Vorwerk Forensic Psychology, Inc.
Expert Board Certified Forensic Psychology Services in California
Vorwerk Forensic Psychology, Inc.
Decades of Experience
Testimony in Hundreds of Cases
Thousands of Forensic Psycholegal Evaluations
Licensed in California, Florida, Colorado, Vermont, Idaho, Virginia, New Mexico, Arizona, Illinois, Texas, & PsyPact Temporary Authorization to Practice (TAP) in-person evaluations in 43 states
Dr. Vorwerk is a Board-Certified Forensic Psychologist in practice for over 20 years. She has testified in well over 1,000 cases as a qualified Expert Witness.
Dr. Vorwerk and her associates are experts in the science and profession of forensic psychology.
Uncover | Deconstruct | Analyze Communicate
Our goal is to determine if there is a mental health component to the legal matter and to provide valuable insights for counsel and/or the trier of fact.
Michelle L. Vorwerk, PsyD, ABPP
Board Certified Forensic Psychologist, ABPP
Scope of Experience
Dr. Vorwerk has provided forensic psychological services for two decades, evaluating and diagnosing mental disorders in a legal context. She is the founder of Vorwerk Forensic Psychology, Inc.
Dr. Vorwerk has served as a qualified expert witness in hundreds of cases where mental state and psychological functioning were at issue.
Unique Credentials
Dr. Vorwerk is Board Certified in Forensic Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology, positioning her within the esteemed group of less than 1% of licensed Psychologists in the U.S.
Services and Specialization
Dr. Vorwerk specializes in psychological examination and assessment of civil and criminal competencies, emotional distress evaluations and mental illness and mental state factors.
Assessments include direct and collateral interviews of evaluees and investigation, and delivery of her conclusions by report and testimony.
In addition to civil matters, Dr. Vorwerk is contracted as a Forensic Psychologist to District Attorney offices and offices of the Public Defender across Southern California.
Dr. Vorwerk further conducts psychosexual evaluations including sex offenders, criminal responsibility and Miranda waivers. She routinely evaluates in mental health diversion cases, psychological mitigation, and juvenile and youthful offender cases.
Plaintiff and Defense
Dr. Vorwerk has testified as an expert witness in plaintiff, defense, and prosecution cases, reflecting her balanced and impartial forensic work.
She has testified in numerous California jurisdictions including Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, and Riverside Counties as well as much of Northern California.
Lauren E. Vickerman, PsyD
Dr. Vickerman is a licensed psychologist specializing in forensic evaluations, at the intersection of psychology and criminal justice.
Dr. Vickerman completed her doctorate in Clinical Forensic Psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and subsequently joined Vorwerk Forensic Psychology.
Her work goes beyond routine evaluations, delving into the complexities of human behavior within a legal context. By exploring these ties, she strives to contribute valuable insights that are founded in a comprehensive understanding of the psychological aspects of the case in criminal or civil jurisdictions.
Melissa Jajko, PsyD
Dr. Jajko is a licensed clinical psychologist who has been involved with forensic evaluations for 15 years.
She has worked for the California Department of State Hospitals for over ten years and has served in previous supervisory positions for both inpatient and outpatient forensic programs. She has testified as an expert witness for numerous jurisdictions in multiple states.
Dr. Jajko completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the accredited Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, Illinois.
Ashley W. Azcarraga, PsyD
Dr. Azcarraga is a licensed psychologist specializing in forensic psychological evaluations in criminal and civil matters at Vorwerk Forensic Psychology, Inc.
Dr. Azcarraga completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, an APA-accredited program, and her postdoctoral fellowship in forensic psychology at Vorwerk Forensic Psychology. Her clinical training includes an APA-accredited doctoral internship with the Federal Bureau of Prisons at FCI Terminal Island, where she provided crisis management, suicide risk assessments, psychological evaluations, and therapy for severely mentally ill incarcerated individuals.
Valerie A. Gonzales, PsyD
Dr. Gonzales is a licensed psychologist specializing in forensic psychological evaluations within criminal and civil settings. She conducts comprehensive, evidence-based assessments addressing behavioral, emotional, cognitive, and personality functioning for courts and referral sources.
She earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a forensic concentration from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and completed both her predoctoral and postdoctoral training with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). Her experience includes work with juvenile and adult populations across psychiatric, correctional, recovery, and private practice settings.
Dr. Gonzales’s forensic interests include competency to stand trial, mental health diversion, criminal responsibility, mitigation, and violence and risk assessment.
Nicole (Nicci) Witherspoon, PsyD
Dr. Witherspoon is a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist who specializes in a variety of forensic evaluations, both in the criminal and civil realms.
Dr. Witherspoon completed her doctorate at the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant University, an APA-accredited doctoral program. She then completed her predoctoral internship at the Superior Courts of the District of Columbia, Child Guidance Clinic, and her postdoctoral training with two separate private practice psychologists, a neuropsychologist, and a forensic psychologist.
