Educational History
1997 PhD, Psychology – University of Maine (APA-accredited program), Orono, ME – Dissertation: Reciprocity Styles and the Perception of Marital Adjustment and Equity
1984 BA (Magna Cum Laude/Phi Beta Kappa) in Psychology and Human Services – State University of New York, Buffalo, NY
Professional Licenses / Credentials
1996 Alcohol and Drug Counselor, (License number LC1572)
1998 Psychologist (License number PS955)
1999 Rostered State of Maine Guardian ad Litem
2008 Certified Parenting Coordinator
2012 National Register Health Service Psychologist (#53561)
Board Member
- Guardian ad Litem Review Board, Maine Overseers of the Bar, appointed Vice-Chair by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court effective September 1, 2015.
- Maine Psychological Association, President 2014 – 2016; Chair of Legislative Committee (2008 – 2014; 2016 – present); Member (1986 – present).
- Maine Guardian ad Litem Institute Executive Committee , 2008 – 2015
- Penquis Steering Committee for Penobscot County (2009 – 2014); Governing Board (2012 – 2014); Finance Committee (2010 – 2012).
- Maine Guardian ad Litem Institute Executive Committee (2008-2015).
- Rape Response Services, Board Chair (2006-2014).
Academic Affiliations
Adjunct Graduate Faculty – Clinical Psychology, University of Maine, Orono, Maine (2008 – 2015)
Adjunct Undergraduate Faculty – Criminal Justice, Husson University, Bangor Maine (2014 – 2015)
- Forensic Psychology, CJ490
Current Membership Affiliations
- American Psychological Association
- Maine Psychological Association
- American Psychology – Law Society, Division 41
- Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
Forensic Services and Consultation
2007–Present
Forensic Evaluator for Maine State Forensic Service:
- Conducted and written evaluations in approximately 120-150 court-ordered state evaluations requested by the Court, the State, or Defense Counsel regarding competence to stand trial and criminal responsibility/abnormal condition of the mind
- Trial testimony as an expert witness concerning the evaluation, findings, and conclusions
1998–Present
Private practice with specialty in psychological evaluations and forensic services:
- Qualified as expert witness in District, Superior, and Probate Courts in Maine as well as Federal District Court for State of Maine
- Evaluation of criminal defendants, including the assessment of adjudicative competence, criminal responsibility, and sentencing mitigation
- Risk Assessments for recidivism, violence, or sexual offending in adolescents and adults
- Social Security evaluations
- Eligibility evaluations for Developmental Disability Services
- Parental capacity evaluations
- Child maltreatment risk assessments
- Forensic analysis of child-interviews by law enforcement and other professionals
- Psychological evaluations and testing of adults and children
1999–Present
Child custody related practice in family courts:
- Rostered Guardian ad Litem court-appointed to represent the best interests of children in divorce or parental rights and responsibility cases.
- Co-parenting coaching and mediation services
- Parenting coordination (statute repealed in 2013)
- Court and parent consultation concerning child development and appropriate access schedules or interventions
- Consultation and review of parent or child psychological evaluations in custody litigation or child abuse and neglect cases
2013–Present
Evaluator for the Court Ordered Diagnostic Evaluation Project (CODE) providing forensic child maltreatment evaluations, reports, or testimony in child abuse and neglect matters in approximately 120-150 cases.
2003 – 2012
Evaluator and peer reviewer (2005- 2009) for Child Abuse and Neglect Evaluators Project (CANEP) providing forensic child maltreatment evaluations for courts in child protective matters.
2006 – 2012
Certified as a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) to conduct Department of Transportation (DOT) requested evaluations on individuals who have violated DOT’s drug and alcohol regulations.
2003 – 2008
Clinical evaluator for New Horizons for Young Women, a residential treatment program for young women, for purposes of treatment and intervention recommendations.
Clinical / Consulting Experiences
2010–Present
National Health Consultant for Job Corps, a program administered by the Department of Labor through the National Office of Job Corps and its Six Regional Offices.
