From Playground to Courtroom: How Childhood Trauma Shapes Legal Outcomes

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

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