Dr. Witherspoon has a wide range of both clinical and forensic training and experience. Specializing in the treatment and assessment of trauma-related disorders and PTSD, as well as severe mental illness. She is passionate about providing detailed psychoeducation about a variety of mental health topics and their intersection with the legal system.
Our Services
Forensic Evaluations
Examination, interview, records investigation, psychological testing, synthesis
Psycho-legal Attorney Consultation
Helping attorneys understand and plan
Expert Witness Testimony
Authoritative, well-reasoned, easy to understand
Forensic Reports
Thorough and articulate reports that set the stage for strategy and testimony
Forensic Evaluations
What Sets Us Apart
Expertise
Extensive experience in forensic psychology means we bring a wealth of knowledge to each evaluation.
Thorough
Our evaluations go beyond surface-level assessments.
We delve into the intricacies of each case, considering the unique factors that may influence the psychological well-being of the individuals involved.
Objectivity
Evaluations are utilized to assess whether there is the presence of a mental condition or, conversely, malingering or symptom exaggeration as a result of the alleged injury. We strive for an unbiased evaluation.
Application to Case Disposition, Trial and Settlement
Our comprehensive reports showcase the psychological aspects of the legal case and serve as invaluable tools in favorable settlements, which can spare the attorney’s clients the challenges of a lengthy trial.
If the case does go to trial, we are prepared and skilled to deliver our findings to a trier of fact.
Testimony
Articulating scientific principles for a lay listener is a skill developed on the stand and in deposition.
Our testimony is valued for our delivery of conclusions that are logical, well-founded and professional.
Compassionate Approach
We recognize the sensitive nature of the case and the parties involved. We approach evaluations with empathy and compassion without sacrificing objectivity.
Emotional Distress, Psychological Factors
Torts and Allegations
The role of a Forensic Psychologist is pivotal whether the alleged tort is intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress, or an allegation appears unfounded.
Investigation and inquiry by a qualified expert witness can be of profound assistance to attorneys and courts.
Presence or Absence?
- Mental health injury
- Connection, if any, between the traumatic incident and the plaintiff’s psychological state
- The mental state of others who are involved, relevance
- Malingering
Diagnosis and Degree
A psychological assessment becomes crucial when determining eligibility for compensation due to psychological injuries.
We strive to discern whether the involved parties are genuinely experiencing the reported distress or if the injury might be attributed to unrelated stressors.
For example, a preexisting condition or unique vulnerabilities in an examinee may introduce complexity to valuing cost of future treatment.
Mental Status Factors: A Point in Time
Mental health or illness can reveal something about the behavior of parties at a point in time, such as the moment of an accident. The “point in time” can also be a discrete span, such as a period of undue influence or alleged abuse.
Ongoing mental illness can muddy the waters and we consider those complexities. Our focus is on understanding the psychological elements of a case.
In thousands of criminal competency cases we have been asked this question, but it is applicable to any case where competency is relevant and mental harm has consequences. Even one event can be life-changing. There can also be emotional fallout for the family of a person so affected.
Personal Injury and Civil Claims
Allegations of mental distress are examined in cases like these:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Medical Malpractice, Breach of Standard of Care
- Harassment, Termination
- Slip and Fall and associated negligence claims
- Testamentary capacity and Probate
- Sexual Assault
- Workplace Accidents (not Workers’ Compensation)
The Cost of Damages
If liability is proven and a mental injury resulted, we consider the future impact and cost of plaintiff’s recovery. A psychological assessment becomes crucial when determining eligibility for compensation due to psychological injuries.
Impact on Settlement
In settlement negotiations, this cost is relevant even if liability is disclaimed as part of an accepted settlement.
Testimonials
“Dr. Vorwerk has testified for me on several cases.
Her credentials and expertise impress both judges and juries, but even more important, she knows how to make the most difficult concepts easy to understand.”
~ Attorney (name withheld by request)
“Dr. Vorwerk’s incredibly detailed, sympathetic, and insightful report on a recent federal case quite literally took years off my client’s sentence.
Her report was quoted by the Judge, and gave him the tools to depart from the guidelines.”
~ Joel Garson, Criminal Defense Attorney
“A law is valuable not because it is law, but because there is right in it.”
– Henry Ward Beecher
Some of our recent clients:
Bokhour Law Group
Law Office of Lee Blumen
Garson Law Criminal Defense
Julie Anne Swain Criminal Defense Attorney
Los Angeles County District Attorney
Los Angeles County Public Defender
San Diego County Public Defender
Orange County District Attorney
Orange County Public Defender
Orange County Alternate Defender
Ventura County Public Defender
California Department of State Hospitals
The Board of Parole Hearings
Vorwerk Forensic Psychology, Inc.