About Us
Dr. Michelle L. Vorwerk
Michelle L. Vorwerk, PsyD ABPP is a forensic psychologist with over 20 years of experience in evaluating and diagnosing mental disorders.
Dr. Vorwerk is one of a select few psychologists who have undergone the rigorous training and examination process necessary to obtain Board Certification in Forensic Psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). This credential signifies the highest levels of expertise and practice in the area of forensic psychology.
Dr. Vorwerk specializes in civil and criminal competency evaluations, sex offender risk assessments, criminal responsibility cases, personal injury, mental health diversion, psychological mitigation, and juvenile and youthful offender cases. She has been qualified as an expert witness for both the defense and prosecution in numerous jurisdictions in California.
- Personal Injury, Emotional Distress
- Mitigation
- Criminal Responsibility & Insanity
- Sex Offender Risk Assessments
- Severe Mental Illness
- Psychosexual Assessments
- Mental Health Diversion
- Civil & Criminal Competencies
- Defense Base Act Evaluations
- Franklin/Youthful Offender Evaluations
- 707 Juvenile Transfer Evaluations
- Mentally Disordered Offenders
- Conservatorship
- Testamentary Capacity & Undue Influence
- Resentencing
- Miranda Waivers
In addition to forensic evaluations, Dr. Vorwerk also provides attorney consultation services (e.g., case analysis of mental health issues, cross-examination preparation, etc.).
Education and Training
Dr. Vorwerk earned her B.A. in psychology at the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) in 2000 and received her M.A. and Psy.D. in clinical psychology from Biola University in 2005.
Dr. Vorwerk completed her APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship and her post-doctoral hours at the Department of State Hospitals-Metropolitan, a state psychiatric forensic hospital.
Subsequently, she was the Clinical Director and therapist at an outpatient treatment program for felony probation sex offenders.
Vorwerk Forensic Psychology, Inc., Principal
Currently, Dr. Vorwerk works in private practice as a forensic psychologist conducting various criminal and civil evaluations as well as providing expert witness testimony.
She has been qualified as an expert witness for both the defense and prosecution in numerous jurisdictions in California. Dr. Vorwerk has published research articles in various journals, including Behavioral Sciences & the Law.
Credentials
Board Certification: American Board of Professional Psychology, Forensic Psychology
Licenses: California, Colorado Florida, Vermont, Idaho, Nevada, & New Mexico
Pre-doctoral Internship: California Department of State Hospitals – Metropolitan (APA accredited)
Graduate: Biola University, Psy.D. Clinical Psychology, M.A. Clinical Psychology (APA accredited)
Undergraduate: University of California, Santa Barbara, B.A. Psychology
Dr. Lauren E. Vickerman
Lauren E. Vickerman, PsyD is a licensed psychologist specializing in forensic evaluations. Dr. Vickerman has been working with Vorwerk Forensic Psychology, Inc. since 2018 and currently conducts forensic evaluations and produces comprehensive reports that assess a number of factors such as behavioral, emotional, personality, and cognitive functioning.
Education and Training
Dr. Vickerman completed her doctorate in Clinical Forensic Psychology as well as her master’s degree in Forensic Psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Vickerman earned a B.A. in Psychology as well as a B.A. in Dance from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Dr. Vickerman has worked with both the juvenile and adult populations, receiving training in various settings such as substance abuse treatment, inpatient psychiatric care, and correctional/forensic settings. Her education and training have also included competency in administering various risk, cognitive, and personality assessments.
Dr. Vickerman completed both her pre- and post-doctoral resident training with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) at Richard J. Donovan (RJD) prison. Her training included treating mental illness and individuals with significant medical concerns in the incarcerated population along with providing crisis intervention services, completing intake assessments, and working with a multidisciplinary team including medical, correctional, and mental health staff. She has a unique experience conducting and assessing the role of mental health symptoms in rule violating behaviors within the institution.
Dr. Vickerman’s passion for psychology and the criminal justice system is evident in her work, and her commitment to thoroughness and objectivity is evident in every report she produces, aiming to create a clear and nuanced picture for the reader. Her areas of forensic interests include competency, mental health diversion, criminal responsibility, psychosexual and risk assessment, parole, and youthful offending.
