Forensic Psychologist In Lake Park, FL
Court-qualified forensic psychological evaluations and expert testimony for Lake Park, the 15th Judicial Circuit, and courts across Florida.
Our Proven Process
A forensic evaluation at FC PsychExperts runs through seven defined stages. A standard mental health evaluation takes about 10 hours of psychologist time before the report is written.
Here is the sequence, in order:
- Clinical interview
- Mental status examination
- Collateral interviews
- Record review
- Psychological testing
- Interpretation and scoring of the testing
- Report writing
Records drive the schedule more than anything else. Medical charts, prior psychological reports, arrest and school records, and earlier evaluations all get read and cited before a conclusion is written. Send them early.
We are usually booked about three weeks out. Tell us your hearing date on the first call and we will say plainly whether the timeline works.
Dr. Cathy Colet takes the scoping call herself. She discusses the scope of the evaluation, and she tells you on that call whether this office can provide an objective evaluation or cannot take the case. Some referral questions arrive pre-answered. Those get declined, and you hear it before a retainer clears rather than after.
Where the evaluation happens
Our psychologists conduct evaluations at courthouses, correctional facilities, jails, federal detention facilities, juvenile detention centers, and ICE detention, across the State of Florida. If your client cannot travel, the location is a scheduling question, not an obstacle.
Neuropsychological assessment is added when the referral question involves cognitive functioning, brain injury, or capacity. The full list of forensic psychological services covers criminal, family, civil, immigration, and juvenile matters.
Why Choose Us
Four licensed doctoral psychologists perform every evaluation. Their Florida license numbers are published below. Verify each one at the Department of Health licensee portal before you retain anyone, including us.
The four Psychologists, with License Numbers you can check
| Psychologist | Credential | Florida license | First licensed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cathy Colet, Psy.D. | Licensed Psychologist specializing in Forensic Psychology. Founder | PY9058 | 2014 |
| R. Lauren Miller, Psy.D., J.D., ABAP | Board Certified Neuropsychologist, Licensed Psychologist | PY8992 | 2013 |
| Matthew J. Jalazo, Psy.D. | Licensed Psychologist specializing in Forensic Psychology | PY7803 | 2008 |
| Christopher J. Beltran, Psy.D. | Licensed Psychologist specializing in Forensic Psychology | PY6432 | 2007 |
Dr. Miller holds a law degree alongside the doctorate, which is uncommon and matters in cross-examination. Dr. Colet and Dr. Miller both train doctorate-level students.
Between them the team has conducted thousands of evaluations and testified thousands of times, for prosecution and defense, for plaintiff and defense, and for private clients. No side of the bar gets a house expert here. That is the point of the work.
Every matter is handled in-house, so a case that turns out to need forensic evaluations plus neuropsychological testing does not require you to coordinate two practices and reconcile two reports. Our West Palm Beach forensic psychology office page covers the same services for matters filed in the county seat.
What Changed for Florida Forensic Evaluators on July 1, 2026
Florida Statute 916.115 now requires every court-appointed forensic evaluator to complete initial and annual training provided by the Department of Children and Families. Evaluators already on the list as of July 1, 2024 had until July 1, 2026 to complete the annual training and stay active.
Three provisions in the same section change how you should read any forensic report:
- Training is annual now. Not once, not at qualification. An expert who says they completed the state training without saying when is answering a question you did not ask.
- The court appoints no more than three experts. Not a panel you keep expanding until the answer improves.
- Payment is conditional on the report. The statute reads that in order for an expert to be paid for the services rendered, the expert’s report and testimony must explicitly address each of the factors and follow the procedures set out in the chapter. A report that skips a statutory factor is not merely weak. It is unbillable.
Juvenile competency work carries its own separate training requirement under the same section.
Four checks, four minutes, on any evaluator including ours:
- Ask which DCF trainings they completed, and in what year.
- Verify the Florida license number against the Department of Health.
- Ask how many times they have been qualified as an expert in the circuit hearing your case.
- Ask whether they have ever been excluded on a Daubert challenge. An expert never challenged has usually never been tested.
Ready to Move Forward? Connect With Our Team Today
Whether you’re a legal professional seeking expert psychological evaluation or an individual navigating court-ordered assessment, our experienced team provides the specialized support you need. Contact us now to discuss your specific requirements and discover how our forensic psychology expertise can serve your case.
Ten Common Situations You Might Be Facing
- You are a criminal defense attorney and your client’s competency to proceed is in question
- You need expert testimony in a civil matter and want someone who has been deposed before
- You are in a time-sharing dispute where parental capacity is the contested issue
- You need a competency evaluation for a criminal matter in Palm Beach County
- You are seeking neuropsychological assessment after a head injury or a suspected cognitive decline
- You represent a plaintiff claiming emotional damages and need the causation documented
- You need a substance abuse evaluation with treatment recommendations for court compliance
- You are facing a parental fitness evaluation in a dependency or family matter
- You need violence or sexual behavior risk assessment for sentencing, release, or supervision
- You need psychological testing for a workers’ compensation claim involving mental health impacts
Immigration matters belong on this list too. Extreme and exceptional hardship, political asylum, VAWA petitions, and competency to participate in immigration proceedings are all evaluated here, including at ICE detention facilities.
