Behavioral Health Expert Witnesses

Behavioral health expert witnesses and consultants listed here may be able to form expert opinions, draft expert witness reports, provide expert witness testimony at deposition and/or trial as or serve as consulting (non-testifying) experts on behavioral health. The behavioral health expert witness listings on this page are typically from fields/areas of expertise such as: Behavioral and Social Sciences, Child Abuse, Emergency Medicine, Forensic Psychiatry, Hospitalist, Internal Medicine, Long Term Care, Mental Health, Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Home Administration, Pharmaceutical Regulation, Pharmacist, Physician Assistant, and Psychiatry.

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Ashley Tapia, LCSW

Child & Family Trauma Mental Health Expert

Tapia Blooming Therapy

San Diego, California
Mental Health, Child Abuse - Children's Mental Health, Bullying, Child Depression/ Anxiety, Foster Care, CPS Investigations, Child Protective Services, Childhood Trauma, Family Violence, Family Based Treatment, Behavioral Health, Social Work, Pediatric Mental Health, Reunification, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, Early Childhood Development
Ashley Tapia is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California and Texas specializing in child and family mental health. Ms. Tapia earned her Master of Social Work in 2019 from California State University, Long Beach. She has four years of experience working as a Protective Services Worker with Child Welfare Services in both Orange County and San Diego County. In this role, she conducted child abuse and neglect investigations, assessed child safety and risk, and worked closely with families involved in the dependency court system. She also provided reunification services, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to support family stability and promote safe parent–child relationships. Since 2022, Ms. Tapia has provided psychotherapy services in children’s mental health in both inpatient and outpatient settings, serving as a clinician and program manager. In these roles, she has delivered intensive individual, group, and family psychotherapy to children and adolescents betw...
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Patrick Ngo, MSW, LCSW

Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital Social Worker

Patrick Ngo Psychotherapy Inc.

Santa Clara, California
Mental Health, Social Work - Social Work, Triage, Lanterman Petris Short LPS, Involuntary Committment, Suicide, Crisis Intervention, Risk Assessment, Behavioral Health, Patient Rights, Standard of Care, Severe Mental Illness (SMI), Psychosis, Schizophrenia, Bipolar, Anosognosia, Emergency Care, Joint Commission (JHACO), HEDIS, CMS, EMTALA
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with extensive experience working in outpatient and acute inpatient psychiatric settings. I have treated a broad spectrum of complex psychiatric conditions including depression, anxiety, post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and co‑occurring substance‑use disorders. I have over a decade of experience working in acute inpatient psychiatric hospitals serving patients experiencing mental health crises. Many patients I worked with were admitted to the hospital on 72 hour involuntary psychiatric holds (5150). There, I provided direct care, safety planning, complex discharge coordination, and testified at involuntary (5250, 5260, 5270) certification hearings. I regularly represented the hospital at these hearings, testifying on the clinical criteria for Danger to Self (DTS), Danger to Others (DTO), and Grave Disability (GD). Furthermore, I have collaborated closely with numerous Cou...
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Malini K Singh, MD, MPH, MBA

Emergency Medicine Physician - UCSF Faculty

UCSF School of Medicine

San Francisco, California
Emergency Medicine - Trauma, Pediatric emergencies, Obstetrical and Gynecological emergencies, Infections, Cardiac emergencies, Geriatric emergencies, Dental emergencies, Oropharyngeal, Wounds, Burns, Ocular, Pulmonary, Abdominal emergencies, Abuse, Behavioral Health, Thoracic, Neurological emergencies, Orthopedic emergencies, Vascular, Toxicology
As a board-certified Emergency Medicine physician and Clinical Professor with over two decades of experience at a high-volume Level 1 Trauma Center, I bring deep expertise in the evaluation of complex, high-acuity clinical cases and the standards of emergency care. I have held multiple senior leadership roles—including Vice Chief and former Medical Director and QI Director—where I led initiatives in quality assurance, patient safety, and clinical risk management, and chaired multidisciplinary review processes. My background combines frontline clinical excellence with advanced training in public health and business (MPH, MBA), allowing me to analyze cases through both systems-based and operational lenses. I have extensive experience in peer review, adverse event analysis, and medico-legal risk mitigation, and am frequently invited to present on patient safety and risk reduction strategies at national forums. This combination of clinical authority, leadership in quality governance, an...
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Tiana Thompson, NHA, MBA