Dr. Vickerman’s areas of expertise include:
- Severe Mental Illness
- Psychosexual Assessments
- Mental Health Diversion
- Civil & Criminal Competencies
- Mitigation
- Personal Injury
- Franklin/Youthful Offender Evaluations
- Competency To Stand Trial
- Testamentary Capacity & Undue Influence
- Resentencing
- Defense Base Act Evaluations
Credentials
Licenses: California, Florida, Vermont, & Colorado
Pre-doctoral Internship: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation – Richard J. Donovan (RJD) prison, San Diego, CA
Graduate: The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Psy.D. Clinical Forensic Psychology
M.A. Forensic Psychology
Undergraduate: University of Colorado at Boulder, B.A. Psychology
Dr. Melissa Jajko
Dr. Melissa Jajko is a licensed psychologist with 15 years of experience in forensic evaluations. Dr. Jajko has been working with Vorwerk Forensic Psychology since January 2025.
Education and Training
Dr. Jajko completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in forensic psychology at the accredited Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, Illinois.
She completed an APA-Accredited Pre-Doctoral Internship at the California Department of State Hospitals- Vacaville, a licensed psychiatric treatment facility located within a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) facility.
Dr. Jajko’s areas of expertise include:
- Severe Mental Illness
- Civil & Criminal Competencies
- Mitigation
- Psychosexual Assessments
- Mental Health Diversion
- Competency to Stand Trial
- Personal Injury
- Franklin/Youth Offender Evaluations
- Testamentary Capacity & Undue Influence
- Resentencing
- Defense Base Act Psychological Evaluations
Dr. Jajko has worked for the California Department of State Hospitals (DSH) for over ten years conducting forensic evaluations and most recently, supervising community forensic and felony IST diversion programs. In addition, she has also served as a Clinical Director for an outpatient competency restoration program in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Jajko has experience conducting many different types of forensic evaluations, facilitating forensic case consultations, collaborating with legal stakeholders, and developing best practices for community-based forensic programs. Dr. Jajko is an adjunct professor and enjoys mentoring, training, and supervising other licensed psychologists as well as trainees and students. Dr. Jajko brings a deep passion and unwavering commitment to her work in forensic evaluations.
Credentials
Licenses: California, Florida, Illinois, & Colorado
Pre-Doctoral Internship: California Department of State Hospitals- Vacaville
Graduate: Psy.D. Clinical Psychology, Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Chicago Illinois
Undergraduate: B.S., University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Dr. Ashley W. Azcarraga
Dr. Azcarraga’s approach emphasizes objectivity, precision, and clearly articulated reasoning grounded in clinical data, legal standards, and relevant research. Her evaluations incorporate psychological testing, structured clinical interviews, collateral record review, and current empirical literature to ensure well-supported conclusions consistent with best practices in forensic psychology.
Education and Training
Dr. Azcarraga earned her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, an APA-accredited program. She also completed a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology and doctoral coursework at the American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Orange County, an APA-accredited program. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from San Diego State University.
She completed her APA-accredited predoctoral internship with the Federal Bureau of Prisons at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Terminal Island, where she provided psychological services to incarcerated individuals. She later completed a structured postdoctoral fellowship with Vorwerk Forensic Psychology, Inc., receiving advanced training in forensic psychological assessment, risk evaluation, report writing, and expert testimony. Dr. Azcarraga’s background includes additional forensic-relevant training across correctional, inpatient, and community mental health settings.
Dr. Azcarraga’s areas of expertise include:
- Severe Mental Illness
- Suicide Risk & Crisis Evaluation
- Civil & Criminal Competencies
- Psychosexual Risk Assessments
- Mental Health Diversion
- Violence Risk Assessment
- Diagnostic Clarification
- Malingering & Neurocognitive Screening
- Personal Injury & Emotional Distress Evaluations
- Franklin/Youthful Offender Evaluations
- Resentencing
- Defense Base Act Psychological Evaluations
- Forensic Consultation
Credentials
Licenses: California, Florida, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, Vermont, New Mexico, & PsyPact Temporary Authorization to Practice in person evaluations in 43 states
Postdoctoral Fellowship: Vorwerk Forensic Psychology, Inc.
Pre-doctoral Internship: Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal Correctional Institution Terminal Island (APA-accredited)
Additional Training: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Graduate:
- The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Anaheim (APA-accredited)
- Psy.D., Clinical Psychology
- American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Orange County
- M.A., Clinical Psychology
- Undergraduate: San Diego State University
- B.A., Psychology
Dr. Valerie A. Gonzales
Valerie A. Gonzales, PsyD is a licensed psychologist specializing in forensic evaluations. Dr. Gonzales has been working with Vorwerk Forensic Psychology, Inc. since 2025 and currently conducts forensic evaluations and produces comprehensive reports that assess a number of factors such as behavioral, emotional, personality, and cognitive functioning.
Education and Training
Dr. Gonzales completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in forensics at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She earned her master’s degree in Forensic Psychology from California Baptist University and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of LaVerne.
