
JUSTICE PROJECT
Expert Witness and Evaluation Services for All
We are available for comprehensive evaluations, mitigation reports, and expert testimony for civil and criminal court cases. We specialize in working with:
gender and sexuality expansive, Trans, Nonbinary and Queer people
LGBTQIA+ adolescents & adults
those who’ve experienced trauma
family, state, and federal cases for both plaintiffs and defendants
Everyone who is court involved deserves a comprehensive, psycho-social emotional evaluation.
All plaintiffs, defendants and their families can greatly benefit from expert evaluation by someone who understands their identities and experiences, and who has years of experience advocating for their just, humane and fair treatment.
Golden Psychology reports and expert testimony have been successfully used to:
win cases
advocate for alternatives to incarceration programs
improve care of children in ACS
expand judges’ understanding of trauma
help courts understand the unique experiences of holding a LGBTQ2IA+ identity
Our expert witness and mental health evaluations are completed in an identity+ affirming manner, with recommendations based on the highest standard of mental health and care.
Our reports:
take into consideration the unique stressors of holding an LGBTQ2IA+ identity that can result in chronic, identity-related trauma and invalidation.
These stressors can lead to depression, anxiety, PTSD, complex PTSD and substance use
are built on knowledge of the extensive history of violence against LGBTQ2IA+ individuals as well as increased daily risks for physical, emotional, and sexual violence, abuse and victimization
can include a comprehensive psychosocial assessment that examines an individual's mental health, considering not only their psychological state but also their social environment and emotional functioning
provide a holistic view of their well-being and potential challenges within their life context
involve interviews, standardized tests, and observations to gather information about clients’ thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and how they interact with their surroundings
can also include comprehensive assessment of an individual's cognitive abilities, using standardized intelligence tests and other measures, to determine their overall level of intellectual functioning
About Dr. Golden:
Our expert witness services and evaluations are based on years of training in assessment and evaluation
Dr. Rachel Lynn Golden (they.them) is the Founder of Golden Psychology and is engaged in advocacy for LGBTQ2IA+ individuals in New York State. They are a member of the Trans Prisoner Rights Coalition of New York, and serve on the Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming, Non-Binary, and Intersex (TGNCNBI) Task Force on issues faced for people in custody in New York City jails, as well as the THANY Coalition (Trans Health Advocates of New York) a statewide network to hold New York State regulators and insurers accountable to the care of Trans and Gender-Expansive people. They also interface with the Department of Corrections and Community Services as well as the Governor’s office regarding care of Transgender and Gender Expansive people.
Golden Psychology is also available for:
Consultations and trainings for lawyers on working with traumatized, queer and trans clients
Consultation on developing LGBTQ2IA+ affirming corrections-based programs
JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) consultation, workshops and trainings
Evaluations
Testimony