Expert Details
Clinical and Forensic Psychology with Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Persons and Their Families
ID: 737108
New York, USA
Expert holds a position as a Clinical Senior Instructor with the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) and has worked as an Implementation Science Specialist with Centerstone's Research Institute. She has also worked with the Rochester Institute of Technology/National Technical Institute for the Deaf in research and presentations.
Her editorial and journal positions include being a member of the editorial board for American Annals of the Deaf and reviewer for Gallaudet University Press and Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education. She has authored or co-authored publications and conducted many presentations in her areas of expertise. Expert has been the lead developer and grant writer of various clinical program grants.
Expert has worked with other populations such as people with developmental disabilities, survivors of intimate partner violence, rural families, and forensic populations. Expert enjoys advising, supervising, and teaching undergraduate and graduate students and trainees in the field.
Expert earned her doctorate in clinical psychology with a focus in general practice from Carlos Albizu University. She graduated from Mount Aloysius College with a master's in science degree in clinical psychology and completed her undergraduate education in psychology and philosophy at Allegheny College.
Expert has trained with URMC's Department of Psychiatry, including the Deaf Wellness Center and the Rochester Prevention Research Center: National Center for Deaf Health Research. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship with URMC focused on developing research to understand and address suicide prevention with D/HH communities. Expert has also gained valuable training in forensic evaluations alongside (undisclosed), and her experience working in forensic settings.
Expert has been providing consultation on forensic cases since 2016. She has led the work on multiple cases and has conducted intensive record reviews, written reports, and assisted in developing sworn testimony. Some have been high-profile cases. The topics addressed in her forensic work include psychiatric diagnosis and treatment of deaf persons, competency to stand trial, criminal intent, NGRI (the "insanity defense"), Americans with Disabilities Act issues (including reasonable accommodation and discrimination), cognitive and language abilities of deaf individuals, neuropsychological impairment, the Miranda warning and interrogation, and many other topics. Attorneys have praised the thoroughness of her assessment work, the clarity of her report writing, and her clear and compelling manner of conveying complex concepts in the psychiatry and deafness fields. When cases involve recognized areas of particular expertise in the psychology field (e.g., sexual offender treatment, neurological injury), Expert sometimes works in collaboration with experts certified in these specialty areas but who are not exceptionally knowledgeable about deafness and sign language, since this teamwork approach can strengthen the resulting evaluation and testimony.
She has an extensive history of civic involvement with the Deaf community and mental health initiatives, including but not limited to the Genesee Valley Psychological Association and National Alliance on Mental Illness – Rochester.
Education
Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
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Year: 2016 | Degree: Psy.D. | Subject: Clinical Psychology - Concentration in General Practice | Institution: Carlos Albizu University |
Year: 2007 | Degree: M.S. | Subject: General Psychology | Institution: Mount Aloysius |
Year: 2005 | Degree: B.S. | Subject: Psychology and Philosophy | Institution: Allegheny College |
Work History
Years | Employer | Title | Department |
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Years: 2018 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Clinical Psychologist | Department: Private Practice |
Responsibilities:• Provision of psychological testing/evaluations, individual, couples, and family psychotherapy, consultation, presentations and workshops, and supervision.• Conducts forensic consultation and evaluations of Deaf and hard of hearing (D/HH) cases. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2019 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Clinical Senior Instructor | Department: Department of Psychiatry |
Responsibilities:• Provision of clinical supervision with pre-doctoral clinical psychology interns including but not limited to documentation, case consultation, crisis management. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2019 to 2018 | Employer: Centerstone | Title: Implementation Science Specialist | Department: Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) |
Responsibilities:• Works within the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) to design clinical models of care for specific mental health disorders and related conditions.• Leads an interdisciplinary team through chosen dissemination and implementation strategies. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2016 to 2019 | Employer: University of Rochester Medical Center | Title: Postdoctoral Fellow | Department: Department of Psychiatry |
Responsibilities:University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry Psychiatry Department, Rochester, NYNational Institutes of Health Kirschstein-National Research Service Award • Develop and conduct research focused on adapting suicide prevention interventions with Deaf and hard-of-hearing (D/HH) people. • Perform secondary analyses on data from national datasets to better understand risk and protective factors of suicide with D/HH college students. • Attend regular mentorship and departmental meetings to develop skills in various areas including academic writing, research methodology, understanding suicide-focused literature, and sharing feedback on developing research projects. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2016 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Forensic Psychology Consultant | Department: Private |
Responsibilities:• Assist in forensic evaluations of D/HH cases including research, record review, case consultation with attorneys, conceptualizing and writing competency evaluations, and reading analysis of documents. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2018 to 2019 | Employer: Rochester Institute of Technology/National Technical Institute for the Deaf (RIT/NTID) | Title: Research Assistant | Department: Office of the Associate Dean of Research |
Responsibilities:• Writing up manuscripts and book chapters on various research projects for (undisclosed name) Associate Dean of Research. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2015 to 2013 | Employer: University of Rochester Medical Center | Title: Doctoral Psychology Intern | Department: Department of Psychiatry |
