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn, New York:  Providing consultation to legal staff about the Battered Woman Syndrome as a defense and helped prepare for a Clayton Hearing. Providing CLE workshop for legal staff on Battered Woman Syndrome.

 

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