Social Work Expert Witnesses

The SEAK Expert Witness Directory contains a comprehensive list of social work expert witnesses who testify, consult and provide litigation support on social work and related issues. Social work expert witnesses and consultants on this page may form expert opinions, draft expert witness reports, and provide expert witness testimony at deposition and trial. The issues and subjects these social work expert witnesses testify regarding may include: Social Work, Child Protective Services, Behavioral Health, Foster Care, Mental Health, Suicide, Trauma, Addiction, Adoption, Child Abuse, Child Welfare, Cps, Emotional Distress, Personal Injury, and PTSD.

Laurie Conaty, MSW, LCSW, LCAS
  • Former Duke and UNC Faculty
  • Thought Leading Social Worker
  • 35+ Years Experience
View Full Profile

Nicol Stolar-Peterson, PsyD, LCSW, BCD

www.nicolstolar.com

Social Work, Child Abuse - Child Protective Services, Department of Children and Family Services, Investigations, Standard of Care, Removal, Exigency, Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Neglect, Child Death, Child Fatality, Child Welfare
Child Abuse/Child Welfare Expert national practice. Completed over 1000 child abuse investigations and interviews, 100’s of removals, 100’s of foster care and adoptive placements. 11 years of field experience working in child protective services as a child abuse investigator, interviewer, trainer, foster care/adoption social worker (2003-2015). Licensed clinical social worker in California since 2009. Trained over 1000 social workers in child abuse investigation and current standards and duties. National trainer on mandated reporting. Focus Areas Include; Child Welfare Expert Child Abuse Investigations Clinical Social Worker Expert Witness Child Fatality Investigations CPS /DCFS Expertise Consultation Psychotherapy Crisis Counseling Forensic Interviewer Case Management Community Outreach Group Therapy Record/Case Review Structured Decision-Making Tools Testimony
View Full Profile

Nicole E McCarthy, MSW, LCSW, PMH-C

Experienced Therapist & Mental Health Expert.

Social Work, Mental Health - Mental Health, Intensive Outpatient Programs, Forensic Social Work, Adult Depression/Anxiety, Case Management, Standard of Care, Discharge Planning, Postpartum Depression, PTSD, Perinatal Mental Health, Domestic Violence, Work Place Sexual Harassment, Suicide Prevention, Institutional Abuse
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) expert in mental health, psychiatric issues and women's health. I have a masters degree in social work from the University of Southern California and licensed in the state of California with the Board of Behavioral Sciences. I have experience and expertise with residential treatment centers, psychiatric hospitals, domestic violence shelters and outpatient mental health clinics. I was a leader for the Intensive Outpatient Program in an outpatient clinic. Supervised other therapist’s and coordinated treatment teams for patient care. I have collaborated with psychiatrists, primary care physicians, OBGYN's, medical social workers, RN's and nursing teams. I addition, I am a member of Postpartum Support International and helped create the positive motherhood transition program specializing and treating moms who struggle with postpartum depression/ anxiety. I have expertise with pregnancy loss, infertility and perinatal issues. I am also a member ...
View Full Profile

Bahar S. Yaghoubian

Trauma & Mental Health Expert Witness | LCSW

Woodland hills, California
Social Work, Mental Health - Emotional Distress, Civil litigation, Workplace trauma, sexual trauma, Older adult, Trauma expert, PTSD Damages, Psychological harm, Trauma stress evaluation, Immigration Evaluation, Hardship Evaluation, Somatic Therapy, Reproductive trauma, Perinatal mental health, Multicultural competency, Damages, Causation, personal injury
Attorneys retaining Bahar (Summer) Yaghoubian, LCSW, gain a clinical social worker with over 18 years of post-license clinical experience, multidisciplinary team background in adult mental health, and specialized training in expert witness practice and psychological evaluation for legal proceedings. She is available for in-person engagements in California and for testimony nationwide. Bahar Yaghoubian, LCSW (California BBS #27960), earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California in 2008. She is available as an expert witness in cases involving mental health professional standard of care, psychological injury, trauma-related claims, and related issues in adult populations. She has practiced clinically since 2006, beginning with MSW internships at the Multipurpose Senior Services Program and the USC Center for Work & Family Life. From 2008 to 2012 she served older adults, first at Forever Young Adult Day Health Care and then as a Clinical Social Worker wi...
View Full Profile

