Forensic Assessment Calgary
Professional Psychological Expertise When Legal Matters Require Clinical Insight
When legal proceedings intersect with psychological questions, you need more than standard assessment—you need specialized forensic expertise that meets the rigorous standards of the legal system. At Alberta Family Psychology, our forensic psychology services provide objective, comprehensive evaluations that help courts, lawyers, and families make informed decisions about complex cases involving mental health, capacity, custody, and other psychological factors.
Our forensic assessments are conducted with strict adherence to legal and ethical standards, providing impartial professional opinions that can withstand legal scrutiny. We understand the unique demands of forensic work and the critical importance of thorough, unbiased evaluation when life-changing legal decisions are at stake.
Who Are Forensic Assessments For?
Legal professionals, families, and individuals requiring psychological assessment and expert testimony for court proceedings, legal decision-making, and cases where mental health intersects with legal issues.
Family court cases requiring child custody
Legal teams needing parenting capacity assessments
Legal professionals seeking expert witness testimony
Families involved in child protection proceedings
Personal injury claims involving psychological harm
Estate and guardianship matters needing capacity assessments for legal decision-making
Individuals requiring competency or decision-making capacity evaluations
Immigration cases requiring psychological evaluation of trauma or mental health impacts
Rigorous, Impartial Evaluation That Meets Legal Standards
Our forensic assessment process begins with careful review of legal documents, court orders, and referral questions to ensure we understand exactly what psychological issues need to be addressed. We maintain strict neutrality throughout the process, serving the court rather than any particular party, and adhering to professional ethical guidelines for forensic practice.
The evaluation phase involves comprehensive psychological testing, clinical interviews, collateral interviews with relevant parties, and review of pertinent records including medical, educational, or legal documents. Our assessments are more extensive than typical clinical evaluations, designed to address specific legal questions with the level of certainty required in legal proceedings.
What You Can Discover On The Other Side
Forensic evaluations are more time-intensive than clinical assessments, often requiring 8-15 hours of direct assessment time plus extensive record review and report writing. The complete process typically takes 6-12 weeks from referral to final report, depending on case complexity and availability of records.
Yes, we accept court-ordered forensic assessments and work directly with courts, lawyers, and legal representatives. We ensure all court deadlines are met and provide reports that directly address the court’s specific questions and concerns.
Forensic assessment fees are higher than clinical assessments due to their complexity, time requirements, and specialized nature. We provide detailed fee estimates upfront and typically require retainers. Fees may include assessment time, report writing, court preparation, and testimony if required.
No, forensic assessments do not have the same confidentiality protections as clinical therapy. Results are shared with the court and relevant parties as outlined in the court order or legal agreement. We clearly explain these limitations before beginning any assessment.
Direct billing
We believe in removing barriers to accessing treatment.
We can direct bill many major insurance companies to ensure your experience with us is more convenient and stress-free.
Our Approach
Our care approach for trauma counselling in Calgary revolves around you.
Begin by booking an appointment with one of our psychologists specifically, or request a match with one based on your individual needs. During your first meeting, we’ll learn about you and your treatment goals and offer our recommendations for specific, evidence-based help. We can also perform assessments to properly diagnose your mental health concerns, enabling us to customize your treatment further. Each subsequent session is a refinement of your goals and the methods that we use to reach them. We encourage growth and self-reflection throughout the process and welcome you to control as much of the decision-making as you are comfortable with.