Responsibilities:General Adult Ambulatory Outpatient Rotation July 2015 - June 2016• Outpatient Rotation: Provided short-term and long-term individual psychotherapy and clinical intakes in a multidisciplinary hospital setting to diverse and underserved individuals using Evidenced Based Practices. Used electronic medical record programs. • Psychological Testing Service: Conducted psychological testing to assist in diagnostic clarification and treatment planning. • Evidence-Based Practice Trainings: Received trainings in various evidence based practices. • Group Therapy: Co-facilitated the Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders Group. Conducted group screenings and collected program data. • Urgent Care Clinic: Conducted intakes and evidence-based brief clinical services for patients experiencing crisis. • Diagnostic Clinic: Conducted diagnostic assessment intakes and brief clinical services for patients recently discharged from care. Deaf Wellness Center Specialty July 2015 – June 2016 • Provided short-term and long-term individual and couples psychotherapy with D/HH patients including minimal language skilled D/HH patients. • Lead and co-lead group psychotherapy with D/HH patients including those with minimal language skills. • Assisted in forensic evaluations of D/HH cases including research, record review, case consultation, and manuscript review. • Developed a community program focused on basic cooking and nutrition with D/HH individuals and supervised student interns. • Consulted with key agencies (e.g. Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)/National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR). • Conducted psychological assessments with D/HH patients. • Attended National Center for Deaf Health Research team meetings. Rochester Psychiatric Center’s Regional Forensic Unit (RPC-RFU) Rotation July 2015 - December 2015 • Provided individual and group psychotherapy. • Conducted assessments and psychological testing with patients including CPL 330.20 dangerousness evaluations and reports. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2009 to 2013 | Employer: Center for Hearing and Communication | Title: Licensed Mental Health Counselor | Department: Behavioral Health |
Responsibilities:Program Development and Administration Experience• Developed and maintained existing in-home individual and family counseling programs for D/HH clients and their families. • Co-facilitated in-home individual and family counseling programs. • Wrote, defended, and facilitated grant contracts with funders. • Provided in-service training with staff. • Supervised volunteers, interns, and coworker’s clinical and administrative work. • Led and participated in individual, group, and peer supervision and consultation. • Consulted regularly with other professionals and agencies regarding individual patient cases and D/HH matters. • Obtained and maintained state level outpatient substance abuse service licensing. • Created monthly and quarterly reports for contract funders. • Collaborated with contract administrators, community agencies and other providers. • Coordinated and participated in community outreach events: average of 6 per year. • Coordinated monthly quality assurance meetings and tasks. Clinical and Assessment Experience • Provided short-term and long-term individual, family, and couples therapy, crisis intervention and case management to adults, children and adolescents that are D/HH or are family members of individuals with hearing loss. • Performed assessments and evaluations with D/HH clients. • Conducted clinical intake assessments, developed and maintained treatment plans, and discharge planning. • Maintained client files including PHI notes, program assessments, treatment plans, client contact, filing, etc. |
Government Experience
Years | Agency | Role | Description |
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Years: 2004 to 2004 | Agency: State Correctional Institution, Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania | Role: Undergraduate Intern | Description: • Conducted screenings and intake evaluations with inmates • Facilitated and monitored daily Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous support group meetings. • Participated in small group and individual therapeutic activities with inmates including treatment plan development, treatment plan review, therapeutic sessions, and discharge planning. • Led psychoeducational groups on topics such as self-esteem, understanding diagnoses, etc. |
Career Accomplishments
Licenses / Certifications |
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Licensed Psychologist, 2018- Present New York State Education Department Licensed Mental Health Counselor, 2012 - 2019 State of Florida Department of Health Qualified Supervisor for Mental Health Counseling Interns, 2015 - 2019 State of Florida Department of Health Advanced - Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) Rating, September 2014 |
Awards / Recognition |
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• Trainee Poster Award for the UNYTE Scientific Session Promoting Diverse Representation in Translational Research at the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), University of Rochester Medical Center • New York State Suicide Prevention Conference Scholarship • New York State Suicide Prevention Conference Scholarship • University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry – Department of Psychiatry Clinical Psychology Doctoral Internship Program Doctoral Internship Award • Carlos Albizu University Provost Research Student Travel Scholarship • University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry Department of Psychiatry • Psychology Training Program Presentation Funding Award • “Innovative Program of the Year” for The Arc of Crawford County Inc. • “Impact Award” as a Leadership Award at Allegheny College • Recognized as one of the top 100 students in Civic Engagement at Allegheny College • Recognized as an Alden Scholar for academic excellence • Arthur W Thompson Scholarship at Allegheny College • Heasley Scholarship at Allegheny College • “Innovation Award” as a Leadership Award at Allegheny College • “Best Resident Award” as a Leadership Award at Allegheny College • September Psychology Student of the Month” for the Allegheny College Psychology Department |
Publications and Patents Summary |
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Manuscripts: 3, 1 under review Book Chapters: 3 Presentations - Invited: 24 Presentations - Referred: 8 Poster Presentations - Invited: 3 Poster Presentations - Referred: 7 |
Language Skills
Language | Proficiency |
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American Sign Language | Advanced, Fluent |