Expert Witness Services for LGBTQ2IA+ Individuals
LGBTQ2IA+ 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.
We are available for evaluations and expert testimony for civil and criminal court cases involving LGBTQIA+ adolescents and adults, in family, state, and federal cases for both plaintiffs and defendants.
Golden Psychology reports and expert testimony have been successfully used to advocate for Alternatives to Incarceration programs, improvements in care of children in ACS care, and to expand judges’ understanding of the unique experiences of holding a LGBTQ2IA+ identity and the importance of gender affirmation by family members.
Our comprehensive mental health evaluations are completed in an LGBTQ2IA+ affirming manner, that provides recommendations based on the highest standard of mental health and gender-affirming 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.
About Dr. Golden:
Our expert witness services and evaluations are based on years of training in assessment and evaluation.
Dr. Rachel Lynn Golden (she/they) is the Founder of Golden Psychology and is engaged in advocacy for transgender and gender expansive individuals in New York State. They are a member of the Trans Prisoner Rights Coalition of New York, serves 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 Advocacy 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 Staff as well as the Governor’s office regarding care of Transgender and Gender Expansive people in State prisons.
Golden Psychology is also available for:
Consultation on developing gender-affirming, corrections-based programs
JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) consultation, workshops and trainings
Evaluations for gender-affirming care including Hormone Replacement Therapy and Surgery
Letters for gender-affirming surgery