Clinical Expertise for Individuals Navigating the Legal System
Dr. Teresa L. Quarker Smith provides specialized behavioral health services for adolescents and adults involved with the juvenile or criminal justice system.
With more than 25 years of behavioral health experience and an extensive professional background within correctional and forensic settings, Dr. Smith brings a unique clinical perspective to individuals and families navigating legal circumstances.
Services may be initiated by individuals and families or coordinated, when appropriate, with attorneys, courts, probation professionals, and other authorized professionals.
Court-Involved Clinical Assessment
The Court-Involved Clinical Assessment is an individualized clinical service for adolescents and adults currently involved with the legal system.
The purpose of the assessment is to identify behavioral health concerns, strengths, risk factors, treatment needs, and areas that may benefit from clinical intervention.
Depending upon the circumstances and clinical appropriateness, areas explored may include:
• Mental and emotional functioning
• Trauma and significant life experiences
• Substance use
• Anger and emotional regulation
• Impulsivity and decision-making
• Behavioral and risk-taking patterns
• Family and peer influences
• Coping skills
• Previous behavioral health treatment
• School, employment, and community functioning
• Strengths and protective factors
• Treatment needs and recommendations
Following the assessment, individualized clinical recommendations may be provided.
Recommendations may include individual psychotherapy, family involvement, substance-use intervention or education, additional behavioral health evaluation, community resources, or other clinically appropriate services.
Court-Involved Therapy
Ongoing psychotherapy is available when clinically appropriate for court-involved adolescents and adults experiencing behavioral, emotional, relational, trauma-related, or substance-use concerns.
Treatment may address:
Emotional Regulation | Decision-Making | Coping Skills | Accountability | Behavioral Change | Substance-Use Concerns | Trauma Recovery | Family Relationships | Healthy Support Systems | Future Planning
Treatment is individualized according to the client’s clinical needs.
Documentation for Attorneys & Courts
When clinically appropriate and with proper authorization, documentation may be provided to attorneys, probation professionals, courts, or other authorized parties.
Documentation may include verification of assessment or treatment participation, attendance, treatment recommendations, and clinically appropriate information regarding treatment progress.
Clinical services and documentation do not constitute a determination of guilt or innocence, competency, criminal responsibility, future dangerousness, likelihood of reoffending, or another legal conclusion unless a separate service specifically requiring such an opinion has been appropriately contracted and is within the provider’s professional scope.
Attorney & Professional Consultation
Dr. Smith is available for consultation with attorneys and other authorized professionals regarding behavioral health concerns, treatment needs, treatment coordination, and appropriate behavioral health resources for court-involved individuals.
The scope and purpose of consultation will be established before services begin.
Fees & Insurance
Court-related assessments, attorney consultation, record review, court documentation, court appearances, testimony, and other legal or non-routine professional services may not be covered by health insurance.
Fees for these services will be established according to the nature and scope of the requested service before services are rendered.
Traditional psychotherapy may be eligible for insurance coverage when medically necessary and otherwise covered under the client’s plan.
Request Services
For individuals, parents/guardians, attorneys, or other professionals seeking information regarding Forensic & Court-Involved Services:
Call or Text: (866) 588-2795
Email: contact@drteresalsmith.com