Glencairn - Forensic Family Therapy

Forensic Family Therapy

To download a copy of my Forensic Services Request Form containing policy and fee information, please click the link below, fill out the form and Fax: 859-264-1760.

Forensic Services Request Form

Forensic family therapy diverges from regular family therapy when the family becomes involved in the legal system. Instead of acting as a confidential advocate for my client as I would in regular therapy, as a forensic family therapist I become the objective purveyor of information to the court in the best interests of individuals, children, the family, or the community as the court sees fit. I have worked in Juvenile and Family Court and well as Circuit and Federal Court with criminal court proceedings.

As a forensic family therapist I have particular competencies and knowledge that allow me to prepare reports and evaluations necessary for the court to make fair and impartial decisions. The Judge relies on experts to provide him or her with appropriate and adequate information to make sound decisions for optimal child, adolescent and adult development, family functioning, and community safety.

Expert Witness

As an "Expert Witness to the Court" my background in family systems theory, child, adolescent, adult and family development and the impact of separation of children from attachment figures, child abuse, domestic violence and divorce on children, uniquely qualifies me to make a significant contribution in legal contexts involving the family. I keep current on the scientific literature and can apply this knowlege in family and criminal court proceedings in the following contexts:

Parental divorce
Parenting coordination
Child neglect or abuse proceedings
False sex abuse allegations
Sex crimes including child pornography

Forensic Evaluation

Forensic evaluations increase the fairness of important decisions the Court must make. As a forensic family therapist I can present the Judge a balanced, impartial view of the family and advise the court, attorneys, and family members of the relevant factors about each particular family member. My work is transparant and impartial regardless of whether I am retained by the Court or by a party to the proceedings to explain the relationship between my expert opinion and the legal issues and facts of the case.

Polygraph

I use a licensed private examiner to enhance forensic services who is certified by the American Polygraph Association in Clinical Sex Offender Testing. Tests are conducted on a compterized polygraph system using a nationally recognized United States Secret Service technique.

Polygraph is used in all aspects of my work as part of my process in determining the truth. Individuals may be asked to sit for a polygraph exam at my discretion. The primary reason I use polygraph is to rehabilitate the character of a person who has been subjected to false sexual abuse allegations.

I retain the right to refuse services to cases without merit--that is, where I believe an individual is not interested in the truth but desires to manipulate the legal system. Guilt or innocence is not the question. Rather it is a social justice question of preserving a person's rights while increasing personal responsibility toward a rehabilitative instead of a punitive outcome.

Case Consultation

I can provide case consultation to help legal professionals prepare cases for court. I also consult to social services agencies and programs.

Forensic Fee Schedule

For new cases 2009-2010

Base rate: $130 per hour
Reviewing a case file: $2,000
Flat daily rate: $1,500 plus expenses
Expert testimony: $2,000 per day, $1,000 for half a day
Single day in office consulting: $1,500
Testing: $150 per hour plus expenses

Phone consults by appointment

Trials

A flat fee can be negotiated for trials on an individual basis.

Payment

Insurance benefits cannot be accessed for forensic (court-related) services. Payment is required at the time of service or by retainer. Fees are payable by cash, money order, bank check or approved credit cards.