Dr. Denison is a clinical forensic psychologist with many years of experience in specialty areas of forensic and aeromedical psychology. His professional experience includes consultation in a number of prominent civil and legal cases. His specific forensic competencies include personal injury, contractual competency, violence and dangerousness assessment, PTSD assessment, psychological testing and fitness for duty evaluation.
He has provided continuing legal education (CLE) workshops for attorneys and forensic psychology training for mental health professionals. Dr. Denison places a priority on his own continuing education as well as encouraging the Forensic Behavioral Science team to keep current with relevant topics.
Forensic Psychology is the science of human behavior applied to the matters of law and our judicial system. It takes the knowledge and expertise of a Clinical Forensic Psychologist to bring these two adversarial systems of psychology and the legal system together into practical, ethical and factual results.
Dr. Denison has a Doctorate in Psychology and a BBA in Business Management.
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Current Professional Practice
2003-present, Owner, Forensic Psychologist, Forensic Behavioral Science, LLC
2003-present, Owner, Aviation Psychology, LLC
Specialty practice in forensic psychological consultation
Psychological assessment/evaluation and testing (personality, neuropsychological, substance abuse,
contractual capacity, intelligence, executive function, etc.)
Threat assessment and offender risk evaluations
Consultation to law enforcement and legal investigation agencies
Psychosexual evaluation and behavioral assessment
Forensic and fact-finding interviews of witnesses, victims, and other parties to legal actions
Mitigation assessment for capital cases
Child Custody & Parenting Evaluations; Custody and visitation compliance inquiries
Medical malingering and personal injury assessment
Qualified as an expert witness in State District and Federal Courts
1996-2009 President, Licensed Psychologist, The Psychology Clinic,P.C.
Co-owner and financial manager of mental health clinic
Psychological assessment/testing (personality, neurocognitive, intelligence, etc.)
Medical-psychosocial pain evaluations & candidacy for surgery evaluations
Consultation and evaluation services to hospital, Dept of Corrections, Federal government, etc.
Clinical director of Albany County Drug Court treatment program (2007-2009)
Psychological treatment for specialized careers, including law enforcement, aviation, ministry, etc.
Education
Ph.D. 1994 Psychology (APA accredited)
University of Denver, Denver, Colorado
M.A. 1990 Psychology
University of Denver, Denver, Colorado
M.Div. 1987 Theology
Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California
B.B.A. 1984 Business Management
Texas Wesleyan University, Fort Worth, Texas
Primary Specialized Skills and Training
Primary specialty in forensic and criminal psychology
Psychological assessment & testing
Personnel selection and fitness-for-duty evaluations
Violence and threat assessment
Sex offender evaluation
Competency evaluations
Mens Rea evaluations/ Not Guilty by Reason of Mental Illness assessments
Custody/parenting evaluation for civil litigation
Personal injury, PTSD, and malingering evaluations
Negotiation, mediation & conflict resolution
Licenses, Certificates, Specialty Training
Source of Training or Certification
Licensed Psychologist Wyoming Board of Psychology, License #276
Specialty Training in Forensic Psychology American Academy of Forensic Psychology, et. al.
Fitness-for-Duty Evaluations HIMS Program for airline pilots; Pearson Assessments
Criminal Behavioral Science Profiling The Academy Group, Inc. of Manassas, VA
Advanced Interviewing & Interrogation The Reid Institute Technique for Interview & Interrogation
Mediation CDR Associates, The Mediation Process
Private Investigation Private Investigator’s Academy of the Rockies
Judicious Use of Lethal Force Lethal Force Institute, Massad Ayoob, Director
Presentations & Workshops Given
Malingering and Factitious Disorders (WY Defense Attorney & Federal Public Defender’s Conference, 2013, CO)
Interrogation Techniques and Confessions (Federal Public Defender’s Conference, 2012, Estes Park, CO)
Psychosexual Evaluation in Criminal Cases (Federal Public Defender’s Conference, 2011, Estes Park, CO)
Forensic Parenting and Custody Evaluations: Techniques & Standards (WY Bar Association, 2011, Cheyenne, WY)
Investigation of Malingering in Criminal Cases (Royal Australia-New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, 2010, Prato, Italy)
Introduction to Forensic Psychology: Practice and Techniques
Conducting an Effective Investigative Interview: Skills Training for Legal Investigators (WY Public Defender’s Conf, 2008)
Psychological Fitness Examination in Hiring/Managing Employees (Reid Institute for Investigators, 2006, Chicago, IL)
Trouble in the Workplace: Detecting “Poison Personnel” (Reid Institute for Investigators, 2006, Chicago, IL)
Conflict Resolution in the Corporate System (Retec Corp, 1998-99, various US locations)
You Do What You Are: How Identity is Manifest in Behavior
Preventing & Investigating Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
Managing Stress in the Work Environment
Passion, Vision and Freedom: Keys to Creating an Extraordinary Organization (LCCC, 1998)
Basic Theories of Psychology and Change (Graduate level university classes, Chapman University, CO 1993-94)
The Enneagram: a Nine-Point System for Understanding Personality
Formal Post-Graduate Education/Training Received
Psychological evaluations in the aviation/airline industry (HIMS Program)
Fitness for Duty Evaluations
Malingering & Forensic Practice
Forensic Evaluation of Young Offenders
Child Custody & Parenting Evaluations
Expert Testimony & Report Writing
Preparing for Board Certification in Forensic Psychology
Advanced Forensic Psychology Practice: Issues and Applications
Juvenile Justice: Competence, Waiver/Transfer Evaluations
Personal Injury: Ethics, Laws and Liabilities
Sex and Race Discrimination Issues: Americans with Disabilities Act
