1. Legal Representation
As a founder of Joyce & Associates, Laura represents parents, guardians, and juveniles in DCF cases, custody disputes, criminal cases, divorce proceedings, and high-conflict domestic matters. Her dual clinical-legal background allows her to understand trauma, attachment, and child development in ways that directly inform strategic litigation decisions.
Areas of representation include:
Care & Protection matters
51A/51B-related litigation
Custody & parenting plans
Divorce/Custody/Parenting Time
Removal and relocation cases
High-conflict co-parenting
Domestic violence matters
Juvenile delinquency & Youthful Offender cases
Criminal matters involving children or families
Her approach is unwaveringly child-focused, trauma-informed, and aligned with the best interests of the family system.
2. Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Services
Laura is appointed by the Probate and Family Court to conduct Category E & F GAL investigations in cases involving some of the following:
Allegations of abuse or neglect
Parent mental health or substance use
High-conflict custody disputes
Trauma, attachment, or developmental concerns
DCF involvement
Complex family dynamics
Her investigations are thorough, developmentally informed, balanced, and grounded in the intersection of law and clinical practice. She is known for producing clear, comprehensive, and highly respected reports.
3. Psychotherapy & Clinical Supervision
Services include:
Trauma-informed therapy
Attachment-based treatment
Parenting support & consultation
Clinical supervision for LICSW candidates
Reunification Therapy
Her style is warm, engaging, strengths-based, and grounded in developmental science.
4. Expert Witness & Consulting
Laura is qualified to provide expert testimony in:
Child development
Trauma & attachment
Social work practice
Family systems
DCF practices
Parenting capacity
Youth behavioral health
She consults with attorneys, agencies, and courts to bring clarity to highly complex cases involving children and families.
5. Adoption & Foster Care Home Studies
For children in DCF custody and for families preparing to adopt or foster, Laura conducts home studies for CPCS on the Expert list.
Adoption assessments
Foster care home studies
Pre-adoptive family evaluations
Permanency-focused assessments
Her work ensures that children’s developmental and emotional needs are carefully understood and that families are well-supported throughout the process.
