I conduct psychological testing, evaluation, and assessment for a variety of purposes, especially personal injury cases and workers’ compensation claims on a lien-basis in addition to providing cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing to clients in my own private practice setting. I primarily work with teens and young adults, who have experienced trauma, addiction/substance abuse, sexual and/or gender nonconformity or dysphoria, behavioral issues, interpersonal/relational difficulties, immigration, citizenship, and transitional challenges, athletic/academic involvement, and/or occupational or legal problems. I also provide forensic and psychological consultation on mental health issues, psychology-related concerns, and the complex intersections of psychology and the legal/justice system (psycho-legal) and medical field and rehabilitation treatment services (med-legal).

I provided cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing to clients of Dr. Tanika Gayle & Clinical Associates / Collaborative Psychology Group. I specialize in working with teenagers and young adults who have histories of trauma, substance abuse, life transition difficulties, and gender and sexual identity concerns, as well as individuals with open workers’ compensation cases (med-legal).

I provided individuals, couples, and families at the intersection of the medical and legal fields with cognitive behavioral therapy to overcome medical problems, manage pain and chronic illness, process trauma, identify obstacles and barriers interfering with recovery progress, promote adherence and compliance with treatment plans. I also conducted neurocognitive batteries to formulate individualized cognitive rehabilitation programs for clients suffering from traumatic brain injuries and other neurological states under Dr. Levon Margolin. I oversaw the neurocognitive department and rehabilitation program, where I monitored compliance, tracked progress, established baselines, and determined premorbid functioning. I also conducted psychological testing to differentially diagnose, determined medical necessity, and objectively measured clients’ progress. In addition to test administration, I wrote psychological and neurocognitive assessments and edited initial evaluations, AOE/COE and MMI determinations, and post-treatment assessments for clients with private insurance, personal injury cases, and workers’ compensation claims.

I was an individual cognitive behavioral therapist to self-referred clients under the supervision of Dr. Sheree Riley-Violon. I offered psychological testing and evaluation services to clarify diagnoses and formulate treatment plans. I also consulted with prospective clients to assess their unique needs and treatment options. In addition, I conducted intakes and risk assessments, maintained clinical and progress notes, conferred with collaborating providers, and coordinated community referrals. Areas of specialty included trauma, substance abuse, LGBT concerns, forensic psychology topics, and psychological testing and evaluation.

I was a Juvenile Drug Court therapist for court-ordered adolescents diagnosed with a co-occurring substance abuse disorder in an outpatient clinic, affiliate residential rehabilitation program, and three juvenile correctional facilities under the supervision of Dr. Rafael Canul. I conducted long-term individual cognitive-behavioral therapy in addition to providing gender-specific group therapy, substance abuse psychoeducation, and chemical dependency counseling using motivational interviewing. As a collaborating member of the multidisciplinary team, I submitted weekly progress reports, consulted on dual diagnosis and mental health issues, and made clinical recommendations to the court, judge, and probation department regarding placement, treatment, and sentencing. I also coordinated case management services amongst the collaborative providers of various community agencies, full-service partnership programs and residential treatment facilities.

I was a volunteer therapist assigned to Grandma’s House of Hope, a local transitional shelter, under the supervision of Dr. Burt Winer. I provided long-term individual cognitive-behavioral therapy to a caseload of 12 women, established a resident-to-community leader training program, and supported residents using best practices for stabilizing at-risk populations. I also ran weekly independent living skills and processing groups on anger management and conflict resolution, court and program compliance, cooperating with law enforcement, probation, and social services, and work readiness, career assessment, and job skills advancement. In addition, I trained support staff in psychoeducation seminars on reinforcing sobriety, chemical dependency and addictive behaviors, encouraging family reunification, supporting the chronically mentally ill, preventing homelessness, promoting treatment and medication adherence, crisis intervention, and emergency stabilization of incoming victims of domestic violence and human trafficking.

I was an evaluator for the Continuing Care Placement Unit, where I conducted legally-mandated prospective adoption evaluations and court-ordered psychological assessments for foster care dependents under the supervision of Dr. George Tucker. I made recommendations to the court and Social Services regarding developmental delays, placement and adoption concerns, incompatibility issues, dysfunctional behaviors, trauma indicators, medical and mental health problems, and other red flags. I analyzed investigation reports, placement history, school transcripts, and treatment records. I also assessed and tested the dependent and interviewed collateral contacts to obtain corroborative personal accounts, observations, concerns, and opinions of the dependent and the prospective adoption. I also conducted psychological testing to assess intellectual abilities, developmental achievements, personality traits, and psychosocial functioning in response to inquiries from caretakers or treatment providers about placement failures, academic problems, interpersonal and social difficulties, emotional dysregulation, dysfunctional behaviors, mental health problems, medical complications, and other pressing concerns. I also provided intensive case management services, coordinated care, and participated in collaborative meetings to plan all facets of a minor’s placement needs with multidisciplinary agencies and treatment providers.

I provided short-term individual cognitive behavioral therapy to college students at the school’s Student Health Center under the supervision of Dr. Ken Fineman and Dr. Jack Wasserman. I performed psychological testing, in-depth intakes, and psychosocial assessments to clarify the client’s diagnosis, guide interventions, and improve treatment outcomes. I also conducted crisis intervention with distressed students and coordinated care with Health Center medical providers. In addition, I acted as the mental health department’s liaison with the Gay Straight Alliance and single-handedly developed and proposed ‘Safe at OCC,’ a new initiative to train campus staff and faculty about LGBT issues and concerns.