Short-term Mental Health Counseling
- Mar 15
- 1 min read
Updated: Mar 16
Supporting Clients While Strengthening Legal Claims
By Mark D. Lerner, Ph.D.
Clinical & Forensic Psychologist
Lerner Psychological Services, P.C., offers short-term, evidence-based mental health counseling that provides meaningful support to litigation strategy.
Short-term counseling—generally lasting four to six sessions—affords clients with timely, supportive, goal-directed, and evidence-based care during periods of acute emotional distress. Clients are seen by David G. Lerner, LMSW, a licensed clinical and forensic social worker, either in person or through secure telehealth sessions.
Each counseling session is carefully documented through concise Session Notes. These records provide counsel with valuable collateral information corroborating claims of emotional distress and functional impairment, thereby strengthening the evidentiary foundation of a legal claim. Short-term counseling does not preclude a recommendation for psychiatric consultation, medication management, or long-term psychotherapy.
Courts throughout New York and other jurisdictions have repeatedly recognized that documented participation in psychotherapy may constitute persuasive evidence supporting claims of emotional distress. Unlike "garden variety” allegations of emotional suffering, treatment records prepared by qualified mental health professionals can provide independent, clinically grounded documentation of significant—and at times egregious emotional distress.
Clients receiving services through telehealth must be physically located within the State of New York at the time of the session in compliance with New York State licensing requirements.