Welcome to
Specialized Forensic Unit PC
Psychological Services & Testimony
Specialized Forensic Unit PC is a private non-governmental organization, providing psychological evaluations and treatment in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Florida. We provide thorough, timely, research-based evaluations and evidence-based treatment, specifically tailored to answer referral questions from courts, attorneys, correctional facilities, or patients. Psychological assessment services are conducted in a professional and sensitive manner. The main goal of our agency is to provide the most meaningful treatment and objective and unbiased assessment, which outline examinee’s or patient’s current treatment needs and strengths.
We strive to provide the most representative services, using the most current research advances in the field.
We provide services to adults, juveniles, and children. These services include psychological treatment and examinations for forensic and clinical purposes.
Meet our team
DR. TETYANA KOSTYSHYNA
Clinical Psychologist – PsyD, LCPC, LSOE, LSOTP, PsyPact
Dr. Tetyana Kostyshyna is a Licensed Psychologist in IL, FL, and WI. She is PsyPact-certified to practice telehealth in 42 states. She is also licensed as a clinical counselor, sex offender evaluator, and sex offender treatment provider. Her degrees include doctorate in clinical psychology, master’s in clinical psychology, master’s in clinical psychology and English literature, and bachelor’s in psychology. She is fluent in Russian and Ukrainian. Dr. Kostyshyna conducts forensic and clinical psychological evaluations, including phallometric evaluations (PPG). She testifies as a court expert witness in cases pertaining to legal guardianship, protective services or protective placement, competency to stand trial evaluations, involuntarily detention due to mental illness and dangerousness, immigration, sexually violent persons act (SVP) civil commitments, and sexually dangerous persons act (SDP) civil commitments. Dr. Kostyshyna has been certified as an expert witness in mental health in Illinois, Wisconsin, and federal courts. She supervises pre-license clinicians of the clinic.
Dr. Kostyshyna can be reached at 800-488-9790 ext. 702.
Ms. Nicole Ramel
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), Licensed Sex Offender Treatment Provider (LSOTP), and Licensed Sex Offender Evaluator (LSOE)
Ms. Ramel supervises a team of pre-license clinicians and is a quality-reviewer for therapy cases. She received her master’s degree in forensic psychology and bachelor’s degree in psychology. She provides psychosexual treatment and evaluation services to juveniles and adults. Ms. Ramel utilizes several theoretical approaches with her clients: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) models.
Ms. Ramel can be reached at 800-488-9790 ext. 706.
Ms. Emma Siegal
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Associate Sex Offender Provider (LASOP), Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP), Master’s of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy, and Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology and Spanish
Ms. Siegal is a mental health professional. She received her master’s degree and bachelor’s degree and specializes in interpersonal dynamics. She provides clinical therapeutic services to children, juveniles, and adults. Ms. Siegal’s specialty includes treatment of families and multisystemic approach. She is involved in work with forensic patients who require long-standing support and change. She provides consultation to referring agencies about her patients’ progress, completes treatment plans, and writes reports about progress in treatment.
Ms. Siegal can be reached at 800-488-9790 ext. 709.
Ms. Krisma Patel
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Associate Sex Offender Provider (LASOP), Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP), Master’s of Science in Forensic Psychology
Ms. Krisma Patel is a mental health professional. She received her master’s degree in forensic psychology and bachelor’s degree in psychology. She provides clinical therapeutic services to children and juveniles. Ms. Patel’s specialty includes treatment of developmental trauma in multisystemic contexts. She is involved in work with forensic patients who require long-standing support and change. She provides consultation to referring agencies about her patients’ progress, completes treatment plans, and writes reports about progress in treatment.
Ms. Patel can be reached at 800-488-9790 ext. 705.
