Forensic Experience

Forensic Evaluations:

• Competency to Stand Trial Evaluations (PC §1368,1372(a) Certifications, WIC 709 juvenile competency evaluations)
• Mental State at the Time of the Offense Evaluations (PC §1027)
• Restoration of Sanity Evaluations (PC §1026.2/1026.5)
• Developed the Mental Competency Assessment & Training (MCAT) Program for Juveniles and Adults
• Developed the Diversion Program, Comprehensive Habilitation  & Assessments, Navigating Change Through Education & Mentoring (CHANCE-M): A community Educational, Diversion, Habilitation & Reintegration Program – Decreasing Recidivism for Juveniles and Adults
• Sex Offender Evaluations (PC §288.1) & Sexually Violent Predator Civil Commitment Evaluations (WIC §6600)
• Risk for Future Violence Evaluations
• Understanding Miranda Rights Evaluations
• Arson Risk Assessments (PC §457)
• Substance Abuse Evaluations
• Disability and Workers’ Compensation Evaluations (P&P, AME, Workability)
• Veteran Disability Evaluations
• Immigration Evaluations (N-648 Immigration Citizenship Assessment)
• Parental Fitness, Ability to Benefit from Reunification Services (WIC §36i.5(b))
• Dependency/Bonding Studies
• Neuropsychological Evaluations (Cognition and Memory Tests)
• Child Custody Evaluations (PC §730 & §3110)
• Family Mediation services, assisting families in the reunification process and in the resolution of disputes
• Jury Consultation
• Witness Preparation
• Expert Witness Consultation/Services
• Expert Witness Cross Examination Consultations

Civil Experience

Forensic Evaluations:

• Employment-Related

o Wrongful Termination Cases
o Right to Carry a Concealed Weapon
o Work-Related Injury & Neuropsychological Testing (Cognition and Memory Tests)
o Fitness for Duty

• Licensing Cases

o Inappropriate Sexual Professional Misconduct
o Drug and Alcohol Abuse & Misconduct
o Possession of a Firearm

• Psychological Damages (Emotional Distress Claims)
• Neuropsychological Injury- Work Related, Vehicle Accidents (Cognition and Memory Tests)
• Civil Commitment (Mentally Disordered Evaluations)
• Conservatorship (WIC 5008 (h)(1)(b) Murphy Conservatorship – Gravely Disabled)
• Parental Fitness and Rights
• Worker Compensation Benefit Claims (Emotional Injury/Head Trauma)
• Social Security Denial Claims

Specialized Panels & Associations

• Psychwest, Clinical & Forensic Psychology, Inc., President, CEO, 2015 – Current
• Board of Parole Hearings Panel, 2005 – 2022, Former
• Multiple forensic panels
• American Psychological Association (APA)
• American Psychological Association Accredited Continuing Education Provider
• California Psychological Association, Division I, Clinical and Professional Practice (CPA)
• California Psychology Internship Council (CAPIC) Formal Internship Program, Supervisor and Director, Former
• Alliant International University. Doctoral Practicum-Intern Supervisor, Clinical Psychology – Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), Former
• Sacramento Valley Forensic, President
• Sacramento Valley Child Custody Evaluators Group, Former
• Sacramento Court Family Law Child Custody Panel, Former
• Pacific Cascade Psychological Association (PCPA), Former

 Consultative Services Established

• • California Department of State Hospitals (DSH)
• • Department of Justice (DOJ)
• • Board of Parole Hearings (BPH)
• • Mental Health Restoration/Rehabilitation Treatment for Probationers/Parolees
• • Mental Competency Assessment and Training (MCAT) Community-Based Program, Juvenile and Adult Competency to Stand Trial Assessment and Restoration Services, Ventura County Juvenile & Superior Court
• • DSM-5, Exploring Contemporary Issues in Forensic Settings Juvenile and Adult Complexities (Learning Disabilities, Competency To Stand Trial, Insanity Cases, Risk Assessments) – Public Defender Office
• • “Mental Competency Evaluations, What You Should Know,” Yuba-Sutter Attorney Bar Meeting
• • California Psychological Association, Roundtable Presenter. “Assessing Couples and Building an Online Psychology Practices.”
• • American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Seminar Presenter. “Couples Communication Enrichment Program: Therapy and Assessment of Couples.”
• • Alliant International University, Continuing Education Instructor. Couples Communication Enrichment Program: Therapy and Assessment of Couples

 Achievements & Accolades

• • Psychwest, Clinical & Forensic Psychology, Inc., President, CEO, 2015 – Current
• • Specialized Neuropsychological Training:
  • o Behavioral Neurobiology: Pass with Honors
  • o Psychopharmacology: Pass with Honors
  • o Clinical Case Conference: Pass with Honors

Media Appearances and Consultation

• • CBS News Sacramento
  • o Expert Consultant and Analyst for CBS News – Consulted on the 2012 mass shooting incident of James Holmes where he was charged with 24 counts of murder and 140 counts of attempted murder in Aurora, Colorado. Provided an analysis and psychological profile of James Holmes, including the discussion of competency proceedings – A special guest appearance with reporter, Steve Large, regarding the Holmes’ case.
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  • CBS News Sacramento
  • • o Expert Consultant and Analyst for CBS News – Consulted on the 2013 mass shooting incident of Christopher Dorner. Provided an analysis and psychological profile of Christopher Dorner, and reviewed and provided an in-depth explanation and opinion as to the seriousness of his manifesto describing his feelings of revenge.
      
