Expert Witness
Forensic Psychologist

What on earth is a Forensic Psychologist?

A forensic psychologist is one of those experts you don’t think about until and unless you encounter an urgent and pressing need to find someone with their expertise, navigating the courts to help protect children who have been wronged or are at risk of injustice. 

Navigating the legal system is never easy, and it gets decidedly less easy when dealing with emotional conflict. Our experienced forensic psychologists work with families, attorneys, and the court system to assess key factors in cases related to custody disputes, trauma, abuse, and other legal concerns impacting children. 

Whether you need a custody evaluation, expert testimony, trauma-informed assessments, or court-ordered counseling, we offer the expertise and compassionate approach necessary to help children and families move forward.

Understanding a child’s emotional and psychological needs is critical in legal cases. Our evaluations provide insightful, science-backed recommendations to support fair and informed decisions that protect the child’s best interests.

If you’re facing a legal situation that requires psychological expertise, we’re here to help make it easier.

Can you answer yes to any of these questions:

  • Do you need a therapist who will appear in court?

  • Are you concerned about the impact of divorce or separation on your child and need an expert opinion for legal purposes?

  • Is your child dealing with trauma from abuse, neglect, or exposure to domestic violence, and you need a professional report for court?

  • Are you looking for a clinician who can provide a psychological assessment and expert testimony for a child custody hearing?

  • Do you need a therapist who specializes in evaluating parental fitness and can provide recommendations to the court?

  • Are you having a hard time finding a clinician because you are in the middle of a custody battle or divorce?

With both a forensic psychologist and forensic therapist on our team, we can help!

The Experts

Dr. Melissa Mignogna

Dr. Melissa Mignogna, our forensic psychologist, has specialized training and interest in diagnosing developmental delays, learning disorders, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and other developmental and medical difficulties. As a licensed clinical psychologist, her services include forensic psychological assessments, court-mandated treatment, expert witness testimony, and individual therapy using empirically supported treatment programs (e.g., cognitive-behavioral therapy). Dr. Mignogna is a member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC). She can offer her forensic services in all 40+ PSYPACT states!

Suzanne Senn, our forensic therapist, specializes in providing reunification therapy when family rupture has already occurred and improving co-parenting during a divorce. She has extensive experience with families involved in the legal system and has worked with Harris, Montgomery, and Austin County court systems to facilitate family functioning during and following divorce, custody, and reunification therapy cases. She can offer forensic services in the state of Texas.

Forensic Therapy Services

  • Court-mandated individual and family treatment

  • Treatment of post-divorce/separation adjustment difficulties, anxiety disorders, depression, PTSD and traumatic stress, ADHD, etc.

  • Parent behavior modification therapy

  • Consultation with lawers

  • Collaboration with amicus lawyers

  • Collaboration with schools, medical professionals, and other caregivers,

  • Expert witness testimony

  • Family Reunification Therapy

Forensic Assessment Services