Forensic Psychology for Civil and Employment Matters
Overview for Attorneys
I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years of clinical and consultative experience and a niche focus on forensic applications of psychology in civil and employment‑related matters. My work centers on comprehensive psychological assessment, diagnostic formulation, and detailed record review related to emotional distress, trauma, grief, suicide risk and bereavement, substance use, complex adult psychopathology, and ADHD‑related accommodations and discrimination in workplace and academic settings.
I provide attorneys with targeted consultation and expert opinion in cases involving alleged psychological injury, wrongful death and suicide‑related questions, and alleged failures to accommodate ADHD or other mental health conditions. Evaluations rely on empirically validated assessment measures and data‑driven analysis, with reports written in clear, accessible language for legal and lay audiences.
Typical Legal Contexts
- Employment discrimination, harassment, and termination disputes with claimed psychological injury
- ADA‑related matters involving adult ADHD and requested accommodations
- Wrongful death cases with questions about suicide, manner of death, and causation
- Civil cases involving alleged emotional distress, trauma, or substance‑related impairment
Core Services
- Independent forensic psychological evaluations of adults
- Record review, psycholegal case formulation, and written expert reports
- Consultation to plaintiff and defense counsel on psychological issues
- Preparation for and provision of deposition and trial testimony
Areas of Professional Focus
My forensic work is grounded in the Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology and integrates clinical expertise in complex adult presentations with the specific questions courts and attorneys need answered.
Psychological Injury in Civil & Employment Cases
Emotional distress PTSD / trauma Mood & anxiety- Assessment of alleged emotional distress and functional impairment linked to workplace events or civil wrongs.
- Distinguishing pre‑existing conditions and other life stressors from incident‑related symptoms.
- Opinions on diagnosis, severity, prognosis, and impact on work and daily functioning.
ADHD Accommodations and Discrimination
Adult ADHD Executive function ADA- Evaluation of adult ADHD and executive‑function difficulties relevant to performance, reliability, and safety.
- Analysis of alleged failures to accommodate ADHD in workplace or academic settings.
- Clarifying the relationship between ADHD symptoms, disciplinary actions, and claimed damages.
Suicide, Bereavement, and Wrongful Death
Suicide risk Psychological autopsy Grief- Evaluation of suicide risk and related clinical factors in civil and employment contexts.
- Consultation in wrongful death cases, including analysis of evidence relevant to suicide determination.
- Assessment of suicide bereavement and complicated grief reactions among survivors.
Substance Use & Co‑Occurring Conditions
Alcohol / drugs Co‑occurring disorders- Assessment of substance use patterns and their role in claimed impairment or alleged misconduct.
- Parsing contributions of substance use versus trauma, mood, or ADHD to reported symptoms.
Evaluation and Testimony Process
1. Initial Case Consultation
- Brief call with retaining counsel to clarify referral questions and jurisdiction.
- Conflicts check and determination of role (consulting vs. testifying expert).
- Preliminary scope, timelines, and fit with my expertise.
2. Record Review & Collateral Data
- Review of pleadings, discovery, medical and mental health records, employment/academic records, and prior evaluations.
- Identification of additional records or collateral interviews needed.
3. Forensic Evaluation
- In‑person or secure video interview focused on time‑linked changes in symptoms and functioning.
- Use of empirically validated psychological tests and response‑style measures, when indicated.
- Assessment guided by the legal questions rather than treatment needs.
4. Opinions, Report, and Testimony
- Written report addressing each referral question with transparent reasoning and citation to data.
- Independent opinions on diagnosis, causation, prognosis, and functional impact.
- Availability for deposition and trial testimony, and consultation on direct and cross‑examination.
What Retaining Counsel Can Expect
- Objectivity. Opinions are grounded in data, not advocacy for either side; I accept work from both plaintiff and defense counsel.
- Data‑driven methods. Use of empirically validated measures, structured interviews, and careful record synthesis.
- Clear communication. Reports are written for judges and juries, explaining technical concepts in straightforward language.
- Timely, efficient work. Evaluations, reports, and testimony are delivered in a prompt, organized manner that meets or exceeds agreed‑upon deadlines.
- Candid feedback. Early input on strengths, limitations, and potential vulnerabilities in a case’s psychological theory.
- Professional boundaries. No contingency arrangements and close attention to ethical and legal standards in forensic work.
Illustrative Forensic Matters
De‑identified examples of the types of questions for which I am typically retained:
- Federal employment discrimination case in the Northern District of Illinois involving alleged employment‑related psychological injury.
- Defense‑side consultation in a wrongful death lawsuit arising from a workplace warehouse fatality, focusing on evidence relevant to a suicide determination.
- Evaluation of alleged emotional distress and functional impairment in the context of performance‑based discipline and ADHD‑related symptoms.
- Record review and opinion regarding the adequacy of suicide risk assessment and documentation in a complex clinical setting.
Credentials
Licensure
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Colorado (#PSY.0006327), Active
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Illinois (#071009203), Active
Education & Training
- PsyD, Clinical Psychology – Illinois School of Professional Psychology (APA‑accredited; APPIC-approved intership, Psychoanalytic Minor)
- MA, Clinical Psychology – Illinois School of Professional Psychology
- BA, Psychology (Minor: Philosophy) – Texas State University
- Psychological autopsy methods training, American Association of Suicidology
Academic & Professional Involvement
- Former adjunct faculty at multiple clinical psychology training programs
- Professional member: American Association for Suicidology; International Association for Suicide Prevention
- Member: American Psychological Association and American Psychology–Law Society (AP‑LS)
Attorney Contact
I am based in Trinidad, Colorado, and primarily accept matters in Colorado and Illinois, with select federal cases by request. Evaluations and consultations are often conducted via secure telehealth, with travel for in‑person testimony when needed.
- Email: drlauralwalsh@gmail.com
- Phone: 773‑474‑0025
- Location: Trinidad, Colorado
- CV: Download full CV (PDF)
- Fee schedule: Available upon request.