Emotional Damages: Practical Insights into Forensic Psychiatry for Litigating Attorneys

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 sexua...

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 in...

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 behavior...

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...

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...

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 healt...

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...

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 changes The intersectio...

Dr. Ambarin Faizi is joined by two esteemed guests: Dr. Charles Saldanha, Co-Medical Director of fpamed and a forensic psychiatrist with over 20 years of experience, and Attorney Jon Daggett, Managing Partner at Hiroshima & Daggett Law Firm. Together, they explore the complex intersection of psychiatry and law in cases involving adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Key topics discussed inclu...

In this episode of Emotional Damages: Practical Insights into Forensic Psychiatry for Litigating Attorneys , Dr. Ambarin Faizi speaks with Dr. Charles Saldanha, fpamed Co-Medical Director and a seasoned forensic psychiatrist, about the unique challenges and rewards of delivering psychiatric care within the correctional system. Key topics discussed: The complexities of providing care in jails, from...

In the pilot episode of 'Emotional Damages: Practical Insights into Forensic Psychiatry for Litigating Attorneys,' Dr. Ambarin Faizi , alongside the esteemed Dr. Mark Levy , discusses the integral role of forensic psychiatric experts in the legal system, highlighting the differences between treating and forensic psychiatrists.  Dr. Levy recounts his illustrious career path and the evolution of the...

Welcome to Emotional Damages: Practical Insights into Forensic Psychiatry for Litigating Attorneys , brought to you by fpamed. In this trailer, host Dr. Ambarin Faizi, a double board-certified forensic psychiatrist, introduces the podcast and shares her  journey into forensic psychiatry and sets the stage for a valuable resource that bridges the gap between forensic psychiatry and legal practice....