She completed an APA-Accredited Pre-Doctoral Internship at the California Department of State Hospitals- Vacaville, a licensed psychiatric treatment facility located within a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) facility.
Dr. Gonzales has experience working with both juvenile and adult populations across a range of clinical and forensic settings, including inpatient psychiatric facilities, correctional and forensic institutions, inpatient recovery programs, and private practice. Her professional training includes the administration and interpretation of a variety of psychological assessments, including risk, cognitive, and personality measures.
Dr. Gonzales completed both her predoctoral and postdoctoral training with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). During her training, she provided mental health treatment to incarcerated individuals with complex psychiatric and medical needs, delivered crisis intervention services, conducted comprehensive intake evaluations, and collaborated within multidisciplinary teams consisting of medical, correctional, and mental health professionals.
Dr. Gonzales brings a strong commitment to both psychology and the criminal justice system to her clinical and forensic practice. She is dedicated to conducting comprehensive, objective, and evidence-based evaluations that offer clear, balanced, and thoughtfully developed opinions for the court and other referral sources. Her forensic interests include competency to stand trial, mental health diversion, criminal responsibility, and violence and risk assessment.
Dr. Gonzales’s areas of expertise include:
- Severe Mental Illness
- Mental Health Diversion
- Civil & Criminal Competencies
- Mitigation
- Competency To Stand Trial
- Defense Base Act Evaluations
Dr. Jajko has worked for the California Department of State Hospitals (DSH) for over ten years conducting forensic evaluations and most recently, supervising community forensic and felony IST diversion programs. In addition, she has also served as a Clinical Director for an outpatient competency restoration program in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Jajko has experience conducting many different types of forensic evaluations, facilitating forensic case consultations, collaborating with legal stakeholders, and developing best practices for community-based forensic programs. Dr. Jajko is an adjunct professor and enjoys mentoring, training, and supervising other licensed psychologists as well as trainees and students. Dr. Jajko brings a deep passion and unwavering commitment to her work in forensic evaluations.
Credentials
License: California
Pre-doctoral Internship: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation – Corona, CA
Graduate:
- The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
- D. Clinical Psychology, Forensic concentration
- California Baptist University
- A. Forensic Psychology
- Undergraduate: University of LaVerne
- A. Psychology
Dr. Nicole (Nicci) Witherspoon
Education and Training
Dr. Witherspoon completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology as well as her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in trauma and forensics at the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University (now known as Alliant University). Dr. Witherspoon earned a B.S. in General Psychology as well as an M.S. in Psychology from Abilene Christian University.
Dr. Witherspoon completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Superior Courts of the District of Columbia, Child Guidance Clinic, where she conducted court-ordered evaluations for youth, including violence risk assessments, psychosexual evaluations, and competency evaluations. She also provided competency-based training, group-based psychosexual treatment, and conducted re-entry therapy for adults recently released from prison. She completed her postdoctoral training in two separate private practice settings, with a neuropsychologist and a forensic psychologist. Her postdoctoral training included conducting neuropsychological evaluations for individuals with traumatic brain injuries and involved in the workers’ compensation system, along with additional training in a diverse range of both criminal and civil forensic evaluations for adolescents and adults.
Dr. Witherspoon’s passion for psychology, especially within the criminal justice system, is evident in her work, which is grounded in psychological principles. She is committed to producing detailed, clear, and understandable reports that emphasize objectivity and scientific grounding. She is passionate about educating the court and attorneys on human behavior within the legal context to effectively address psycho-legal questions and provide recommendations for therapeutic interventions when appropriate. Dr. Witherspoon prides herself on her strong ability to comprehend, conceptualize, and understand the complex clinical presentations of her clients. Her areas of forensic interest include mental health diversion, competency, youthful offending, general mitigation, as well as violence risk and psychosexual evaluations for adolescents.
Dr. Witherspoon’s areas of expertise include:
- Severe Mental Illness
- Trauma/PTSD and Polyvictimization
- Mental Health Diversion
- Civil & Criminal Competencies
- Mitigation
- Franklin/Youthful Offender Evaluations
- Competency To Stand Trial
- Defense Base Act Evaluations
Credentials
Licenses: California
Pre-doctoral Internship: The Superior Courts of the District of Columbia, Child Guidance Clinic
Graduate: California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant University
Psy.D. Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in trauma and forensics
M.S. Clinical Psychology
Graduate: Abilene Christian University, M.S. Psychology
Undergraduate: Abilene Christian University, B.S. Psychology
Vorwerk Forensic Psychology, Inc.