Experienced Nursing Home Administrator Expert

Expert Consulting Services

Montclair, California
Nursing Home Administration, Long Term Care - Wound Care, Nutrition, Abuse, Medicare Compliance, Behavioral Health, Infection Control, Health Services Management, Elder Care, Neglect, Memory Care, Dementia/Alzheimer's, Regulatory Compliance, Nursing Home Finance, Quality Assurance, Subacute Care, Medicare
A dynamic healthcare executive with a rich background in senior living, skilled nursing, and behavioral health management, Tiana Thompson brings substantial expertise in operations, compliance, and turnaround strategies for healthcare facilities. As VP of Operations for “We Care” Psychology Affiliates and a seasoned healthcare consultant, she manages multi-state behavioral health practices and provides expert witness services in nursing home litigation. Her leadership in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities has consistently resulted in improved star ratings, regulatory compliance, and financial health. Known for her strategic approach, Tiana excels in staff development, budgeting, and fostering positive work environments. Case Work Includes: Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living Operations Behavioral Health Program Management for Senior Living Expert Witness in Nursing Home and Assisted Living Litigation Regulatory Compliance (Medicare, Medicaid, CMS, OBRA, OSHA) Financial ...
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Stephanie Chassman

TBI Social Consequences Expert – Ph.D., LCSW

Santa Monica, California
Social Work, Behavioral and Social Sciences - Social Work, Mental Health, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Social Consequences of TBI, Psychosocial Damages, Personal Injury, Workers' Compensation, Employment & ADA, Criminal Defense, Standard of Care, Behavioral Health, Homelessness, Substance Use, Emotional Distress, Causation, Damages
Dr. Stephanie Chassman is a Ph.D.-level Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and one of the few expert witnesses whose published research specifically focuses on the social consequences of Traumatic Brain Injury — including its effects on employment, housing stability, intimate relationships, social identity, and community functioning. With over 12 years of clinical and research experience and a three-manuscript doctoral dissertation on TBI and homelessness, Dr. Chassman bridges the gap that neurologists and neuropsychologists cannot fill: she explains not just what happened to a person's brain, but what happened to their life. Her peer-reviewed publications document how TBI disrupts social integration, substance use patterns, housing, and access to resources — exactly the downstream harms that drive damages in personal injury, workers' compensation, criminal defense, and employment matters. Dr. Chassman holds a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Denver and an MSW from ...
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Elizabeth Ferguson, MD

Harvard Trained Nationally Recognized Psychiatrist

Hogan and Associates Licensed in AL, CA, GA, CO, FL

California
Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry - hospital, malpractice, will contest, corrections, psychiatry, psychology, suicide, mental health, behavioral health, CMO, administrative, correctional psychiatry, litigation, JCAHO, law enforcement, telepsychiatry, business development, forensic psychiatry, fitness for duty, police
Dr. Ferguson, a board-certified Harvard trained forensic psychiatrist, is a respected active leader and experienced expert in the field of mental health litigation consultation. She is recognized by her peers for her administrative expertise in behavioral health organizations and has held many senior positions in national professional organizations for two decades. She has led or served on numerous community and national committees at the interface of law and psychiatry. At the earliest stage possible in her career, she was recognized as a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. As a forensic psychiatrist, chief medical officer, director of telepsychiatry behavioral health business development, and forensic psychiatry fellowship director she has a record of proven leadership in the clinical, educational, research, and public policy forums of psychiatric and telepsychiatric services. She greatly enjoys teaching psychiatrists how to testify and was the foundin...
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Matthew Madaus, LCSW

