Dr. Francesca Luizza is a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist in private practice in San Diego, California, specializing in complex criminal and civil forensic matters.
With over 10 years of clinical and forensic training and experience, her background spans state and federal courts, correctional institutions, private practice, and military court-martial proceedings. She provides independent forensic evaluations, psycho-legal consultation, and expert witness testimony in serious felony and violent criminal matters and high-stakes civil litigation involving labor and employment emotional distress, sexual assault and abuse, and environmental disasters. Her evaluations emphasize meticulous record analysis, comprehensive interviewing, psychological testing, response validity assessment, and rigorous forensic methodology to develop scientifically supported opinions that withstand scrutiny in litigation and testimony. Dr. Luizza is committed to providing the highest caliber of diagnostics, consultation, and treatment to her clients, and treats each case with the utmost respect, compassion, and integrity it deserves.
Dr. Luizza also provides individual psychotherapy to clients involved in the criminal justice system and in the community for mental health disorders related to substance abuse, sex addiction, behavioral disturbance, and major mood disorders. Dr. Luizza is trained in a variety of evidence-based practices including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and psychodynamic therapy, and tailors her approach to best fit the unique needs and qualities of each individual she has the pleasure of working with.
About Dr. Luizza
Dr. Luizza is on the Expert Witness List for the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego and is routinely retained by attorneys throughout the state of California to provide forensic psychological evaluations, psycho-legal consultation, and expert witness testimony in Criminal, Civil, and Military Court-Martial proceedings. Dr. Luizza is trained in a number of forensic psychological and risk assessments, and completed her APA internship at the Los Angeles County Jail.
Training
Dr. Luizza is a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist in private practice in San Diego, California. Dr. Luizza has over 10 years of training and experience providing clinical and forensic evidenced-based treatment interventions and evaluations for a broad spectrum of patients and clients ranging from those with emotional adjustment difficulties to sociopathic and violent behaviors. She has treated and evaluated high-risk offenders at the county, state, and federal level and worked in various settings, including hospitals and long-term psychiatric facilities, intensive outpatient clinics, private practice, and detention facilities.
Forensic Psychological Evaluations | Expert Witness Testimony | In-Custody Evaluations | Court-Appointed Evaluations | Psycho-Legal Consultation | Court-Mandated Treatment | Individual Psychotherapy | Psychodiagnostic Assessment
Mental Health Diversion Evaluations | Violence Risk Assessments | Psychosexual Risk Evaluations | Military Diversion Evaluations | Military Court-Martial Evaluations | Pretrial & Sentencing Mitigation | Substance Abuse Assessments | Competency Evaluations | Criminal Responsibility Evaluations | Malingering
Psychological Injury & Damages Evaluations | Emotional Distress Claims | Trauma & PTSD Evaluations | Labor and Employment Distress | Sexual Assault and Abuse | Malingering & Response Validity Assessments | Independent Medical/Psychological Evaluations (IME/IPE) | Environmental Disaster
Forensic Evaluations: Forensic Psychology is an area of specialized practice that applies the science and profession of psychology to questions and issues relating to law and the legal system.
Court-Ordered Treatment: When mental health conditions contribute to maladaptive or dangerous behavior, affect the way a person treats others, or increase the risk of recidivism, a court may order treatment as an alternative to jail or prison time.
Psychological Assessment: Psychological assessments provide information about an individual’s emotional, intellectual, behavioral, and/or academic and occupational strengths and challenges.
Psychotherapy: Our childhood experiences shape the way we view and experience ourselves, others, and the world. When we understand why we think, feel, and behave the way we do, we can begin to accept our past and enjoy our present.