Richard Lawrence, PhD

I have extensive (over 20 years) in forensic psychology. For example, I'm an experienced psychotherapist who is dedicated to justice involved adults coping with comorbidities such as major depression, anxiety, anger, and substance use disorders as well as court ordered competency treatment and restoration.

As administrator/psychotherapist, I come with a unique skill set and list of qualifications. I earned a doctoral degree in general psychology (dissertation titled The Plight of Mental Health and Comorbid Substance Use Disorders Treatment Within the Criminal Justice System). I am a licensed clinical professional counselor in the states of Arkansas and Florida. I hold the highest board-certified clinical qualifications in my profession (certified clinical mental health counselor). I am certified sexual offender’s treatment specialist (lapsed). Moreover, I am a certified targeted case manager. Also, I have certification as a forensic evaluator in the state of Florida as well as clinical supervisor. Finally, I earned a certification as a tele behavioral health treatment provider. I have over twenty years of increased levels of psychology/mental health experience. I developed the clinical components of the original forensic diversion program in District One in Florida for severe and persistently mentally ill patients with criminal justice involvement. My position required me to provide competence training to criminal justice involved people requiring restoration competence to proceed with their court cases. These people had a range of charges from resisting and officer without violence to capital murder. As part of my duties, I trained the first director of the forensic diversion program for Okaloosa and Walton Counties also in Florida District One. Finally, my position required involvement with the courts as a professional mental health witness in ten or more of my patients’ court cases. I had over five years’ experience in that position. In recognition of the accomplishments of the forensic program, Florida Legislature awarded my employer, Lakeview Community Mental Health/Baptist Health Care, Pensacola, Florida, two million dollars grant to develop a model expansion to forensic diversion program. Also, I had over three years’ intern experience with Pathways for Change TC organization. In the Pathways position, I facilitated cognitive behavioral groups and other duties specific to my profession. I have over twenty years of administrative, leadership, and management experience, directing millions of dollars in federal resources. Finally, I have over ten years of lived experience with the cohort I serve. From the beginning of 2012 to January 2013, I was Chairperson of the Central Arkansas Re-entry Coalition and a member until 2015. Also, I was a member of Act 1190 Re-entry Committee. Moreover, I was intimately involved with City Connection from 2011 to 2015. Lastly, from 2013 to present I have been a member of the Arkansas Criminal Justice Steering Committee. The experience of the last eleven years has given me more insight into the plight of criminal justice involving people living in Little Rock, Arkansas, and surrounding communities.