Practice Philosophy:
Dr. Shilpa Krishnan is a clinical psychologist who specializes in forensic psychology at The Ross Center. She is committed to providing culturally competent, evidence-based consultation and evaluation on a number of psycho-legal issues. Her approach to working with clients is warm, respectful, and mindful of the boundaries that underpin ethical forensic practice, and she prides herself on sensitivity to factors such as sociocultural influence. Using the compassion and empathy developed in her work as a clinical psychologist, she easily establishes rapport with clients and is able to ascertain the key issues relevant to the referral question. Furthermore, her experience working in tandem with the justice system as an administrator has enabled her understanding of complex systems-level dynamics.
Areas of Expertise:
As a forensic psychologist, Dr. Krishnan is able to provide expert consultation, testimony, and evaluation in civil, criminal and family legal proceedings. She focuses her practice at The Ross Center on conducting forensic evaluation with adolescents and adults. With extensive experience working with various stakeholders (i.e., judges, patient advocates, government/prosecution, and defense attorneys), she infuses her evaluations and testimony with an in-depth understanding of the judicial system and the information required to appropriately respond to the referral question. Dr. Krishnan offers forensic services in a wide variety of subjects, ranging from criminal and civil competencies, to violence/sexual violence risk assessment, and Independent Medical Evaluations (IME’s) / Expert opinions. As a clinical psychologist, she is skilled in the use of formal psychological testing to support her forensic opinions, as appropriate.
Experience and Training:
Dr. Shilpa Krishnan obtained her M.A. in Forensic Psychology from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from George Mason University. Dr. Krishnan is the Deputy Director of the Forensic Services Division within the D.C. Department of Behavioral Health (DBH). She is appointed faculty in both the Psychology and Psychiatry training programs within DBH and at Saint Elizabeths Hospital. She has worked in forensic psychiatric, jail/prison, and hospital settings in NY, MD, VA, and DC. Dr. Krishnan’s clinical and research interests include violence risk assessment, evaluation and treatment of sexual offenders, and criminal and civil forensic evaluation. She conducts research in her areas of specialization, and has taught courses in Forensic Psychology at Marymount University and George Mason University.
