Sam’s early career work included comprehensive family assessments for Child and Youth Protective Services in the ACT, yet has developed to encompass providing Mental Health Assessments and Single Expert Reports to the FCFCOA of late. From a research perspective Sam has a special interest in the interaction between different mental health and empathic abilities. Therapeutically he has worked across a range of contexts, including working with offenders, providing psychological first aid to first responders, and working within novel therapeutic contexts to assist trauma survivors in their recovery through complementary lifestyle interventions such as exercise in conjunction with evidence based trauma therapies. Recent interests for Sam include the psychobiological impact of trauma on developing children, and identifying personality characteristics associated with coercive control and Intimate Partner Violence.
Having worked therapeutically with offenders in a private setting, and conducting pre-sentence reports previously, Sam is also available to conduct pre-sentencing and risk assessment reports.
With regard to medico-legal referrals, Sam has provided plaintiff assessment reports for personal injury matters pertaining to medical negligence, and workplace injuries for over 15 years.
A member of both the Association of Family and Conciliatory Courts and Pacifica Congress, Sam demonstrates a commitment to remaining up to date with research and practice surrounding the appropriate assessment of children, parents, and families.