Clinicians in Court

“Barsky's work here is practical, organized, and well-focused on particular concerns of clinicians. The book should help prepare active professional clinicians and students for their interactions with the legal system. Students should want to maintain this book on their professional reference shelf.”

—The New Social Worker (on the second edition)


“An excellent guide for nonforensic clinicians....Reading Clinicians in Court is like attending a good workshop.”

—Psychiatric Services (on the first edition)


“Provides useful information for a clinician on such important issues as confidentiality and the legal aspects of disclosure....I found this book very useful to my continuing practice.”

—Criminal Justice Review (on the first edition)


“This book is an excellent introduction to the expert witness’ role in court proceedings. It contains wonderful information that explains the various processes and phases of the witness experience. The author is an expert in the field and writes in plain language. The third edition justifies replacing the second because there are updates to the chapters, new practice guidelines, along with new topics including restorative justice, technology usage, and therapeutic witnessing.*****”

—Doody's Review Service


“Barsky is uniquely positioned to offer sage advice to behavioral health professionals who find themselves in the midst of complex legal proceedings. Barsky draws on his extensive experience as a social worker who is also trained in the law. He offers wise, state-of-the-art counsel to practitioners who are asked to testify and/or produce documents. The extensive case scenarios are instructive and provide readers with concrete examples of the diverse ways in which clinicians can find themselves involved in legal matters. Practitioners would do well to consult Clinicians in Court as their principal guide during legal proceedings.”

—Frederic G. Reamer, PhD, School of Social Work, Rhode Island College


“For most clinicians, the legal landscape is unfamiliar and intimidating. This comprehensive book puts an expert in your corner. The third edition is extremely informative; it is filled with practical advice and clear examples for ethically navigating a wide range of court-related scenarios. Barsky’s book is an indispensable resource for forensically oriented practitioners and for those who seldom engage in court proceedings, but need incisive guidance.”

—Raymond Chip Tafrate, PhD, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Central Connecticut State University


“A 'must read' for clinicians apprehensive about testifying in court. The third edition walks readers through various court scenarios and conflicts of interests that may arise. The glossary and reference material were particularly helpful for me. As a national social work regulator and private-practice clinician who has had to testify in court for clients on a variety of levels, I found this book incredibly valuable. This book is a precision tool and reference for navigating the complexities of court systems—I only wish it had been available during my Social Work and Law coursework.”

—Roxroy A. Reid, PhD, LCSW, President, Association of Social Work Boards


“I have revisited this book many times, and learn more each time I read it! It helps you understand the legal system and the different roles of a witness, and provides useful tips on report writing and record keeping. It should be required reading for all social work master's students and clinicians. I use this text in my graduate course on Expert Testimony in Forensic Science, and it gets rave reviews from students. The book is well written and easy to understand.”

—Tabitha Annette Brookins, PhD, LMSW, Department of Social Work, Alabama State University


“One of the most challenging and uncomfortable roles for a mental health clinician is involvement with the legal system as a witness, evaluator, or defendant. Barsky provides an important resource for practice with the third edition of this important guide. Written in a clear and informative style, the book succeeds in stripping away some of the discomfort mental health clinicians have about participating in legal proceedings. The third edition thoroughly updates the case law and includes additional resources and sample documents. The cases and practice examples help prepare students and clinicians to apply legal principles to the real world of practice.”

—Robert G. Madden, LCSW, JD, Master of Social Work Program, University of Saint Joseph