- Lead, Regional Training Employee Assistance Program (TEAP) providing consultation and trainings on substance abuse policy implementation and compliance to Job Corps’ Wellness Programs at centers for Regions 1, 2, and 6 (Boston, Philadelphia, and San Francisco) through a subcontract with Humanitas, Inc. in Silver Spring, MD.
- Each region has approximately 20 centers within its jurisdiction.
- Provide Program Compliance Assessments at the request of the National Office through on-site visits and meetings with management, personnel, and students. These assessments are much like the accreditation reviews that occur at health facilities nationwide and involve two or three days onsite visits to the facility.
- As a consultant, my role is to draft and review policies with national implications and to assist and support Job Corps Wellness staff to implement programming which facilitates prevention, education, and identification of substance abuse problems, relapse prevention, and helping students overcome barriers to employability.
- On a monthly basis, to provide national trainings and technical assistance services to TEAP specialists through telephonic meetings.
- Assist TEAP specialists to provide a framework and strategies for centers to build effective programs within each facility so as to support the needs of the students.
- Review and assist centers in my regions with licensure requirements for TEAP specialists in accordance with the laws of that state.
- Attend and participate in national and regional team meetings four to six times a year at the Regional or National Offices.
2003–Present
Provide employee assistance services provided to Families and Children Together (FACT), Bangor, ME.
2017–2018
Course writer for Relias Learning LLC. Wrote continuing education course entitled: Ethical Considerations in Substance Use Treatment for Youth.
2002–2015
Co-presenter for the For Kids’ Sake’ program which provides co-parenting education to parents involved in parental rights and responsibilities litigation in Northern and Coastal ME.
2009 – 2013
Consultant to Behavioral Health Center at Mount Desert Island Hospital in Bar Harbor Maine.
1998-2006
Provided individual and couples therapy, Bangor, ME.
1997 – 2001
Psychologist and Dual Diagnosis Program Coordinator at Northeast Occupational Exchange, a community mental health agency, Bangor, ME
1994 – 1995
Intern, Veteran’s Administration Medical and Regional Office, Togus, ME.
1989 – 1994
Alcohol and Other Drugs of Abuse (AODA) Coordinator, Penobscot Job Corps, Bangor, ME.
1987 – 1991
Behavioral Medicine Consultant, Family Practice Residency, Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor, ME.
1988 – 1990
Case Manager and Consultant, Homestead Project, Inc., Ellsworth, ME.
Publications
Prescott, D. E., & Tennies, D. A. (2017). The Lawyer as Guardian ad Litem: Should Status Make Expert Opinions All-in and Trump Gatekeeping Functions by Family Courts. J. Am. Acad. Matrimonial Law., 30, 379.
Select Panels and Conference Presentations
Gender and Forensic Experts: Does it Influence Selection and Outcomes? (2018), National Organization of Forensic Social Work, New Orleans, LA.
Psychological Evaluations: What a Family Law Attorney Needs to Know (2018), Family Law Modules Continuing Education Program sponsored by the York Bar Association, Saco, ME.
Child Development and Chronic Conflict Families: What You Need to Know as Guardian ad Litem (2017), Guardian ad Litem Core Training sponsored by the Maine State Bar Association and the Administrative Office of the Courts, Augusta, ME.
Cognitive Bias and Chronic Conflict Families: What You Need to Know as Guardian ad Litem (2017), Guardian ad Litem Core Training sponsored by the Maine State Bar Association and the Administrative Office of the Courts, Augusta, ME.
The AMML Custody Evaluation Standards: Scientific Methodology or Just Helpful Rational for Family Courts? (2017), sponsored by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Boston MA.
Chronic Conflict Families: Dynamics and Intervention Strategies (2017), A series of conferences for mental health professionals presented in Saco and Bangor, ME.
Child Protection and Custody Conflict: Should Forensic Social Workers or the Courts be the “Gatekeepers” of the Reliable and Ethical Use of Social Science? (2017), National Organization of Forensic Social Work, Boston, MA.
