Symptom Validity Expert Witnesses

Walnut Creek, California

Psychology, Forensic Psychology - forensic psychologist, psychological injury, PTSD evaluation, trauma assessment, interpersonal violence, IME, personal injury, sexual harassment, expert witness, record review, rebuttal expert, causation, impairment, malingering, symptom validity, workplace trauma, disability evaluation, trauma expert, VA disability, trauma disorder

Christine E. Valdez, Ph.D., ABPP is a California licensed clinical psychologist and board-certified in clinical psychology. She specializes in forensic psychology and is retained in civil litigation to provide forensic psychological evaluation and consultation in cases involving trauma, PTSD, interpersonal violence, and psychological injury. Dr. Valdez has conducted over 1,000 forensic evaluations through her work with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, including disability and compensation-related assessments. Her evaluations address diagnosis, causation, and functional impairment and are grounded in both clinical expertise and research in traumatic stress. Dr. Valdez is a Professor of Clinical Psychology at California State University, Monterey Bay, where she teaches psychopathology and advanced research methods and trains clinicians in assessment and diagnosis. She has authored over 25 peer-reviewed publications and delivered more than 50 professional presentations on tra...

Waverly, Nebraska

Neuropsychology, Forensic Psychology - brain injury, malingering, competency, PTSD, emotional distress, testamentary capacity, Fitness for Duty, cognitive Impairment, differential diagnosis, civil and criminal litigation, rebuttal evaluations, second opinions, record reviews, workers compensation, performance validity, symptom validity, mental capacity, personal injury

I am a neuropsychologist licensed in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and South Dakota, specializing in the intersection of brain function and legal standards. With experience in an estimated 200+ testimonies on civil and criminal cases over 26 years of practice, I provide thorough, evidence-based, neuropsychological independent examinations that meet the standard of care and the Daubert standard for cases involving traumatic brain injury, cognitive impairment, and psychological disability. A full symptom/performance validity assessment is completed to rule-out suboptimal effort or malingering. I deliver clear, defensible expert opinions that withstand rigorous cross-examination and translate complex neuroscientific data into actionable insights for the court. I am available for nationwide travel for evaluations and testimony, as well as record reviews and second opinions.