Ms. Morgan Valdez-Withrow
Licensed Associate Sex Offender Provider (LASOP), Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP), Master’s in Forensic Psychology, and Bachelor’s of Applied Psychology in Human Resource Management
Ms. Morgan Valdez-Withrow is a mental health professional. She received her master’s degree in forensic psychology and bachelor’s degree in human resource management. She performs psychosexual treatment of juveniles and adults in individual and group formats. She utilizes the CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) perspective and incorporates trauma-informed care as well as psychosexual model of RNR (Risk-Need-Responsivity) principles. She provides consultation and reports about treatment progress of her patients to the community interdisciplinary teams and legal agencies.
Ms. Valdez-Withrow can be reached at 800-488-9790 ext. 703.
Ms. Hajarah Dar
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Associate Sex Offender Provider (LASOP), Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP), Master’s of Arts in Forensic Psychology
Ms. Hajarah Dar is a mental health professional. She received her master’s degree in forensic psychology and bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and forensic psychology. She performs forensic therapy for children, juveniles, and adults with sexually problematic behaviors. She is trained in DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), trauma focused therapy, and psychosexual therapy with RNR (Risk-Need-Responsivity). She provides consultation and reports about treatment progress of her patients to the community interdisciplinary teams and legal agencies.
Ms. Dar can be reached at 800-488-9790 ext. 718.
Ms. Alexandra Neira
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Associate Sex Offender Provider (LASOP), Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP), Master’s of Arts in Forensic Psychology, and Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology and Criminal Justice
Ms. Alexandra Neira is a mental health professional. She received her master’s degree in forensic psychology and bachelor’s degree in psychology and criminal justice. She performs forensic therapy for children, juveniles, and adults with sexually problematic behaviors in Spanish and English languages. She is trained in neurofeedback assessment, DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy), trauma focused therapy, and psychosexual therapy with RNR (Risk-Need-Responsivity). She provides consultation and reports about treatment progress of her patients to the community interdisciplinary teams and legal agencies.
Ms. Neira can be reached at 800-488-9790 ext. 707.
Ms. Annise Kayla Newman
Clinical Case Coordinator
Ms. Newman is a Clinical Case Coordinator of therapy and evaluation cases. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and associate’s degree in applied science in graphic design. She ensures all documentation is processed timely, including consents, release of information forms, and records. When the examinee or a patient is ready, she coordinates scheduling with a clinician.
Ms. Newman can be reached at 800-488-9790 ext. 701.
Ms. Emma Chrystal
Team Lead Clinical Case Coordinator
Ms. Emma Chrystal is a Team Lead Clinical Case Coordinator of therapy cases. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and bachelor’s degree in communications. She ensures all intake documentation is processed, including consents, records, and release of information forms. When a patient is ready, she coordinates scheduling with a clinician. She also oversees daily operations of the case management team, ensuring tasks are completed efficiently and effectively.
Ms. Chrystal can be reached at 800-488-9790, ext. 722.
Ms. Karla Avila-Polanco
Licensed Social Worker (LSW), Licensed Associate Sex Offender Provider (LASOP), Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP), Master’s of Liberal Arts, Master’s of Social Work, and Bachelor’s of Arts
Ms. Polanco is a mental health professional. She received her two master’s degrees and bachelor’s degree and specialized in social work area. She performs forensic therapy for children, juveniles, and adults with sexually problematic behaviors. She is trained in DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), trauma focused therapy, MI (Motivational Interviewing), and psychosexual therapy with RNR (Risk-Need-Responsivity). She provides consultation and reports about treatment progress of her patients to the community interdisciplinary teams and legal agencies.
Ms. Polanco can be reached at 800-488-9790, ext. 710.
Ms. Sydney Welsh
Bachelor’s of Science in Biological and Physical Sciences
Ms. Welsh is a clinical writer and psychometrist. She has a strong background in data collection for psychological assessments and administration of objective, projective, neuropsychological, and biofeedback instruments. She has experience in research, data analysis, and is RBT-certified (Registered Behavior Technician).
Ms. Welsh can be reached at 800-488-9790, ext. 704.