Expert in the Behavioral Health Standard of Care

Madaus Consulting LLC

Vallejo, California
Mental Health, Social Work - Children's Mental Health, Child Welfare, Standard of Care, Residential Treatment, Group Home, Behavioral Health, Drug and Alcohol Treatment, Inpatient Treatment, Substance Use Treatment, Social Work, Residential Care, Addiction Treatment, Children's Behavioral Health, Children's Therapy, Pediatric Mental Health, Trauma Treatment
Matthew Madaus, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 35 years of leadership experience in the behavioral health field. He currently serves as Executive Director of the Behavioral Health Collaborative of Alameda County, an association of nonprofit mental health and substance use treatment providers. Member agencies deliver services to more than 175,000 children, youth, and adults annually, including mental health care, substance use treatment, foster care, education, and housing. Mr. Madaus advises agency executives and senior staff on upholding the standard of care across their service systems. Mr. Madaus was the CEO of Edgewood Center for Children and Families in San Francisco, overseeing all residential treatment and community-based programs. He was the Clinical Director of The Home for Little Wanderers in Boston, where he provided leadership to numerous residential and community-based programs. He has held positions as Executive Director, Chief Operating Office...
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Kim M Pimentel, RN, BSN, MICN

Nurse Expert Witness in Emergency Medicine

Nurse 911 Corp

Los Angeles, California
Emergency Medicine, Nurse - prehospital care, behavioral health, 5150, suicide prevention, crisis prevention, stroke fallouts, falls, ER Nurse UCLA, sepsis, ER overcrowding, triage errors, mental health, restraints, behavioral detainment, Safety injury prevention, misdiagnosis, triage in crisis, breach in standard of care, duty of care, psychosocial
As a current charge nurse, clinical nurse, triage nurse, and Mobile Intensive Care Nurse (MICN) at a Level I Trauma Center, I bring over 23 years of emergency nursing experience, with advanced expertise in triage precision, stroke activation, psychiatric crisis management, and maintaining safety during emergency department overcrowding. I provide comprehensive care coordination from EMS field communication to hospital-based critical decision-making. I am a recognized expert in the triage process, with advanced proficiency in applying the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) to determine clinical urgency and anticipate resource needs. I have extensive experience identifying and preventing triage errors, particularly in high-volume settings where subtle but life-threatening presentations—such as early stroke, sepsis, or myocardial infarction—may be overlooked. I provide expert insight into common pitfalls in triage, including under-triaging of time-sensitive conditions, failure to recogniz...
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Elizabeth Ferguson, MD

Harvard Trained Nationally Recognized Psychiatrist

Hogan and Associates Licensed in AL, CA, GA, CO, FL

Colorado
Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry - hospital, malpractice, will contest, corrections, psychiatry, psychology, suicide, mental health, behavioral health, CMO, administrative, correctional psychiatry, litigation, JCAHO, law enforcement, telepsychiatry, business development, forensic psychiatry, fitness for duty, police
Dr. Ferguson, a board-certified Harvard trained forensic psychiatrist, is a respected active leader and experienced expert in the field of mental health litigation consultation. She is recognized by her peers for her administrative expertise in behavioral health organizations and has held many senior positions in national professional organizations for two decades. She has led or served on numerous community and national committees at the interface of law and psychiatry. At the earliest stage possible in her career, she was recognized as a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. As a forensic psychiatrist, chief medical officer, director of telepsychiatry behavioral health business development, and forensic psychiatry fellowship director she has a record of proven leadership in the clinical, educational, research, and public policy forums of psychiatric and telepsychiatric services. She greatly enjoys teaching psychiatrists how to testify and was the foundin...
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Mark Berenson, MD

