The past two decades have seen a rapidly growing involvement of psychologists and psychiatrists in legal proceedings for criminal cases, divorces, and traffic and industrial accidents. Mental health professionals are traditionally not trained to cope with the legal responsibilities that arise from their routine clinical work and are eager to learn the professional skills that are needed in forensic settings. There is presently no book which focuses entirely on the strategies and verbal tactics employed by attorneys who critically examine and challenge the testimony of mental health professionals. If psychologists and psychiatrists can familiarize themselves with the kind of questions and verbal exchanges that take place in the courtroom, they would be better prepared to provide their expertise in an effective manner. This book fills that need.
Designed as a practical handbook to assist practitioners from all mental health disciplines, it focuses on typical courtroom dialogue between attorneys and mental health professionals who testify regarding their psychotherapy clients and also those who are hired by attorneys specifically to provide expert opinions. The authors, who have extensive experience in the courtroom, offer well-thought-out, effective responses as contrasted with impulsive and weak answers to attorneys' queries. Actual cases are employed to illustrate typical challenges in various legal areas, including criminal law, child custody hearings, and personal injury cases. Certain forensic issues such as the scientific bases of expert opinions, the accuracy of psychological vs. medical tests, and malingering, are emphasized throughout the chapters.
The book is based on the belief that exposure to courtroom dialogue enhances the awareness of appropriate professional responses to an attorney's cross-examination and greatly alleviates fear toward a situation well-known to provoke intense levels of anxiety. Although it is written alluding to the forensic psychologist or psychiatrist, the strategies for the witness are readily applicable in most instances to all mental health professionals. Issues such as therapist bias, unconfirmed observations, and cultural and ethnic factors are clearly relevant to all who provide mental health services.
Autorentext
Tsushima, William T.; Anderson, Jr., Robert M.; Anderson, Robert M.
Zusammenfassung
For cognitive therapy to be successful, therapists must identify the key factors that contribute to their clients' problems. Effective cognitive case conceptualization necessarily precedes appropriate targeting and intervention selection. It requires the integration of the results of a comprehensive assessment into a strong conceptual foundation. Solidly grounded in recent research, and focusing particular attention on important new theoretical developments, this book first offers a comprehensive overview of the contemporary cognitive model of therapy. It then lays out detailed, easy-to-follow procedures for assessing within a cognitive framework, developing effective individualized cognitive case conceptualizations, and implementing state-of-the-art interventions based on them. A step-by-step guide for concisely summarizing and representing the salient features of a client's presentation is included. Extensive case histories bring to life the entire process of cognitive therapy--assessment, conceptualization, and intervention--for several clients with a variety of complex clinical problems: panic disorder with agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and chronic or recurrent major depressive disorder. Cognitive Case Conceptualization will become an indispensable desk reference for many experienced clinicians as well as trainees.
Inhalt
Contents: P.H. DeLeon, Foreword. Preface. The Art of Expert Witnessing. Witness Qualification. The Clinical Examination. Psychological Testing. Psychotherapy. Criminal Law. Child Custody Disputes. Personal Injury. Mental Competency and Dangerousness. Faking and Malingering. Neuropsychological Assessment. The Nondoctoral Witness. Deposition. Appendix: Annotated Reference List.