The purpose of this website is to provide you with information you need in understanding the various aspects of psychological forensics and Dr. Heller’s services. Dr. Heller’s role as a forensic evaluator varies depending upon the kind of legal case you have, the phase of litigation and the court. He is appointed by a Judge or requested by an attorney in order to provide a forensic evaluation, or custody evaluation on an important issue.

Depending upon whether your case is in family, criminal or civil court, Dr. Heller can provide you with an understanding of how his services can meet your needs.  Forensic Psychology is at the crossroads of the legal profession and psychology. Services can range from an analysis of family issues to understanding criminal behavior.  We can get started via email or a phone call that can be initiated through our contact page. We endeavor to respond to all case inquiries from attorneys by the end of the business day in which you contact us.

This website endeavors to review interesting cases as well as discuss behavioral science research that affects the practice of forensic psychology and contributes to the scientist-practitioner model that  guides Dr. Heller’s  work.

SERVICES FOR ATTORNEYS

1. Dr. Heller has been a practicing psychologist for over 35 years and is considered an expert on a wide variety of psychological topics. He is often called on to help attorneys analyze a case, review an adverse report done by another psychologist, and assist with cross-examination.
2. Expert opinion at trial is useful to educate the court or jury about a psycho-legalistic issue.  Dr. Heller has offices in New York and New Jersey.
3. Attorneys have sent their clients to him for forensic evaluations related to civil litigation (to assess emotional injuries), from as far away as Texas, Oregon and Massachusetts.

FAMILY AND MATRIMONIAL CASES:

Child Custody and parenting time evaluations:

1. Dr. Heller has been qualified in New York and New Jersey courts that adjudicate custody and child parenting matters. He is the court forensic consultant for the Rockland County (NY) family and Supreme
   Court, and has completed hundreds of custody and parenting time evaluations.  He is also a custody consultant to the Bergen Family Center, providing Bergen County Superior court with custody, parenting
   time, relocation and removal evaluations.
2. Dr. Heller can assist attorneys and their clients in understanding subtle, yet complex issues such as parental alienation, domestic violence, impaired attachment between parent and child, as well the parental capacity so important in raising a child in a healthy manner.
3. Dr. Heller Provides Contra reports concerning unfavorable custody evaluations and assists attorneys in the analysis of other evaluator’s reports. Dr. Heller is a practicing licensed Psychologist in New York and New Jersey with Court experience and has been qualified by Federal, New York State Supreme Court, Family Court, Integrated Domestic Violence Court (IDV) and New Jersey Superior Court as a Psychologist
   expert witness. He is also a Psychologist Expert for the assigned counsel plan (18 B), City of New York and the Law Guardian program as an expert custody evaluator (Supreme Court Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, State of New York). He has also provided consultation to the Rutgers Urban Legal Clinic for Risk Assessment and Parole Issues. He is the former Director of Mental Health and Alcoholism Services for the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. It was in that capacity that he developed his experience and expertise in alcoholism, substance abuse, domestic violence, PTSD and inter-generational trauma.

CIVIL AND CRIMINAL COURT SERVICES:  

Dr. Heller’s dissertation on “Criminal Behavior and Arousal” and his experience evaluating defendants often requires his presence as an expert in trial and also to perform evaluations in a correctional facility. He has a
legal pass for the New York City Department of Corrections. However, he does travel to evaluate incarcerated defendants in other states, when presented with a judge’s order.

Dr. Heller is considered an expert in murder, child sexual abuse and other violent crimes.

Dr. Heller is a successful rebuttal witness to questionable syndrome evidence such as CSAAS and Intrafamilial child sexual abuse syndrome.

Provides testimony regarding interview protocols for assessment of children found to have been sexually abused and those alleged to have been sexually abused.

PERSONAL INJURY LITIGATION AND DISABILITIES:

AREAS OF EXPERTISE DR. HELLER IS CALLED UPON TO ADDRESS:

• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
• Retardation and Developmental delays
• Personal injury, emotional pain, long-term effects, long-term psychological treatment plans and estimation of costs.
• Psychological, Psychiatric and Alcoholism Treatment Record Review (inpatient and outpatient).
• Injured Child Assessments
• Work-related Injuries
• Alcoholism and other drug abuse problems
• Malpractice
• Asperger’s Disorder
• Psychological Record Review
• Evaluations and Testimony
• Addictions and Alcoholism  Criminal Defense
• Critical Incident Stress Effects
• Agency Administration and Supervision
• Disabilities (emotional, mental, retardation, Autism)
• Litigation Consultation
• Police Officers and Stress
• “Death Row” evaluations of condemned prisoners
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Alcoholism/Drugs
• Psychological Autopsy
• Risk Assessment for Re-Offense of Sexual Assault and other Violent Crime
• Standards of Treatment (Inpatient & Outpatient)
• Battered Woman Syndrome
• Assessment of Pain and Suffering
• Suicide
• Child Custody, Visitation & Family Issues
• Independent Medical Examinations
• Domestic Violence
• Sexual Abuse
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Standards of treatment in Group Homes
• Sexual Assault
• Parental Acceptance-Rejection Syndrome
• Assessment of Capacity to Waive Miranda Rights
• “Rejection Crisis” related to homicide
• Consultation to Insurance Company regarding aspects of suicide