School Social Work: Values, Ethics and Practice (2017), Windham and Raymond School District Training, Portland, ME.
School Social Work: Values, Ethics and Practice. (2016) Westbrook School District Training, Westbrook, ME.
The Justice System’s Approach to Addiction and Treatment (2016), Maine Judicial College sponsored by the Administrative Office of the Courts, Bethel, ME.
Child Development Research for GALs (2016), Guardian ad Litem Core Training sponsored by the Maine State Bar Association, Augusta, ME.
Evaluations and Testing in Child Custody: Woozles or Science-by-Privilege (2016), American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Boston Chapter meeting, Boston, MA.
Child Development and Trauma: Interview and Safety First (2016), New World of Guardian ad Litems for Lawyers and Courts (and GALs) sponsored by the York Bar Association and Maine State Bar Association, Saco, ME.
From the Nuremberg Code to the APA’s Hoffman Report: Forensic Experts and “Do No Harm”, (2015) at the American Psychology and Law Society 2015 Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.
Child Development as Applies to Guardians ad Litem (2015), Guardian ad Litem Core Training sponsored by the Maine State Bar Association and the Administrative Office of the Courts, Bangor, ME.
Parental Alienation and Other Relationship Dynamics: An Evidence Based Approach (2015), at the Family Law Institute sponsored by the Maine State Bar Association, Augusta, ME.
Guardian ad Litem as Expert and Investigator: New Roles and New Rules (2015), sponsored by Maine Guardian ad Litem Institute, Freeport, ME.
Guardian ad Litem’s: A Survey of New Challenges and Old Duties (2014), a series of four presentations sponsored by Maine Guardian ad Litem Institute presented in Rockland, Houlton, Waterville and Lewiston, ME.
Improved Identification of Risk Factors Associated with Child Maltreatment (2014), at the Maine Child Welfare Conference, Orono, ME.
Trauma Exposure Response: Management and Strategies (2014), at Families and Children Together (FACT), Bangor, ME.
It’s Complicated: Co-Occurring Disorders in Parents and how to Support Reunification (2014), at the Court Improvement Grant Statewide Training sponsored by Maine Administrative Office of the Courts, Portland, ME
Reunification is the Goal: Now What? (2014), at the Court Improvement Grant Statewide Training sponsored by Maine Administrative Office of the Courts, Portland, ME.
Risk Factors Associated with Child Maltreatment and Issues of Adult Mental Health (2014,) at the Court Improvement Grant Statewide Training sponsored by Administrative Office of the Courts, Portland, ME.
It’s All about Motivation: Getting Clients to do What Needs to be Done (2013), sponsored by the Administrative Offices of the Courts Annual Court Improvement Grant Conference, Portland, ME.
Risk Factors Associated with Child Maltreatment and Issues of Adult Mental Health (2013), at the CASA Guardian ad Litem training sponsored by Administrative Office of the Courts, Augusta, ME.
Collaborative Law and Divorce: A More Humane Process for Families (2013), at the Tuesday Forum for Women, Bangor, ME.
It Starts with You: Dealing with Difficult People and Situations (2013), at the annual Maine Clerks of the Courts conference, Freeport, ME.
The Changing Terrain: Successfully Navigating the Divorce/Separation Process with Clients (2013), at Maine Counselor’s Association Annual Meeting, Rockland, ME.
Risk Factors Associated with Child Maltreatment and Issues of Adult Mental Health (2013), at the CASA Guardian ad Litem training sponsored by Administrative Office of the Courts, Augusta, ME.
Traumatic Exposure Response: Your ABC’s (2013), at the Administrative Office of the Courts for Judicial Personnel, Augusta, ME.
Risk Factors Associated with Child Maltreatment and Issues of Adult Mental Health (2012), at the CASA Guardian ad Litem training sponsored by Administrative Office of the Courts, Augusta, ME.
