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.
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 and evaluation 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. Martinette Douglas
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Licensed Sex Offender Evaluator (LSOE), Licensed Sex Offender Treatment Provider (LSOTP), Master’s in Forensic Psychology, Bachelor’s in Psychology
Ms. Douglas is a fully licensed mental health professional. She received her master’s degree in forensic psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of Illinois at Chicago. She provides psychosexual evaluations to juveniles and adults, using methodologies applicable to charged/not charged sexual cases, males, females, and contact/non-contact sexually motivated cases. Ms. Douglas’ specialty includes working with individuals diagnosed with paraphilias and paraphilic disorders, personality disorders, and hypersexuality. She has over 15 years of experience in sex offender assessment field post-license.
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. 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. Bifei Ba
Licensed Associate Sex Offender Provider (LASOP) pending, Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP), Master’s in Art Therapy
Ms. Ba is a mental health professional. She received her master’s degree in art therapy from New York University and her bachelor’s degree from School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She performs forensic therapy for children and juveniles in trauma and sexually problematic behaviors cases. Besides English, Ms. Ba is fluent in Mandarin. She is trained in trauma focused therapy with an art component and in individual and group formats. She provides consultation and reports about treatment progress of her patients to the community interdisciplinary teams and legal agencies.
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. Amber Williams
Case Coordinator
Ms. Williams is a Case Coordinator of therapy and evaluation cases. 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. Emma Chrystal
Clinic Manager
Ms. Emma Chrystal is a Clinic Manager. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and bachelor’s degree in communications. She ensures all clinic operations are ran well. She provides quality control for intake documentation processing, including consents, records, and release of information forms. She also oversees daily operations of the case management team, ensuring tasks are completed efficiently and effectively.
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. 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). She is certified in Level I Phallometric Testing (a.k.a., PPG) and administers PPG exams in pre-trial and post-trial cases.
Ms. Veronica Urek
Bachelor’s of Art in Psychology
Ms. Urek is a case coordinator and psychometrist. She completes intakes for evaluation cases and is skilled in clinical writing of various assessments in a forensic setting. She scores and administers psychometric tests.
Ms. Isabella Del Rocio Uriarte
Bachelor’s in Clinical Psychology and Latino/a Studies
Ms. Uriarte is a mental health professional. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She performs forensic therapy for children and juveniles in trauma cases. She is trained in trauma-informed care, with strong principles in cultural sensitivity and inclusive communication. Besides English, Ms. Uriarte is fluent in Spanish. Ms. Uriarte comes from mental health crisis help line background. She provides consultation and reports about treatment progress of her patients to the community interdisciplinary teams and legal agencies.
Dr. Elizabeth Markman
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Board‑Certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC), Art Therapy Credentialed Supervisor (ATCS), Licensed Associate Sex Offender Provider (LASOP) pending, Doctorate in Psychology and Art Therapy, Master’s in Counseling, Art Therapy, and Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling
Dr. Markman is a fully licensed mental health professional. She received her doctoral degree in art therapy and her master’s degree in art therapy and substance abuse/addiction counseling from Adler University. Dr. Markman has worked extensively with children and adolescents experiencing social and emotional challenges, sexually aggressive youth, gender‑ and sexuality‑questioning individuals, adults with life‑altering medical diagnoses, formerly unhoused and marginalized populations, and individuals living with severe and persistent mental illness. She is deeply engaged in professional service and leadership and currently serves as President‑Elect (2026) of the Illinois Art Therapy Association.