Bobby D Cagle

Child Welfare Expert - Nationally Recognized

Cagle Expert Witness Services

Northridge, California
Child Abuse, Social Work - child death, child abuse, child neglect, foster care, child welfare, daycare, investigations, adoption, federal child welfare policy, child welfare standards, daycare stds of operation, child safety, child placement, family functioning, operating child welfare organizations, daycare regulation, daycare injuries
UNPARALLELED EXPERIENCE Founder/CEO of human services consulting firm serving government and nonprofit organizations across the US for last 3 years 33 years of government service Front-line, supervisory, managerial, administrative, and leadership roles Social Worker (child welfare), Probation/Parole Officer, County Social Serivces Director, State Policy Director, State Legislative Director Twice appointed by Georgia Governor Nathan Deal — Commissioner, Early Care and Learning (2011-2013); Director of Family and Children Services (2013-2017) Four years as Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Child and Family Services (largest local child welfare agency in the United States) Education BA, Political Science/Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1989) MSW, Management, Planning, Community Practice Concentration, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1998) Training More than 1,075 hours of professional training in child welfare, community corre...
View Full Profile

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...
View Full Profile

Nicol Stolar-Peterson, PsyD, LCSW, BCD

www.nicolstolar.com

Murrieta, California
Social Work, Child Abuse - Child Protective Services, Department of Children and Family Services, Investigations, Standard of Care, Removal, Exigency, Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Neglect, Child Death, Child Fatality, Child Welfare
Child Abuse/Child Welfare Expert national practice. Completed over 1000 child abuse investigations and interviews, 100’s of removals, 100’s of foster care and adoptive placements. 11 years of field experience working in child protective services as a child abuse investigator, interviewer, trainer, foster care/adoption social worker (2003-2015). Licensed clinical social worker in California since 2009. Trained over 1000 social workers in child abuse investigation and current standards and duties. National trainer on mandated reporting. Focus Areas Include; Child Welfare Expert Child Abuse Investigations Clinical Social Worker Expert Witness Child Fatality Investigations CPS /DCFS Expertise Consultation Psychotherapy Crisis Counseling Forensic Interviewer Case Management Community Outreach Group Therapy Record/Case Review Structured Decision-Making Tools Testimony
View Full Profile

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 ...
View Full Profile

Franceen Rea, MSW, BSW, GRMS

CPS Social Worker, Foster Care, Adoptions, & APS

Social Worker Testimony.com

Fairfield, California
Social Work, Child Abuse - social worker consultations, CPS consultations, elder abuse and neglect, child, child abuse social worker expert, APS consultations, termination of parents rights, child abuse investigations, adult protective services social worker, dependent adult abuse neglect, child protective services expert, adoptions social worker
With over 32 years of experience in Social Work, I specialize in Child Welfare Services (CWS)/Child Protective Services (CPS), Adoptions, Foster Care, and Adult Protective Services (APS). My career includes thousands of child and adult welfare investigations, removals, and placements, making me a trusted expert for legal professionals seeking testimony in cases involving social work, child abuse/neglect/exploitation, sexual abuse, adoptions, permanency planning, elder and dependent adult abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and exploitation. Areas of Expertise: • Child Welfare Services (CWS)/Child Protective Services (CPS) • Adult Protective Services (APS) • Elder & Dependent Adult Abuse/Neglect/Exploitation/Self-neglect Investigations • Adoptions (including TPR, voluntary relinquishments)/366.26 Hearings • Foster Care, Guardianships, Adoptions, Permanency planning • Social Work Standards of Care, Case Management, Risk Assessments, Safety Planning • Court Testimony, Report Preparation, Co...
View Full Profile