      
• • CW 31 Good Day Sacramento
  • o Expert Consultant and Analyst for Good Day Sacramento – Consulted on the 2012 mass shooting incident at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Discussed how to respond to children and the impact incidents like these have on children and adults.
    
    
• • KFBK1530 Talk News Radio with John Lobertini and Kitty O’Neal/Sacramento
  • o Interview and cover story on couple’s communication
    
    
• • ABC News, Sacramento & Company/Sacramento, (3 Shows)
  • o Interview and cover story on couple’s communication, including live communication profile readings

Specialized Training/Certifications

• •Abel Assessment for Sexual Interest -2 Administrator & Interpreter Certification
• •Abel Assessment for Sexual Interest – Abel-Blasingame Assessment for •Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities Administrator & Interpreter Certification
• •American Academy of Forensic Psychology, “Assessing Allegations of Trauma in Forensic Contexts.”
• •American Academy of Forensic Psychology, “Ethical and Effective Expert Testimony.”
• •American Academy of Forensic Psychology, “Evaluation of Fitness for Duty: Foundations & Methods.”
• •American Academy of Forensic Psychology, “Evaluation of Police Candidate Suitability: Advances in Empirically-Based Methods.”
• •The Steve Frankel Group, LLC, “Forensic Family Assessment and Treatment: Legal and Ethical Updates.”
• •The Steve Frankel Group, LLC, “Intimate Partner Violence: Where We Have Been and Where We Are Headed.”
• •Forensic Mental Health Association of California, “Effective Treatment of •Violent Juvenile Delinquents: Mendota.”
• •Forensic Mental Health Association of California, “Evidence for and •Against the Use of Antisocial Personality Disorders.”
• •Forensic Mental Health Association of California, “Polygraph and •California Sex Offender Containment Model”
• •Forensic Mental Health Association of California, “What Mental Health •Professionals Need to Know about Transfer Hearings.”
• •Forensic Mental Health Association of California, “Jail Based Competency •Treatment Models in California.”
• •QTC, “DMA Gulf War Certification Course.”
• •QTC, “DMA Former Prisoner of War.”
• •Association of Regional Center Agencies (ARCA), “Competency Training.”
• •American Academy of Forensic Psychology, “Threat Assessment and Management”
• •American Academy of Forensic Psychology, “Competencies in the Criminal Process.”
• •American Academy of Forensic Psychology. “Assessment of Mental State Defenses in Criminal Cases”
• •State of California, Board of Parole Hearings, “Mentally Disordered Offender Orientation.”
• •Forensic Mental Health Association of California, “Competency Assessment and Provision of Restoration Services for Juveniles.”
• •Forensic Mental Health Association of California. “Incompetent to Stand Trial: Guidelines for Examiners and Attorneys
• •Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. “Custody Evaluator & Mediator Annual Training Update,” 2013
• •American Academy of Forensic Psychology. “Intensive Forensic Practice •Workshops-Advanced Forensic Psychology Practice: Issues and Applications,” with Alan Goldstein, Ph.D., ABPP
  •Workshops-Advanced Forensic Psychology Practice: Issues and Applications,” with Alan Goldstein, Ph.D., ABPP
  
  • o Trial competence assessments of juveniles
    o Evaluations for juvenile waiver/transfer hearings
    o Personal injury cases: Law, liability and ethics
    o Employment discrimination, harassment and the ADA
    o Case law update
    o Ethical issues in forensic psychology
    o Developments in violence risk assessment
    o Developments in sex offender risk assessment
    o Child custody evaluations: Advances in practice
    o Parenting evaluations in child protective matters
    o Evaluating validity of Miranda rights waivers
    o Strict mens rea examinations
    o Assessment in capital (death penalty) cases
    o Psychological test use in forensic assessments
    o Expert testimony
• •Couples Communication Enrichment Program: Therapy and Assessment of •Couples, Alliant International University
• •Couples Communication Enrichment Program: Therapy and Assessment of •Couples, Alliant International University
• •Juvenile Competency to Stand Trial, APA Approved
• •Sacramento County Advanced Drug & Alcohol Training, Level I, II & III, including SASSI Certification
• •Sacramento County Advanced Group Facilitator Training
• •EMDR Level I & II