
Expert Testimony Services
Ridgeback Recovery's clinical director, Terry L. Gatewood, is qualified and experienced providing expert testimony for legal cases involving sexual behaviors, addiction, and mental health concerns.
Key Areas of Expert Testimony Services
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Forensic Assessment & Evaluation: As part of his expert testimony services, Mr. Gatewood conducts comprehensive psychosexual evaluations to assess sexual compulsivity, addiction, or offending behaviors. He utilizes standardized tools, such as the Sexual Dependency Inventory-4.0 and Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory, to evaluate sex addiction severity and provide insight into whether an individual’s behavior indicates sex addiction or other psychological conditions, as needed for expert testimony.
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Legal Case Consultation: In providing expert testimony services, Mr. Gatewood works with attorneys to review case materials, offering expert opinions and developing strategies. He assists in understanding the clinical aspects of sex addiction and its role in legal cases, helping determine whether treatment options could be a viable alternative to punitive measures, for use in expert testimony.
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Testimony in Criminal Cases: When offering expert testimony in criminal cases, Mr. Gatewood explains sex addiction as a compulsive disorder, differentiating between addiction-driven behaviors and intentional criminal acts. He assesses risk factors and the potential for treatment versus recidivism, all as part of our expert testimony.
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Testimony in Civil and Family Court Cases: As part of expert testimony services in civil and family court cases, Mr. Gatewood provides expert opinions in disputes where sex addiction is a concern, such as divorce and child custody. He evaluates whether sex addiction impacts parenting capacity, provide treatment recommendations, and assist in workplace sexual harassment or misconduct cases to determine if sex addiction played a role, all as components of our expert testimony.
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Risk Assessment & Treatment Recommendations: In his expert testimony, Mr. Gatewood determines an individual’s risk for future problematic sexual behavior and recommends appropriate therapeutic interventions, such as 12-step programs, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and trauma-informed treatment. He also assesses progress in treatment for court-mandated therapy, for use in expert testimony.
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Clarifying Misconceptions About Sex Addiction: A key aspect of Mr. Gatewood's expert testimony services is a commitment to educating the court on what sex addiction is and isn’t, ensuring that the condition is properly understood. He provides evidence-based perspectives, countering myths or misunderstandings about sex addiction.
Additional Resources for Attorneys
Ridgeback maintains an attorney resource page including an overview of psychosexual testing and a glossary of terms related to sexual addiction.