Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of sexual violence and paraphilic disorders. Listener discretion is advised. The content may be distressing or triggering for some listeners.

In this episode, Dr. Ambarin Faizi is joined by Dr. Brian Holoyda, Chief Psychiatrist for Contra Costa County’s detention facilities and an internationally recognized expert on paraphilic disorders and sexual violence risk assessment. The conversation guides attorneys through the complexities of forensic assessments in sexually violent predator (SVP) cases, paraphilic disorder diagnosis, and the pivotal role of standardized risk assessment tools.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The distinction between paraphilias and paraphilic disorders in psychiatric diagnosis
• Critical elements and instruments in sexual violence risk assessment: Static-99R, SVR-20, Stable-2007
• How legal decisions hinge on psychiatric diagnoses and structured risk evaluations
• Comparisons between U.S. and international forensic psychiatric practice
• Attorney strategies for challenging or supporting risk assessment findings in court

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In this episode of Emotional Damages, host Dr. Ambarin Faizi sits down with Dr. Paul Elizondo, a triple board-certified psychiatrist in General, Child & Adolescent, and Forensic Psychiatry. Dr. Elizondo breaks down how trauma manifests differently depending on age and developmental stage, how preexisting conditions (like ADHD or learning disorders) can shape recovery, and why careful forensic interviewing is essential to maintaining reliability.

Attorneys will gain insights into evaluating credibility, understanding concepts like “child sexual abuse accommodation syndrome,” and appreciating the lifelong impact untreated trauma can have on both individuals and outcomes in litigation.

Key Topics Discussed:

• How childhood trauma looks in a 5-year-old versus a 15-year-old
• The influence of parents’ trauma responses on child recovery
• Preexisting vulnerabilities vs. resilience factors in trauma cases
• The pitfalls of poor forensic interviewing and how it influences credibility
• The role of forensic psychiatry in sentencing and diversion programs
• Why attorney awareness of trauma-informed approaches is critical in litigation

Have a topic you would like covered on the pod?
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In this special bonus episode of Emotional Damages, Dr. Ambarin Faizi brings together lessons from two powerhouse experts—Dr. Shafi Lodhi, forensic psychiatrist and neurologist, and Dr. Howard Friedman, board-certified forensic neuropsychologist—to break down the complexities of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in litigation.

Key topics discussed include:

• How TBI affects cognition, mood, and behavior
• Why testing and imaging don’t always align
• How experts assess malingering in brain injury claims
• The intersection of neurology and psychology in forensic evaluations
• Red flags attorneys should watch for in TBI reports

Have a topic you would like covered on the pod?
📧 Email us: podcast@fpamed.com

🔗 Connect with fpamed:
🌐 Visit our website.
👋 Follow us on LinkedIn.