Publications

• Beyond The Percentile: The Forensic Necessity of Differential Diagnosis

Psychodiagnostic Forensic & Medical Legal Expert

Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

Additional Information

Dr. Colleen Long, Licensed Clinical Psychologist Mission Viejo, California Forensic Psychology and Neuropsychology – Neuropsychological Assessment, Diagnostic Assessment, Pediatric Neuropsychology, Geropsychology, Clinical Report Writing, Differential Diagnosis, PTSD, TBI, Malingering, Criminal Competency, Civil Competency, Emotional Damages, Workers’ Compensation, High Conflict Divorce. Professional Profile Dr. Colleen Long is a highly experienced clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist with over 15 years of private practice and institutional experience. She specializes in the forensic application of neuropsychological assessments across the entire developmental lifespan; from children and adolescents to adults and the geriatric population. With a career history of over 8,000 evaluations, Dr. Long is recognized for her precision and diagnostic authority. She possesses the rare ability to translate raw psychometric data into sophisticated, court-ready clinical reports that do more than list scores; they provide a defensible differential diagnosis. Her work explicitly details why a diagnosis is accurate, how it is differentiated from comorbid conditions, and what those findings mean within a specific forensic or legal context. Why Attorneys Retain Dr. Long Diagnostic Authority: Expert in explaining the "why" behind a diagnosis, ensuring it stands up to rigorous cross-examination. Lifespan Expertise: Rare dual-competency in both Pediatric Neuropsychology (trained at CHOC and CHLA) and Geropsychology (Capacity/Conservatorship). Scientific Rigor: Specialized in the detection of Malingering and symptom exaggeration, providing objective clarity in high-stakes litigation. Articulate Testimony: A seasoned communicator who distills complex neurological and psychological data into clear, persuasive findings for judges and juries. Areas of Expertise Civil Litigation & Personal Injury Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Objective assessment of cognitive impairment following accidents or medical negligence. Emotional Damages: Evaluation of PTSD, chronic stress, and psychological injury in workplace harassment or personal injury claims. Workers’ Compensation: IME/AME evaluations for occupational injuries and fitness for duty. Pediatric & Family Law High Conflict Divorce: Neuropsychological profiling of children and parental fitness assessments. Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Expert diagnosis of Autism (ASD), ADHD, and Learning Disabilities in a legal or educational context. Criminal Forensics Competency & Responsibility: Evaluations for Criminal Competency, Insanity/NGRI, and Violence Risk Assessment. Mitigation: Neuropsychological factors impacting behavioral control and state of mind at the time of an offense. Geriatric & Capacity Assessments Civil Competency: Evaluating Testamentary Capacity, Financial Capacity, and the need for Conservatorship or Guardianship in contested estate matters. Education & Clinical Training Doctorate of Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) * Pre Doctoral Fellowship: Pathways Skilled Nursing Facility – Focus on high-complexity TBI & ABI cases Licensed: California and Massachusetts Summary of Forensic Experience Years in Practice: 15+ Evaluations Conducted: 8,000+ Services Provided: Case consultation, record review, comprehensive neuropsychological testing, rebuttal of opposing expert reports, and expert witness testimony. Dr. Long prioritizes clarity, scientific objectivity, and ethical engagement. For a fee schedule or initial case consultation, please contact the office directly. CV available upon request