Social Work Expert Witnesses in California

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, Behavioral Health, Child Protective Services, Child Welfare, Foster Care, Causation, Child Death, Children's Mental Health, Cps, Cps Investigations, Crisis Intervention, Damages, Emotional Distress, Family Based Treatment, and Homelessness.

Laurie Conaty, MSW, LCSW, LCAS
  • Former Duke and UNC Faculty
  • Thought Leading Social Worker
  • 35+ Years Experience
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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
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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 ...
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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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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...
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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...
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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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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...
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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...
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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
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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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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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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 ...
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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...
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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 ...
You can also find Social Work Expert Witnesses in:
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, and North Carolina