Paul A. Deardorff, Ph. D., ABPP
Founder
American Board of Professional Psychology
Board Certified in Clinical Psychology
Dr. Deardorff earned his doctoral degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1976. Since then, he has taught at various universities, including East Carolina University, Xavier University, and Virginia Commonwealth University. Over the course of his career, he successfully established two separate psychological practices, including ForPsych in 2004. He has performed psychological evaluations for both prosecuting and defense attorneys in the areas of competency, mitigation, and criminal responsibility. In addition, he has provided independent psychological evaluations for both plaintiffs and defendants involved civil proceedings. He has also testified in both state and federal courts. For more than the last 30 years, Dr. Deardorff has provided thoughtful, comprehensive evaluations uniquely tailored to the specific psycho-legal issue.
Congratulations to Dr. Paul Deardorff on his well-deserved retirement! After nearly 50 years of dedication and invaluable contributions, we celebrate his remarkable legacy and wish him all the best in his next chapter.
Nicole Leisgang, Psy. D.
Director
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Leisgang has been involved with ForPsych since its inception. She is a 2004 graduate of Xavier University, receiving her doctoral degree after completing a one-year internship at the Fulton State Forensic Prison/Hospital in Missouri. Upon obtaining licensure in Ohio in 2005 and in Indiana in 2009, Dr. Leisgang conducted employment-related evaluations, including those for the Social Security Administration and BWC. She then generalized these skills to other employment related issues, including short- and long-term disability and fitness for duty exams. Over the last decade, she has trained in neurocognitive assessment, applying that training, knowledge, and experience to both employment matters and civil proceedings.
Dr. Leisgang has also worked with the Hamilton County Juvenile Court, currently serving as its Chief Consulting Psychologist. She has conducted hundreds of competency, amenability and risk assessments. Along with Judge John Williams, Dr. Leisgang was recognized by the Ohio Bar Association for their development of a threat assessment program to assess targeted threats of school violence. Both administratively and clinically, Dr. Leisgang has been essential in expanding ForPsych’s scope of services, including evaluation of individuals in protective services. In 2014, she established the Tabono Center for Wellbeing, the therapeutic sibling-practice of ForPsych. She brings that same energy, drive and focused attention to each evaluation.
Christopher C. Ward, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
It is with sad hearts that we announce the passing of Dr. Christopher Ward. Dr. Ward was an essential part of ForPsych for nearly 20 years. He was instrumental in developing and expanding the practice. Over his tenure, he evaluated thousands of claimants, veterans, and injured workers. He helped create the workers’ compensation branch of ForPsych. In conjunction with our sister practice, Tabono Center for Wellbeing, Chris treated individuals suffering from emotional difficulty resulting from their injuries. He helped foster and mentor clinical staff. While his clinical acumen is impressive, it is overshadowed by his kindness, enthusiasm, and general love for life. Chris was a true renaissance man. From his love of his Buckeyes to exploring the Louvre, Chris embraced and exuded all the wonders and beauty the world offered. We are blessed and better off for knowing him. He will be missed.
Brian Griffiths, Psy.D
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Griffiths has been working in the field of mental health for more than 25 years. Prior to earning his doctorate, Dr. Griffiths held many positions within the Hamilton County Juvenile Court, eventually being named Superintendent of Hillcrest Training School, a large residential facility. Dr. Griffiths was recognized by his peers as one of the country’s top juvenile administrators. He is exceedingly knowledgeable about juvenile delinquency and adult criminal matters, including competency, NGRI, and risk assessment.
Since joining ForPsych, Dr. Griffiths has been instrumental in expanding the practice, providing evaluations for Hamilton, Clermont, Brown, Adams, and Pike counties, among others. As a former administrator, he has a keen understanding of employment-related matters, including recognizing that each profession has its unique demands and responsibilities. As a clinician, he is aware of psychological traits which are associated with occupational success or failure. Over the past two decades, Dr. Griffiths has conducted numerous employment-related evaluations, including post-offer suitability evaluations for candidates in protective service.
Bryan J. Krabbe, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Krabbe is a licensed clinical psychologist in both Ohio and Indiana. He is also a licensed registered dietitian in Ohio. He obtained his doctorate in psychology from Xavier University in 2013 and joined ForPsych in 2015. Since then, Dr. Krabbe has provided a range of psychological services, including assessment and therapy. For the past several years, he has focused primarily on employment related issues, including disability, compensation and pension, workers’ compensation, vocational rehabilitation, and fitness for duty evaluations. Through comprehensive interviews along with psychological testing if needed, he objectively determines the presence of a psychological condition, and how signs and symptoms of that condition affect an individual’s ability to safely and competently complete job tasks.
Ryan R. Wagner, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Wagner earned his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University. After transplanting to Ohio, he enrolled in the doctoral program at Xavier University from which he obtained his Psy.D. in 2015. Dr. Wagner initially joined ForPsych as a graduate assistant, administering psychological tests in response to a variety of referral questions. His interest and experience have since expanded to formulating his own expert opinion, applying his clinical knowledge to specific legal matters. More specifically, he routinely evaluates individuals experiencing a range of psychological symptoms. He has a strong understanding of the impact of these issues on one’s interpersonal functioning and work-related capabilities.
Thomas M. Ference, Ph.D., MPH
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Ference is a clinical psychologist licensed in Ohio. He obtained his Doctor of Philosophy degree from University of Kansas and then completed an APA-accredited internship with the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Early in his career, he worked as a crisis intervention specialist performing pre-hospitalization psychiatric assessment interviews, and then went on to become a staff psychologist at a state psychiatric hospital in NE Ohio. During his time at the state hospital, he served as the Director of Psychology for nine years, and also worked part-time as a psychologist in nursing homes and is currently also working part-time at a community counseling center. He has provided individual and group counseling, conducted risk and diagnostic assessments, and his interventions are rooted in evidence-based techniques, especially cognitive- behavioral therapy.
Katherine McRee Lauch, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Lauch is a licensed clinical psychologist in Ohio. She earned a master’s degree in forensic psychology from the University of Denver in 2004 and her doctoral degree from Xavier University in 2015. She completed an APA-accredited internship and post-doctoral fellowship with an emphasis in the assessment and treatment of individuals who have experienced trauma as well as juveniles who demonstrated problematic sexual behaviors. Over the course of her career, Dr. Lauch has worked in various forensic settings including inpatient psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment programs, correctional institutions, and outpatient treatment centers. While working within these facilities, Dr. Lauch has gained knowledge in the assessment and treatment of both youth and adults involved with the justice system. Lastly, Dr. Lauch has worked closely with the juvenile court system in both Butler, Clermont, and Hamilton counties conducting competency evaluations, along with risk assessments and psychological evaluations to aid in disposition and treatment planning.
Sarah Barwick, Psy. D.
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Sarah Barwick earned her doctoral degree from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with a specialized focus on police psychology, forensic, and neuropsychological evaluations. Over the course of her career, she has worked in private practice and forensic facilities. Her diverse clinical training across various cultural backgrounds and psychiatric presentations has equipped her to conduct thorough and objective evaluations.
Joan Simpson, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Simpson is licensed as a clinical psychologist in Ohio and Kentucky. She earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology and a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from The Adler University in Chicago. Over the course of her career, she has worked in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings, conducting risk and diagnostic assessments, pre-surgery evaluations, as well as outpatient group and individual psychotherapy. After joining ForPsych she has been focusing on work related issues of workman’s compensation evaluation and treatment, disability evaluations and readiness for work, and works with a variety of psychological issues while utilizing evidence-based interventions.