Professional, Relational, and Court-Ready Mental Health Insight
At Montgomery County Counseling Center, we understand how emotionally and legally complex family law matters can be. Whether you’re navigating custody disputes, parenting time disagreements, or other family-related legal challenges, having a qualified, experienced mental health expert as part of your case can make a meaningful difference. There is also an important distinction between expertise in individual therapy and the systemic lens of family therapy.
Our Expert Witnessing Services provide clear, ethically grounded, systemically informed testimony that supports legal decision-making while honoring the complex dynamics of the whole system — not just each individual involved. Learn more about Laura Goldstein, LCMFT, and her clinical approach — no jargon, just clarity and integrity.
What Expert Witnessing Looks Like With Us
As a family therapist, Laura is trained to understand relationships — developmental patterns, emotional patterns, communication patterns, and behavioral patterns — within complicated family dynamics, all of which often intersect in legal contexts. Our approach includes:
Careful, Comprehensive Evaluation
Laura reviews case-relevant background materials, therapeutic histories, and assessment data (when available) to build a nuanced understanding of the situation at hand.
Clinically Grounded Opinions
Laura’s testimony is informed by clinical experience, systemic frameworks (like family therapy and DBT principles), and an appreciation that every person at the table is more than a label — and that the situation is more than just the sum of its parts.
Clear, Accessible Reporting
Reports and testimony are written and delivered in language that judges, attorneys, and families can understand, without sacrificing clinical fidelity or ethical rigor.
Collaborative, Respectful Communication
You have our commitment to responsive communication with your team and the court while maintaining the highest standards of client confidentiality and professional ethics.
Who Can Benefit From Expert Witness Services
Expert witnessing or consultation may be appropriate in cases such as:
- Clarifications around mental health and family-systems functioning in legal contexts
- Explaining the impact of diagnoses (including mood disorders, personality traits, neurodivergence, and trauma) on child or adult behavior
- Insight that can inform custody, parenting, and schooling decisions
- Assessments of relational dynamics
- Recommendations for legally mandated treatment when appropriate
- Consultation with attorneys for case formulation, even when testimony is not needed
We tailor our involvement to the needs of each case, always emphasizing professionalism, empathy, fairness, and integrity.
Important note about eligibility
To protect confidentiality and avoid conflicts of interest, neither current nor former therapy clients of Montgomery County Counseling Center are eligible for expert witnessing services. If you’re unsure whether this applies to you, we’re happy to clarify and discuss appropriate alternatives.
Laura is licensed to provide therapy in Maryland and Virginia. However, because expert witnessing is considered consultation and not therapy, she may provide professional opinions in other jurisdictions. Attorneys should review their state’s regulations to confirm legal eligibility.
About Laura Goldstein, LCMFT — Expert Witness Professional
Laura Goldstein, founder and Executive Director of Montgomery County Counseling Center, is a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist with extensive experience working with individuals, parents, couples, and families in both clinical and consultative settings. Her work is grounded in authenticity, directness, and relational insight — qualities that translate powerfully into expert witness service.
Laura honors the lived experiences of those involved while providing judges and legal teams with clear, unbiased, clinically sound observations. She is known for being human, relatable, and grounded — saying what needs to be said with care and precision. Read Laura’s full bio.
What You Can Expect From The Process
Step 1: Initial Consultation (15 minutes, complimentary)
Laura will meet with the attorney (and, when appropriate, the consented client) to understand goals, scope, and timelines.
Step 2: Review the Contract Together
The attorney receives our agreement, reviews it with the client, answers questions, and obtains signatures so everyone feels clear and comfortable moving forward.
Step 3: Case Review & Assessment
Laura reviews documents, records, and any interviews to form a clinically sound basis for opinion.
Step 4: Expert Perspective Delivered
Depending on need, support may include consultation with counsel, a written report, deposition, or court testimony.
How to Get Started
If you’re a family law attorney seeking expert witness testimony or consultation, there are two simple ways to connect:
Option 1: Email Laura directly
Reach out to Laura at laura@mccounselingcenter.com with a brief description of the case and the type of support you’re looking for.
Option 2: Schedule an initial consultation
Use this link to Schedule a consultation with Laura at a time that works for you
From there, we’ll talk through scope, timelines, and next steps — and make sure it’s a fit and that the process feels clear and manageable for everyone involved. You can also visit our Contact page to get in touch with our team.
We’re here to bring clarity, integrity, and psychological insight to your legal process. Let’s talk about how we can be of service.