At Be BOLD Psychology and Consulting, we understand that navigating the legal system can be an overwhelming and often emotional experience. Whether you are an attorney seeking an expert mental health evaluation for a client, a parent navigating a custody dispute, or an individual with a court order in hand, our team is here to help. Our doctoral-level clinicians provide high-quality, evidence-based forensic evaluations and court-ordered mental health assessments tailored to meet the specific requirements of legal and court-involved matters.
We offer both in-person forensic evaluations and court-ordered evaluations at our Durham, North Carolina office, as well as virtual forensic services available to individuals anywhere in the state of North Carolina, Virginia, and in some cases 42 PSYPACT States. With over 150 evaluations completed and reports submitted to courts in more than 20 North Carolina counties and federal jurisdictions, we are experienced, responsive, and committed to delivering timely and professional service.
We are also able to accept funding from the Office of Indigent Defense Services. If you are a defense attorney and are seeking an evaluation for your client, or needing a psychological expert on the case, reach out!
What Is a Forensic Psychological Evaluation?
A forensic psychological evaluation, also known as a forensic assessment or forensic evaluation, is a specialized psychological examination conducted in the context of legal proceedings. These assessments are carried out by psychologists with advanced training and experience in both clinical and forensic psychology. Forensic evaluations apply psychological science to legal questions and are designed to offer impartial, data-informed insights that assist the legal system in making informed decisions.
Rather than focusing solely on diagnosis or treatment planning, forensic evaluations are designed to answer specific legal questions. These might include an individual’s ability to participate in legal proceedings (capacity to proceed, or competency to stand trial), their mental state at the time of an offense, or their capacity to parent a child. At Be BOLD, our forensic evaluations are comprehensive, clearly written, and tailored to the requirements of the court, attorneys, and other stakeholders involved in the case. It is our ultimate goal to offer a data-driven, objective, comprehensive evaluation to assist the trier of fact in their decision-making.
Our Forensic Evaluation and Court-Ordered Assessment Services
We offer a wide range of forensic evaluations to meet diverse legal needs. Services are available statewide via secure telehealth and in-person at our Durham office. We have been operating since well before the COVID-19 pandemic, and are well-versed in best practices in telepsychological assessment. Likewise, for an additional fee, we are happy to travel to North Carolina and Virginia jails to complete forensic evaluations and court ordered assessment for foks who are currently detained.
Below are some of the forensic and court-ordered evaluations our North Carolina based psychologists are able to complete:
Mental Health Evaluations in the Context of Custody Disputes
This is our most frequently requested court-ordered service. When individuals are involved in custody disputes, the court may require one or both parents to undergo a psychological evaluation. These evaluations can be general assessments of mental health or may include specific questions posed by the court. We work closely with clients and their attorneys to ensure the evaluation meets the court’s requirements. We can also assess for substance use concerns, as well as parental strengths and growth areas in these reports, for an additional fee. Reports are comprehensive, objective, and are be submitted to the appropriate legal parties as indicated in the Court Order.
Parental Capacity Evaluation
At Be BOLD Psychology and Consulting, we understand that questions about parenting ability often arise during challenging legal situations such as custody disputes or involvement with child protective services. A Parental Capacity Evaluation – also known as a parenting capacity or parenting fitness evaluation – is a specialized psychological assessment designed to provide insight into a caregiver’s ability to meet the emotional, physical, and psychological needs of a child.
Substance Use Evaluations
Often requested by attorneys, probation officers, or Courts, substance use evaluations provide a detailed analysis of an individual’s history of substance use, patterns of behavior, and the impact of use on mental, emotional, and behavioral functioning. These evaluations explore co-occurring mental health conditions, treatment history, and readiness for recovery. Our goal is to offer a clear picture of substance-related concerns and provide tailored recommendations for ongoing support or treatment, if needed.
Capacity to Proceed Evaluations
This evaluation is designed to determine whether an individual has the mental capacity to understand the nature and object of their legal proceedings, understand their own situation in reference to the proceedings, consult with their attorney to assist in their own defense, and make informed decisions related to their case. In North Carolina, this is known as a Capacity to Proceed evaluation. In other states and in the federal system, this might be referred to as a Competency to Stand Trial evaluation. These assessments are crucial in ensuring the individual’s rights are protected throughout the legal process.