Benefits of Working With Board Certified Forensic Psychologists
Our psychologists have testified in six Florida judicial circuits covering 21 named counties. Here is the list, so you can check whether your court is on it before you retain us.
| Circuit | Counties |
|---|---|
| 15th | Palm Beach |
| 17th | Broward |
| 19th | Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, Okeechobee |
| 1st | Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton |
| 2nd | Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Wakulla |
| 20th | Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry |
Lake Park sits in the 15th, which is the first row. Most pages selling forensic psychology in this market publish a service menu and a stock photo. Ask any of them which circuits they have actually been qualified in, and see how long it takes to get a list.
Our evaluation process reads healthcare records, law enforcement reports, educational files, and prior psychological assessments before any conclusion is drawn. Testing is research-validated and scored against normative data. Reports name every instrument administered and trace every conclusion to its factual basis, which is what survives cross-examination.
In family court proceedings the psychologist’s duty runs to the children, whichever party paid the retainer. That is not a marketing position. It is what makes the report admissible.
Forensic and Clinical Psychology Services
We are proud to offer a wide range of specialized forensic psychology services to meet the needs of the judicial and legal systems. Our team of experienced forensic psychologists provides personalized assessments, expert testimony, consultation, and training.
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Find out MoreServing Lake Park, FL and Surrounding Communities
Lake Park is a 2.08 square mile town of about 9,000 people in northern Palm Beach County, inside Florida’s 15th Judicial Circuit. Nobody practices forensic psychology inside the town limits, and there is no reason anyone would.
What matters is the courthouse and the drive. The North County Courthouse at 3188 PGA Blvd in Palm Beach Gardens is about 3 miles north. The Main Judicial Complex in West Palm Beach is about 8 miles south. Our Jupiter office at 210 Jupiter Lakes Blvd, Unit 4-201 is roughly 10 miles up US-1.
We also work Riviera Beach, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Mangonia Park, and West Palm Beach matters from the same office.
Our second office at 1451 W. Cypress Creek Road, Suite 300, Fort Lauderdale covers Broward County and the 17th Circuit, and reaches matters as far south as South Miami. Beyond those two offices we take evaluations across South Florida and the rest of the state, traveling to the facility or the courthouse where the examinee is held.
If a Judge Already Signed an Order, Call the County Before You Call Us
Palm Beach County runs its own Forensic Psychology Services Office at (561) 355-2108, Room 5.1130, Main Judicial Complex. Most commercial pages skip this, because pointing readers toward a service the court pays for is bad for business.
That office takes referrals only on a signed court order. It handles criminal competency, intellectual disability evaluations, mental status at the time of the offense, and risk and conditional release assessments. On the juvenile side it covers threat assessments, delinquency evaluations, competency, and parent-child evaluations in dependency cases. In family court it covers risk assessment and psychological evaluations in domestic violence matters. Evaluations happen at the Main Judicial Complex and the North, South, and West County facilities.
On cost, the county’s own page states that all costs associated with the court’s ordered assessment or evaluation are determined by the presiding judge and taxed accordingly.
So the first question is not what this costs. It is whether a judge has already signed an order. If yes, call (561) 355-2108 first.
Three situations where a private evaluator is the right call instead. You are an attorney building your own record and you want an expert you selected rather than one assigned. Your case needs an evaluation the county office does not perform, which includes personal injury, immigration hardship, testamentary capacity, and neuropsychological testing. Or there is no criminal court order, because the matter is civil, family, or immigration, and there is nothing for the county to act on.
Frequently Asked Questions About Forensic Psychology Services
What is the difference between clinical psychology and forensic psychology?
Forensic psychology specifically applies psychological principles, methods, and findings to legal issues and court proceedings. While clinical psychology focuses on treating mental health conditions, forensic psychology evaluates psychological factors relevant to legal questions such as competency, sanity, custody, and damages. Forensic psychologists receive specialized training in legal procedures, ethical guidelines for court involvement, and assessment methods designed for legal contexts.
How long does a forensic psychological evaluation typically take?
The duration of forensic psychological evaluations varies depending on the complexity of legal questions and individual circumstances. Most comprehensive evaluations require multiple sessions spanning 4-8 hours of direct assessment time, plus additional time for records review, scoring, and report writing. Simple competency evaluations may require 2-4 hours, while complex custody or personal injury evaluations may extend over several weeks with multiple appointments.
What should I expect during a forensic psychological evaluation?
Forensic psychological evaluations typically include clinical interviews, psychological testing, records review, and sometimes collateral interviews with family members or other relevant parties. The process is more structured and legally focused than traditional therapy. You’ll be asked detailed questions about your psychological history, current functioning, and specific issues relevant to your legal case. All information gathered is confidential within the legal context but may be shared with attorneys and courts as specified in your evaluation agreement.
Can forensic psychologists provide therapy or treatment?
While many forensic psychologists are licensed to provide therapy, ethical guidelines typically prevent the same psychologist from serving both evaluation and treatment roles for the same individual. This maintains objectivity and avoids conflicts of interest. However, forensic psychologists often make treatment recommendations and can refer individuals to appropriate therapeutic resources when indicated by evaluation findings.
How much do forensic psychological evaluations cost?
Forensic psychological evaluation costs vary based on the complexity of the assessment, time requirements, and specific services needed. Comprehensive evaluations typically range from several hundred to several thousand dollars. Many forensic psychology services are not covered by insurance when conducted for legal purposes rather than treatment. We provide detailed fee estimates during initial consultation and offer payment plans when appropriate. Court-appointed evaluations may have different fee structures determined by the court system.