Hospital & Emergency Medicine

Thoughtful Health Care, P-LLC

Green Cove Springs, Florida
Hospitalist, Substance Abuse - House Call Medicine, Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Urgent Care, Addiction, Pain Management, Alcoholism, Cannabis, Opioids/Suboxone, Hospice, Hospital Medicine, Post Surgical Medical Consultation, Pre-op medical consultation, IV Hydration Therapy, IV Vitamin Therapy, behavioral health, Clinical Pharmacology, Telemedicine
Board certified in Family Medicine. Over two decades of experience in Hospital and Emergency Medicine. Owner and Medical Director of a House Call Medical Practice in New Orleans since 2012. In house medical consultant for The St. Charles Surgical Hospital and Center for Restorative Breast Surgery in New Orleans. Expertise in Addiction Medicine including opioid dependence, alcoholism and other drugs of abuse. Expertise in Clinical Pharmacology, IV Hydration, IV Vitamin Therapy and Integrative Medicine. Expertise in Telemedicine and Outpatient Acute Care. Expertise in Geriatric Medicine, End-of-Life and Hospice Care. Current Adjunct Instructor for the Department of Family & Community Medicine at Tulane University School of Medicine. Former Medical Director of Gold Leaf Medical Cannabis Dispensary. Former instructor of Inpatient Medicine at San Francisco General Hospital at The University of California, San Francisco.
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Elizabeth Ferguson, MD

Harvard Trained Nationally Recognized Psychiatrist

Hogan and Associates Licensed in AL, CA, GA, CO, FL

Ponte Vedra , Florida
Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry - hospital, malpractice, will contest, corrections, psychiatry, psychology, suicide, mental health, behavioral health, CMO, administrative, correctional psychiatry, litigation, JCAHO, law enforcement, telepsychiatry, business development, forensic psychiatry, fitness for duty, police
Dr. Ferguson, a board-certified Harvard trained forensic psychiatrist, is a respected active leader and experienced expert in the field of mental health litigation consultation. She is recognized by her peers for her administrative expertise in behavioral health organizations and has held many senior positions in national professional organizations for two decades. She has led or served on numerous community and national committees at the interface of law and psychiatry. At the earliest stage possible in her career, she was recognized as a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. As a forensic psychiatrist, chief medical officer, director of telepsychiatry behavioral health business development, and forensic psychiatry fellowship director she has a record of proven leadership in the clinical, educational, research, and public policy forums of psychiatric and telepsychiatric services. She greatly enjoys teaching psychiatrists how to testify and was the foundin...
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Elizabeth Ferguson, MD

Harvard Trained Nationally Recognized Psychiatrist

Hogan and Associates Licensed in AL, CA, GA, CO, FL

Georgia
Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry - hospital, malpractice, will contest, corrections, psychiatry, psychology, suicide, mental health, behavioral health, CMO, administrative, correctional psychiatry, litigation, JCAHO, law enforcement, telepsychiatry, business development, forensic psychiatry, fitness for duty, police
Dr. Ferguson, a board-certified Harvard trained forensic psychiatrist, is a respected active leader and experienced expert in the field of mental health litigation consultation. She is recognized by her peers for her administrative expertise in behavioral health organizations and has held many senior positions in national professional organizations for two decades. She has led or served on numerous community and national committees at the interface of law and psychiatry. At the earliest stage possible in her career, she was recognized as a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. As a forensic psychiatrist, chief medical officer, director of telepsychiatry behavioral health business development, and forensic psychiatry fellowship director she has a record of proven leadership in the clinical, educational, research, and public policy forums of psychiatric and telepsychiatric services. She greatly enjoys teaching psychiatrists how to testify and was the foundin...
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Amanda M Stylianou, PhD, LCSW