We are able to offer these evaluations in North Carolina, as well as in federal cases.
Mental State at the Time of the Offense
Sometimes referred to as an evaluation for criminal responsibility or an insanity evaluation, this assessment seeks to determine whether an individual was experiencing a mental illness or psychological impairment at the time of an alleged offense, and whether that condition impacted their ability to understand the nature or wrongfulness of their actions.
Sentencing Mitigation Evaluations
Mitigation evaluations are used in the sentencing phase of criminal proceedings. These evaluations provide a detailed account of an individual’s psychological history, life circumstances, and other factors that may help explain their behavior or support a less severe sentence. This type of evaluation is designed to provide the court with a more nuanced understanding of the individual beyond the charges against them.
Sexual Offense Evaluations
At Be BOLD Psychology and Consulting, we provide specialized evaluations for those charged, convicted, or awaiting sentencing for sexual offenses. These evaluations are for those involved in legal proceedings where questions of diagnosis, psychosexual history, treatment needs, or risk for future sexual offending are relevant. These evaluations are often requested by Courts, attorneys, probation or parole officers, or treatment teams seeking comprehensive, evidence-based information about an individual’s psychological functioning, psychosexual history, previous criminal and/or sexual offending, and risk for future sexually harmful behavior. Our evaluations combine a thorough clinical interview, review of collateral records and/or interviews with collateral sources, and administration of tools designed to assess static and dynamic risk factors, as well as an assessment of protective factors, for sexual offending. Our team has experience at the state and federal level, and can offer psychosexual evaluations or risk assessments for those charged with sex offenses in North Carolina. For those involved in the federal system, we can also conduct psychosexual evaluations, risk assessments, and evaluate whether individuals meet criteria for being a sexually dangerous person in the federal system, pursuant to the Adam Walsh Act and 18 U.S. Code § 4248. This includes those within the federal prison system currently who are seeking evaluation, re-evaluation, or annual review following civil commitment as a sexually dangerous person.
Expert Consultation and Testimony
In addition to conducting evaluations, Dr. Brittany Bate also provides forensic consultation services to attorneys and legal professionals. Services include:
- Secondary review or critical analysis of existing psychological evaluations. Do you have questions about an evaluation that was completed? Dr. Bate can review and provide a summary, strengths, and areas of potential weakness as well as make recommendations of potential next steps.
- Witness preparation and testimony support. Do you have a witness with a lot of anxiety, trauma, or other mental health considerations that may impact their ability to testify? Or, are you looking for research-informed ways to improve upon testimony? Dr. Bate can help.
- Development of cross-examination questions for mental health related topics
- Psychoeducation and training on mental health topics related to legal proceedings
- Trial consultation and jury research support
Dr. Bate also provides training for clinicians and attorneys on the intersection of psychology and the law, and is available to offer continuing education and consultation in these areas.
Why Choose Be BOLD for Your Evaluation?
Our clinicians have completed over 150 evaluations at the state and federal level, and are committed to high-quality, objective services. Most of our psychologists have graduated from forensically-focused clinical psychology doctoral programs, and several have completed their predoctoral internships in federal prison, with a focus on forensic assessment and evaluation. Likewise, many of our psychologists have completed forensically-focused postdoctoral training.
Moreover, for our custody and parenting related cases, we recognize that parenting is complex – and that families come in all forms. We provide affirming, inclusive evaluations for LGBTQIA+ parents, neurodivergent caregivers, and families navigating non-traditional or blended dynamics. Our clinicians have extensive experience working with diverse populations, and we are committed to providing evaluations that are fair, evidence-based, and respectful of lived experience.
We also know that court timelines are often tight, and our team is dedicated to providing responsive scheduling, efficient turnaround times, and clear, comprehensive reports. Our evaluations are designed to meet legal standards while also offering practical, individualized recommendations that can guide next steps for the family, attorneys, or the court.
Our team of doctoral-level clinicians offers trauma-informed, culturally aware, and neurodivergent-affirming evaluations for families across North Carolina. We provide these services both in-person at our Durham, NC office and virtually throughout the state depending on the nature and requirements of the evaluation. We will also travel to evaluate clients who are currently in custody at local jails.
