Your Stories: Greater Hartford Family Advocacy Center Leader Presents at Conference

Lisa Murphy-Cipolla, LMFT, CFP-B (far right) joined other experts to educate conference attendees about testifying in court as both a fact and expert witness.

Lisa participated on a panel for a workshop entitled “Navigating the Courtroom as a Fact and Expert Witness.” The workshop was designed to provide participants with practical tools for effective courtroom testimony. Through an interactive mock trial based on a real-world child abuse investigation, Lisa and other presenters illustrated the roles and expectations of fact and expert witnesses. Participants gained insight into courtroom etiquette, legal terminology and strategies for clear and credible communication on the stand. 

Along with Lisa’s expertise, attendees heard from Danielle Williams, PhD, a Forensic Interviewer at the Klingberg Child Advocacy Center in Hartford, Sharmese L. Walcott, JD, State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Hartford, and Alexander Beck, BA, JD, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of New Haven.

Over the past seven years, the Connecticut Children’s Alliance has provided free training and education to more than 20,000 professionals through events like Response to Recovery. These efforts equip multidisciplinary team members and prevention champions across the state with practical tools, resources and connections that strengthen the work in communities throughout Connecticut in support of children and families impacted by abuse and trauma.

Submitted by Lisa Murphy-Cipolla, LMFT-CFP-B, Program and Advocacy Supervisor, Greater Hartford Family Advocacy Center.

Have a story you want to share? Submit your story at TrinityHealthOfNE.org/YourStories.