Thorough evaluations for consequential decisions.
About Dr. Young
Dr. Young is a licensed psychologist in California and was trained in clinical psychology at Columbia University. He currently serves as a scientist and professor at the Weill Institute for the Neurosciences at the University of California, San Francisco. His academic training focuses on measurement and methodology, particularly how psychological constructs are defined, tested, and validated before being applied to individual cases.
Services
Services
What guides the work
A quiet standard, held consistently.
STANDARDS WE HOLD IN EVERY CASE
What guides the work
STANDARDS WE HOLD IN EVERY CASE
Impartiality
Our service is to the referral question, not to any party.
Child-Needs Focused Attention
All evaluative work with children is focused on their best interests above anything else.
Defensible Reasoning
Conclusions are grounded in clearly documented methods and evidence, built to withstand scrutiny in court.
Timeliness
Clear communication of the expected timelines from retention to the final report.
Discretion
Sensitive information is handled with professional judgment, disclosed only as the evaluation requires.
Responsiveness
Clear, timely communication with counsel throughout the engagement, from initial questions to final report.
Approach
Independent. Rigorous. Clear.
A confidential conversation to define the referral question and confirm fit.
Structured interviews, psychological testing, and review of collateral records.
A clear, well-supported report tailored to the needs of counsel and the court.
Availability for clarifying questions, deposition, and testimony as needed.
From counsel
"The kind of evaluator you want on a difficult custody matter, measured, thorough, and clearly reasoned."
— Attorney feedback, family law practice
Common questions
A few starting points.
The evaluator is impartial. The engagement is oriented around the referral question, not around any party.
Timelines vary with scope, testing, records volume, and party availability. A more precise estimate is discussed at intake.
Considering a referral?
Our Blog
Lates News and Articles
Cases Studies
Our Successfully Completed Cases
High-Conflict Out-of-State Relocation
A parent requested to relocate out of state with two children, which the other parent opposed, alleging gatekeeping and potential emotional distress. Dr. Young conducted standardized psychometric testing, direct parent-child observations, and neutral collateral interviews to evaluate stability and developmental fit. The evaluation yielded a clear, evidence-backed report with alternative parenting schedules, enabling counsel to negotiate a successful pre-trial settlement.
Parenting Capacity & Alleged Misuse
Facing severe allegations of unmanaged mental health conditions and substance misuse, a parent was at risk of losing visitation rights. Dr. Young implemented objective forensic testing to evaluate response validity and functional parenting risk alongside a comprehensive medical record review. The resulting report provided the court with a structured "step-up" plan featuring safety benchmarks that protected the child while preserving the parent-child bond.
Post-Judgment Co-Parenting Deadlock
Years of chronic post-divorce litigation over medical and educational decisions led to severe communication failure and academic decline for an adolescent. Dr. Young analyzed years of co-parenting communication logs and conducted direct, non-leading developmental interviews with the teenager. The report recommended a targeted allocation of decision-making spheres, allowing counsel to resolve the custody modifications out of court and restore long-term stability.
