Business Details
14 Years
experience
Expert Forensic & Clinical Psychological Services in Albany, NY
New Paradigm Psychological Services was founded in 2012 to provide specialized forensic and clinical psychological services. Our practice focuses on the evaluation and treatment of individuals with sexual offenses or sexual problems, utilizing scientifically validated instruments and techniques. We offer comprehensive psychosexual assessments, expert court testimony, individual and group therapy, consultations, and supervision. Our team consists of New York State Licensed Psychologists with extensive training in risk assessment tools developed by leading experts in the field.We adhere to the highest professional standards set by the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA) and maintain active memberships in national and state psychological associations. Our treatment programs incorporate evidence-based practices such as Risk-Need-Responsivity principles and Stages of Change models to ensure effective outcomes. We serve clients across New York State with a commitment to research, advocacy, and community safety through collaborative care approaches.
Services
Forensic Evaluations
Clinical Treatment Programs
Penile Plethysmograph Testing
Expert Court Testimony
Risk Assessments
Individual Therapy
Group Therapy
Consultations
Supervision Services
Research & Advocacy
Details
- Year established: 2012
Highlights and features
- We offer evidence-based treatment programs grounded in Risk-Need-Responsivity principles
- Our team includes psychologists trained directly by developers of major risk assessment tools
- We provide penile plethysmography testing, a gold standard in sexual deviance assessment
- Our clinicians have decades of combined experience in forensic psychology and sex offender treatment
- We maintain active memberships in professional organizations including ATSA and APA
Services
Forensic Evaluations
Our forensic evaluations utilize scientifically validated instruments to assess sexual offenders for court proceedings, treatment planning, and risk management. We employ tools like the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised and Static-99R to determine recidivism risk, amenability for treatment, and sexual arousal patterns. Our comprehensive assessments support legal decisions regarding sentencing, civil commitment, and treatment readiness.
Clinical Treatment Programs
Our outpatient treatment programs combine evidence-based practices including Risk-Need-Responsivity principles and Stages of Change models. We offer both group therapy (6-8 participants) and individual sessions tailored to client needs, with gradual treatment reduction phases to maintain progress. Our approach emphasizes community safety through collaboration with supervising agencies and empirical progress tracking.
Penile Plethysmograph Testing
We administer penile plethysmography (PPG) testing, the gold standard for assessing deviant sexual arousal patterns. This objective measure identifies specific sexual interests by monitoring physiological responses to various stimuli. PPG results inform treatment planning and risk assessment, providing critical data for both clinical and legal decision-making processes in sexual offender management.
Expert Court Testimony
Our licensed psychologists provide expert testimony in New York State courts based on comprehensive evaluations. With extensive experience in supreme courts across multiple counties, we present findings on sexual offender risk assessment, treatment amenability, and psychological diagnoses. Our testimony translates complex clinical data into clear, actionable information for legal proceedings.
Risk Assessments
We conduct detailed risk assessments using validated tools like the HCR-20 and MnSOST-R to determine sexual and violent recidivism potential. Our assessments incorporate both static and dynamic risk factors to create comprehensive risk profiles. These evaluations inform treatment planning, supervision strategies, and legal decisions regarding offender management and community safety.
People
Katrina H. Colistra
Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Colistra earned her PsyD in Forensic Psychology from Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology. She has over 15 years of experience in sex offender evaluation and treatment, including work at federal correctional facilities and state mental health institutions. She teaches forensic psychology courses at SUNY-Albany and College of Saint Rose.
Timothy J. Wisniewski
Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Wisniewski holds two doctorates from Syracuse University and University of Maryland. He has extensive forensic experience including work at Maryland's maximum security forensic hospital and New York State Office of Mental Health. He specializes in sex offender treatment and has provided professional trainings across New York State on effective offender management.
Questions
What types of evaluations do you offer?
We provide psychosexual assessments for sexual offenders, including risk assessments, amenability for treatment, competency evaluations, and sexual arousal pattern analysis using validated instruments.
Do you offer treatment programs?
Yes, we offer evidence-based outpatient treatment programs for sexual offenders using Risk-Need-Responsivity principles and Stages of Change models in both group and individual formats.
What is penile plethysmography testing?
Penile plethysmography (PPG) is a gold-standard assessment tool that measures erectile responses to various stimuli to identify deviant sexual interests and arousal patterns.
Are your services available statewide?
Yes, while our treatment clinic is based in Albany, our evaluation, consultation, and expert testimony services are available throughout New York State.
What professional credentials do your staff hold?
Our team consists of New York State Licensed Psychologists with specialized training in forensic psychology, active memberships in ATSA and APA, and extensive experience in sex offender evaluation and treatment.
