Court Testimony for Counselors

Graduate counseling programs equip students with a wide range of skills to shape competent, ethical counselors. Most individuals enter the counseling profession with a desire to help others, support healing, and contribute to the well-being of society—not to participate in litigation or testify in court. Formal instruction on navigating subpoenas, court testimony, or legal procedures is often limited or entirely absent in counselor training programs. While participation in legal processes, such as court testimony or depositions, can be intimidating, it is a critical aspect of ethical client advocacy. As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “The thing we fear is the thing we must do.” For counselors, this includes maintaining our professional counseling identity, professionalism, ethical considerations, and integrity in legal settings. This session will demystify court involvement and equip counselors with the tools they need to respond professionally, effectively, ethically, and confidently to subpoenas and in court-related settings.

Learning Objectives:

1.) Attendees will learn how to respond to subpoenas and differentiate between common types of subpoenas counselors may receive. 

2.) Attendees will learn ways to maintain professional identity and prepare for court-related proceedings. 

3.) Utilizing a case study, attendees will learn how to organize client files and documentation in preparation for legal involvement, including strategies for supporting clients during court-related processes.

Speakers:

Lynn Jennings

Stephen Jennings