Sarah Burney, LCSW, CEDS-S

Eating Disorder, PTSD, & Standard of Care Expert

Burney Therapy Group

Newport Beach, California
Mental Health, Substance Abuse - eating disorder, trauma, PTSD, anorexia, bulimia, obsessive compulsive disorder, OCD, substance abuse, substance use, overdose, treatment, social work, cognitive behavioral therapy, family based treatment, addiction, anxiety, depression, suicide, EMDR, psychology
Sarah Burney, LCSW, CEDS-S, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist & Supervisor with over a decade of clinical and leadership experience. She provides expert witness services in cases involving eating disorders, psychiatric standard of care, trauma, and complex mental health conditions. Her areas of expertise include: Eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, ARFID) Psychiatric standard of care and negligence Acute and complex trauma (including PTSD) Substance use disorders Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Depressive and anxiety disorders Level of care determinations (inpatient, residential, PHP, IOP, outpatient) Risk assessment and clinical decision-making Ms. Burney has extensive experience treating patients across the full continuum of care, including inpatient and outpatient treatment settings for eating disorders, mental health, and substance use disorders. She previously served as a Director at one of ...
View Full Profile

Jeffrey R. Goodyear, LCSW

Mental Health, Behavioral Health and Substance Use

Scotts Valley, California
Mental Health, Substance Abuse - Forensics, Homelessness, Chronic Mental Illness, Crisis Intervention, Dual Diagnosis, Substance Use Disorder, Psychosocial Assessments, LPS holds, Conservatorship, Coordinated Care, Jail Mental Health, Social Work, Treatment Planning, Multidisciplinary Teams, Hospital, Psychiatric Inpatient, Behavioral and Social Sciences
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) – Forensic & Community Mental Health Specialist I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 17 years of experience in behavioral health, homelessness, substance use, and forensic mental health, including 9 years of post-MSW clinical practice. My professional background spans high-acuity settings such as correctional facilities, psychiatric units, and community-based programs, where I’ve provided direct clinical services, crisis intervention, and care coordination for some of the most vulnerable populations. As a former Mental Health First Aid Instructor for Santa Cruz County Mental Health, I trained county agencies and community-based partners in identifying, understanding, and responding to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. This role highlights my dedication to community education and building mental health literacy across systems of care. My expertise includes: Crisis intervention and de-escalation Psychiatric risk ass...
View Full Profile

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...
View Full Profile

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...
View Full Profile

Nicole E McCarthy, MSW, LCSW, PMH-C

Experienced Therapist & Mental Health Expert.

Woodland Hills, California
Social Work, Mental Health - Mental Health, Intensive Outpatient Programs, Forensic Social Work, Adult Depression/Anxiety, Case Management, Standard of Care, Discharge Planning, Postpartum Depression, PTSD, Perinatal Mental Health, Domestic Violence, Work Place Sexual Harassment, Suicide Prevention, Institutional Abuse
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) expert in mental health, psychiatric issues and women's health. I have a masters degree in social work from the University of Southern California and licensed in the state of California with the Board of Behavioral Sciences. I have experience and expertise with residential treatment centers, psychiatric hospitals, domestic violence shelters and outpatient mental health clinics. I was a leader for the Intensive Outpatient Program in an outpatient clinic. Supervised other therapist’s and coordinated treatment teams for patient care. I have collaborated with psychiatrists, primary care physicians, OBGYN's, medical social workers, RN's and nursing teams. I addition, I am a member of Postpartum Support International and helped create the positive motherhood transition program specializing and treating moms who struggle with postpartum depression/ anxiety. I have expertise with pregnancy loss, infertility and perinatal issues. I am also a member ...
View Full Profile

Mayola Miranda, DPA, LCSW, MSW

Miranda Counseling & Consulting LCSW, Inc

Newport Beach, California
Social Work, Child Abuse - Child protective services, public child welfare, foster care, child abuse & neglect, nonminor dependents, emergency removals, dependency court, CPS standards of care, CPS policies & practices, civil rights, CPS investigations, mandated reporting, reasonable services, reunification, .26 hearings, Placement
Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 25+ years of diverse work experience including in the public sector, private sector, non-profit, academia, and military. A former Child Protective Services (CPS) social worker & supervisor of 15 years with insider knowledge about child welfare. Hands-on experience with hundreds of child welfare-involved families and children in all phases of a child dependency case. Supervised, trained, and taught CPS social workers, interns, and Master of Social Work students. CA License #24899, AZ License #22844. Specialized areas of knowledge include: Certificates of Merits Emergency Child Removals, warrants Warrantless removals, exigent circumstances, imminent risk Child Protective Services policies, practices, and procedures Child abuse and neglect Foster care, out of home care, congregate care Case Plans: Reunification, family maintenance and transitional living plans Standards of care § 1983 Civil rights, Monell Liability AB12/Non-Minor dependents Struct...
View Full Profile

