Trauma-Informed Forensic Mental Health Assessments

In this episode, Dr. Julie Goldenson, clinical and forensic psychologist and professor at the University of Toronto, joins us to discuss her coauthored article, Trauma-Informed Forensic Mental Health Assessment: Practical Implications, Ethical Tensions, and Alignment With Therapeutic Jurisprudence Principles. Dr. Goldenson unpacks what trauma-informed practice means in the context of forensic mental health evaluations and explores how chronic, complex trauma can shape the lives and behaviors of criminal justice-involved individuals. She emphasizes the importance of balancing empathy with forensic neutrality, minimizing harm without compromising objectivity, and remaining culturally attuned. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how trauma impacts assessment, how therapeutic jurisprudence can guide ethical decisions, and how forensic evaluators can improve practice by being more aware, transparent, and humane.