Psychiatry Expert – Trauma, Youth & Causation

Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

Additional Information

Psychiatry Expert Witness – Trauma, Causation, and Youth Residential Treatment Double board-certified psychiatrist in General Psychiatry and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry with over 20 years of clinical, leadership, and forensic experience. Actively practicing. Qualified as an expert in psychiatry over 200 times in Colorado and Texas state courts. Retained by both plaintiff and defense counsel in civil and criminal matters. My forensic work focuses on the evaluation of psychiatric injury, trauma, and causation across the lifespan, with particular expertise in children, adolescents, and young adults. I am frequently retained in cases involving complex clinical histories where assessment of contributing factors, pre-existing conditions, and the impact of treatment environments is central to the matter. I have extensive experience across the full continuum of psychiatric care, including emergency psychiatry, inpatient and residential treatment, group homes, outpatient care, and telepsychiatry. I have held multiple medical director roles with responsibility for clinical oversight, policy development, and implementation of standards of care in high-acuity settings. A significant portion of my work has involved youth in out-of-home placements, including residential treatment programs, wilderness programs, and other structured behavioral settings sometimes referred to as the “troubled teen industry” (TTI). My experience includes direct patient care, program leadership, and consultation in cases involving alleged psychological harm, neglect, or inadequate treatment in these environments. I also have experience in cases involving LGBTQ populations, including issues related to conversion therapy and associated mental health outcomes. In addition, I have served as an expert consultant to multidisciplinary teams and state systems in cases involving child abuse, neglect, and complex psychiatric presentations. My work includes extensive record review, case analysis, and collaboration with legal and clinical professionals to inform decision-making. I provide independent psychiatric evaluations for legal, forensic, and clinical matters, including record review, written reports, and deposition and trial testimony. My approach includes careful evaluation of pre-existing conditions, temporal relationships between treatment and outcomes, and contributing clinical and environmental factors. My opinions are grounded in clinical experience, established standards of care, and careful analysis of the available data.