Meet Our Forensic Evaluation Team
Dr. Brittany Bate, Ph.D. (she)
Dr. Bate is the founder of Be BOLD Psychology and Consulting and has extensive experience conducting forensic evaluations across North Carolina. She completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Sam Houston State University and has specialized experience in forensic psychology. Dr. Bate continued on to complete her predoctoral internship at the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, North Carolina as a forensic track intern, completing competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility, sexual dangerousness and future risk, and risk of future violence assessments at the Federal Medical Center. She also offered treatment within the Commitment and Treatment Program for Sexually Dangerous Persons (CTP) during one of her internship rotations.
Throughout her career, Dr. Bate has conducted and authored various criminal and civil forensic evaluations for use by and in state and federal courts. Dr. Bate has conducted and supervised over 75 court-ordered mental health evaluations in North Carolina, the majority of those being in the context of custody disputes. Additionally, Dr. Bate was a Contract Psychologist with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations Behavioral Threat Assessment Unit, helping to complete assessments and mitigation plans for individuals exhibiting signs that they were on the pathway towards violence.
Dr. Bate is listed as a forensic resource with the North Carolina Office of Indigent Defense Services and is willing to travel to, and conduct evaluations in, secure facilities throughout North Carolina.
Dr. Beata Krembuszewski, Ph.D. (she)
Dr. Krembuszewski completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Sam Houston State University and has specialized experience in forensic psychology. She completed both her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship within the Federal Bureau of Prisons, including advanced training at the Commitment and Treatment Program for Sexually Dangerous Persons (CTP) at FCI Butner where she focused on evaluations of sexual dangerousness and future risk of sexual violence. Her fellowship qualified her for the experience-waiver toward board certification through the American Board of Forensic Psychology, a credential she plans to pursue.
Dr. Krembuszewski has conducted evaluations in federal and state systems, including Texas and New Mexico. Her areas of expertise include:
- Competency to stand trial (initial and restoration)
- Mental state at the time of the offense (insanity/criminal responsibility)
- Violence risk assessment
- Sexual offenses and Sexual violence risk assessment
- Juvenile forensic evaluations
- Civil commitment evaluations
- Pre-employment psychological evaluations for law enforcement
Dr. Anastasia Gand, Psy.D. (she)
Dr. Gand completed her predoctoral internship at the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, North Carolina specializing in substance abuse assessment and treatment. Dr. Gand has extensive experience conducting mental health and substance use evaluations in both criminal and civil contexts. Her clinical areas of specialty for both treatment and evaluation include trauma, personality disorders, severe and persistent mental health diagnoses, and substance use. She also excels at diagnostically complex cases, wherein a person may have had a variety of diagnoses across time and are seeking to better understand “what really fits” for their experiences? She brings a trauma-informed and affirming approach to all of her work.
Dr. Beth Curran, Psy.D. (she/they)
Dr. Curran completed their doctoral work at Spalding University. Throughout their graduate, predoctoral, and postdoctoral training, they have developed a strong foundation in psychological assessment and experience in court-involved settings. Dr. Curran completed their postdoctoral training at Be BOLD, under the supervision of Dr. Bate, and has gained additional experience in completing court-ordered and court-involved evaluations. Dr. Curran has completed numerous mental health diagnostic evaluations in the context of custody disagreements and for probation or parole.
Schedule Your Evaluation or Consultation Today
If you are an attorney, legal professional, or individual with a Court Order, we are here to help you navigate the evaluation process. Whether you need a psychological evaluation in the context of a custody dispute, a substance use assessment, or a mental health evaluation for criminal proceedings, our team is ready to support you.
We offer:
- In-person evaluations at our Durham, NC office
- Virtual forensic assessments for clients across North Carolina and Virginia
- Responsive communication and timely report delivery
To learn more or to begin the process:
- Email us at referrals@beboldpsychnc.com. Please send us your Court Order for a complimentary review and evaluation plan
- Call or text 919-525-1873
Important note: Court-ordered evaluations are not covered by insurance. We do not provide superbills for these services. For more information, see our Rates and Insurance page. Please note, prices may be different than what is reflected on our page, as that is a beginning estimate. For the most accurate estimate, email us with your Court Order and we can provide more information pertaining to cost and timeline!
