Psychotherapy Finances is a nationally circulated newsletter for psychologists and other mental health care providers in private practice. Below is an article on forensics I wrote for the December, 2009 edition. The article on infidelity was published in the August, 2009 issue.

To read the Psychotherapy Finances blog, updated every Friday, click here.

A look at arbitration and forensic specialties

Most behavioral health practitioners associate forensics and other court-related work with divorce and child custody. But Bruce Boltuch, a New Jersey-based clinician, has moved beyond those bounds. At least 30% of his work is court-related—including mediation, arbitration, and as a mental health expert for personal injury lawyers.

First, in the arbitration arena, Boltuch is involved with Wall Street financial disputes, and auto lemon law cases. Noting the advantages in this kind of work, he cites both the money and the variety it brings to his practice.

“In lemon law matters, and in Wall Street cases, you’re dealing pretty much with just the facts...Let’s say you’ve lost money through Merrill Lynch, and you believe they were being dishonest with you. You apply for mediation and get a lawyer who presents your case. Then we on the arbitration panel act as judges.”

With courts already overflowing, both parties in a suit often prefer to resolve legal problems out of public view, with an arbitrator instead of a judge. There’s money to be Arbitration and forensic specialties saved, and in some cases an out-of-court settlement can prevent the airing of dirty laundry.

The distinction between mediation and arbitration is essential. When Boltuch is brought in to arbitrate a lemon law or Wall Street case, he’s not there to facilitate communication between parties. He’s there as one of three arbitrators who renders a binding decision.

Ditto for lemon law cases. Here, people who have purchased a new car and experience continual problems that remain unresolved, seek arbitration under state law.

Boltuch has been involved in arbitration cases throughout his 30-year career. But he had to get specific training for the Wall Street work through a 16-hour course offered by FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority)—the largest independent regulator for securities firms.

He gets $200 an hour plus expenses for arbitration cases; and between $175 and $350 per hour for other forensic work, depending on the case. And his individual therapy session charge is a whopping $250 an hour. (His generalpsychotherapy practice includes individual therapy for anxiety, panic attacks, and depression.)

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Alternative: Treating infidelity in the gay community

Relationship counseling isn't restricted to traditional couples, says Michele O’Mara. At her Indianapolis practice, about 60% of O’Mara’s time is spent on relationship work, with 60% of that focused on infidelity.

And most of that work is with the gay and lesbian community. Her market isn’t limited to the Indianapolis metro area.

“Because my clinical area is so specialized, it’s not uncommon for people to drive two hours to see me,” she says.

O’Mara says infidelity is the number-one relationship problem now, and a top referral-generator. Office romances are rampant, she adds.

“It starts out as a friendship and then it grows into something else. Afterward the key is to rebuild trust. Sometimes people have to quit their jobs in order to rebuild that trust. Or they may get themselves transferred to a different department." 

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