Trusted psychology expert sex abuse, suicide, IMEs

Maryland
Social Work, Psychology - Mental Health, Sexual Abuse, Sexual Assault, PTSD, Suicide, Depression, Behavioral Health, Substance Use, Trauma, Crime Victim, Forensic Psychology, Addiction, Emotional Distress, Psychological Evaluation, Sexual Harassment, Anxiety, IME, Child Abuse, Psychological Damages, Disability & Injury
Amanda M. Stylianou, Ph.D., LCSW is a nationally recognized psychology and mental health expert with more than 19 years of clinical, leadership, and research experience working with survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and individuals impacted by severe mental illness, self-harm, and suicide. She is currently the Chief Executive Officer of HEAL Trafficking, a national survivor-centered organization dedicated to advancing public health responses to human trafficking through training, policy, research, and survivor leadership. She brings a rare combination of front-line clinical practice, executive leadership, and federally funded research to her expert witness work. Dr. Stylianou previously served as Associate Vice President at Safe Horizon, the nation’s largest victim services organization, where she oversaw and supported services for survivors of crime, violence, and sexual assault across all five boroughs of New York City. Her work has required deep expertise in trauma...
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ROSEANN P VELEZ, DNP, FNP, FAANP

Adjunct Faculty University of Delaware, FNP

University of Delaware College of Health Sciences

Bozeman, Montana
Nurse Practitioner, Internal Medicine - urgent care, cancer screenings, cardiology, heart failure, COPD, pulmonary, infectious diseases, multidisciplinary practice, transition to care, social determinants of health, telemedicine, thyroid disease, behavioral health, neurological, orthopedic
As a Family Nurse Practitioner, Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and an American Association of Nurse Practitioners Convenient and Urgent Care Committee Co-Chair, I have the skillset to provide consultation, depositions, and expert witness services. With 26 years of primary care, urgent care, and orthopedic experience, I deliver care to primary and urgent care patients in an internal medicine practice. I work with leadership colleagues to improve patient care and eliminate barriers to practice. My academic experience includes teaching undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral nursing courses while maintaining a clinical practice. As an international, national, and regional presenter, author, journal reviewer, and former editor, I am well-versed in recognizing the standard of care, the importance of communication and evidence-informed documentation, and the impact of Full Practice Authority on practice. My medical legal experience includes depositions in Baltimo...
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Frank Breve, PharmD, MBA, CCP

Mid Atlantic PharmaTech Consultants, LLC

Ventnor City, New Jersey
Pharmacist, Pharmaceutical Regulation - Geriatrics, Addiction, Opioids, Hospitals, Dialysis, Behavioral Health, Drug Distributors, Drug Companies, Long Term Care, Assisted Living, Pharmacies, Professional Practice, Regulatory Compliance, Duty of Care, Duty to Warn, Product Liability, Pharmacology, Toxicology, Abuse, Overdose
Dr. Frank Breve is an independent contractor consultant pharmacist. He is President and CEO of Mid Atlantic PharmaTech Consultants, LLC, a for profit company. Dr. Breve is also President and CEO of Opioid Consulting Educational Solutions, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. He is adjunct faculty at Temple University School of Pharmacy in Philadelphia, and at University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy in Denver. Dr. Breve has authored over sixty scientific publications in peer reviewed journals. Dr. Breve is past president of the New Jersey Pharmacists Association, and a member of various professional societies and committees. He has been the recipient of many awards in his field of practice. Dr. Breve has served as an expert witness for roughly twenty years, and has worked on numerous cases, representing both plaintiffs and defendants.
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Amanda M Stylianou, PhD, LCSW

