The Portable Guide to Testifying in Court for Mental Health Professionals

Barton E. Bernstein, JD, LMSW, Thomas L. Hartsell, Jr., JD

John Wiley & Sons

2005

288 páginas

9h 36m

ISBN-13: 9780471735366

A one-stop guide to testifying in court for mental healthprofessionals Even the most seasoned mental health professionals can findthemselves unnerved by the prospect of appearing in court,especially when presented with it for the first time. Those in themental health field usually have no formal preparation fortestifying in court, even though they often play an important partin many types of cases. The Portable Guide to Testifying in Court for Mental HealthProfessionals provides a concise yet comprehensive guide forpractitioners preparing to appear in court. The authors employtheir combined decades of legal work in the mental health field toprovide a clear, no-nonsense handbook of what to expect, how toprepare, and what to look out for when testifying in court. Along with a general introduction to courts and the legal system,the text details topics such as: * Testifying both as an expert and involuntary witness * Protecting clients when bringing therapy into testimony * Preparing for testimony * Tips to use and lawyers' tricks to look out for when testifyingin court Throughout the book, Bernstein and Hartsell use detailed casestudies to provide specific examples. In addition, "legal lightbulbs" offer important tips and facts, and appendices list relevantWeb resources and provide common legal forms. A one-of-a-kind resource, The Portable Guide to Testifying in Courtfor Mental Health Professionals gives a complete view of your rolein courtroom proceedings, offering a vital tool for both legal andmental health practices.