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
Our Team
Dr. Nicole M. Vienna
CEO & Forensic Psychologist
CEO and Clinical Director of Vienna Psychological Group, Inc., Dr. Vienna is a licensed psychologist (PSY26945) specializing in forensic and neuropsychological evaluations. She completed her Doctorate in Clinical Forensic Psychology at Alliant International University- California School of Forensic Studies. Additionally, she holds two master’s degrees in Forensic Science and Forensic Psychology. She earned her bachelor’s degree at The University of Arizona.
Dr. Vienna began her career working with Tarzana Treatment Center in 2006, prior to obtaining her doctorate degree. During the course of her doctorate training, she completed practicum rotations through College Hospital adult and adolescent inpatient psychiatric units and The Men’s Forensic Outpatient Program at Twin Towers Correctional Facility. Dr. Vienna received her pre-doctoral resident training at the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH) with the Jail Mental Health unit at Twin Towers Correctional Facility (TTCF), Century Regional Detention Facility (CRDF), and The Women’s Community Reintegration Services and Education Center (WCRSEC). She completed her postdoctoral training through the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH), with the Juvenile Justice Program at Challenger Memorial Center – Probation Camp and Barry J. Nirdoff Juvenile Hall.
Dr. Vienna has held additional assignments at Twin Towers Correctional Facility and the Inmate Reception Center (IRC) as a staff clinical psychologist where she performed initial psychiatric evaluations, housing determinations, and suicide risk assessments. Dr. Vienna has also worked on countywide psychiatric mobile response teams (PMRT) and mental evaluation teams (MET) with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, where she was partnered with a law enforcement officer in a police vehicle to provide crisis evaluations to individuals in psychiatric or emotional crisis. Dr. Vienna conducted numerous station briefings and behavioral health trainings for law enforcement personnel.
Dr. Vienna is appointed to the Los Angeles County Superior Court Expert Panel of Psychologists and the Los Angeles County Juvenile Delinquency Panel of Experts. She has also met Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) continued professional experience (CPE) to conduct public safety pre-employment psychological evaluations. She is a member of the American Psychological Law Society (APLS), the National Academy of Neuropsychology (NAN), and the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF).
In addition to her evaluation specialty, Dr. Vienna is certified in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and Critical Incident Stress Management (CCISM) by the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)-Department of Emergency Health Services. She is the spouse of a sixteen-year veteran law enforcement officer and understands first-hand the unique stressors of shift work, pressures from organizational demands, public scrutiny, and the necessity to constantly adapt physically and psychologically to various job demands. Dr. Vienna is passionate about teaching the important tools for personal and professional wellness.
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
Research Associate
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.
Joleen Viloria
Research Intern
Joleen is currently an undergraduate student at Azusa Pacific University. She is expected to graduate in Spring 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a minor in English. She has a vast interest in mental health topics and how psychology can be applied to the legal system. After graduating from APU, Joleen plans on attending law school.
The Psychology courses she has taken throughout her undergraduate years allow her to be well equipped for her current research intern position at VPG. The English courses for her minor enable her to utilize her excellent writing and communication skills. In addition, Joleen enjoys volunteering in her community. She has tutored elementary students at the Neighborhood Homework House from 2019 to 2020. She also volunteered to assist hospital patients at Citrus Valley Health Partners from 2016 to 2018.
As a research intern at VPG, Joleen conducts clinical and legal research for forensic psychological cases, podcast preparation, and contributes professional blog articles.
Marisa Canarick
Office Administrator
Marisa graduated with an Associate degree in Communications from Kingsborough Community College and a has Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a focus on development across the lifespan from City University of New York (CUNY) – Brooklyn College. She is currently pursuing her Master of Science degree in Higher Education Administration, Leadership, and Student Success. She has vast experience in various administrative positions throughout her career.
Marisa is the most valuable person in the office. In this role, she manages the day-to-day operations of Vienna Psychological Group. She ensures all client needs are met, including billing and scheduling. She also oversees marketing for the practice. Marisa is task-orientated, policy-focused, support-centered, and has a team member mentality. She has a thorough understanding of mental health and legal terminology through her training at VPG. As such, she is well versed in dealing with court orders, retainers, fee schedules, and legal correspondence.
Please direct any general inquiries, scheduling, billing-related questions, and podcast questions to Marisa.
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