Lorraine K Bockman, LCSW, LAC, SAP

Substance Use & Addictions Therapist/Expert

Comprehensive Addiction Solutions LLC

Centennial, Colorado
Substance Abuse, Mental Health - Substance Abuse, Chemical Dependency, Prescription Drug Abuse, Substance Abuse treatment, Standards of Care, Drug Addiction, Alcoholism, Substance Abuse Recovery, Addiction Recovery, Chronic Relapse, Clinical Policies, DOT Substance Abuse Professional (SAP), Social work, Ethics, Licensure Board matters
Ms. Bockman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Licensed Addictions Counselor in Colorado, and is qualified as a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) under the Department of Transportation (DOT) guidelines. She maintains a clinical practice seeing individuals in a therapeutic setting, specializing in addictions and related issues. She has additional career experience as a program director, manager/staff developer, clinical supervisor, evaluator, and clinician. She has worked in inpatient, residential, hospital, and outpatient settings prior to working in private practice. Ms. Bockman is considered to have the special knowledge, experience, and education that goes far beyond basic public information in the field of substance use, abuse, additions, and other related topics. She has the skills you may be seeking in an expert witness including written and oral communication, team player expertise, confidence, and honesty. Her expert witness practice includes: case review and a...
View Full Profile

Jessica Duesler, LCSW-BCD

Forensic Social Work, Child Welfare, CPS Expert

Colorado Forensic Family Advocacy

Centennial, Colorado
Child Abuse, Social Work - child custody, child development, child abuse, neglect, Family separation, Trauma, Best interest, Mental health, Reasonable efforts, Forensic social work, Removal, Foster care, Reunification, Adoption, Attachment, Termination of parental rights, Kinship care, Social work, child protective services, CPS
Jessica Duesler is a Board Certified Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Colorado, Utah, Texas, and Florida with nearly 20 years of experience. Holding certifications in Forensic Social Work and Multicultural and International Social Work Practice, other specialized expertise includes Adoption Trauma, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, Complex Trauma, the Harm of Removal, TPR, and Forensic Evaluations. Jessica's primary focus of work is centered around dependent and neglected children and domestic relations matters. She has also worked on juvenile delinquency and guardianship cases. Jessica's scope of work routinely involves legal advocacy, conducting mental health evaluations, child-focused trauma assessments, Parent-Child Interactional Evaluations, facilitating therapeutic out-of-home placement transitions, and serving as an expert witness throughout the country. Jessica is a certified Child & Family Investigator and Parental Responsibilities Evaluator. Jessica’s exp...
View Full Profile

Lisa Schuman, LCSW

Award-Winning Researcher, Author, Therapist

The Center for Family Building

Stamford, Connecticut
Mental Health, Social Work - Fertility, Donor Conception, Surrogacy, IVF, LGBTQIA +, Single parents, Embryo, Oocyte, Sperm, Egg Freezing, Gestational Carrier, IUI, Infertility, Family building, Conception, Queer Families, Marital Stress, Advanced Maternal Age, Parenting
Lisa Schuman, LCSW, is a published author, licensed therapist, and award-winning researcher. She is the only therapist chosen to testify before the New York State Senate Judiciary Committee on legalizing compensated surrogacy. Lisa is the host of the Building Your Family podcast and author of Building Your Family: The Complete Guide to Donor Conception. For more than two decades, she has worked in-house at several world-renowned fertility clinics and most recently served as the Director of Mental Health Services for Illume Fertility and Gay Parents to Be. She is currently the Director of The Center for Family Building, where she provides counseling, guidance, and screening services for individuals and families navigating their path to parenthood and parenting their children. Over her decades of practice she has worked with a wide range of people helping them navigate their family relationships, parenting issues, and raising children with learning differences. Lisa has received aw...
View Full Profile

