Expert Witness Journal Issue 64 December 2025 - Flipbook - Page 58
Where children are involved, the court’s focus
remains on welfare but the presence of narcissistic
or coercive patterns can inform the court’s approach
to parental responsibility, indirect contact, and
safeguarding orders.
The Takeaway
Family law sits at the intersection of law and emotion.
Recognising psychological drivers and particularly
narcissistic dynamics enables practitioners to advise
with both empathy and strategy. A psychologically
informed approach is not “soft” lawyering; it is the
most e昀昀ective way to secure fair, lasting outcomes in
cases where logic alone is rarely enough.
Supporting Clients Through
Psychological Awareness
Lawyers cannot be therapists but they can recognise
when a client may bene昀椀t from psychological
support. Referrals to counsellors, coaching, or
domestic abuse services such as Women’s Aid can
make a profound di昀昀erence.
If you have concerns about con昀氀ict and narcissism in
your divorce or separation, please contact:
Grainne Fahy grainne.fahy@keystonelaw.co.uk
Yasmin Khan-Gunns yasmin.gunns@keystonelaw.co.uk
Integrating psychological insight into legal advice
helps clients make rational decisions rather
than emotionally reactive ones. It also preserves
proportionality, reducing unnecessary hearings and
costs.
If you or anyone with you is at risk of harm or in danger,
please call the police immediately.
If you require an expert, let us do the searching for you
Call the Expert Witness free telephone searchline on:
0161 834 0017
Dr Linda Monaci
Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist
Medico-legal assessments for suspected or known brain injury and/or
brain dysfunction in Personal Injury and Medical Negligence claims
• Acquired brain injury
• Cognitive dysfunction
• Stroke
• Epilepsy
• Mental capacity assessments
• Post-concussion syndrome
• Anoxia
• Dementia
• Neuropsychiatric conditions
• Alcohol and drug abuse
Medico-legal services: Instructions from Claimants, Defendants and as a Single Joint Expert. Assessments can also be carried out in Italian.
Dr Monaci has a good knowledge of Swedish and Spanish and has experience of working through interpreters.
Dr Monaci has completed the Cardiff University Bond Solon Expert Witness Certificates.
Dr Monaci receives approximately 60-70% instructions from Claimants and 40-30% from Defendants. In April 2024, Dr Monaci counted
each new instruction received in the previous 12 months and found the percentages were as follows: 58% Claimant, 37% Defendant and
5% Jointly instructed. In April 2025, Dr Monaci calculated that in the previous 12 months, the split was divided as follows: 73% Claimants,
24% Defendants and 3% jointly instructed.
Main consulting rooms (nationwide locations):
Consultations for medico-legal services are available in London, Guildford, Horsham, Leatherhead and Southampton.
Assessments in care homes and in individuals' home may also be possible when based on clinical needs.
Clinical services are available in Surrey. Available for travel throughout the UK and abroad.
Correspondence address:
Email: linda@monaciconsultancy.com
www.monaciconsultancy.com
EXPERT WITNESS JOURNAL
55
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2025-2026