Working with a Psychologist in PTSD and “Soft Tissue” Cases (2012), at the Maine State Bar Association’s Summer Meeting, Bar Harbor, ME.
Parental Alienation: What’s Normal, What’s Not, and How to Intervene (2012), at the For Kids Sake Conference, Bangor, ME.
Parental Alienation: How to Intervene (2012), at the Maine State Bar Association’s Conference for Guardians ad Litem, Freeport, ME.
Risk Factors Associated with Child Maltreatment (2011), at the Guardian ad Litem training sponsored by Family Division and the Court Services Advisory Committee of District Courts in Augusta, ME.
The New Designer Drugs (2011), at the National Equal Opportunity Training Symposium, Washington DC.
Effective Representation of Clients with Mental Illness (2011), at the Statewide conference for Defense Attorneys sponsored by the Maine Administrative Office of the Courts, Augusta, ME.
Not Your Mother’s Drugs: Synthetic Cannabinoids (2010), at the National Health and Wellness Conference for Job Corps, Orlando, Florida.
Vicarious Trauma of Judicial Personnel (2010), Risk and Reunification State-Wide Conference for Judicial Personnel sponsored by the Administrative Office of the Courts, Augusta, ME.
Impact of Mental Illness on Families (2010), at the Risk and Reunification State-Wide Conference for Judicial Personnel sponsored by the Judicial Branch, Augusta, ME.
Risk Factors Associated with Child Maltreatment (2009), at the Guardians ad Litem training sponsored by Family Division and the Court Services Advisory Committee of District Court, Augusta, ME.
Vicarious Trauma as it relates to Teachers (2009), at the annual meeting of the School Union 98 Administrators, Bar Harbor, ME.
Borderline Personality Disorder and Its Implications for Vocational Rehabilitation (2009), for the Vocational Rehabilitation Services of Maine, Waterville, ME
Impact of Mental Illness on Parenting in Child Protective and Family Matters Cases (2008), at The Brown Bag Lecture Series sponsored by For Kids’ Sake, Bangor, ME.
Highly Challenging Clients: Axis II and What Do You Do? (2008), at the Kids First Annual Conference, Freeport, ME.
Vicarious Trauma (2008), the Plenary Presentation at the Risk and Reunification Court Improvement Conference sponsored by the Administrative Office of the Courts, Augusta, ME.
Risk and Reunification in Child Protective Matters (2008), at the Risk and Reunification Court Improvement Conference sponsored by the Administrative Office of the Courts, Augusta, ME.
Impact of Mental Illness on Parenting (2007 & 2008,) sponsored by Court Improvement Grant through Administrative Offices of the Courts. A series of eleven workshops presented across the State of Maine.
Risk Factors Associated with Child Maltreatment (2007), at the Guardian ad Litem training sponsored by Family Division and the Court Services Advisory Committee of District Court, Augusta, ME.
Risk Factors Associated with Child Maltreatment (2006), at the Guardian ad Litem training sponsored by Family Division and the Court Services Advisory Committee of District Court, Augusta, ME.
Vicarious Trauma for Judicial Personal (2006), sponsored by Judicial Branch of Maine.
Risk Factors Associated with Child Maltreatment (2005), at the Guardian ad Litem training sponsored by Family Division and the Court Services Advisory Committee of District Court, Portland, ME.
Risk Factors Associated with Child Maltreatment (2004), at the Guardian ad Litem training sponsored by Family Division and the Court Services Advisory Committee of District Court, South Portland, ME.
Parental Alienation (2004), at the Brown Bag Lecture Series sponsored by For Kids’ Sake, Bangor, ME.
Domestic Violence and Safe Parenting (2003), at the Brown Bag Lecture Series sponsored by For Kids’ Sake, Bangor, ME.
Psychiatric Problems and Parenting (2003), at the Brown Bag Lecture Series by For Kids’ Sake, Bangor, ME.
High Conflict Families and Divorce: Understanding Personality Problems (2003), at the Brown Bag Lecture Series sponsored by For Kids’ Sake, Bangor, ME.