Charles F Lorbeer, PhD, LCSW, LICSW, DABFC

#1 National Child Abuse Expert-CBS, ABC,& NBC News

Liebert Industries, LLC

Jacksonville, Florida
Child Abuse, Social Work - Child custody, child abuse & neglect, suicide, medical management, social work malpractice, child protective services, mandated reporters, abuse investigations, addictions counseling, substance abuse services, foster care, adoption, academic management, guardianships, elder abuse, sexual abuse
• Recognition: Prove #1 rank using Ai search Google, Bing, or YouTube: "What is the name of the national number 1 child expert witness?" Dr. Lorbeer & Liebert Industries are at the top! • Call me now, I will answer! (904) 287-8400! Lower then average fees. I am available to assist you immediately. You will love my genuine and empathetic style. I will present complex cases in a manner that is easy to understand and profound in their application to your case. • #1 NATIONAL EXPERT- Interviewed on ABC, CBS and NBC News. https://liebertindustries.com/blog/ All states: recent cases in AR, CA, CT, FL, GA, IL, MA, MO, NH, NY, PA, SC, TX, WV, WA, WI, etc. Has 40 years of experience with Child removals, adoption, foster care, suicide, child abuse, sex abuse, social work malpractice, counseling, guardianships, elder abuse, psychiatric management, psych hospitals, assisted living facilities, medical administration and custody related cases. • Additional Information Dr. Lorbeer is a...
View Full Profile

Jessica Duesler, LCSW-BCD

Forensic Social Work, Child Welfare, CPS Expert

Colorado Forensic Family Advocacy

Florida
Child Abuse, Social Work - child custody, child development, child abuse, neglect, Family separation, Trauma, Best interest, Mental health, Reasonable efforts, Forensic social work, Removal, Foster care, Reunification, Adoption, Attachment, Termination of parental rights, Kinship care, Social work, child protective services, CPS
Jessica Duesler is a Board Certified Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Colorado, Utah, Texas, and Florida with nearly 20 years of experience. Holding certifications in Forensic Social Work and Multicultural and International Social Work Practice, other specialized expertise includes Adoption Trauma, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, Complex Trauma, the Harm of Removal, TPR, and Forensic Evaluations. Jessica's primary focus of work is centered around dependent and neglected children and domestic relations matters. She has also worked on juvenile delinquency and guardianship cases. Jessica's scope of work routinely involves legal advocacy, conducting mental health evaluations, child-focused trauma assessments, Parent-Child Interactional Evaluations, facilitating therapeutic out-of-home placement transitions, and serving as an expert witness throughout the country. Jessica is a certified Child & Family Investigator and Parental Responsibilities Evaluator. Jessica’s exp...
View Full Profile

Gina V Marra, RN, LCSW, CLCP

Emergency Medicine RN + LCSW + CLCP

Chicago, Illinois
Nurse, Social Work - emergency department, emergency medicine, emergency, trauma, social work, therapist, psychiatry, catastrophic injury, restraint use, 215 mental health evaluation, LCSW, mental health, traumatic brain injury, Life Care Plan, triage, discharge, personal injury, life care plan, addiction, abuse
Gina Marra is a registered nurse, licensed clinical social worker, legal nurse consultant, and life care planning professional with clinical experience in emergency nursing, psychiatric and behavioral health care, neurologic injury, traumatic brain injury, and medically complex patients. She continues to practice at the bedside in the emergency department, giving her current, firsthand knowledge of emergency nursing standards, triage, assessment, patient safety, discharge practices, documentation, and interdisciplinary care. Gina has experience evaluating cases involving emergency care, nursing standards of care, patient deterioration, discharge safety, communication, documentation, and care coordination. She has reviewed matters for both plaintiff and defense, completed complex expert reports, assessed cases for merit, and provided deposition testimony. She has also attended Independent Medical Examinations related to mental health issues and nursing scopes and standards. Her com...
View Full Profile

