Emotional Damages Episode 9 Recap: Childhood Trauma in Litigation — Forensic Psychiatrist Dr. Paul Elizondo on Development, Credibility, and the Courtroom
Childhood trauma casts long shadows—on well-being, on family systems, and in legal disputes where psychiatric injury is at issue. In this episode of Emotional Damages, host Dr. Ambarin Faizi interviews Dr. Paul Elizondo, a triple board-certified psychiatrist with expertise in child, adolescent, and forensic psychiatry. Together, they unpack how trauma in childhood reverberates in forensic evaluations and courtroom settings.
Key Insights from the Episode
- Developmental Stage Matters
Trauma does not “look” the same at every age. A five-year-old may process trauma behaviorally—through regression, somatic complaints, or heightened attachment-seeking—while a teenager may manifest it in risky behaviors, defiance, or depression. Understanding these developmental differences is vital in interpreting symptoms, credibility, and recovery potential. - Parental Trauma Shapes Child Recovery
Children often mirror how parents respond to trauma. When caregivers are themselves distressed or traumatized, children may internalize those reactions. Courts evaluating damages should also consider the trauma’s ripple effect on the family system, particularly the parent-child dyad. - Preexisting Conditions Complicate Assessments
Learning disorders, ADHD, or prior mental health conditions may act as vulnerability—or resilience—factors. They can shape not only how trauma is expressed but also which therapeutic interventions are effective. Forensic experts must parse whether functional impairment is due to preexisting conditions, the trauma itself, or both. - Forensic Interviewing is High Stakes
Poorly structured child interviews risk suggestibility, false denials, or recantations. Dr. Elizondo stresses the importance of minimizing judgmental language and adhering to established forensic protocols to preserve credibility and fairness. Attorneys should be alert to flawed interviewing techniques, as these often get weaponized in litigation. - Trauma in Sentencing and Diversion Programs
For litigators, this episode highlights the importance of working closely with forensic psychiatrists to understand not just the traumatic event itself, but how trauma unfolds over time, across development, and within families.
Listen to the full episode now and subscribe to Emotional Damages wherever you get your podcasts.
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