Substituted Judgment in Forensic Psychology
Developments in Violence Risk Assessment
Child Custody and Access Evaluations
Parenting Evaluation in Child Protective Matters
Ethics and the Business of Forensic Practice
Evaluation of Miranda Waivers
Evaluation in Strict Mens Rea Cases
Psychosexual Evaluation and Sexual Offense Assessment
Death Penalty Assessments (Mitigation): Ethics and Practice
Advanced Topics in Criminal Forensic Assessment
A Settlement-Oriented Approach to Child Custody Evaluations
Practical Legal Research Techniques for Forensic Psychologists
Ethical Issues in Forensic Practice
Legal System Fundamentals and Rules of Evidence
A Model for Interviewing, Examining, Report Writing, Depositions and Testimony
Malingering: Assessment of Response Style
Criminal Forensic Trial Competence
Criminal Responsibility and Insanity Evaluations
Parenting: Child Custody and Visitation
Personal Injury: Tort Law, the Liability Expert and the Assessment of Damages
Diplomate Preparation Workshop: Preparing for Board Certification in Forensic Psychology
The MMPI-2-RF (Restructured Form, 2008)
Youth and Young Adults: Violence Risk Assessment, Prevention and Threat Management
School Violence Threat Management
Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth (SAVRY)
Mass Murder Assessment
Suicide Risk Assessment in Youth and Young Adults
Deviant and Criminal Sexuality
Child Sex Rings
Corroboration of Criminal Allegations
Child Pornography and Computers
Concepts of Criminal Profiling
Autoerotic Fatalities
Equivocal Deaths Investigations
Using Collateral Materials in Criminal Investigation
Profiles of Assassins
Serial, Mass and Spree Killers
Modus Operandi, Ritual and Signature in Crimes
Understanding Crime Scene Staging
Behavioral Interviewing of Rape Victims
Analyzing Rape and Profiling Offenders
Indirect Personality Assessment
Threat Classification System
Content Analysis of Written Documents
Workplace Violence
Obsessive Followers and Stalking
Behavioral Interpretation of Evidence
Female Sexual Offenders
Assessment of Behavior, Truth and Deception
Testifying In Court
Cold Case Analysis
The Sexually Violent Offender
Sex Offenders and the Internet
Psychological Testing in Pre-Employment Screening and Fitness for Duty Evaluations
Forensic Applications of the MMPI-2
Psychopathy in Youth: Research, Assessment and Forensic Issues
A Conciliation/Evaluation Model for Child Custody
False Allegations of Criminal Victimization
The Mentally Ill Offender: Assessment and Treatment Using Forensic Psychological Skills
Motivational Interviewing
A Survey of Forensic Psychology: Practice, Issues and Applications
Assessing Risk with Sex Offenders
Violence Risk and Threat Assessment
Masterful Coaching: New England Educational Institute
Psychopharmacology for Psychologists
The Enneagram Personality System
Sex Offender Commitment, Risk Assessment and Treatment
Shaping a Healthy Future: A Rocky Mountain Conference on Weight Realities
Emotional Disorders in Children
Comprehensive Cancer Care: Center for Mind-Body Medicine
Stalking and Other Dangerous Human Behaviors
Principles of Executive Protection
Bipolar Disorders: Evidence-Based Assessment and Treatment
Research
The children of EST: The experience and perceived effects of a large group awareness training (The Forum). 1994, University of Denver (doctoral dissertation)
The growing numbers of participants from “large group awareness trainings” have often reported significant psychological results from these packaged group programs, which grew out of the Erhard Seminars Training phenomenon of the 1970s. The psychology literature on the subject is modest in quantity. This study used interviews and observations of “The Forum” (the largest of these group training programs) in an effort to help psychologists understand the properties and group dynamics of the large group awareness training. The benefits and risks of these programs are controversial in the psychological community.
Cultural Diversity and the University Counseling Center, 1991, University of Denver
In 1991 I directed a qualitative research project to assess for the needs of international students on the college campus. The study was sponsored by the University of Denver Counseling Center and the Dean of Student Life. I used interviews, videotaped group experiences, and a survey to collect data. The results were presented in the form of a “Cultural Diversity Needs Assessment” report to the university. The results of this project continued to be used for more than five years after publication.
Other Professional Experience in Psychology
1996-2002 Denison-Nesslinger Consulting (dba Denison-Nesslinger Integrated Healthcare, Inc)
Organizational consulting, conflict resolution; health & exercise psychology
2007-2009 Treatment Director, Albany County, Wyoming Drug Court
1994 –1996 Psychologist, Laramie Psychiatric Clinic
Comprehensive psychological services for adolescents and adults
1993 –1994 Doctoral Intern, University of Wyoming Counseling Center (APA accredited)
Full-time, APA accredited internship
1994 Adjunct Faculty, Chapman University, Colorado Springs Campus
Teaching psychology courses for M.A. program in Psychology
1991–1993 Staff Clinician, Lutheran Social Services of Colorado
Direct psychological health services to individuals, couples, and families
1990–1992 Testing Coordinator, University of Denver Learning Education Program (Counseling Center)
Professional Experience in Ordained Ministry
1995–2002 Priest (Interim), St. Matthew’s Episcopal Cathedral, Laramie, WY
General clergy responsibilities, part-time
1994-1995 Director, Canterbury House, University of Wyoming
Campus Ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming
1987-1989 Minister, First United Methodist Church, Hobbs, New Mexico
1985-1987 Minister, St. James United Methodist Church, Pasadena, California
Professional Affiliations
American Psychological Association
Wyoming Psychological Association
American Psychology Law Society (Div. 41, APA)
Clinical Neuropsychology Division (Div. 40, APA)
The Reid Institute for Investigators
Australia & New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology & Law