Andrea N. Cimino, PhD, MSW, LMSW

Social Scientist | Expert in Gender-Based Violence

Baltimore, Maryland
Behavioral and Social Sciences, Social Work - Intimate Partner Violence, Criminalized Survivors of Violence, Women’s Pathways to Prison, Gender-Based Violence, Intimate Partner Homicide Risk, Traumatic Brain Injury from IPV, Coercive Control, Violence Risk Assessment, Prostitution/Sex Work, Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking, Childhood Maltreatment, LGBTQIA+ Populations
I am a nationally recognized social scientist and licensed master social worker (LMSW) with over 15 years of experience conducting interdisciplinary research on intimate partner violence, gender-based violence, sex trafficking, trauma, and the criminalization of survivors, including work with LGBTQIA+ populations. My work emphasizes trauma-informed, social and behavioral responses to explain survivor behavior, risk trajectories, and decision-making in high-stakes contexts. I have authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications and served as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on over $9 million in funded research. As a social worker by training with advanced interdisciplinary violence research training at Johns Hopkins University, I bring expertise grounded in both empirical research and practice-informed understanding of violence, trauma, and systems response. My approach integrates social science, public health, and trauma-informed frameworks to examine the health, mental...
View Full Profile

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...
View Full Profile

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...
View Full Profile

Laurie Conaty, MSW, LCSW, LCAS

Clinical Social Work, Prior Duke & UNC-CH Faculty

Laurie Conaty, LCSW, P.A.

Sanford, North Carolina
Social Work, Mental Health - Clinical Social Work, Mental Health Treatment, Emergency Room Social Work, Ethics, Standard of Care, Evidence-based Practices, Hospital Social Work, Clinical Standard of Care, Diagnostics, Informed Consent for Care, Training for Practice Modalities, Licensure Board Matters, Psychiatric Units, Suicide, Substance Abuse
Thought-leading social worker in active clinical practice. Former Duke and UNC Faculty. Subject matter expert in standard of care in individual and hospital based clinical social work practice. Invited member of NASW revision task force for Standards in Clinical Social Work Practice. Subject matter expert in substance use disorder and psychiatric treatment. Former President of the North Carolina Society for Clinical Social Work. Significant experience developing and delivering training to psychiatric providers including MDs, social workers, and other clinicians. Named "NC Clinical Social Worker of the Year” by peers. Clinical focus on diagnosis and treatment for depression, anxiety, adult and child ADD, relationship conflict, trauma survivors (adult and child) and recovery issues related to substance use disorders. Clinical experience to include children, adolescents, adults, and couples. Expertise in mental health, substance use and co-occurring disorder program development, m...
View Full Profile

Jessica Duesler, LCSW-BCD

Forensic Social Work, Child Welfare, CPS Expert

Colorado Forensic Family Advocacy

Texas
Child Abuse, Social Work - child custody, child development, child abuse, neglect, Family separation, Trauma, Best interest, Mental health, Reasonable efforts, Forensic social work, Removal, Foster care, Reunification, Adoption, Attachment, Termination of parental rights, Kinship care, Social work, child protective services, CPS
Jessica Duesler is a Board Certified Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Colorado, Utah, Texas, and Florida with nearly 20 years of experience. Holding certifications in Forensic Social Work and Multicultural and International Social Work Practice, other specialized expertise includes Adoption Trauma, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, Complex Trauma, the Harm of Removal, TPR, and Forensic Evaluations. Jessica's primary focus of work is centered around dependent and neglected children and domestic relations matters. She has also worked on juvenile delinquency and guardianship cases. Jessica's scope of work routinely involves legal advocacy, conducting mental health evaluations, child-focused trauma assessments, Parent-Child Interactional Evaluations, facilitating therapeutic out-of-home placement transitions, and serving as an expert witness throughout the country. Jessica is a certified Child & Family Investigator and Parental Responsibilities Evaluator. Jessica’s exp...
You can also find Social Work Expert Witnesses in:
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, and North Carolina