psychological evaluations of parents involved in abuse & neglect cases

For parents who have a founded CPS complaint or a criminal conviction for child abuse or neglect, psychological evaluations are often ordered to determine if there are mental health, substance abuse, or intellectual functioning issues that contributed to the problematic parenting behaviors.  In her reports, Dr. Michele Killough Nelson also recommends services, when appropriate, to reduce the risk of recidivism.   To learn more, please follow this link.  

miscellaneous

When requests are received for other types of psychological evaluations related to psycholegal issues, Dr. Evan Nelson and Dr. Michele Killough Nelson will consider them on a case-by-case basis.  

psychosexual evaluations

For adults and juveniles facing sex offense charges and/or who have been convicted of sex offenses, there are a variety of evaluations that can be ordered by the Court or requested privately through counsel.   Dr. Evan Nelson utilizes clinical interviews, psychological testing, record review, collateral interviews, and multiple other methods of data collection.  He also maintains a lab with specialized tests, such as the ABEL Assessment of Sexual Interest (AASI-3), Affinity 2.5, and the MONARCH 21 Penile Plethysmograph (PPG).

Forensic Psychology Associates

competency & sanity evaluations

For individuals facing criminal charges, Competency to stand trial evaluations may be ordered by the Court to assess whether individuals have an adequate rational and factual understanding of competency related information and the capacity to assist counsel in preparing a defense per Virginia code 19.2-169.1 for adults or Virginia code 16.1-356 for juveniles.  Mental State at the time of the Offense evaluations may be ordered by the Court to assess whether the defendant had a mental illness that was so severe that it should result in him/her being declared legally insane at the time of the alleged offense per Virginia code 19.2-169.5.  These evaluations can also be privately retained through defense counsel.  Dr. Evan Nelson and Dr. Michele Killough Nelson both conduct these assessments.   For more information, please follow this link.

juvenile psychological evaluations

For court involved juveniles, the Court may order or the family may pay privately for a psychological evaluation to assist the Court in understanding the youth's mental health, substance abuse, and/or intellectual functioning issues and how those may have contributed to his/her legal situation.  Clinical interviews, psychological testing, record review, collateral interviews, and other methods of data collection are used to address the specific referral question and to address how to reduce the youth's risk of recidivism.  Both Dr. Evan Nelson and Dr. Michele Killough Nelson administer these evaluations.  To learn more, please follow this link.

guardianship and conservatorship evaluations

Guardianship and Conservatorship evaluations are requested when there are concerns that an individual may not have the capacity to make reasoned decisions about issues such as personal health care, living situations, and finances.  Dr. Michele Killough Nelson and Dr. Evan Nelson use a variety of assessment tools and interview techniques, depending on the specifics of the referral question, but the evaluation will address the points in Virginia code 64.2-2005.  For additional information, please follow this link.