CONSULTATION SERVICES
For Lawyers, Probation/Parole Officers, and Correctional/Police Officers on Mental Health issues; for Mental Health Practitioners on the Criminal Justice System, Civil Court, Family Court, and Testimony.
Descriptions of Forensic evaluations
Full Psychological Evaluation: Includes cognitive, emotional and personality testing, and provides in-depth information on an individual’s functioning in all three of these areas. Useful to help understand what a person is thinking and feeling, their underlying personality structure, intellectual strengths and limitations, coping skills or areas of weakness in coping, and why a person behaves as he or she does. In clinically complex cases and/or cases in which it is hard for a person to get in touch with or articulate what the problem is he or she is experiencing, a full psychological evaluation can be an invaluable resource for providing diagnostic clarification and treatment recommendations.
Abbreviated Psychological Evaluation: Includes emotional and personality testing, and provides in-depth information on an individual’s functioning in both of these areas. Useful to understand what a person is thinking and feeling, their underlying personality structure, coping skills or areas of weakness in coping, and why a person behaves as he or she does. If previous cognitive testing exists or it seems cognitive limitations do not bear on the case, an abbreviated psychological evaluation can be an invaluable resource for providing diagnostic clarification and treatment recommendations.
Full Battery: Combined Full Psychological (described above) plus Full Psychoeducational (which rules-out AD/HD and LD). The most comprehensive testing battery available, to determine in-depth all cognitive, educational, emotional and personality factors affecting a person.
Risk Assessment (RA): Full or abbreviated psychological evaluation or full battery, plus collateral contacts and records review, with analysis of level of risk for future behaviors and focus of recommendations on suggestions for reducing risk of continued delinquent or criminal behavior (to include domestic violence, child abuse, violent and non-violent criminal behavior, etc.
MMPI-2 only: The most widely used and widely researched test of adult psychopathology. A self-report measure used to screen for clinical and psychosocial disorders. Questions on the MMPI-2 are designed to evaluate the thoughts, emotions, attitudes, and behavioral traits that comprise personality. The results of the test reflect an individual’s personality strengths and weaknesses, and can identify certain disturbances of personality (that is, psychopathologies).
Parental Capacity Evaluation: Includes diagnostic interview with parent and child(ren), psychological testing of parent, parent-child observation, and collateral contacts and records review. Results provide in-depth information on parent’s psychological functioning and parenting abilities and functioning.
Custody Evaluation: Includes diagnostic interviews with parents, child(ren), and any step parents; psychological testing of parents and children as needed; parent-child observations of all parent-child dyads; and collateral contacts and records review. Results provide in-depth information on child’s developmental stage, psychological functioning and needs, and on parents’ psychological functioning and parenting abilities and functioning.
Competency to Stand Trial Evaluation/Waive Miranda Rights: Includes an in-depth clinical/competency interview to determine if the accused is competent to stand trial/waive Miranda rights, and records review or collateral contacts as necessary. To be used in court to assist judge with decisions regarding competency. (IQ testing and/or additional mental health testing can be added if needed.)
Malingering Evaluation: Includes an in-depth clinical interview, testing specifically designed to detect malingering, and records review or collateral contacts as necessary to determine if the accused is likely malingering. Can focus on questions of mental health malingering, cognitive malingering, or both.
Mitigation/Diminished Capacity, and the Insanity Defense: Mental state/functioning at the time of the offense. Includes an in-depth clinical interview to determine the accused’s mental capacity or insanity, and records review or collateral contacts as necessary. (IQ testing and/or additional mental health testing can be added if needed.)
Sex Offender Evaluation: Includes emotional and personality testing, and provides in-depth information on an individual’s functioning in these areas with an added emphasis on sexual functioning and risk. Overall psychological and sexual functioning taken into account for case disposition.
Juvenile Substance Abuse Evaluation: Clinical interview, SCID, and parent interview to determine or rule out any substance-related diagnosis, risk for future use, and treatment recommendations as needed. (Can add records review if needed.) Gives clarity about whether substances are part of the child’s difficulties, and recommendations for level of treatment necessary to address any substance abuse. Results in verbal recommendations as well as any letter of results needed for court.
Adult Substance Abuse Evaluation: Clinical interview and SCID to determine or rule out any substance-related diagnosis, risk for future use, and treatment recommendations as needed. (Can add records review if needed.) Results in verbal recommendations as well as any letter of results needed for court.
