forensic Services
PSYCHOLOGICAL evaluations
AND THERAPY
Forensic services include court-ordered psychological evaluations and individual therapy for children, adolescents, and adults and their families.
Referral sources include courts, probation, parole, Child Protective Services agencies, and others.
Dr. Weatherly also provides psychological evaluations for children recently placed into foster care by Child Protective Services.
What to expect
forensic psychological Evaluations
Dr. Weatherly will discuss with the referral source the specific referral questions to be answered via psychological testing, and will then contact the individual or family to schedule the evaluation appointment(s). Appropriate psychological or neuropsychological tests will be selected and administered by Dr. Weatherly or a trained staff member, and medical, mental health, and legal records will be reviewed in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of the presenting issues and individual.
On the day of testing, individuals should plan to spend 2+ hours in the office. A comprehensive clinical interview will be conducted by Dr. Weatherly, and several standardized psychometric testing instruments will be administered by Dr. Weatherly or a trained psychometrician.
Examinees will be educated as to the unique aspects of forensic services, including that the referral source is technically Dr. Weatherly's client. In addition, the limits of confidentiality for services, which are typically strictly protected by HIPAA confidentiality laws, will be explained. Specifically, examinees will learn that forensic therapy services by their nature have less confidentiality protection than standard services, because their referral source (Courts, Probation Officers, CPS Caseworkers, etc.) will receive the written evaluation report once it is available. Examinees will be asked to sign the necessary consent forms to allow this. Individuals who choose not to sign consent forms will be referred back to the person or agency who initially referred them for services.
The comprehensive evaluation report, including any diagnoses and resulting clinical treatment recommendations, will be delivered to the referral source approximately 2-3 weeks after the evaluation appointment(s) are completed.
forensic THERAPY SERVICES
Dr. Weatherly will discuss with the referral source the specific behavioral and mental health concerns to be addressed, and will then contact the individual or family to schedule the initial appointment. Therapy participants will be educated as to the nature of therapy and how it works, and also the unique aspects of therapy services that are forensically referred.
Clients will be educated as to the unique aspects of forensic services, including that the referral source is technically the client. In addition, clients will be educated as to the limits of confidentiality for services, which are typically strictly protected by HIPAA confidentiality laws. Specifically, they will learn and understand that forensic therapy services by their nature have less confidentiality protection than standard services, because their referral source (Courts, Probation Officers, CPS Caseworkers, etc.) will expect regular progress updates. Participants will be asked to sign the necessary consent forms to allow such progress updates with the person or agency representative who referred them for services. Individuals who choose not to sign consent forms will be referred back to the person or agency who initially referred them for services.