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Sign Up to be Notified of Testifying Training Webinars Becoming Available for Download
What this Course IS and ISN'T:
This course IS:
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For all mental health practitioners (therapists, social workers, psychologists, etc.) who could be subpoenaed to testify in court.
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For mental health practitioners who want to prepare emotionally for a case or have received a subpoena.
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Intended to help support mental health practitioners to feel confident and secure in their testifying abilities.
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Meant to review strategies to protect a therapist from doing or saying something that can hurt their reputation or license.
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For AFTER a mental health practitioner has consulted and prepared for their case with their malpractice attorney.
This course is NOT:
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A substitute for consulting with your attorney.
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Legal advice.
COURSE ONE - When you get a Subpoena & Preparing to testify
Do you know what to do when you get a subpoena, or does it scare you to even think about it?
If this is your first subpoena, you may be scared, confused, or nervous because you don’t know what to expect. Or maybe you have a familiar, sinking feeling because you’ve received a subpoena before, and going to court makes you anxious.
In this course, you will learn how to:
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Respond to a subpoena ethically.
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Prepare for being on the stand, how to interact with court personnel, and what to expect once you get to the courthouse.
COURSE TWO - Testifying on the Stand
Many mental health practitioners experience anxiety when they are called to testify. Most avoid taking on court-involved cases or custody disputes to avoid being pulled into court.
Have you wondered what it's like to testify in court, or does it scare you to think about it? Have you already testified in court and had a bad experience or felt awful afterward?
Mental health practitioners can worry about the following:
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Whether their therapeutic relationship with their client may be negatively impacted.
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Getting a board complaint after testimony.
This course will help take the fear out of your experience and teach you:
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Strategies to help you avoid common pitfalls when responding to questions.
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How to respond to questions that are combative or challenge your credibility.
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Ways to prevent jeopardizing your license or therapeutic relationships.
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How to feel prepared, centered, and even like you positively impacted your client’s life.
Many therapists become so scared when anticipating testifying in court that they get confused and can’t think straight on the stand. Fear partly happens because they don’t understand why they are being asked certain questions and how to respond.
I believe if we take a more systematic and proactive approach to the whole process of testifying–from the subpoena to the courtroom appearance– we can make it a lot less scary. In fact, you may even find some joy or satisfaction in making a difference by helping the bench officer or judge gain clarity that aids them in ruling on a case.
Sign Up to be Notified of Testifying Training Webinars Becoming Available for Download
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What types of attorneys do you work with?I regularly work with attorneys in family law and dependency court, as well as with both parents’ attorneys and the minor’s counsel.
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Can you speak to my firm about the training you’ve developed for the San Diego Family Law Bar Association?Yes! Please reach out so we can discuss what information would be most helpful for your firm and the length of presentation you’re looking for.
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As a non-attorney, what do you have to teach me?This is not legal advice. I offer consultations to attorneys from the perspective of a therapist who has significant experience working with court-involved therapy and has seen the types of questions attorneys are likely to ask. I can help you understand what types of therapy may be appropriate for your clients and what to look out for according to the developmental ages of the children attorneys represent (or their parents). I have also helped develop full presentations in “Supporting Parents & Children in Family Court” for the San Diego Family Law Bar Association (SDFLBA) and can share this material as well.
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Do you promise any particular outcome for me or a specific case?Unfortunately, we cannot predict or guarantee whether these skills will positively impact your specific situation; each person and case is unique. However, This course is designed and delivered by an experienced mental health professional specializing in court-involved cases. The goal of this course is to inform you on what to expect in an average courtroom experience and ways to succinctly and directly answer questions that should help avoid a negative outcome.
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The idea of testifying is scary. Can you help me?Yes! I enjoy the testifying process. It's not so scary once you learn what to expect for the process and feel confident in what you can and cannot say, as well as how to protect your clients on the stand.
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Is this course a substitute for consulting with a malpractice attorney or legal advice?NO. We are not attorneys. This course does not replace your need to consult with an attorney. This is peer advice focusing on your exposure to a learning experience to help support you in a future court appearance; it is not legal advice.
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What is the point/purpose of the class?A major focus of the class is helping parents learn to recognize and express empathy by validating their child’s feelings and ensuring their child feels safe. This can reconnect them emotionally and create safety to repair the relationship.
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Suppose I’m not interested in the whole class but have a specific communication issue with my child. Can I still do individual consultations with you to discuss my specific issue rather than take the entire class?Absolutely! I have experience working with parents who are dealing with a wide variety of issues.
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What makes your class different from others?Unlike courses generally created simply to satisfy a court requirement, we offer an environment where parents can truly learn and practice the skills to help you reconnect with your child. This class is a live, interactive, high-conflict parenting class specifically tailored to your child’s developmental age, their needs, and your specific familial situation.
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Does this class satisfy my court order?While I always recommend you check with your attorney, this class has been accepted by courts and Child Welfare Services. It is a live, interactive, high-conflict parenting class tailored specifically to your child’s developmental age, needs, and familial situation.
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Do I get a certificate I can give to the court?Yes, upon completion of the class requirements.
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Is this program evidence-based?The class uses elements of and teaching from evidence-based concepts and teachings, such as: EFFT (Emotion-Focused Family Therapy), research provided via link: https://www.mentalhealthfoundations.ca/efft Dr. Dan Siegel: https://drdansiegel.com/biography/ AFCC (Association of Family and Conciliation Courts): https://www.afccnet.org/ These teachings are especially tailored for parents facing rejection from their children.
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Does this class involve the child at all during the sessions?No, the child is not involved in the class. Instead, parents can practice what they learn in the class between appointments and use role-play scripts to help with specific issues/conversations they may be expecting to have.
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Can I take this class even if I’m not going through a divorce?Absolutely! Any parent can learn to connect with their child more deeply and improve their communication skills.
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Since the program is individual, can you offer a 10 to 12-hour class to satisfy my court order instead of 8?Yes! While the main format of the class can be completed in 8 hours, diving deeper into practice examples and scripts can make the class's benefits even more powerful with extra hours of practice.
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What is the structure of the class?The class has instruction, role play, and handouts, among other methods.