OTHER CIVIL, CRIMINAL, OR FAMILY COURT EVALUATIONS Please call to inquire.
Forensic Evaluation Fees: Please note our fees are very reasonable when compared with others in the field.
. Full Psychological Evaluation: $1,850.00
. Abbreviated Psychological Evaluation: $1,275.00
. Full Battery: $2,550.00
. Risk Assessment full psych: $2,250.00
. Risk Assessment abbreviated psych: $1,675.00
. Risk Assessment full battery: $2,950.00
. MMPI-2 only: $250.00 (face-to-face feedback session if needed $80.00)
. Parental Capacity: 3,000.00
. Custody Evaluation: $5,750.00 flat fee for a family of up to four ($500 each additional person)
. Custody Evaluation w/ Testing Battery: $7,750.00 flat fee for a family of up to four ($750 each additional person)
. Competency to Stand Trial, Mitigation/Diminished Capacity, or Insanity Defense: $725.00
. Malingering Eval (mental health): $1,250.00
. Malingering Eval (cognitive): $1,750.00
. Sex Offender Evaluation: $2,225.00
. Juvenile Substance Abuse Evaluation: $475.00
. Adult Substance Abuse Evaluation: $350.00
Most of our evaluations are packaged as cost-saving flat fees as described above; if hourly, forensic testing is $200.00 per hour.
BRIEF BIOS OF OUR FORENSIC EXPERTISE
(Click here for more in-depth information on our expertise specific to forensic services.)
AT LEPAGE ASSOCIATES, WE HAVE ASSEMBLED A HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEAM OF CLINICAL AND FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGISTS:
Dr. Tina Lepage: Several years experience doing psychological, substance abuse, custody, and juvenile and adult forensic evaluations for courts, community centers, schools, and in private practice. Dr. Lepage worked as a Family Court Psychologist prior to founding the practice. She is also a certified Juvenile Forensic Evaluator, trained by the University of Virginia Institute of Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy, a premier nationally recognized training institute for forensics. Her dissertation topic was designing effective custody evaluations, and she is a NC Parent Coordinator. Special expertise in custody, divorce, mediation, and clinically complex psychological evaluations.
Dr. Katrina Kuzyszyn-Jones: In addition to a doctorate in clinical psychology, has a master’s in forensic psychology. Comprehensive forensic psychology training in criminal, civil, and domestic issues, to include evaluations and therapy for defendants, offenders, plaintiffs, and victims. Also trained on the UNC Forensic Team. Death penalty investigation experience. State and federal correctional psychology experience to include substance abuse and sexual offender evaluation and treatment. Additional expertise in custody evaluations. Her dissertation topic was on Integrated Psychotherapy for Offenders with Antisocial Personality Disorder.
Dr. Colleen Hamilton: Child specialist with in-depth experience assessing children of all ages; through direct observation and/or parent descriptions of very young children, and testing with preschool children and older, assesses children ages birth through 18. Dr. Hamilton is one of few child psychologists specialized in the birth to preschool years as well as K-12 children. Extensive experience conducting trauma assessments, comprehensive psychological and behavioral assessments, and educational evaluations, as well as play therapy, family therapy, parent coaching, therapeutic supervised visitation, and reunification visitation. Also experienced in adult trauma assessments and psychological testing for adults.
Dr. Molly Parks: A specialist in conducting forensic trauma evaluations for children and adults who have experienced serious acute or ongoing traumatic events in their lives. She has specialized experience evaluating complex trauma through projective cognitive assessment, and also holds expertise in conducting play therapy with traumatized children. Dr. Parks is an excellent resource on the effects and treatment of PTSD in both adults and children.
Dr. Nicole Imbraguglio: Extensive experience in conducting psychoeducational evaluations across the academic spectrum, to include evaluating for learning disabilities, AD/HD, and mental retardation in adults and children. An excellent resource when such cognitive issues are raised. Also experienced in adoption readiness evaluations.
Dr. Rhonda Karg: In-depth knowledge and experience in substance abuse assessment. In addition to her clinical work in substance abuse assessment, Dr. Karg continues to work as a researcher, studying the effectiveness and usefulness of various substance abuse assessment instruments and interventions in the U.S. and abroad.