Trusted psychology expert sex abuse, suicide, IMEs

Lambertville, New Jersey
Social Work, Psychology - Mental Health, Sexual Abuse, Sexual Assault, PTSD, Suicide, Depression, Behavioral Health, Substance Use, Trauma, Crime Victim, Forensic Psychology, Addiction, Emotional Distress, Psychological Evaluation, Sexual Harassment, Anxiety, IME, Child Abuse, Psychological Damages, Disability & Injury
Amanda M. Stylianou, Ph.D., LCSW is a nationally recognized psychology and mental health expert with more than 19 years of clinical, leadership, and research experience working with survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and individuals impacted by severe mental illness, self-harm, and suicide. She is currently the Chief Executive Officer of HEAL Trafficking, a national survivor-centered organization dedicated to advancing public health responses to human trafficking through training, policy, research, and survivor leadership. She brings a rare combination of front-line clinical practice, executive leadership, and federally funded research to her expert witness work. Dr. Stylianou previously served as Associate Vice President at Safe Horizon, the nation’s largest victim services organization, where she oversaw and supported services for survivors of crime, violence, and sexual assault across all five boroughs of New York City. Her work has required deep expertise in trauma...
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Kim M Pimentel, RN, BSN, MICN

Nurse Expert Witness in Emergency Medicine

Nurse 911 Corp

New York
Emergency Medicine, Nurse - prehospital care, behavioral health, 5150, suicide prevention, crisis prevention, stroke fallouts, falls, ER Nurse UCLA, sepsis, ER overcrowding, triage errors, mental health, restraints, behavioral detainment, Safety injury prevention, misdiagnosis, triage in crisis, breach in standard of care, duty of care, psychosocial
As a current charge nurse, clinical nurse, triage nurse, and Mobile Intensive Care Nurse (MICN) at a Level I Trauma Center, I bring over 23 years of emergency nursing experience, with advanced expertise in triage precision, stroke activation, psychiatric crisis management, and maintaining safety during emergency department overcrowding. I provide comprehensive care coordination from EMS field communication to hospital-based critical decision-making. I am a recognized expert in the triage process, with advanced proficiency in applying the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) to determine clinical urgency and anticipate resource needs. I have extensive experience identifying and preventing triage errors, particularly in high-volume settings where subtle but life-threatening presentations—such as early stroke, sepsis, or myocardial infarction—may be overlooked. I provide expert insight into common pitfalls in triage, including under-triaging of time-sensitive conditions, failure to recogniz...
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Levi D Vance, PA-C

Inpatient Psychiatry Physician Assistant

Medford, Oregon
Physician Assistant, Psychiatry - Inpatient psychiatry, Consult Liason, Suicide risk, Crisis care, Psychosis, Mood disorders, Substance use, Patient safety, Involuntary hold, Discharge planning, Medication management, Malpractice, Standard of care, Behavioral Health, Acute psychiatry, Psychiatric hold, Assessment, Telemedicine, Documentation, Hospital Safety
Levi D. Vance, PA-C – Psychiatric Expert Witness I am a board-certified Physician Assistant with over six years of experience in inpatient psychiatry at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center’s Behavioral Health Unit. My practice involves daily evaluation and management of patients with acute psychiatric conditions including psychosis, severe mood disorders, substance use disorders, and suicidal ideation requiring crisis stabilization. Courtroom Experience I regularly provide testimony in civil commitment hearings, which has familiarized me with legal proceedings, communicating psychiatric concepts to legal audiences, and responding to examination. Clinical Background My clinical work encompasses suicide risk assessment, psychiatric medication management, involuntary hold determinations, discharge planning for high-acuity patients, and crisis intervention. I treat patients across the full spectrum of acute psychiatric presentations and work within multidisciplinary teams to addr...
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Melissa Schiefelbein

Autism Expert Witness (MA, BCBA, COBA)

Wausau, Wisconsin
Behavioral and Social Sciences - Autism, BCBA, COBA, MA, Behavioral Health, Child Development Specialist, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Clinical Consultant
Melissa Schiefelbein has over 15 years of experience in the field of autism services and provides specialized legal services tailored for cases involving autism. Her expertise ensures that you receive informed and accurate representations in court. As a parent of a child with autism, child development specialist, former educator, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, clinical consultant, CEO of Bloom Health and nation-wide speaker, Melissa provides a comprehensive level of assistance in legal cases.