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Emotional Damages: Practical Insights into Forensic Psychiatry for Litigating Attorneys

Emotional Damages: Practical Insights into Forensic Psychiatry for Litigating Attorneys

fpamed 16 Episodes May 6, 2026

In Emotional Damages, host and forensic expert Dr. Mark Levy sits down with forensic colleagues, shedding light on their journeys and experiences. Through this podcast, he aims to demystify forensic psychiatry and share practical insights that can aid attorneys in their engagement with forensic experts.

Episodes

Forming Evidence-Based Expert Opinions with Dr. Charles Scott May 6, 2026 01:01:35 In this episode of Emotional Damages, Dr. Mark Levy speaks with Dr. Charles Scott—triple‑board‑certified in adult, child & adolescent, and forensic psychiatry; past president of AAPL; creator of the UC Davis forensic psychiatry fellowship; and a leading educator and expert in high‑profile cases, including the Parkland school shooter sentencing. Dr. Scott discusses how he trains fellows to think li
Sorting Signal from Noise — Dr. Joy Stankowski on Open-Minded Evaluation, Records, and System-Level Care Apr 10, 2026 00:59:13 In the Season 2 premiere of Emotional Damages, host Dr. Mark Levy speaks with Dr. Joy Stankowski, a dual-trained internal medicine and psychiatry forensic psychiatrist with over 20 years of experience, more than 1,000 evaluations, and deep expertise in hospital systems and standards of care. Dr. Stankowski explains how her medical-psychiatric background informs high-stakes criminal and emotional d
Decoding the Criminal Mind: Neuroscience, Psychopathy, and Court Strategies with Dr. Michelle Ward Dec 3, 2025 01:11:06 This episode of Emotional Damages features Dr. Mark Levy, fpamed Medical Director and forensic psychiatrist,  in conversation with Dr. Michelle Ward—psychologist, neuroscientist, and acclaimed crime documentary and podcast host. Dr. Ward shares her pioneering research on psychopathy, the biological and environmental roots of violent offending, and the evolving science of predicting predatory behav
Evaluating Psychiatric Symptoms in Complex Cases: Dr. Ashley VanDercar on Assessing for Malingering and Violence Risk Nov 5, 2025 00:36:27 In this episode of Emotional Damages, Dr. Ambarin Faizi sits down with Dr. Ashley VanDercar, fpamed forensic psychiatry associate, to explore how experts assess two of the most complex and high-stakes issues in forensic psychiatry: malingering and violence risk. Together, they explore the intricacies of malingering assessments and the importance of comprehensive record reviews. Dr. VanDercar then
Paraphilic Disorders and SVP Evaluations: A Forensic Psychiatrist’s View Oct 22, 2025 00:45:30 Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of sexual violence and paraphilic disorders. Listener discretion is advised. The content may be distressing or triggering for some listeners.In this episode, Dr. Ambarin Faizi is joined by Dr. Brian Holoyda, Chief Psychiatrist for Contra Costa County’s detention facilities and an internationally recognized expert on paraphilic disorders and sexual
From Playground to Courtroom: How Childhood Trauma Shapes Legal Outcomes Sep 3, 2025 00:46:19 In this episode of Emotional Damages, host Dr. Ambarin Faizi sits down with Dr. Paul Elizondo, a triple board-certified psychiatrist in General, Child & Adolescent, and Forensic Psychiatry. Dr. Elizondo breaks down how trauma manifests differently depending on age and developmental stage, how preexisting conditions (like ADHD or learning disorders) can shape recovery, and why careful forensic inte
Traumatic Brain Injury in Court: What Forensic Experts Look For May 30, 2025 00:31:27 In this special bonus episode of Emotional Damages, Dr. Ambarin Faizi brings together lessons from two powerhouse experts—Dr. Shafi Lodhi, forensic psychiatrist and neurologist, and Dr. Howard Friedman, board-certified forensic neuropsychologist—to break down the complexities of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in litigation.Key topics discussed include:How TBI affects cognition, mood, and behaviorWhy
The Truth Is in the Testing: Dr. Howard Friedman on Assessing the Mind in Litigation Apr 30, 2025 00:53:29 In this episode of Emotional Damages, Dr. Ambarin Faizi welcomes Dr. Howard Friedman, board-certified neuropsychologist and clinical psychologist with over 12,000 evaluations to his name. Together, they explore the role of psychological and neuropsychological testing in litigation, from emotional injuries to cognitive impairments.Key topics discussed include:The difference between psychological an
PTSD in the Courtroom: What Attorneys Need to Know Apr 10, 2025 00:53:23 In this episode of Emotional Damages, Dr. Ambarin Faizi speaks with Dr. James Armontrout, forensic psychiatrist and Program Director of the Stanford Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship. Drawing on his extensive experience treating veterans with PTSD and conducting over hundreds of forensic evaluations, Dr. Armontrout offers attorneys an in-depth look at how trauma unfolds, how PTSD is diagnosed, and wh
Criminal Responsibility, Psychopathy, Cross-Cultural Psychiatry: How Expert Opinions Shape Legal Strategy Mar 28, 2025 00:43:23 In this episode of Emotional Damages, Dr. Ambarin Faizi is joined by Dr. Ayesha Ashai, a board-certified forensic psychiatrist, as she shares personal experiences that led her to the field, her encounters with criminal and civil forensic evaluations, including a memorable insanity defense case. She addresses the complexities of psychopathy, cultural psychiatry, and the disparities in mental health
Forensic Psychiatry in Probate Litigation: Assessing Testamentary Capacity and Undue Influence Mar 5, 2025 01:09:12 How do courts determine whether someone had the mental capacity to sign a will or whether they were manipulated into making estate decisions? In this episode of Emotional Damages, host Dr. Ambarin Faizi sits down with forensic psychiatrist Dr. Mark Levy and estate litigation attorney Dewey Harpainter to explore the complexities of testamentary capacity and undue influence in estate disputes.Key to
Autism in Civil and Criminal Litigation: Forensic Insights on Diagnosis and Defense Feb 19, 2025 00:54:54 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) presents unique challenges in both clinical and forensic settings. In this episode, host Dr. Ambarin Faizi sits down with Dr. Bryna Siegel, an autism expert, researcher, and forensic consultant, to break down the complexities in legal cases involving ASD.Key topics discussed include:The evolution of autism diagnoses and the impact of the DSM changesThe intersection o

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