Family Court Matters
For Separating & Divorcing Couples
 The Center for Separating with Civility & Divorcing with Dignity® (Click here for information on our unique divorce services center; the only Center in the
Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area. Page contains a wealth of information regarding
all facets of divorce: choosing the right process for you and your family; child issues; financial issues.)
 Custody & Visitation Evaluations
Click here for in-depth information on custody evaluations
For Juvenile Delinquency
 Individual & Family Therapy
 Psychological Evaluations
To assist with diagnostic clarification & treatment recommendations
 Risk Assessments
 Substance Abuse Evaluations
 Competency to Stand Trial Evaluations
 The Insanity Defense Evaluations
 Sex Offender Evaluations
Criminal Court Matters
FOR DEFENDANTS & OFFENDERS
 Psychological Evaluations
 Risk Assessments
 Substance Abuse Evaluations
 Sex Offender Evaluations
 Competency to Stand Trial evaluations
 The Insanity Defense Evaluation
 Therapy
 Anger Management
 Out-patient therapy for substance abuse
For Plaintiffs/Victims
 Psychological evaluations (to establish harm to psychological functioning, such as might be caused by stress and result in depression, anxiety, post-trauma symptoms, inability to work or otherwise function in daily life, etc)
 Therapy
Civil Court Matters
For Defendants
 Psychological evaluations
 Risk Assessments
 Substance Abuse evaluations
 Therapy
 Anger Management
 Out-patient therapy for substance abuse
For Plaintiffs
 Psychological evaluations (to establish harm to psychological functioning, such as might be caused by stress and result in depression, anxiety, post-trauma symptoms, inability to work or otherwise function in daily life, etc)
 Therapy
Disability Determinations
For Claimants
 For initial claimant hearings regarding entitlement to disability insurance benefits.
 For reconsideration determinations for entitlement to benefits.
We offer written evaluations/opinions as well as expert testimony as needed.
Depositions and Testimony
We are happy to provide testimony should you and your attorney determine it would be helpful to your case. However, your attorney must subpoena us if you want us to be deposed or provide testimony; we will not appear without subpoena. Depositions and/or testimony as fact witness or as expert witness are billed at $350.00 per hour time spent preparing for and giving deposition and/or testimony, port to port. If you are receiving a court-ordered evaluation, depositions and testimony may be part of the services we are asked to provide as part of the evaluation; however, these are not covered under the flat fee of the evaluation. We will require a retainer up-front based on an estimate of time that we will provide, and we will not appear at deposition or in court without pre-payment of said retainer. If we over-estimate time needed any remaining retainer will be promptly returned within 48 business hours of deposition or testimony completion. To assure we are available for you, we require ten business days notice to appear at deposition or in court, to allow us time to clear our schedules, with the retainer due in full five business days in advance of appearance. We are happy to speak with your attorney to help determine if our testimony would be useful in your case.
WHAT IS FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY?
Almost every area of psychology is relevant to some aspect of the law. For example, developmentalpsychology affects the study of the effects of divorce on children. Socialpsychology affects the influence of group think on terrorism laws. Clinical psychology influences the prediction of dangerousness in the mentally ill. Cognitive psychology influences the study of the reliability of memory in eyewitness testimony. Psychology and the law have a long history dating back to the early 1900’s. However, the goals of the criminal justice system and psychology are fairly divergent.
The goal of psychology is to provide a full and accurate explanation of human behavior while the goal of the criminal justice system or law is to regulate human behavior. Criminal justice depends on precedents while psychology believes our current understanding of human behavior should be revised in light of new data. Lawyers advocate for a particular view; psychologists remain objective and focus on what the data show. Given these differing objectives, one might wonder whypsychology and the criminal justice system should merge.These two disciplines overlapsimply because the criminal justice system shapes people and there are many inescapably psychological issues in the legal system. Such issues are generally studied by those who practice forensic psychology. Forensic psychology includes research that examines aspects of human behavior directly related to legal processes. It is the professional practice of psychology within or in consultation with a legal system that encompasses family, criminal, and civil law. Most forensic psychologists are clinical psychologists who receive continuing education and training in forensic psychology. Forensic psychologists also may be asked to testify as experts on a variety of topics such as mental health diagnosis, treatment efficacy, and the impact of trauma on an individual.
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Psychological Evaluation/
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