Episode 206: Court-Proof Your Private Practice: Handling Subpoenas [featuring Brittany Bate]

What should you do when that dreaded subpoena arrives in your private practice's inbox or mailbox? In this episode, Patrick Casale talks with Dr. Brittany Bate, psychologist, private practice coach, and founder of Be BOLD Psychology and Consulting, about the essentials that mental health professionals need to know to navigate legal requests and the court system. 𝟯 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀: 1. Paperwork Preparedness is Protection: Ensure your informed consent and scope of practice documents are up to date, specifically with clear language around court involvement, parental consent for minors, and your actual capacity/role as a therapist (hint: you are not a custody evaluator unless specifically trained!). 2. Don’t Ignore—Respond! Even if a subpoena isn’t a court order, it usually requires a response (not just in NC, but in most states). Failing to reply—even if the request is unnecessary or outside your scope—could result in being held in contempt of court. 3. Have (and Enforce) Reasonable Court Fees: Outline your fees for all court-related activities (prep, document compilation, testimony, etc.) in your paperwork. These should be reasonable and customary—don’t “price yourself out” unethically. Enforcing these agreements can often deter unnecessary requests and ensure your time is respected. Brittany also reminds therapists to document every session as if it might be read aloud in court. You never know when your notes may become part of the public record. DISCLAIMER: This podcast episode is for educational purposes and is not intended as legal advice. 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐲: Dr. Brittany Bate is a licensed psychologist, private practice strategy coach, owner of Bold Practice Builders, and the founder of Be BOLD Psychology and Consulting – a North Carolina-based group practice. Her team specializes in individual, couples, family, and group therapy, as well as psychological evaluations, court-ordered assessments, and forensic evaluations and services. With a doctoral degree focusing in clinical psychology with a forensic emphasis, Brittany is a forensic psychologist at heart. Additionally, with a background in conducting therapy and assessment in forensic state hospitals, state and federal prisons, and conducting threat assessments with the NC State Bureau of Investigation’s Behavioral Threat Assessment Unit, Brittany brings a unique lens to the intersection of mental health and the legal system. She’s especially passionate about helping fellow clinicians navigate subpoenas, courtroom testimony, and high-stakes ethical decisions – before the subpoena arrives or they are on the stand. Her goal is to equip providers with the paperwork, confidence, and strategies they need to respond clearly, ethically, and without panic. A self-proclaimed group therapy enthusiast and jury research nerd, Brittany combines real-world experience with research-backed best practices – especially when it comes to ethical testimony and witness preparation. 🔸 Brittany's Courses: https://www.boldpracticebuilders.com/... 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 & 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://atppod.com/206 –––––––––––––––– 🎙️𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭: https://atppod.com 🎙️𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲: https://atppod.com/spotify 🎙️𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞: https://atppod.com/apple ✈️𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬: https://www.allthingspractice.com/pri... 🗨️𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐅𝐁 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲:   / empoweredescape   🗨️𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐅𝐁 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲:   / privatepracticebuilding   –––––––––––––––– 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐏𝐚𝐝, 𝐀𝐥𝐦𝐚, & 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 — 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 & 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬 ✨ 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙋𝙖𝙙 I want to thank The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this episode. The Receptionist offers an iPad list check-in option where clients can scan a QR code to check in, which negates the need for you to buy an iPad and stand. Go to https://thereceptionist.com/privatepr... and sign up for a free 14-day trial. When you do, you'll get your first month free. And don't forget to ask about our iPad list check-in option. ✨ 𝘼𝙡𝙢𝙖 I want to thank Alma for sponsoring this episode. Building and managing the practice you want can be challenging. That’s why Alma offers tools and resources to help you build not just any practice, but your private practice. They’ll help you navigate insurance, access referrals who are the right fit for you, and efficiently manage administrative tasks — so you can spend less time on the details and more time delivering great care. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Visit https://helloalma.com/ATPP to learn more. ✨ 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚 — 2025 & 2026 𝙍𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙨 Neurodivergent Entrepreneurs in New Zealand: https://www.allthingspractice.com/new... Beyond Private Practice in New Zealand: https://www.allthingspractice.com/new...