Our practice specializes in neuropsychological and forensic evaluations. We opened our doors in 2015 with the vision to change the landscape of forensic mental health service delivery. We approach our evaluation services by working collaboratively with our clients while embodying care, responsiveness, and excellence. In our evaluations, we examine links between the brain and behavior. The understanding of how you think, act, and how the brain works is what we use to diagnose a brain disorder. We will assess how problems with the brain may relate to problems at home, school, work, or with the law.
Vision
To change the landscape of forensic mental health service delivery, improving quality of life, and promoting safer communities.
Mission
To provide excellent services to our clients through the use of top-of-the-line standardized testing instruments, evidence-based research, and comprehensive reports.
Values
Compassion
Accountability
Responsiveness
Excellence
Dr. Di Nguyen
Registered Psychological Assistant
Dr. Nguyen is a registered psychological assistant (PSB 94025402) working under the license of Dr. Vienna. She completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at The Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. She earned two Master’s degrees in both Forensic Psychology and Clinical Psychology. Dr. Nguyen received her Bachelor’s degree in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice – City University of New York.
Dr. Nguyen has been trained at various clinical sites, including working with adults and children in community mental health settings and correctional/forensic settings. She is bilingual and has provided psychotherapy in Vietnamese. She also conducted psychosexual evaluations and provided mandated individual/group treatment at a Certified Sex Offender Treatment Program in San Francisco. She is trained in various risk, cognitive, and personality assessments.
Dr. Nguyen recently completed her pre-doctoral internship with the Los Angeles County Correctional Health Services, with rotations at the Century Regional Detention Center and the Forensic Inpatient Program at Twin Towers Correctional Facility. During her internship training, she provided inpatient treatment to severely mentally ill incarcerated individuals in a Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) designated hospital. She also completed intakes at the Inmate Reception Center, recommending appropriate housing and level of care. Dr. Nguyen also worked with incarcerated women who were deemed Felony Incompetent to Stand Trial. In addition to her forensic, correctional, and community mental health experience, she has been a suicide hotline counselor for over three years and is an advocate for suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. Dr. Nguyen is also currently employed full-time with the County of Los Angeles and a per diem follow-up crisis counselor with the Suicide Prevention Center. She is only assigned to juvenile delinquency cases at this time.
Dr. Nguyen has active professional memberships with the American Psychology-Law Society and Psychologists in Public Service. Her forensic interests include competency to stand trial, Miranda issues, and risk assessment.
Wendy is a registered psychological assistant (PSB 94026203) working under the license of Dr. Vienna. Wendy is currently working on her doctoral degree in Applied Clinical Psychology at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Los Angeles, CA. She received her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pacific Oaks College. She received her undergraduate degree from California State University, Los Angeles, with her major being Sociology. Wendy completed clinical training at Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services. She worked with individuals (children and adolescents) and families dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, communication or adjustment problems, substance use, or trauma (complex trauma). In addition, she completed a clinical rotation with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Vital Intervention and Directional Alternative (VIDA) program with at-risk youth. Wendy has experience working with individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, and significant history of trauma (including complex trauma). Her forensic interests include franklin hearing evaluations, competency to stand trial, and juvenile high-stake mitigation cases.
Wendy is a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) and the Forensic Mental Health Association of California (FMHAC).
Wendy likes traveling with her husband and spending time with her dogs. She also enjoys engaging in self-care activities such as hiking and spending time with family and friends.
Rachel Bench
Registered Psychological Assistant
Rachel is a registered psychological assistant (PSB 94026489) working under the license of Dr. Vienna. Rachel is a third-year clinical psychology PsyD student at the University of La Verne. Previously, she graduated with honors from Colorado State University, where she earned a B.S. in Psychology. Rachel’s experience includes clinical and forensic work with adults, adolescents, and children of diverse backgrounds. In Colorado, she worked as a Larimer County deputy probation officer managing a caseload of adult sex offenders. Rachel also gained experience assisting with forensic evaluations at a private practice in Denver, Colorado. In addition, Rachel completed clinical training at an inpatient psychiatric hospital in Torrance, California, where she conducted suicide risk assessments, evaluation of acute mental illness, crisis intervention, and brief therapy.
Currently, she is also working as a clinical assessor at UCLA, where she conducts psychodiagnostic and neuropsychological assessments with individuals at risk for developing psychotic disorders. Rachel’s current research project aims to understand multicultural factors that predict intimate partner violence among diverse populations.
September Spotleson
Forensic Case Manager Intern
September is in her final year at Arizona State University. She will graduate later this year. She plans to pursue a doctorate in the field of psychology. At VPG, September assists with managing administrative aspects of the forensic cases. This includes obtaining records, scheduling, and providing status updates to attorneys. In addition, she helps with clinical and legal research.
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